The Maple Leafs had a chance to clinch their first post-season berth in nine years if things broke right, but a tired Toronto team struggled in their third game in four nights, losing 5-1 to the red-hot Washington Capitals at the Verizon Center on Tuesday.
Jack Hillen, Martin Erat, Troy Brouwer, Marcus Johansson and Alex Ovechkin scored his league leading 28th goal for the Capitals, who have won eight straight games. Mikhail
Grabovski scored for Toronto, who suffered their first loss in regulation since April 4th.
Joffrey Lupul returned to the lineup after missing five games with a mild concussion and did not make much of an impact in almost 18 minutes of ice time, taking two minor penalties and registering two shots on goal.
It was not a good night for scoreboard watchers, as Ottawa, Winnipeg and the New York Islanders all won and moved two points closer to the Leafs in the Eastern Conference standings, The New York Rangers were the only club trailing Toronto that did not take advantage, losing 4-2 to the Philadelphia Flyers.
The Leafs hold a seven point lead on the Rangers and Jets, a four point advantage over the Islanders(who visit the ACC on Thursday)and a three point margin on the Senators, who have a game in hand and host Toronto at Scotiabank place on Saturday.
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In spite of lack luster performances against the Devils and Capitals this week, Toronto appears to be in an enviable position, not only for the upcoming post-season but for the future. Their potential first round opponents are either Boston, Washington or Montreal and of those three, only the Bruins would be considered a prohibitive favorite because of their playoff experience, psychological advantage and history of success over Toronto.
Washington and Montreal have been impressive at times this season, but have weaknesses that can be exploited in a seven game series.
If the Leafs have a modicum of playoff success, it would go a long way towards erasing the perception that the organization is going in the wrong direction and might convince some players that playing in the “center of the hockey universe” is not a scary proposition.
Due former GM Brian Burke’s discipline in signing players to short term contracts, Toronto is very well positioned going into the 2013-14 season from a cap management point of view.
Depending on what GM Dave Nonis decides to do with compliance buyouts and his own free agents, the Leafs could have upwards of $15 Million in room under the cap, which would allow them to sign free agents or take on high salaried players in a trade.
Toronto is beginning to reap the rewards of developing players in their minor league system and might be able to offer teams who have cap restrictions or looking to shake up their rosters a package of young, inexpensive talent and/or draft choices for an impact player.
For an unrestricted free agent like New Jersey’s David Clarkson, the decision to re-sign with the aging Devils; the organization that signed him as an undrafted free agent in 2005 might have been a no-brainer, but the fact that his hometown team is on the rise, has the financial wherewithal to offer a better deal and the chance to play with the likes of Phil Kessel, James van Riemsdyk and Nazem Kadri might earn Toronto a look over the summer.
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