The Toronto Maple Leafs could have a chance to increase the odds of winning the NHL Draft Lottery, as the Edmonton Oilers have moved within range of potentially overtaking them in the NHL standings with eight games to go.
Edmonton’s Derek Roy scored the game-winner midway through the third period to give the Oilers a 4-3 win over Colorado on Wednesday. In spite of going 3-4-3 in their last 10 games, the Oilers have pulled away from last place Buffalo and moved to within five points of Toronto.
The Oilers have what appears to be a more difficult schedule, after playing Dallas at Rexall Place on Friday, Edmonton hits the road for three games against Colorado, Anaheim and Los Angeles, then a three-game home stand with Calgary, Los Angeles and San Jose before their season finale at Vancouver on April 11.
Toronto has home contests against Florida, Ottawa and Tampa, followed by road games in Buffalo and Boston, another meeting with the Senators, their final road game against Columbus and the season finale against Montreal. The Leafs would likely have to go 1-7 or 2-6 in their remaining games for Edmonton to overtake them.
McEichel Race – Points(Games Played)
8. PHILADELPHIA 76(75) 7. NEW JERSEY 73(73) 6. COLUMBUS 72(73) 5. CAROLINA 62(72) 4. TORONTO 60(74) 3. EDMONTON 55(74), 2. ARIZONA 52(74), 1. BUFFALO 47(73)
Current Leafs odds at winning Draft Lottery(9.5%) Same
Games to watch: Pittsburgh at Carolina, Arizona at Buffalo
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The Maple Leafs face the Panthers in the second of their four-game home stand at Air Canada Center on Thursday, losers of their last six in regulation and further depleted by injuries. Florida needs the victory to stay in the playoff race after losing a 4-3 decision to Tampa Bay earlier in the week, as they trail Ottawa by five and Boston by four points for the final Eastern Conference wildcard spot.
Roberto Luongo is expected to get the start in goal for Florida and Jonathan Bernier will be between the pipes for Toronto.
Center Trevor Smith and winger Zach Sill were both injured in the 2-1 loss to Minnesota on Monday, which necessitated the emergency recall of Greg McKegg from the AHL Marlies on Thursday.
With Nazem Kadri serving the final game of his four-game suspension and Peter Holland still out with a lower body injury, the Leafs centers will likely be Tyler Bozak, converted winger Leo Komarov, McKegg and Sam Carrick.
New Leafs forward Casey Bailey will get his first NHL start playing the right side with Carrick and winger Joakim Lindstrom. The 23-year-old winger signed a two-year, entry-level deal with Toronto last weekend after completing his junior season at Penn State and will wear number 37(previously worn this season by Carter Ashton).
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The Toronto Marlies continued their late season run for a playoff spot with a 3-2 victory over Oklahoma City Barons on Wednesday, courtesy of a pair of third period goals by Byron Froese.
The 23-year-old Winkler, MB native was signed to an AHL contract in January and has become one of the Marlies most important players, playing between Matt Frattin and William Nylander on the top line and both special teams units and compiling 14 goals and 14 assists in 34 games.
Toronto is currently 9th in the AHL’s Western Conference, one point in back of the Hamilton Bulldogs for eighth place with two games in hand on the Canadiens affiliate.
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Watch the latest edition of Leaf Buzz with myself and Rotowire senior hockey writer Paul Bruno, as we discuss Leafs games selling out through the rebuild, the debut of Casey Bailey and other news tidbits:
Note : Continue to check back to my column on Hockeybuzz throughout the day for the latest Leafs updates or Follow @mikeinbuffalo on Twitter
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