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The Toronto Maple Leafs rebounded from a loss to Winnipeg on Saturday with a fairly easy 5-2 victory over the Buffalo Sabres at Air Canada Centre on Monday, moving one step closer to the start of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
Auston Matthews and William Nylander scored twice, rookie Andreas Johnsson added his second goal of the season and Curtis McElhinney made 32 saves in the win for Toronto, who equaled the franchise record for points in a season (103) set in 2003-04.
With two inconsequential games against New Jersey and Montreal left in the regular season, the Leafs will turn their eyes toward the contest between Tampa Bay and Boston on Tuesday, which could go far towards determining who they will be facing when they post-season begins next Thursday.
The Bruins have 110 points and could move four points ahead of the Lightning and all but wrap up top spot in the Atlantic Division with a regulation victory, but a Tampa win in regulation would even the two clubs, with Boston holding a game in hand.
Boston continues to be a team beset by injury, losing Riley Nash and Brandon Carlo possibly for the season last weekend, but did get Zdeno Chara back against Philadelphia on Sunday and will get Calder Trophy candidate Charlie McAvoy in the lineup on Tuesday.
The Lightning lost Steven Stamkos to a lower body injury against Nashville on Sunday and he will not play in the key contest at Amalie Arena.
According to Sportsnet’s John Shannon, it is possible that Stamkos will be held out of Tampa’s last two games against Buffalo and Carolina this week.
While there is no indication that Stamkos won’t be available for the playoffs, it is clear that he will be at less 100% when Tampa faces either the second Eastern Conference wildcard team or Toronto next week, which could give the Leafs a leg up against the more experienced and better defensive Lightning squad.
Both potential opponents will be a difficult task for Toronto, but also offer different challenges that might factor into Leafs head coach Mike Babcock’s post-season lineup.
It is expected that a few key players may get a night off in the final two games against the Devils and Canadiens, but against Buffalo veteran Leo Komarov and rookie Kasperi Kapanen were scratched in favor of Matt Martin and Johnsson.
“(Johnsson) works real hard and he's ultra-competitive. He shows up every day with a great attitude and he's got energy in him -- you can't say enough about that, people like that make people around them better and he's one of those guys.… Babcock said..
Komarov will be in the Toronto lineup based on his abilities to play a rough and tumble style (well suited for a series against Boston) and his value as a penalty killer, but in his first game back against the Jets, the veteran did not appear up to speed.
Martin has played only three games since the All-Star break ( all against Buffalo) and likely will not be an option in the playoffs unless the Leafs get hit with the injury bug or are being pushed around physically.
Johnsson offers a potential matchup problem in the playoffs with his speed and scoring ability on a fourth line, and on Monday played the right side in the NHL for the first time in place of Kapanen.
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