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The Toronto Maple Leafs 2-1 loss to the New Jersey Devils on Thursday had a sense of déjà vu, as the young Devils clinched their first postseason appearance in six years in their second-last game of the season. It was one year ago that the Leafs were in a similar position, completing a remarkable turnaround with a victory over Pittsburgh in Game 81 after having the league’s worst record and making the playoffs with six rookies on the roster, including Calder Trophy winner Auston Matthews.
Toronto is in a much different position 12 months later, locked in third place in the Atlantic Division and waiting to find out whether they will face either Boston or Tampa Bay in the first round of the playoffs next week. Goalie Frederik Andersen made his return between the pipes against the Devils after getting a five day respite from head coach Mike Babcock, and the Leafs starter was sharp in his return, making 37 saves (including a breakaway stop on former Leaf Michael Grabner).
Andersen is expected to play in the season finale against Montreal on Saturday, with four days off in between the end of the regular season and the start of the playoffs.
William Nylander’s first period power play goal marked the second straight 20 goal season for the 21-year-old winger. The tally was a financial windfall for Nylander, who by scoring 20 goals qualified for a $212,000 bonus on his entry-level contract).
Nylander joins Auston Matthews, James van Riemsdyk, Nazem Kadri, Patrick Marleau and Mitch Marner as Leafs who have scored 20 goals or more, which equals Tampa Bay for the most 20 goal scorers in the league this season and one short of the club record of seven (set by the 1980-81, 1985-86 and 1989-90 Maple Leafs).
With little to play for other than team records and individual benchmarks, Babcock has continued to press his club to play as if the games were meaningful and not take the foot of the pedal.
The Leafs head coach was disappointed in the club’s effort in a 3-1 loss to Winnipeg last Saturday and only partially pleased in the Leafs performance on Thursday, who had the better chances of the two clubs after Miles Wood’s go-ahead goal late in the second period, but were thwarted by Devils goaltender Keith Kinkaid, who made a dozen saves to preserve the victory.
“We didn’t compete hard enough. I thought we competed hard as the game went on. We had our chances but in the end we couldn’t overcome it. The bottom line is we’ve got one more game. This is our last chance to get ready but we’re going to have to get to another level than we were tonight for sure.… The Boston Bruins could not take advantage of their game in hand, as they lost 3-2 to the Florida Panthers in Sunrise, FL on Thursday.
The Bruins and Tampa Bay are tied for the Atlantic Division lead with 110 points and have two games remaining entering the final weekend of the regular season. The Lightning hold the tiebreaker with 47 regulation/overtime wins and will win the division if they beat the Buffalo Sabres at home on Friday and Carolina Hurricanes in Raleigh, NC on Saturday.
Boston has a pair of home games remaining, against the Ottawa Senators on Saturday and the makeup of a game cancelled due to a snowstorm against the Panthers on Sunday.
The division winner will play the second Eastern Conference wild card team in the first round, while the runner up with play Toronto.
Forwards Josh Leivo, Dominic Moore, Matt Martin and defenseman Travis Dermott may be in line to play on Saturday in season finale against Montreal, as veterans such as Ron Hainsey, Tomas Plekanec, Komarov or the oft-injured Matthews get a day off before the post-season begins next Thursday.
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