For the latest Leafs updates or Follow @mikeinbuffalo on Twitter
The Toronto Maple Leafs are playoff bound for the second straight season thanks to the Ottawa Senators, as their 3-2 overtime victory over the Florida Panthers on Thursday clinched a postseason berth.
While there is still a mathematical chance that Toronto could finish in the first Eastern Conference wildcard spot, a victory in one of their remaining five games would guarantee facing either the Boston Bruins or Tampa Bay Lightning and the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
The Leafs embark on their last back-to-back of the season on Friday, as they take on the New York Islanders at Barclays Center. The club held an optional morning skate in Brooklyn on Friday morning, and it is expected that Frederik Andersen will make the start, with backup Curtis McElhinney going against the Winnipeg Jets on Saturday.
Babcock confirmed after the club’s practice on Thursday that winger Leo Komarov will return to the lineup on Saturday after missing two weeks with a lower body injury in Buffalo on March 15, which could mean the return of Andreas Johnsson to the AHL Marlies.
With the Leafs clinching, head coach Mike Babcock opened up the possibility of altering his normal schedule of playing Andersen in every game other than back-to-backs on Friday and may give McElhinney another start in the final week with three games left.
Babcock also indicated that select players may be given a respite. Against the Islanders, Connor Carrick will take the place of Roman Polak on the bottom pairing with rookie Travis Dermott and Dominic Moore will sub in at center for Tomas Plekanec.
Blueliners Ron Hainsey, Jake Gardiner and Morgan Rielly are all averaging over 21 minutes and will likely see increased minutes in the post-season. Forwards Nazem Kadri, Zach Hyman and Connor Brown will be important either as matchup players or on special teams, which could have them in line for night off.
With just over a week left in the season, the only question left unanswered for the Leafs is who they will play when their first round series begins on April 12.
The Bruins moved into first place in the Atlantic with a 4-2 victory over Tampa Bay on Thursday, and are up by one point with a game in hand on the Lightning.
Boston appears to have a more difficult schedule in front of them, with one more match against Tampa next week, three games against Florida (who are in a battle for the last wild card spot), Philadelphia (battling for position in the Metro) and the Ottawa Senators.
Tampa has two tough matches against the Bruins and Western Conference leading Nashville Predators on Easter Sunday, but have three games against non-playoff teams in the NY Rangers, Buffalo and Carolina.
*******If you are interested in sponsorship or advertising your business in the Greater Toronto / Southern Ontario area on this column, please send a message for more information by clicking on the “Contact… button at the top of the page.*******