The fact that the Toronto Maple Leafs have a
99.9% probability of making the post-season for the first time in nine years does not help to eliminate the feelings of dread and nervousness amongst many members of Leafs Nation.
With just over a week remaining in the regular season, Toronto can clinch a playoff spot with a win over the New York Islanders at Air Canada Center, along with a Winnipeg loss to Carolina at the MTS Center. The Leafs appear to be in good position to finish either fifth or sixth in the Eastern Conference, but they have to win a couple of their five remaining games to exorcise the ghost of Wade Dubielewicz and eliminate the remaining .01%.
The Islanders, who are 7-1-2 in their last 10 games, have a three point lead over the Rangers and Winnipeg and can move to within two points of the Leafs in the Eastern Conference playoff race with a victory. A win would give Toronto an almost insurmountable six point lead over the Isles with four games to go.
The clubs have played twice this season, each winning in the other team’s building. New York won 7-4 at the ACC on January 24, erasing an early 3-1 Toronto lead and scoring four third period goals, while Toronto won an exciting 5-4 decision at Nassau Coliseum on February 28 with Nazem Kadri scoring his first career hat trick and captain Dion Phaneuf scoring the overtime winner.
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Toronto has struggled in their last two games, mustering only 13 shots in a 2-0 win over New Jersey and getting dominated in a 5-1 loss in Washington on Tuesday, which has spurred coach Randy Carlyle to tinker with his lineup.
Wingers Matt Frattin and Clarke MacArthur will return to the lineup and play with Mikhail Grabovski, while Frazer McLaren and Ryan Hamilton will sit. Defenseman Carl Gunnarsson will not play in his third consecutive game, most likely due to the nagging hip injury that has plagued him throughout the season, as Jake Gardiner takes his spot on the pairing with Phaneuf.
James Reimer was outstanding in a 32 save shutout effort against the Devils on Monday and will back between the pipes for Toronto, while veteran Evgeni Nabakov, who has won 21 of the Islanders 22 victories this season makes his seventh straight start.
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