After a 4-2 win over the Ottawa Senators Sat. April 2, 2011 the Toronto Maple Leafs moved to within three points of the idle New York Rangers for 8th. With only three games left and the Rangers having four, it's a tall order. But the Leafs latest must-win win has kept them in the hunt for their first Stanley Cup playoff berth since before the NHL lockout.
The 10th place Leafs not only have to catch the Rangers they must pass the ninth place Carolina Hurricanes, who beat the New York Islanders by that same 4-2 count Saturday night. The Hurricanes are two points up on Toronto and like the Rangers have four left, one more than the Leafs and like T.O. have played well of late, each club going 7-3 in their last ten.
Ron Wilson's Maple Leafs: No Room to Lose
So Ron Wilson's team has very little margin for error and the win against Ottawa again saw them play desperate hockey and battle hard most of the night. Phil Kessel showed his shot in opening the scoring in the first period, his 30th of the campaign, the third straight season he's scored 30 goals; the point was his 61st, a new personal high.
Nazim Kadri banked a shot off Senator goalie Craig Anderson's skate for a 2-0 lead in the 2nd before Jason Spezza, who has 30 points in 29 games since coming back from injury, scored in the last minute of the 2nd and the 3rd minute of the 3rd. But Toronto came right back, retaking the lead minutes later when a Joffrey Lupul shot from a scramble nudged Tyler Bozak's skate and beat Anderson. Nikolai Kulemin scored his 29th late.
"To a guy in here, we know we can win, we know we’re a good team and every night we have a real good chance to win," Leafs goalie James Reimer told media after the game. "Right now, we just believe. That’s why things are going so well.”
New York Rangers Offense: Not Very Offensive
While the Rangers are 6-3-1 in their last 10 they've lost 3 of 4 (one in overtime) and scored only five goals in their past five games. They must surely be feeling the pressure of the Hurricanes and Leafs charging up behind them. New York plays in Philadelphia and then at home to Boston, Atlanta and New Jersey. A tie in points between Toronto and New York goes to the Rangers as they'd have more wins, so all they need is a win and an overtime or shootout loss.
Carolina has games in Buffalo and Detroit, at home against Atlanta and in Tampa Bay. Buffalo, four points up on Toronto in 7th place with four to go, play in Carolina, at home to Tampa Bay and Philadelphia and in Columbus. The Sabres, too, have been hot of late and are 6-3-1 in their last 10.
Toronto is at home to Washington, in New Jersey and at home to Montreal. “We’ve narrowed the gap on the Rangers, so we’ll see what happens,” Leafs coach Ron Wilson said after the win over Ottawa.
Join the Conversation