Loss buys Leafs recovery time
It looks as if the Toronto Maple Leafs — one of the healthiest teams in the league all season — are limping into the Stanley Cup playoffs.
They face a showdown with the best team in the NHL — the Washington Capitals starting Thursday — with an injured list that grew during a 3-2 loss against the Columbus Blue Jackets in the season finale on Sunday.
But coach Mike Babcock insists his key injured players — Nikita Zaitsev and Frederik Andersen — will be ready by the time the puck drops for the Leafs’ first playoff appearance since 2013.
Babcock kept his answers short — he usually does when talking about injuries. “Upper body injury” was the extent of his description of Zaitsev’s injury, adding “not” when asked if he was concerned Zaitsev would miss Thursday’s game.
As for Andersen, the coach was only slightly more forthcoming, saying the goalie had “no symptoms” of a concussion after being hit in Saturday’s game against the Penguins. “I expect him to be ready for practice.”
The Leafs have cancelled their practice for Monday — they need rest — next hitting the ice on Tuesday in preparation for Washington.
“We’re looking forward to playing in the playoffs,” winger James van Riemsdyk said. “Once you get in, anything can happen.”
If there’s a saving grace to getting the Stanley Cup favourites in the first round, it’s that the Leafs get an extra day to rest their wounded. Had they earned a point against Columbus, the Leafs would be playing Ottawa on Wednesday.
Two goals by van Riemsdyk got the Leafs off to a 2-0 lead, but the loss of Zaitsev at the end of the first period and Roman Polak — who missed the second and played one shift in the third — was too much to hold on.
“I thought (the Pittsburgh game) was emotional for us,” said Babcock. “I was hoping we would have enough juice (against Columbus) to get it done. I didn’t think we had enough juice.”
For the Leafs, it was their sixth game in nine nights, and they looked tired.
“That was a lot of hockey,” defenceman Connor Carrick said. “A lot of important games, too. You’re wired up for every one. But you want to play games that are fun and mean something.”
Columbus scored three in the second period to end their own sixgame losing streak.
Zaitsev was injured at the end of the first period, suffering a hit. He didn’t finish the game. Losing Zaitsev would be a blow. The rookie Russian free agent is a workhorse on the blue line, averaging the most minutes of any player on the team at 22:12 a game.
If Zaitsev or Polak can’t play, the Leafs might be able to get by with Martin Marincin and Alexey Marchenko, both veterans who have been healthy scratches lately.
If Andersen can’t play, then more will be asked of McElhinney. The 33-year-old nine-year veteran has one NHL playoff game appearance to his credit, in relief.
“Hopefully they’re all right and we’re able to roll healthy going forward for Game 1,” said Carrick.
The Leafs and Capitals played three times this season. The Capitals won twice, including an overtime game.
Van Riemsdyk’s two goals helped him establish a career high with 62 points. Van Riemsdyk had already set a personal high with 33 assists.
As far as rookies go, Matthews set the single-season mark for goals (40), points (69) and tied the record for game-winning goals (eight); Mitch Marner set the assists record with 42; William Nylander set the record for games with consecutive points (12) and tied the record for power play goals (12); Zach Hyman set the record for short-handed goals (three).