Maple Leafs fall into a Capitals series

Toronto’s loss to Columbus hurts

James van Riemsdyk scored twice, but the Toronto Maple Leafs dropped their regular-season finale, 3-2, to the visiting Columbus Blue Jackets and will face the Washington Capitals in the opening round of their first postseason since 2013.

Curtis McElhinney made 29 saves, but Toronto let a 20 lead melt away in a porous second period.

Matt Calvert, Josh Anderson and Cam Atkinson scored in the comeback for Columbus. Joonas Korpisalo stopped 30 shots for the Blue Jackets.

Had they earned even a point, the Maple Leafs would have faced Ottawa in the first round, but instead they get the Presidents’ Trophy-winning Capitals.

Toronto has never faced Washington in the postseason — the two teams were in different conferences for a long stretch — and they’ll be heavy underdogs.

The Capitals had the NHL’s best regular-season record for a second season in a row, and they’re loaded at every position as they bid for a first Stanley Cup. Toronto went 1-1-1 against the Capitals this season.

Asked about pressure on his young team heading into the playoffs Sunday morning, Maple Leafs coach Mike Babcock deflected with apparent aim at the Capitals.

“You have nerves when you win the Presidents’ Trophy and you’re playing a real good team in the first round,” Babcock said.

Other games

Islanders 4, Senators 2: New York finished the season with a win against playoffbound Ottawa at Barclays Center.

Red Wings 4, Devils 1: Henrik Zetterberg scored in his 1,000th NHL game helping Detroit beat New Jersey in the final game at Joe Louis Arena.

Blues 3, Avalanche 2: Vladimir Tarasenko netted a go-ahead goal 19 seconds after Vladimir Sobotka scored in his first NHL game in three years, lifting St. Louis past visiting Colorado.

Lightning 4, Sabres 2: Brayden Point scored a pair of goals, including the winner with 1:24 left, as host Tampa Bay beat Buffalo.

Panthers 2, Capitals 0: With several of its key regulars resting, playoff-bound Washington lost its regularseason finale to visiting Florida.

Hurricanes 4, Flyers 3: Brock McGinn scored the final shootout goal on goalie Anthony Stolarz to lift visiting Carolina past Philadelphia.

Ducks 4, Kings 3: Shea Theodore scoreed at 0:53 of overtime to lead Anaheim past visiting Los Angeles.

Oilers 5, Canucks 2: Jordan Eberle scored a goal in each period for a hat trick leading Edmonton past visiting Vancouver.