LGD: El Alamein

Tonight we are about to enter possibly the most critical tank battle of the season, as the Leafs take on the Blue Jackets in the final home game of the season. Toronto might feel compelled to win their final game in front of a home crowd, but I assure you that’s a bad idea. 

A loss tonight guarantees that the Leafs cannot pass Columbus in the standings. That would officially lock Toronto into being no better than 29th overall in the league, having a 13.5% shot at the draft lottery, and a guarantee of drafting in the top 5. 

Add to that, the Oilers are playing their final ever game at Rexall Place tonight against the slumping Canucks. A win for them would temporarily put the Leafs into possession of 30th in the league and give Toronto a shot having a 20% shot at Auston Matthews. 

The stakes are high, and it seems like a Leafs win is imminent.

With the call-up of Sam Carrick the Leafs have also returned Rich Clune to the Marlies. Overall this is a pretty insignificant move and is keeping with the Leafs philosophy of making sure that every Marlies player gets a taste of the NHL this season. Carrick has had 33 points in 50 games for the Marlies, and looks like he’ll play with Froese and Boyes tonight. 

At this point Colin Smith is the only player signed to an NHL contract that hasn’t been on an NHL roster this season. Alex Stalock hasn’t been with the Leafs and Antoine Bibeau hasn’t played in an NHL game, but it’s likely that Colin Smith will be the guy we see before the season is done. Presumably he’ll get the call for Kapanen so the Leafs don’t torch his ELC by playing him in one extra game.

Columbus has to be one of the biggest disappointments in the NHL this season. A lot of people gave them the benefit of the doubt heading into the year that they only suffered last season due to injuries and bringing in someone like Saad would at least elevate them to being a bubble team.

Instead we’ve treated to a typical John Tortorella disaster accompanied by the fact that Sergei Bobrovsky’s contract is now giving teammate David Clarkson’s contract serious competition for being the worst in the league. You may be shocked to learn that Nick Foligno isn’t as good as his best year either. 

The Blue Jackets are in terrible shape and seem poised to takeover the basement of the league for the foreseeable future. Hopefully the Leafs can let them win tonight so they can have some happiness in their lives.

Three more years at $7.425M is what is left on Bobrovsky’s contract after this season. That’s a lot of money for someone who has only managed 35 starts before tonight and is putting up a .908 save percentage. 

The Leafs will counter that mess with one of their own. Garret Sparks and his mindblowing .897 save percentage will get to go again tonight. I mean, we want to lose and those are the kind of numbers that do it, but you really have to wonder why he hasn’t been returned to the Marlies and Stalock or Bibeau haven’t been given a shot.