Game Thread/Post Game: Leafs @ Islanders APRIL 5th @7:30 RSN

[jalenrose#5]

When: APRIL 5th @ 730

Where: Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum


TV: Rogers Sportsnet
RADIO: MOJO 640

Lineups

Islanders

Defence

#3 D POTI, TOM
#6 D HILL, SEAN
#14 D CAMPOLI, CHRIS
#21 D QUINT, DERON
#32 D WITT, BRENDAN
#47 D BERGERON, MARC-ANDRE

Forwards
#7 R HUNTER, TRENT
#10 R PARK, RICHARD
#11 C HILBERT, ANDY
#15 L TAMBELLINI, JEFF
#18 C SILLINGER, MIKE
#25 C KOZLOV, VIKTOR
#27 C ROBITAILLE, RANDY
#45 R ASHAM, ARRON
#55 L BLAKE, JASON
#79 C YASHIN, ALEXEI
#81 R SATAN, MIROSLAV
#94 L SMYTH, RYAN

Goalies

34 G DUBIELEWICZ, WADE Starter
1 G DUNHAM, MIKE

Leafs

Antropov/Sundin/Poni
Kilger/Wellwood/Tucker
Steen/Stajan/Deveraux
Battaglia/Perrault/Pohl

Kaberle/Kubina
McCabe/Colaiacovo
Gill/White

Raycroft/Aubin

Injury Report

Leafs
27 C PECA, MIKE (out indefinitely)
14 C Matty Stajan Head (questionable)
8 D Carlo Colaicovo Leg (questionable)

Islanders
Rick DiPietro G Concussion Out until at least early April
Shawn Bates C Sports hernia IR Out for remainder of the regular season.
Joel Bouchard D Hamstring IR On conditioning assignment in AHL
Todd Simpson D Suspended for the rest of the season
Richard Zednik RW Personal Out indefinitely
Radek Martinek D Ankle IR Out for the season
Freddy Meyer D Finger Out indefinitely
Chris Simon LW Suspension, Out for Remainder of Season/Playoffs

The Last 10

Islanders 3-5-2
Leafs 5-3-2

Standings (GP- Pts)

1. yz-Buffalo 79 109
2. x-New Jersey 80 104
3. x-Atlanta 79 93
4. x-Ottawa 80 103
5. x-Pittsburgh 80 101
6. Tampa Bay 80 92
7. N.Y. Rangers 80 92
8. Montreal 80 90
9. Toronto 80 89
10. Carolina 80 86 (OUT OF PLAYOFF CHASE)
11. N.Y. Islanders 79 86

x= clinched playoff berth
y= clinched division title
z= clinched conference title

Go Leafs Go

[Mak]

Leafs barely beat Flyers...they will lose this game.

[jalenrose#5]

There's a big difference here...the Leafs now realize they can't take ANY team lightly like they did last night. With the Islanders probably down 2 NHL quality goalies, they'll have to rely upon the rookie goalie to get the job done.

Also they have two of their better defenseman out of the game (Meyer and Martinek) and really, the leafs just have to play a physical smart game and they'll come out on top IMO...

crossing fingers for a MONT loss though

[Amped]

Leafs barely beat Flyers...they will lose this game.

Pfft, Leafs should be able to take this one with DiPietro out. If Raycroft can play steady goal this game should be no problem. The real challenge is the Canadians.

[Mak]

There's a big difference here...the Leafs now realize they can't take ANY team lightly like they did last night. With the Islanders probably down 2 NHL quality goalies, they'll have to rely upon the rookie goalie to get the job done.

Also they have two of their better defenseman out of the game (Meyer and Martinek) and really, the leafs just have to play a physical smart game and they'll come out on top IMO...

crossing fingers for a MONT loss though

I thought Washington game was supposed to do that? Let's be honest here...realizing that games matter is not enough, talent comes into play as well.

[Rhyno]

Thank goodness that the Islanders beat the Rangers in a shootout last night, otherwise the Canadiens would be playing a junior Rangers team tomorrow.

Worst case scenerio would be a Leafs loss in regulation and Montreal getting at least a point - which would mean elimination for the Leafs.

[Mak]

Thank goodness that the Islanders beat the Rangers in a shootout last night, otherwise the Canadiens would be playing a junior Rangers team tomorrow.

Worst case scenerio would be a Leafs loss in regulation and Montreal getting at least a point - which would mean elimination for the Leafs.

Don't forget that by winning they are also kept themselves alive for the playoffs.

[Crowned]

We just need Montreal to lose. If the Leafs lose, and Montreal wins tomorrow night, then the Leafs will be booking their vacations Friday morning. I don't mind a loss tomorrow night, as long as those Habs lose as well.

[Rhyno]

-= original quote snipped =-
Don't forget that by winning they are also kept themselves alive for the playoffs.

Yes, but should the Leafs lose in regulation somehow and the Canadiens lose in regulation too, the Leafs live to see another day...one more day in the absolute definition of a must-win on Saturday.

Which is why I'm pulling for a Rangers win more than anything. I think the Leafs can take the Islanders, but like the Philadelphia game you never know what can happen.

[Rhyno]

We just need Montreal to lose. If the Leafs lose, and Montreal wins tomorrow night, then the Leafs will be booking their vacations Friday morning. I don't mind a loss tomorrow night, as long as those Habs lose as well.

Either way Saturday is a must win for the Leafs if they are still in the race by then.

Even if the Leafs were at 91 and the Habs stuck at 90 on Saturday and the Habs win in regulation or OT, they'd be either one point up or there'd be a tie at 92: which goes to the team with more wins, which is in the Habs favour.

[Pchu]

This is probably the toughest game IMO. If the Leafs can win this one, I think they will make the playoffs.

The Isles will play desperation hockey, and they need a win as bad or perhaps even worse than the Leafs. And the Leafs aren't too good on the road.

Prediction: 3-2 Leafs

[marciokop]

leafs better not choke

[jalenrose#5]

Some more stats and notes for tonights game...

Toronto:
TOR are 2-8 in their last 10 games following a win.
TOR is 6-2 in last 8 games as a favorite.

NY Islanders:
9-3 in last 12 games following a win.
NYI are 7-19 in their last 26 games as an underdog.
37-15-1 in last 53 home games.

Head to Head:
Home team is 23-4-1 in the last 28 meetings.
TOR are 2-11 in the last 13 meetings on Long Island

Chris Campoli, Richard Zednik and Mike Dunham have been uprgraded to questionable for tonight's game.


http://www.covers.com/pageloader/pagelo ... 7.html&t=0

[Andrea>Dirk]

HUGE NIGHT!

[Harold_and_Kumar]

GONNA LOSE MY MIND TONIGHT ... like seriously.

[TR50]

all i can say is we better win

[The-Insider]

Was I the only one who was more concerned about the Leafs today than work?

fwiw - Apparently, these are the officials for the game:
Denis Larue
Dan O'Halloran
Scott Driscoll
Steve Barton

LaRue has a history of missing high sticks

Leafs Practice Lines:

Forwards
Ponikarovsky - Sundin - Antropov
Kilger - Wellwood - Tucker
Steen - Stajan - Devereaux
Battaglia - Perreault - Pohl

Defence
McCabe - Wozniewski
Kaberle - Kubina
Gill - White
Colaiacovo - Belak

Spares: O'Neill, Green
Injuries: Newbury, Peca

Carlo Colaiacovo (leg) will be assessed today, but should be able play. Coach Paul Maurice says Colaiacovo will suit up as long as his leg didn't swell up overnight. - TSN

Guaranteed that Nolan is not going to let his boys mail us the two points tonight. They want is just as bad as we do. Probably going to be the hardest 2 earned points of the season.

I'm also hoping jalenrose#5 finishes strong this season and finishes off with an un-defeated record heading into the playoffs

[Looogie]

RANGERS GOAL

1-0

[WHAT_DA]

I expect the rangers to win. But im not soo sure about the lafs winning. i can see the habs losing in regulation and the leafs losing in a shootout. how fcrazy would that be. Tied going into the final game of the season.

[Looogie]

Robbed by a Dubie