Pressure on Maple Leafs going into final weekend of season

But Matthews exploded out of the gate with four goals in his first National Hockey League game and is now the leading contender for the NHL’s rookie-of-the-year award. The Penguins wrap up their regular season Sunday when they visit the New York Rangers.

“You don’t want to sell yourselves short, ever”, said James van Riemsdyk, one of five current Leafs who were part of that ’13 playoff team. If the B’s remain in third place, they’ll have that first-round series with the Sens, and would then take on the victor of the Rangers-Canadiens showdown in the second round if they were to advance.

Toronto is only two points behind Boston with a game in hand.

Then there was Kasperi Kapanen, his first National Hockey League goal and point a few minutes earlier tying the game at three.

No one usually recognizes Jake Gardiner on his walk home from the Air Canada Centre, but that changed Saturday evening after the Maple Leafs clinched their second playoff berth in the last 13 years. With Josh Archibald off for tripping at 16:51, the Leafs mustered next to nothing, at times keeping the puck in their own zone for long stretches. This should be another exciting game between these two teams but I expect the Leafs to have a little more bounce in their step as they get another win to lock up third place and set up a date with the Ottawa Senators. Locked into the top spot in the West, the Blackhawks will open the playoffs against the Predators, Flames or Blues.

The Leafs could finish as high as second in the Atlantic Division or miss the postseason entirely.

Horns were honking on Bay St. instead of the feared beep-beep-beep of the Leafs backing into a playoff spot.

If the Bruins pick up just one point in Saturday’s season finale, they’ll still be in decent position.

Marc-Andre Fleury started in goal for the Penguins but dropped to 7-1-2 in his last 10 decisions at Toronto, 12-4-2 in his last 18 decisions overall against the Leafs.

The Lightning play the Montréal Canadiens.

The Leafs got on the board early in the middle frame, van Riemsdyk scoring the first of his two goals on the night. If that happens, the fight is between the Leafs and the Islanders; neither team clinches by the Lightning falling.

After scoring on his own net halfway through the third to give the Penguins a 3-2 lead, Jake Gardiner bounced back with a ideal shot-pass to Connor Brown in the high slot for an assist on the game-winning tally.

Toronto Maple Leafs salute fans following the team’s NHL hockey game against the Pittsburgh Penguins in Toronto on Saturday, April 8, 2017. “And if not, they still get a lot of experience”.

Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin (8), of Russian Federation, and teammates celebrate a 2-0 win over the New York Rangers in an NHL hockey game, Wednesday, April 5, 2017, in Washington.

The Islanders play Ottawa at 5pm.

The Penguins went ahead at 6:51 of the third period on the kind of goal you would have to see to believe. 2, Tampa Bay, Kucherov 40 (Point, Palat), 19:50.

There’s Alex Ovechkin, Nicklas Backstrom, Evgeny Kuznetsov and T.J. Oshie to tangle with up front, Kevin Shattenkirk and John Carlson to cause problems on a deep back-end and Braden Holtby, the reigning Vezina trophy victor, to beat between the pipes. I told the coaches at the start of the year if we got in it was going to be (Sunday) in Game 82. They are looking for three at least, while four points puts them at 94 points and eliminates the Lightning if they aren’t already.

– The Capitals have gone 7-1 in their last eight games against the Maple Leafs. And a tie goes to the Islanders only if they are also tied in ROW, so shootout wins might not be enough for the Islanders. “We talked at length about being at the Blue Jays games when they were winning and what that feeling was like for them and for us to see it”, he said. Joonas Korpisalo stopped 30-of-32 shots to earn the win for the Jackets, who are set for a first-round matchup against Pittsburgh.

“He’s a special talent, and more importantly, he is a special person”, Leafs coach Mike Babcock said.

Two points and the Leafs are in, four points and the Leafs might be in third or even second place in the Atlantic.

McElhinney was great in relief, stopping Sidney Crosby on a one-timer late in the game to help solidify the victory.