Leafs recall Garret Sparks; Andersen’s status in question for Sunday finale

“We made it way harder than it should be”, Maple Leafs coach Mike Babcock said. We can’t let panic come into our game. Toronto got out to a 3-0 lead after a goal from Matthews, and though Washington rallied with two goals in the third period, the team didn’t handle Toronto’s speed well and was called for five minor penalties.

The result of the Columbus game will determine the Leafs first round opponent.

The Jackets charged back with three goals in less than seven minutes. I think they play. They’ll face the Capitals on Sunday in Tom Rowe’s last game behind the bench. “You go over and over a foundation of how to play so in the big moments you do what you do, but we didn’t do that”.

Of course, that option stinks for Isles fans seeking the chance to see a Tavares-less lineup slaughtered by the Capitals in round one.

“It’s obviously a tough hill to climb, and we need a lot of things to go our way”.

Andersen, who had stopped three of four shots, left with an undisclosed injury and was replaced by Curtis McElhinney, who stopped 12 of 14 shots. “I thought it would be like this – you have to really crawl in at the end”. “It was just important for me to get that low coverage”.

Asked on Sunday if Andersen had any concussion symptoms, Babcock said: “No symptoms”.

“Oh yeah, for sure”, Babcock said. “So I think he’s a real good player and a real good man and has a chance to be special”.

The Maple Leafs are led by a trio of superb rookies. “I think coaches are allowing them to play and I think you get a better brand of hockey”.

The Penguins recalled goaltender Tristan Jarry and forward Kevin Porter on Saturday ahead of their game in Toronto.

At 20 years and 86 days on Sunday, McDavid would be the third-youngest player to win a scoring title, trailing only Sidney Crosby and Wayne Gretzky, according to Elias Sports Bureau research. The Leafs, however, never did have the consistent energy that Babcock thought he would see, and Columbus reeled off three goals by the end of the second, getting the victor from Cam Atkinson while shorthanded. That we know. What we don’t know is whether it will be the Maple Leafs or Bruins.

James van Riemsdyk scored at 2:03 when his shot dipped under the glove of Columbus goalie Joonas Korpisalo; at 6:36, van Riemsdyk scored his second goal after keeping on a two-on-one with Mitch Marner and beating Korpisalo with a high shot. Van Riemsdyk’s wrap-around attempt was a couple inches from sneaking past Fleury.

Toronto’s William Nylander hit a goal post nearing the midpoint of the first.

Brown got the victor when he tipped a Jake Gardiner shot past Marc-Andre Fleury, with Nazem Kadri screening the goalie.

The joy and excitement that filled Air Canada Centre on Saturday night quickly gave way to concern. But, after reviewing the play, referees determined van Riemsdyk managed to stay onside and have control of the puck. It was Bozak’s 18th goal of the season.

Adding another wrinkle, Saturday’s Islanders-Devils game starts an hour before Toronto’s game with the Penguins.

And the nerves the Leafs might have been battling in the past week as they tried to nail down a spot, how will those compare to competing in the playoffs?

Marc-Andre Fleury will start for Pittsburgh.

Penguins star Evgeni Malkin has been out since March 15 with a shoulder injury. Forwards Nick Bonino, Bryan Rust and Patric Hornqvist got the night off.

When Mike Babcock gathers his players on Tuesday to begin preparing in earnest for the Washington Capitals, the Maple Leafs head coach will cut through the rhetoric and give a simple message.

The Penguins missed out on a chance to reach 20 road wins for a 10th consecutive season, something they’ll now try to do Sunday in NY.