Apr. 7: Leafs 1 at Montreal 4

(Grabovski continues excellent play in Montreal)
Leafs scorers: Phaneuf (12)
Canadiens scorers: Plekanec (17), Pacioretty (33), Cole (35), Staubitz (1)
Links: Box Score | Discussion boards

Forward lines:: Frattin-Bozak-Kessel, MacArthur-Grabovski-Crabb, Lombardi-Steckel-Connolly, Rosehill-Armstrong-Brown
Defence pairings: Phaneuf-Komisarek, Liles-Franson, Gardiner-Schenn
Goaltenders: Scrivens Scrivens (Loss, 58:49 minutes played, 23 saves 3 GA), Gustavsson (0:00)

Recap:

Is Quincy available, Da Vinci? We’ve got a body on our hands.

Heck, Klugman or Campbell might do for this sorry lot.

The Toronto Maple Leafs lost the last game of the season to the Montreal Canadiens at the Bell Centre, clinching the fifth overall spot before the lottery proceedings. With around an eight percent chance to move up into the first spot the Leafs are likely to retain the pick they have with an outside chance at moving down a spot too.
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Apr. 5: Leafs 3 vs. Lightning 2

(Leafs captain scores at 4:01 of overtime)
Leafs scorers: Connolly (13), Gardiner (7), Phaneuf (11)
Lightning scorers: St. Louis (25), Stamkos (59)
Links: Box Score | Discussion boards

Forward lines:: Frattin-Bozak-Kessel, MacArthur-Lombardi-Ashton, Crabb-Connolly-Steckel, Rosehill-Armstrong-Brown
Defence pairings: Phaneuf-Komisarek, Gardiner-Franson, Liles-Schenn
Goaltenders: Scrivens (Win, 64:01 minutes played, 35 saves 2 GA) Gustavsson (0:00)

Recap:
The Leafs didn’t completely contain Steven Stamkos. But they stoppped the Markham, Ontario native from celebrating a milestone at Air Canada Centre.

For much of the last half of the third period of Thursday night’s visit from the Tampa Bay Lightning it appeared that Stamkos’ 59th goal would hold up as the game-winner. The stage was set for the soon-to-be Rocket Richard Trophy winner to become the first NHL player to reach the sixty-goal plateau since Washington’s Alex Ovechkin accomplished the feat with a 65-goal campaign four years ago.

With the graduate of the Ontario Junior Hockey League’s Markham Waxers having registered 18 points in fifteen previous games against Toronto, Stamkos had the odds in his favour.
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Apr. 3: Leafs 5 vs. Sabres 6 (OT)

(Frattin gets Gordie Howe hat trick)
Leafs scorers: Bozak 2 (18), Frattin (8), MacArthur (20), Gardiner (6)
Sabres scorers: Ennis (15), Sulzer 2 (3), Roy 2 (17), Leopold (10)
Links: Box Score | Discussion boards

Forward lines:: Frattin-Bozak-Kessel, MacArthur-Colborne-Crabb, Lombardi-Connolly-Brown, Rosehill-Ashton
Defence pairings: Gunnarsson-Phaneuf, Liles-Komisarek, Gardiner-Schenn, Franson
Goaltenders: Scrivens (OT Loss, 63:29 minutes played, 39 saves 6 GA) Rynnas (0:00)

Recap:
I love the smell of burning chrysalis in the mourning, that spring failure in the air, smells like… golf.

That’s not to suggest that the Leafs were really about to turn into a butterfly and make us forget how bad they’ve been at times this year. But last night’s overtime loss to the Buffalo Sabres was certainly a bittersweet moment that, in many ways, encapsulates a seasons worth of hardship, disappointment and failure.

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Mar. 31: Leafs 4 vs. Sabres 3

(Ben Scrivens makes 29 saves in Leafs win)
Leafs scorers: Crabb (11), Kessel (37), Liles (7), Frattin (7)
Sabres scorers: Ennis (14), Leino (7), Stafford (20)
Links: Box Score | Discussion boards

Forward lines:: Frattin-Bozak-Kessel, MacArthur-Grabovski-Crabb, Ashton-Connolly-Brown, Rosehill-Lombardi-Armstrong.
Defence pairings: Phaneuf-Gunnarsson, Gardiner-Komisarek, Liles-Schenn
Goaltenders: Scrivens (Win, 60:00 minutes played, 29 saves 3 GA) Rynnas (0:00)

Recap:
The drought is finally over.

Of course, the end to the Leafs’ home losing streak is of no consequence to the club’s playoff position, having been eliminated from post-season contention four days ago.

But Toronto’s 4-3 victory over the Sabres on Saturday night ended what had become a farcical atmosphere of loyal fans turning on their own team. The official tally of the length of time between Leafs win at Air Canada Centre is 54 days.
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Mar. 29: Leafs 1 vs. Flyers 7

(Jussi Rynnas makes his first career start)
Leafs scorers: Grabovski (23)
Flyers scorers: Schenn 2 (11), Simmonds 2 (25), Read (23), Wellwood (5), Voracek (15),
Links: Box Score | Discussion boards

Forward lines:: MacArthur-Bozak-Kessel, Ashton-Lombardi-Armstrong, Connolly-Grabovski-Crabb, Frattin-Brown-Rosehill
Defence pairings: Phaneuf-Gunnarsson, Gardiner-Franson, Liles-Schenn
Goaltenders: Rynnas (Loss, 59:31 minutes played, 23 saves 7 GA) Gustavsson (0:00)

Recap:
When Clarke MacArthur accidentally knocked Jonas Gustavsson out of action during the pre-game warm up, it was an ominous sign of a long evening ahead for the Maple Leafs.

The way that the Toronto players indifferently skated through an embarrassing 7-1 defeat to Philadelphia on Thursday night, it’s unlikely that having the Monster in net would have made a difference in the final result.

It was not the way that 24-year-old Jussi Rynnas would have scripted his first career NHL start, summoned in the wake of Gustavsson and James Reimer’s injuries. Had the players in front of him displayed even an ounce of emotion, the mood at Air Canada Centre may have been less funereal.

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Mar. 27: Leafs 0 vs. Carolina 3

(Gustavsson pulled after forgettable outing)
Leafs scorers: (none)
Hurricanes scorers: Jokinen (12), Brent (12), Harrison (9)
Links: Box Score | Discussion boards

Forward lines:: Ashton-Bozak-Kessel, MacArthur-Grabovski-Frattin,
Connolly-Steckel-Crabb, Brown-Lombardi-Rosehil
Defence pairings: Phaneuf-Gunnarsson, Gardiner-Franson, Liles-Schenn

Goaltenders: Gustavsson (Loss, 20:37 minutes played, 9 saves 3 GA) Rynnas (39:23 minutes played, 10 saves 0 GA)

Recap:
The season wasn’t supposed to end like this.

Not after the Leafs temporarily silenced their most vocal critics for over half a season, compiling 62 points in 53 games.

Not after trumping the Oilers 6-3 on February 6 at Air Canada Centre to bump their record to 28-19-6, just four points off the division lead.

Sadly for Leafs fans, the past fifty days have been an unmitigated disaster, culminating a 3-0 defeat to the Carolina Hurricanes. The loss officially eliminated Toronto from playoff contention.
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