Maple Leafs Notes: Toronto Finishes Season Tonight in Montreal

Article Preface

This season has been an enigmatic one, both for the Toronto Maple Leafs and for me on BleacherReport.  Once again I find myself apologizing for an absence.  Sadly, one of the most important people in my life (and a huge Red Wings/Hockey fan) passed away suddenly.  He was someone I was very close with, and like I said one of the most important people in my life, I will truly miss him.

Toronto Versus Montreal Pre Game Notes

I'm pretty sure the Maple Leafs will go with the same lineup for tonight's tilt as they have their previous two.  Although they have lost the last two, there were some thins in both games that Paul Maurice appears to have liked (yes, hard to believe that there is a positive from Thursday's thrashing at the hands of the Senators.)

As for Montreal, they will look to lock up first overall tonight, and will start Carey Price in goal.  Toronto will counter with Vesa Toskala.  

NHL Draft Lottery To Be Televised

For the first time since the much publicized "Sidney Crosby Sweepstakes" the NHL will broadcast it's draft lottery live on television.

The Lottery draw will be shown during the NHL on TSN's Playoff Preview, which airs Monday beginning at 8 P.M. 

The Maple Leafs are the 8th worst team in the NHL going into tonight's games and will be entered in the lottery, along with every other non playoff bound franchise.  

However, by the rules of the lottery, a team can only move up a maximum of four spots.  Therefore even though they are in the lottery, the Maple Leafs cannot win the first overall pick.  The highest they can move up in the draft (based on today's standings) would be 4th overall.

Marlies Clinch AHL North Division Title

The Toronto Marlies recently clinched their first ever North Division Title.  Their effort was aided by a recent ten game point streak, in which the club went ten games recording at least one point.  That streak was snapped last night when Mannitoba, the AHL Affiliate of the Vancouver Canucks, defeated the Marlies 2-1.  

The two teams meet up again tonight.

The Marlies have just five games remaining before the start of the AHL Playoffs.  Tickets for the first two rounds of the playoffs are available now.