Toronto Maple Leafs Vs. Ottawa Senators

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The Toronto Maple Leafs have got to be a tired bunch. Well they have turned things around recently with more wins than they are accustomed to, they have had to go into extra time in each of them. The Maple Leafs will attempt to win a game in regulation for the first time since Valentines Day when they travel to Ottawa to face the Senators.

Toronto (24-26-12) have gone into a shootout in four of their last five games. And that fifth game? It ended in overtime. The Maple Leafs have won three straight in extra time after losing their first two.

For the Toronto Maple Leafs to make the playoffs for the first time in four seasons they will have to continue to win games, but win them in regulation and not allow their Eastern Conference opponents to gain a point. Toronto is nine points behind Buffalo and Carolina, who are tied for the eighth and final playoff spot in the East.

They will also need to improve their goals against average, which is one of the worst in the league at a lofty 3.50. Toronto beat the New York Islanders 5-4 in another shootout Thursday. Vesa Toskala is statistically one of the worst goalies in the NHL and allowed four goals to the NHL-worst Islanders, but made a season-high 40 saves in the process. The Maple Leafs already poor defense was shorthanded since they were missing Tomas Kaberle and Mike Van Ryn due to injury. Both are expected to be back against the Senators (23-28-9).

Toronto has a little hope now, but their fellow Ontario team, the Ottawa Senators have seen their hope vanish. The Senators were soaring, for them, at a 5-0-2 mark but have skidded to a 1-3-0 mark since. The dropped a home game to the NHL-best Sharks 2-1 on Thursday.

Ottawa has had the opposite problem of Toronto this season. While they have been playing average to good defense, they have not been able to find the net. Their 2.45 goals per game ranks near the bottom of the NHL.

For Toronto, Ottawa has been the one team that they have been able to beat up, especially Toskala who is 2-0-1 with a 1.30 GAA.

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