Maple Leafs flirt with missing playoffs after loss to desperate Lightning

Islanders, Lightning, Leafs now in 3-way battle for final spot

Auston Matthews of the Toronto Maple Leafs prepares for a first period face off while playing the Detroit Red Wings at Joe Louis Arena on April 1, 2017 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)

The upstart Toronto Maple Leafs needed two points Thursday night to capture their first playoff berth since 2013. 

But the desperate, albeit injured, Tampa Bay Lightning had other plans. They kept their own playoff hopes alive with a strong 4-1 victory in Toronto. 

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Meanwhile, the New York Islanders blanked the Carolina Hurricanes, 3-0, to make this a three-team battle for the final Eastern Conference playoff spot. Things could get interesting. 

Related: Islanders need to keep up win streak if they want shot at playoffs

Here's a look at the playoff picture in the East:

 

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The Leafs, Lightning and Islanders all have two games left on the schedule. The Leafs need one regulation win or a loss by the Islanders and Lightning to clinch the final spot. It will not be an easy task for the Leafs as they face the Pittsburgh Penguins Saturday night and the Columbus Blue Jackets on Sunday. Notice, regulation/overtime wins (ROW) could be a deciding factor if the Leafs don't win another game in regulation. 

The Islanders will face the lowly New Jersey Devils on Saturday followed by a Sunday game against the Ottawa Senators. The Lightning play the Montreal Canadiens Friday night and end their regular season schedule with a Sunday game against the Buffalo Sabres. Those could be four must-watch games for hockey fans. 

Though they have the upper hand now and the odds are way in their favor, coach Mike Babcock's young Maple Leafs team will have to dig deep in the home stretch. Coach Jon Cooper's experienced Lightning showed them what desperate playoff hockey means. The Penguins and Jackets have nothing to play for, but they'll be revving up for playoff hockey.  

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