Instant Reaction: Kings outlast Maple Leafs in barn burner to keep playoff hopes alive, improve Leafs’ top-5 odds
What’s hilarious about this game is that because the Los Angeles Kings play in the horrendous Pacific Division, they’re still firmly in the playoff race despite being up only three points on the Maple Leafs. And while it would have been preferable for the team not to collect any points from that game, the Kings’ playoff chances have implications for the Leafs, with the third-round pick acquired in the Scott Laughton trade set to become a second-round pick if the Kings make the playoffs. And with that win, the Kings currently occupy the second wildcard spot.
Knies had two goals and an assist for easily his best game since the Olympic break, which is again a shame considering it doesn’t mean anything. Easton Cowan continues to look better and more comfortable in each game, which can be taken as a long-term positive, and John Tavares continued to prove age is just a number with a three-point affair of his own.
With the single point in the overtime loss, the Maple Leafs are up three points on fifth-last in the league, moving one point above the Florida Panthers, who have a game in hand on them. At this point, trying to analyze games any further than what the implications are for their draft lottery chances is near impossible, because there’s truly nothing left to say besides counting down the days until the season is over. The Leafs will have a few days off before hosting the Washington Capitals on Wednesday.