However, as it pertains to these final regular-season matchups, the respective lineup situations and game stakes are quite different for the two rivals.
The first-place Leafs, while they’re missing Zach Hyman, Zach Bogosian, and Justin Holl (day-to-day), are looking to finalize, at most, a couple of positions on their playoff roster while hoping to get healthy without losing anyone else before the regular season ends.
Montreal, on the other hand, has a chance to take advantage of Winnipeg’s five-game losing streak and leapfrog the Jets into third in the division, giving themselves what they would (or should) consider an easier first-round matchup.