Leafs Settle For Single Point In OT Loss To Thrashers
Posted March 29, 2007 12:00 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
The Leafs came close to taking a big step into the playoff picture Thursday night, but being satisfied with coming close means that’s about as much as they can hope to do when it comes to the second season.
Tied 2-2 with less than a minute remaining in overtime, Atlanta forward Slava Kozlov scored a back-breaking goal Thursday, handing the Leafs a 3-2 loss and delivering a body blow to their playoff hopes.
Marian Hossa made it 1-0 early on in the first with his 42nd goal of the year for the Thrashers, who increased their lead in the Southeast Division to five points over Tampa Bay.
Kozlov reestablished the lead at 2-1 in the second after John Pohl tallied in the first, and Hal Gill took a brilliant Nik Antropov feed halfway through the period to knot things up again for Toronto, which began the night two points out of the eighth and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.
Kozlov delivered the haymaker in overtime, forcing the Leafs to settle for a single point, their 85 th, putting them one up on the New York Islanders and Carolina Hurricanes, but still one shy of where they want to and need to be.
The goal was made possible in part by an Antropov penalty with less than two minutes remaining in overtime.
Things are certainly tight in the East right now, and despite currently being on the outside looking in Toronto has three of its final five games against the Islanders, Rangers and Canadiens, three teams they’re firmly in the mix with.
That their playoff fate rests firmly in their own hands is undoubtedly an encouraging feeling, and should make for a scintillating finish.
Before the Buds get into it with those teams however, they first have to host Sidney Crosby and the Pittsburgh Penguins at the Air Canada Centre Saturday night.
