Sundin, Antropov Out Tuesday Against The Islanders
Posted March 17, 2008 12:00 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Facing a virtual win-or-go-home scenario in order to earn a playoff berth, the Toronto Maple Leafs already need all the help they can get. Losing two of their best players probably isn’t exactly what they had in mind.
Still, that’s the reality Paul Maurice’s club will have to face Tuesday, when Mats Sundin and Nik Antropov are expected to be sidelined for a crucial game against the New York Islanders.
For the Leafs captain it’ll be the second straight game out of the lineup, after he sat out Saturday in what ended as a 6-2 loss to the Buffalo Sabres.
It was during that contest – a mere three minutes into it, in fact – that Antropov suffered a knee injury which promises to keep him out of action for a few days.
Given that Sundin and Antropov are the Leafs’ top two scorers, the news is certainly not encouraging for the Buds, who sit six points back of the eighth and final playoff spot with nine games to go.
That three teams – Buffalo, Florida and Washington – stand between the Leafs and eighth-place Philadelphia also doesn’t bode well, not that Sundin is phased by the numbers.
“We have plenty of good players on our hockey team to win that game tomorrow even though I’m not there,” he said Monday.
Coach Paul Maurice was also wearing a brave face following the week’s first practice.
“This team over the years has been able to win games without Mats, but there’s no replacing his abilities,” he said. “And Nik for that matter I think is underrated in terms of what he does for our team. We’re going to miss those two guys … But this gives other guys opportunities.”
One of those other guys is Alex Foster, who was called up from the Marlies for Tuesday’s tilt, which assuming he dresses would be his NHL debut.
Sundin and Antropov could both be back by the weekend, although Mats was vague about his personal timetable after testing over the weekend exposed a small groin tear.
“I’m going to try to skate again tomorrow morning and we’ll go from there. It’ll be day by day,” he said. “We’ll see what level I can get skating. I’ll try to play as soon as I can. I hope Friday, but we’ll see.
“As soon as I can play, I’ll play.”
The Flyers still own the eighth and final playoff spot in the East with 80 points but they’re stumbling. Buffalo is only one point back at 79 after a four-point weekend. Washington is next at 78 points but faces a six-game road trip beginning Tuesday night at Nashville.
Red-hot Florida, having played one more game than the Caps, is 11th with 78 points while the Leafs are 12th at 74.
