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Resurgent Maple Leafs look for revenge vs. Devils

Mar 8, 2008 - 1:11 PM New Jersey (39-23-6) at Toronto (30-29-10) 7:00 pm EST

TORONTO (Ticker) - In what was thought to be a lost season, suddenly the Toronto Maple Leafs find themselves with a chance at postseason play.

On the outside looking in at the playoffs, the Maple Leafs figured to be sellers at the February 26 trade deadline. However, they were unable to make a move.

And as the saying goes, sometimes the best deals are the ones not made.

Toronto won four of five prior to the deadline, and is 3-1-1 since. The recent surge has the Maple Leafs six points behind the Philadelphia Flyers (34-26-8) for the eighth and final playoff spot in the East.

On Thursday Nik Antropov had two goals and an assist and captain Mats Sundin had a tally and two assists in an 8-2 rout of Boston.

Sundin, who was one of the veteran that figured to be traded, has been the key to the resurgence. The 17-year veteran, who used his no-trade clause to remain with the team, has six goals and seven assists during a season-high seven game points streak.

He will look to help the Maple Leafs avenge their only regulation loss in the last seven games.

New Jersey, which has won all three meetings, posted a 4-2 win over Toronto on Tuesday.

Patrik Elias scored 4:02 into overtime to lead New Jersey to a 2-1 win over Tampa Bay on Friday.

The Devils, who enter Saturday first in the conference with 84 points, are 11-3-3 in their last 17 games and have allowed two goals or less in nine of their last 10 contests.