Disaster Strikes In Toronto as Maple Leafs Could Be Missing Two Top Defensemen for Game 1

Currently sitting at 104 points on the season and just 1 point away from clinching the Atlantic Division title, the Leafs have already secured home ice for the first round of the playoffs. Unfortunately, once the playoffs begin, they may still be shorthanded on the blueline.

While not quite a worst-case scenario, it's certainly not ideal. On Tuesday morning, Leafs head coach Craig Berube provided updates on Oliver Ekman-Larsson and Jake McCabe, and in doing so, also confirmed that he is unsure of whether or not the pair of NHL regulars will even be able to suit up for Game 1.

The Leafs have been rolling of late, winning 3 consecutive games -- even without two of their top defensemen. So, with that in mind, they could conceivably perform well even with players like Philippe Myers and Dakota Mermis in the lineup for a short period of time. However, if the absences of OEL and McCabe stretch deep into the first round, the Leafs could find themselves in trouble, even with Chris Tanev, Morgan Rielly and Brandon Carlo in the lineup.

Tonight's matchup against the Buffalo Sabres is the final road game of the season for the Leafs before they head back to Toronto to meet the Detroit Red Wings in their season finale.

Tonight, Anthony Stolarz is the team's confirmed starting goalie, which likely means that Joseph Woll will draw in for the team's matchup with the Wings on April 17th.

As far as the lineup goes, the Maple Leafs have done some shuffling for tonight's game, placing Max Domi in the top six with John Tavares and William Nylander. Pontus Holmberg will shift to the middle to centre the 3rd line, while Calle Jarnkrok drops to RW on the 4th line.

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The Sabres were unable to do the Leafs any favours last week, losing a 7-4 decision to the Tampa Bay Lightning. Let's hope the Leafs can steal one in Buffalo tonight and win the Atlantic Division for the first time in franchise history.