Leafs Lottery Guide April 2: Arizona taking over?

The Sabres came back to beat the Leafs last night much to the chagrin of their fans. Buffalo's abilities lately have put them only two points ahead of Arizona for the best odds at 1st overall on April 18th. Speaking of closing the gap the Leafs and Hurricanes are only 3 points apart, so it's time for Cam Ward to pull up his socks and get to the shutouts already.

Your schedule for Thursday April 2nd:

New York Islanders @ Columbus Blue Jackets
No Leafs Impact
The BJ's have been doing great lately, going 9-1-0 in their last 10. 14 points back of the Leafs there's no threat here, except to the Islanders who are only 1 point ahead of Washington who sits in a wild card spot.

Boston Bruins at Detroit Red Wings
No Leafs Impact
This one, to me, is all about knocking the Bruins out of the playoffs.

Carolina Hurricanes at Florida Panthers
Best Rest: Carolina in OT
Need the Hurricanes to expand that gap between 5th and 4th, but a point for the Panthers would make them happy to go along with a Bruins loss.

Tampa Bay Lightning at Ottawa Senators
No Leafs impact
What do you want? The Habs to not win the division or the Senators to knock Boston out of the playoffs? A Tampa win puts them them first in the Atlantic, an Ottawa win brings them to within 2 points of Boston.

Washington Capitals at Montreal Canadiens
No Leafs Impact
See above. If Washington wins, they knock Pittsburgh down to a WC spot.

Calgary Flames at St. Louis Blues
Best Result: St. Louis win
A win puts the Blues 2 points back of the Central lead, something we need them to win to knock down Nashvilles 1st overall

New York Rangers at Minnesota Wild
No Leafs Impact
Meh on this one.

Vancouver Canucks at Chicago Blackhawks
Best Result: Chicago wins
This moves Chicago 3 points back of Nashville. Let's hope both Blackhawks and Blues pass Nashville.

Edmonton Oilers at Los Angeles Kings
Best Result: Edmoton wins
This would put the Oilers only 3 points ahead of the Leafs. Go Oilers!

Here's where our lottery draft choices currently sit in their respective playoffs:
Connor McDavid & Dylan Strome
Erie Otters lead the Sarnia Sting 3 games to 1 in the first round of OHL playoffs
McDaivd has 2 goals and 4 assists, Strome has 3 goals and 2 assists

Jack Eichel
Boston University will play North Dakota in the NCAA Frozen Four on April 9th. The winner will play either Nebraska-Omaha or Providence.

Noah Hanafin
Hanafin finished his season with Boston College with 5 goals and 18 assists.

Mitch Marner
The London Knights lead the Kitchener Rangers 3-0 in the first round of the OHL playoffs.
Marner has 7 goals and 5 assists.

Here are your lottery standings