Sunday is a day of rest, after all.
The question has been asked frequently of John Tortorella: when do you plan on giving some of your players a night off?
It's a fair question, obviously, because the Blue Jackets have had a playoff spot wrapped up for a few weeks and their first-round matchup was solidified last week. Granted, resting players in hockey is less prevalent than, say, the NFL, but many teams have instituted the practice of giving veterans a rest down the stretch when the schedule allows.
For the Blue Jackets, they will have a few players sitting out tonight's regular season finale at the Air Canada Centre - a game that still means a lot to the Maple Leafs, who clinched a playoff spot with a win over the Penguins last night.
Sonny Milano was recalled from Cleveland this morning and he's expected to be in the lineup tonight.
Hearing #CBJ D Seth Jones and C Alexander Wennberg will sit tonight vs. #Leafs, in addition to Scott Hartnell.
— Aaron Portzline (@Aportzline) April 9, 2017
Joonas Korpisalo is the likely starter for Columbus after Sergei Bobrovsky played the front end of the back-to-back yesterday in Philadelphia. Korpisalo is 1-1 against the Maple Leafs this season, picking up the win over former Blue Jackets backup Curtis McElhinney at Nationwide Arena on Feb. 15. Ironically enough, McElhinney will start for the Maple Leafs tonight after a tremendous effort in relief last night following Frederik Andersen's head injury.
Torts texted McElhinney right after last night's game: "I was thrilled for him. I hope he stinks tonight, but I was thrilled for him."
— Kristen Shilton (@kristen_shilton) April 9, 2017
What's at stake for Toronto? Well, they can avoid a first-round date with the (gulp) Washington Capitals if they get at least a point against the Blue Jackets today, vaulting them over the Boston Bruins into the Atlantic Division's third spot.
