In a perfect world, the Edmonton Oilers and Toronto Maple Leafs would play each other in the Basement Bowl on Saturday night, and Auston Matthews would be in attendance.
Both teams are tied for last in the league with 69 points, and both have one game left to play. The Maple Leafs will face the New Jersey Devils on the road Saturday, while the Oilers visit the Vancouver Canucks.
Last place guarantees the best odds - 20 percent - at the NHL draft lottery on April 30. On the line is the right to select first overall at June's entry draft, where Matthews is predicted to be taken No. 1.
The Maple Leafs failed to clinch 30th by winning Thursday in Philadelphia.
Should both Toronto and Edmonton win or lose their final games, the Maple Leafs will finish 30th thanks to fewer regulation and overtime wins (ROW). Toronto has 23 ROWs to Edmonton's 27.
If the Maple Leafs finish last, it will only be the third time in franchise history, writes the Toronto Star's Kevin McGran.
May the luckiest team lose.
