from ESPN http://ift.tt/1cUaQ0a
via Toronto Maple Leafs
Thursday, November 30, 2017
Price helps Canadiens climb into playoff spot with 4th straight win
from NHL | theScore
via TheScore.com
via TheScore.com
Oilers’ McDavid might be better player, but Leafs’ Matthews has better support
And while the Oilers star already has an MVP award, it could be his Leafs counterpart who has more team success, Bruce Arthur writes.
Read the Full Story @ TheStar.com: Toronto Star | SPORTS | LEAFS
Wednesday, November 29, 2017
Doughty feels he and Karlsson deserve 'quite a bit more' money than Subban
from NHL | theScore
via TheScore.com
via TheScore.com
Marlies defenceman Liljegren finds a place to call home
Newly moved into a condo, Leafs' 2017 first-round pick has played in 12 of Marlies' first 20 games.
Read the Full Story @ TheStar.com: Toronto Star | SPORTS | LEAFS
Oilers still counting on Connor McDavid to put out their fires
Winger Maroon says Edmonton "can't rely on one player every year" but the McJesus nickname was only partly hyperbole, Bruce Arthur writes.
Read the Full Story @ TheStar.com: Toronto Star | SPORTS | LEAFS
Thursday game preview: Maple Leafs at Edmonton Oilers
Kadri will likely get another chance to try to shut down McDavid.
Read the Full Story @ TheStar.com: Toronto Star | SPORTS | LEAFS
With consistency, the Maple Leafs might have a chance to be pretty good
Goaltender Frederik Andersen made a series of big saves and stopped 19 of 20 shots on Tuesday night in Calgary.
Read the Full Story @ TheStar.com: Toronto Star | SPORTS | LEAFS
Matthews held without a shot on goal for 1st time in NHL career
from NHL | theScore
via TheScore.com
via TheScore.com
Tuesday, November 28, 2017
Final: Maple Leafs 4 Flames 1. TOR: N Kadri 1 goal, CGY: M Stone 1 goal, CGY: M Smith 26 saves. (ESPN)
from ESPN http://ift.tt/1cUaQ0a
via Toronto Maple Leafs
via Toronto Maple Leafs
Leafs’ Babcock, Flames’ Gulutzan are brothers-in-arms of a sort
Bruce Arthur writes that the two NHL head coaches are Saskatchewan guys, for everything that means. The Saskatchewan coaching fraternity has spread far and wide.
Read the Full Story @ TheStar.com: Toronto Star | SPORTS | LEAFS
Slumps just par for the course, as young Leaf stars are finding out
Matthews. Marner. Nylander. Rielly. They’ve all been there. It’s part of hockey. Best not to worry about it though, as slumps always end, Bruce Arthur writes.
Read the Full Story @ TheStar.com: Toronto Star | SPORTS | LEAFS
Monday, November 27, 2017
Maple Leafs at Calgary Flames: Game preview
The Flames’ Jaromir Jagr and Leafs’ Patrick Marleau represent over 3,500 games played and over 40 combined seasons of NHL service.
Read the Full Story @ TheStar.com: Toronto Star | SPORTS | LEAFS
Sunday, November 26, 2017
At NHL’s start, Toronto was almost left out
Bad blood between owners meant new league almost gave team to Quebec City instead of Toronto
Read the Full Story @ TheStar.com: Toronto Star | SPORTS | LEAFS
The busier the better for Leafs goaltender Frederik Andersen
Toronto netminder isn't worried about leading the NHL in starts, his only concern is the next save, Rosie DiManno writes.
Read the Full Story @ TheStar.com: Toronto Star | SPORTS | LEAFS
Leafs have plenty of questions as they head to Western Canada
Babcock continues to juggle his lines while Nylander tries to work out of his slump.
Read the Full Story @ TheStar.com: Toronto Star | SPORTS | LEAFS
Saturday, November 25, 2017
Ovie and Ovie and Ovie again beats Leafs
A strong team effort by the Leafs comes up short against the hat trick of one individual.
Read the Full Story @ TheStar.com: Toronto Star | SPORTS | LEAFS
Ovechkin hat trick leads Capitals over Leafs
Washington winger passes Mike Bossy on career goal-scoring list, needs one more to crack top 20.
Read the Full Story @ TheStar.com: Toronto Star | SPORTS | LEAFS
Final: Capitals 4 Maple Leafs 2. WSH: A Ovechkin 3 goals, TOR: J Gardiner 1 goal, WSH: B Holtby 27 saves. (ESPN)
from ESPN http://ift.tt/1cUaQ0a
via Toronto Maple Leafs
via Toronto Maple Leafs
Capitals at Maple Leafs has started. Starting Goalies: WSH B Holtby, TOR C McElhinney. (ESPN)
from ESPN http://ift.tt/1cUaQ0a
via Toronto Maple Leafs
via Toronto Maple Leafs
Friday, November 24, 2017
Unusual suspects lead Leafs over Hurricanes
Hyman, Leivo, Hainsey spark Toronto after Babcock tries to spread out offence.
Read the Full Story @ TheStar.com: Toronto Star | SPORTS | LEAFS
Final: Maple Leafs 5 Hurricanes 4. TOR: P Marleau 1 goal, CAR: N Hanifin 1 goal, TOR: F Andersen 43 saves. (ESPN)
from ESPN http://ift.tt/1cUaQ0a
via Toronto Maple Leafs
via Toronto Maple Leafs
Maple Leafs at Hurricanes has started. Starting Goalies: TOR F Andersen, CAR C Ward. (ESPN)
from ESPN http://ift.tt/1cUaQ0a
via Toronto Maple Leafs
via Toronto Maple Leafs
Maple Leafs' first quarter not half bad
Auston Matthews takes his game, and linemates, to another level. Save percentage doesn't tell the whole story for workhorse netminder Frederik Andersen. Team stats scream elite, but it’s still early.
Read the Full Story @ TheStar.com: Toronto Star | SPORTS | LEAFS
Nylander eager to find his scoring touch as Leafs face Hurricanes
Slump frustrating for young winger.
Read the Full Story @ TheStar.com: Toronto Star | SPORTS | LEAFS
Matt Martin disappointed at getting scratched from Leafs’ lineup
'You never want to be out,' says winger.
Read the Full Story @ TheStar.com: Toronto Star | SPORTS | LEAFS
Daddy Sundin gives Matthews C of approval
Former captain Mats Sundin lays to rest speculation that he's mad at the organization after missing a string of major functions. He's too busy trying to get three little ones to sleep, Rosie DiManno writes.
Read the Full Story @ TheStar.com: Toronto Star | SPORTS | LEAFS
Thursday, November 23, 2017
NHL is trying to clean up the trash talk on ice
League is using its on-ice officials to remind players about language in an era where microphones are everywhere, misdeeds spread quickly, politically correct sensibilities are heightened and context means nothing.
Read the Full Story @ TheStar.com: Toronto Star | SPORTS | LEAFS
Fuming Kadri slams stick, hits official
Maple Leafs winger Nazem Kadri hit an off-ice official in the face while slamming his stick in frustration Wednesday.
Read the Full Story @ TheStar.com: Toronto Star | SPORTS | LEAFS
Wednesday, November 22, 2017
Leafs make point but drop shootout to Panthers
SUNRISE, FLA.—The idea, coming into Florida, was for the Maple Leafs to get back on track.
The Maple Leafs got a point thanks to a Nazem Kadri goal in the third period, but dropped their second in a row — this one in a shootout, 2-1 to the Florida Panthers.
If this is the track, they’re going the wrong way. They started flat, and could barely generate any offence against a Florida team that can’t match the Leafs’ depth, and waited for the third period to truly come to life.
Overtime was exciting but solved nothing, the game decided on Nick Bjugstad’s deke on Frederik Andersen in the shootout. Andersen faced 42 shots.
It was a plodding game until the third period, played before a sparsely populated BB&T Center, and it looked for a while like the only goal would be off a lucky second-period bounce from behind the net from Bjugstad’s stick.
After Roberto Luongo, who faced 43 shots, spent the night frustrating Maple Leafs shooters, Kadri finally broke through, finishing a two-on-one with Connor Brown with 6:02 remaining.
Kadri extended his points streak to eight games, and it was his 14th goal all-time against the Panthers, a team he likes to beat up on.
“I like the Sunshine State and everything about it,” Kadri said earlier in the day. “It gives you energy to walk outside and see the sun. Recently in Toronto we haven’t seen a whole lot of sun. It’s nice to get out here and feel that vibe and try to enjoy ourselves.”
Luongo had paid a familiar homage to the Maple Leafs.
“They are highly skilled,” said Luongo. “They can come from a lot of areas. It’s not just going to be a matter of keeping an eye out for the first line. They have guys that contribute throughout the whole lineup.”
To Luongo’s point, the Leafs have so far been able to outscore their problems, which go much deeper than Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner playing on the same line.
A big one lately is slow starts. They were terrible against Montreal until a line juggling act got them going and had everyone talking about offence again after a 6-0 win.
But the plodding start plagued the Leafs Monday in a 4-1 loss to Arizona, when they only came to life after the lines were changed.
“It’s one game. It’s not the end of the world, obviously,” said Matthews.
The trip to Florida was supposed to be refreshing, with new lines in tow.
Marner played his 100th game and started with Matthews for the first time as coach Mike Babcock appeared to be playing mind games with his matchups.
One day he’s putting his foot down that he’s the coach and making the decisions. Later, he apologizes for sounding like a “jackass.”
He follows that up with an adamant statement that Marner and Matthews won’t play together, because he needs them to “drive” different units. Then voila, next day they’re together.
But who is he playing mind games with? The media, who seem to second-guess the combinations? The fans, who clamour online to see Matthews and Marner together? The players, who now have to be used to the constant juggling?
How about the official statisticians, who are told before the game that Matt Martin was on the top line with Matthews and Marner, then didn’t even start the game there.
Truly, the target of his misdirection was the opposition. Florida plays its top line of Jonathan Huberdeau, Aleksander Barkov and Evgeni Dadonov a lot, and Babcock said he would make line changes to adjust to the Panthers, depending on how their top unit was going.
So the first period was fascinating. William Nylander was moved around the most, double-shifted at times, playing with Tyler Bozak and James van Riemsdyk as well as Patrick Marleau and Brown. He played with three different centres in the first period alone, amassing seven minutes and 30 seconds of playing time in that frame, the most by any forward on either team.
It ended 0-0 with Florida outshooting Toronto 15-7. The Leafs didn’t get a shot on net until 8:32, after Florida had taken nine.
The second period ended with Florida up 10, leading in shots 26-17. Bjugstad’s goal had “lucky bounce” written all over it. The winger was in a battle behind the Leafs net and centred the puck. It deflected off Connor Carrick, surprising Andersen for the lone goal of the second period.
Read the Full Story @ TheStar.com: Toronto Star | SPORTS | LEAFS
Final/SO: Panthers 2 Maple Leafs 1. TOR: N Kadri 1 goal, FLA: N Bjugstad 1 goal, FLA: R Luongo 41 saves. (ESPN)
from ESPN http://ift.tt/1cUaQ0a
via Toronto Maple Leafs
via Toronto Maple Leafs
Marleau's move to Maple Leafs surprised Boughner
Florida assistant coach, who worked with Marleau in San Jose, never anticipated him playing elsewhere, but sees how the move has paid off for the 38-year-old “true pro.”
Read the Full Story @ TheStar.com: Toronto Star | SPORTS | LEAFS
Maple Leafs at Panthers has started. (Rogers Sportsnet Ontario) (ESPN)
from ESPN http://ift.tt/1cUaQ0a
via Toronto Maple Leafs
via Toronto Maple Leafs
Soshnikov could be back in Leafs’ lineup against Panthers
Babcock hints at changes as Toronto prepares for Florida.
Read the Full Story @ TheStar.com: Toronto Star | SPORTS | LEAFS
Tuesday, November 21, 2017
Wednesday game preview: Toronto Maple Leafs at Florida Panthers
Former Leafs goaltender James Reimer has had a slow start with the Panthers this season.
Read the Full Story @ TheStar.com: Toronto Star | SPORTS | LEAFS
Leaf fans shouldn’t get used to Marner and Matthews together
Babcock says young stars will be on separate lines despite success against Montreal.
Read the Full Story @ TheStar.com: Toronto Star | SPORTS | LEAFS
Matthews and Marner combo only temporary, Babcock tells Leaf fans
'That’s great everyone wants that, but what we like to do is win every night.'
Read the Full Story @ TheStar.com: Toronto Star | SPORTS | LEAFS
Leafs’ unique development program paying dividends for Marlies’ Marchment
Spending the bulk of last season as a spectator wasn’t easy for Mason Marchment, but the development program put in place by the Maple Leafs has paid off for the undrafted forward.
Marchment is third in scoring for the Toronto Marlies with five goals and six assists, and is 10th amongst American Hockey League rookies in points, despite playing in just 12 of 17 games this season.
Two weeks ago the AHL recognized Marchment as its player of the week after the 22-year-old scored a goal and added six assists in three games.
Read more:
Leivo contract hints at Leafs' master plan: Cox
Leafs’ Frederik Andersen gets NHL weekly honour, watches Argos advance
Leafs miss last call vs. Coyotes
“He’s come a long way it seems like in a short period of time,” said linemate Ben Smith. “He’s got a great shot, he can skate, he knows how to get up and down the ice, be physical — it’s nice when you’re six-foot-four, also. If he can get that shot off, find open ice, and if we can play with the puck, we’re able to be productive.”
Marchment dressed in just 44 games last season split between the Marlies and the ECHL’s Orlando Solar Bears. The Uxbridge, Ont., native spent the rest of the season working with Leafs skating development consultant Barb Underhill and skill development consultant Mike Ellis.
“You see great potential, but (he) just wasn’t in the place where we felt he could contribute every single day,” said Marlies coach Sheldon Keefe. “We just tried to have a little bit of a bigger picture. We felt he needed to take care of his body first and foremost.
“I think development is individual. You need to cater the program for what they need whether it’s skating, strength what have you. In Mason’s case, we thought it was a little bit of everything.”
Marchment, the son of former NHL defenceman Bryan Marchment, has always been a late bloomer. He didn’t start playing minor hockey until the age of eight, he joined the Tier II Cobourg Cougars at 18 and was already 19 by the time he made the jump to the OHL with the Erie Otters.
Following his second OHL season, Marchment signed an amateur tryout with the Marlies to conclude the 2015-16 season. He then signed an AHL contract for the 2016-17 season and agreed to an extension for 2017-18.
Though it was difficult at the time, Marchment now has better appreciation for the college-like approach the organization took with his development last season.
“It wasn’t always easy, but I just kind of stuck with it and kept on working hard and obviously it paid off,” said Marchment.
The six-foot-four, 200-pound forward’s dedication to improving his game earned him a longer look from the Maple Leafs during training camp in September as he survived the first round of cuts.
“I think he’s just worked hard and competed hard,” Leafs head coach Mike Babcock said during camp. “He’s a guy obviously who has gotten better. We seem to like him and so we’re giving him every opportunity to see what’s going on and see what it’s like to be a pro and try to get better.”
While serving a recent two-game suspension for cross-checking, Marchment spent extra time after practice working with Underhill as he continues to improve his skating.
“I’ve been working with her for two years. It’s been a big improvement,” he said. “Just edge work and stuff like that. Overall she’s definitely helped my all-round game a lot. Just being more stable on my feet probably. Working on edges and speed out of the gate.
“Just being stronger on one foot at all times, just being in a good position at all times and harder to knock off the puck.”
Marchment is one of just three players currently on the Marlies roster without an NHL contract. As he continues to put in the work this season, he hopes the Leafs will come knocking with that entry-level deal.
“It’s definitely a big goal,” he said. “I think I’ve still got a lot of work to do and I just need to keep on working hard.”
Read the Full Story @ TheStar.com: Toronto Star | SPORTS | LEAFS
Monday, November 20, 2017
Final: Coyotes 4 Maple Leafs 1. ARI: M Domi 1 goal, TOR: J van Riemsdyk 1 goal, TOR: F Andersen 28 saves. (ESPN)
from ESPN http://ift.tt/1cUaQ0a
via Toronto Maple Leafs
via Toronto Maple Leafs
Watch: Matthews' tying goal waved off for questionable interference call
from NHL | theScore
via TheScore.com
via TheScore.com
Shades of Matthews in Coyotes’ Keller
Clayton Keller latest high-octane product of U.S. development program, and Arizona is reaping the benefits.
Read the Full Story @ TheStar.com: Toronto Star | SPORTS | LEAFS
Leafs' streak snapped by Coyotes
Auston Matthews hits milestone vs. hometown club, and has potential tying goal wiped out by goaltender interference at Air Canada Centre.
Read the Full Story @ TheStar.com: Toronto Star | SPORTS | LEAFS
Leivo contract hints at Leafs' master plan: Cox
The Leafs’ braintrust learned from the NHL's best when it comes to internal competition for roster spots and mining below-market deals to buy cap space for when the big guys are due.
Read the Full Story @ TheStar.com: Toronto Star | SPORTS | LEAFS
Leafs’ Frederik Andersen named NHL second star of the week
Andersen posted back-to-back shutouts last week, stopping 75 shots in all.
Read the Full Story @ TheStar.com: Toronto Star | SPORTS | LEAFS
Leafs’ Auston Matthews still shaking off a little rust ahead of game No. 100
Despite scoring a pair in his return, the Leafs star admitted to still feeling rusty after a four-game absence. But his game plan remains the same on game 100 of his career — just to get better.
Read the Full Story @ TheStar.com: Toronto Star | SPORTS | LEAFS
NHL Power Rankings: Lightning keep top spot, surging Leafs on the rise
from NHL | theScore
via TheScore.com
via TheScore.com
Sunday, November 19, 2017
Monday game preview: Arizona Coyotes at Toronto Maple Leafs
Arizona's Keller is the early favourite to succeed Matthews as the Calder Trophy winner.
Read the Full Story @ TheStar.com: Toronto Star | SPORTS | LEAFS
Frederik Andersen’s rebound is leading Leafs’ run
Leafs goaltender has five straight wins, and two straight shutouts, after an October to forget.
Read the Full Story @ TheStar.com: Toronto Star | SPORTS | LEAFS
Saturday, November 18, 2017
Marner helps Matthews make most of his return to Leafs
Young stars hook up in second half of Montreal whitewash.
Read the Full Story @ TheStar.com: Toronto Star | SPORTS | LEAFS
Niemi becomes 5th goalie in NHL history to play for 3 teams in a season
from NHL | theScore
via TheScore.com
via TheScore.com
Final: Maple Leafs 6 Canadiens 0. TOR: A Matthews 2 goals, TOR: F Andersen 33 saves. (ESPN)
from ESPN http://ift.tt/1cUaQ0a
via Toronto Maple Leafs
via Toronto Maple Leafs
Maple Leafs at Canadiens has started. Starting Goalies: TOR F Andersen, MTL C Lindgren. (ESPN)
from ESPN http://ift.tt/1cUaQ0a
via Toronto Maple Leafs
via Toronto Maple Leafs
Leafs’ Josh Leivo happy to play the role of good soldier
Little-used forward doesn't complain while he waits for an opportunity.
Read the Full Story @ TheStar.com: Toronto Star | SPORTS | LEAFS
Auston Matthews looks likely to return to Leafs lineup for tilt with Canadiens
The Leafs have won five in a row, the last four without their star centre, who has missed four games with an undisclosed upper body injury. Matthews has worked out for six days in a row, including this morning’s optional skate.
Read the Full Story @ TheStar.com: Toronto Star | SPORTS | LEAFS
Maple Leafs' goalies the reason Toronto thrived without Matthews
from NHL | theScore
via TheScore.com
via TheScore.com
Friday, November 17, 2017
Maple Leafs’ chances are improving with the fewer they allow
Team's defensive play continues to improve as they await return of Matthews.
Read the Full Story @ TheStar.com: Toronto Star | SPORTS | LEAFS
Saturday game preview: Toronto Maple Leafs at Montreal Canadiens
The Canadiens are 4-2-1 without No. 1 goalie Carey Price.
Read the Full Story @ TheStar.com: Toronto Star | SPORTS | LEAFS
Leafs sign Leivo to one-year extension for $925,000
24-year-old winger has one assist in five games this season.
Read the Full Story @ TheStar.com: Toronto Star | SPORTS | LEAFS
Matthews a game-time decision as Leafs head to Montreal
Leafs' star centre says he's still 'a ways off' from where he was before injury.
Read the Full Story @ TheStar.com: Toronto Star | SPORTS | LEAFS
Babcock says ‘mental toughness’ helping Leafs’ Connor Brown avoid sophomore slump
Following a rookie season in which he recorded 20, Brown is well on pace to shatter that number. He has seven goals through the first 20 games of the season despite starting the 2017-18 campaign on the team’s fourth line.
Read the Full Story @ TheStar.com: Toronto Star | SPORTS | LEAFS
Thursday, November 16, 2017
Leafs, Nylander beat New Jersey in the nick of overtime
Goal with seconds to spare in extra period ends netminders' duel.
Read the Full Story @ TheStar.com: Toronto Star | SPORTS | LEAFS
Final/OT: Maple Leafs 1 Devils 0. TOR: W Nylander 1 goal, TOR: F Andersen 42 saves. (ESPN)
from ESPN http://ift.tt/1cUaQ0a
via Toronto Maple Leafs
via Toronto Maple Leafs
Top pick Nico Hischier flying high with Devils
Swiss star getting as much joy from first-class travel as rookie scoring race.
Read the Full Story @ TheStar.com: Toronto Star | SPORTS | LEAFS
Devils at Maple Leafs has started. Starting Goalies: NJ C Schneider, TOR F Andersen. (ESPN)
from ESPN http://ift.tt/1cUaQ0a
via Toronto Maple Leafs
via Toronto Maple Leafs
Ex-Leaf Boyle finds allies and new strength in battle against cancer
'Overwhelming' amount of support from around league since leukemia diagnosis.
Read the Full Story @ TheStar.com: Toronto Star | SPORTS | LEAFS
Maple Leafs: Auston Matthews (upper body) will miss fourth straight game Thursday vs. Devils (ESPN)
Maple Leafs: Auston Matthews (upper body) will miss fourth straight game Thursday vs. Devils (ESPN) http://ift.tt/1cUaQ0a
Wednesday, November 15, 2017
The Leafs can bring back the fun of the run and gun: Arthur
Yes, they want to be more responsible defensively but these Leafs were built to skate.
Read the Full Story @ TheStar.com: Toronto Star | SPORTS | LEAFS
Auston Matthews back skating with the Leafs
Toronto's leading scorer has missed last three games with an upper-body injury.
Read the Full Story @ TheStar.com: Toronto Star | SPORTS | LEAFS
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)