Dermott, Leafs so close to redemption
On Wednesday morning, Travis Dermott relived how gutted he was as a 16-year-old Maple Leaf fan when his team coughed up a 4-1 lead in Game 7 of the 2013 playoffs. That, and the pain of his own Game 7 loss last season has been motivating him for this April’s series. “If you were from […]
TRAIKOS: Bruins load up on ‘Pasta’ as Pastrnak finds back of the net in Game 4 win
TORONTO — For three games, the guy they call “Pasta” was invisible. David Pastrnak had almost singlehandedly killed the Toronto Maple Leafs in last year’s playoffs, scoring five goals and 13 points. One year later, with only one assist heading into Game 4, it was as though the Boston Bruins had adopted a mostly carb-free […]
SIMMONS: Horrible penalty killing costing the Maple Leafs the series with Boston
This is Mike Babcock’s third playoff season coaching the Maple Leafs – the third straight year in which the Leafs have had bottom-of-the-league penalty killing. That’s not impressive for the much heralded head coach, having these kind of unfortunate results year after year when it matters most. That’s not a good look for Babcock, not […]
Bad luck for Brown in Leafs loss
Nazem Kadri’s suspension made him disappear for the Maple Leafs-Bruins playoff series, which meant Connor Brown was going to be pushed towards the front of the stage. Often the hardest-working Leaf on the ice, Brown was promoted to the third line as William Nylander shifted to centre with Patrick Marleau. But the hockey gods in […]
Bruins take advantage of chances to beat Leafs, even series
We expected a chess match, to a degree, at the outset of the latest playoff battle between the Maple Leafs and Boston Bruins. It’s your move, Toronto. The Bruins countered on Wednesday night after falling behind in the series, beating the Leafs 6-4 to tie the best-of-seven 2-2. The Bruins have regained home-ice advantage in […]
All due respect, no Leafs, Bruins counted on a Blue Jackets sweep of the Lightning
Didn’t think the Columbus Blue Jackets would sweep the Tampa Bay Lightning? Don’t worry — even those who will have to contend with the Blue Jackets in the second round of the 2019 Stanley Cup playoffs didn’t see it coming. The winner between the Maple Leafs and Boston Bruins will open at home some time […]
Isle be darned! Ex-Leafs on Long Island get through first round
If there was one other team the Maple Leafs didn’t mind advancing one more round – aside from the Blue Jackets taking out the top-seeded Lightning – it’s the New York Islanders. There are deep ties with ‘Uncle’ Leo Komarov and Matt Martin, who provided a young Toronto team with courage, confidence and when needed […]
Maple Leafs know another level must be attained to win Game 4 against Bruins
Mike Babcock issued a warning of sorts to his Maple Leafs players on Wednesday morning. “We have to be prepared and understand the intensity of tonight’s game,” the Leafs coach said to a room packed with media at Scotiabank Arena. “To think the level is not going up, if anybody watched hockey last night, they […]
Apr 17, 2019
ULTIMATE LEAFS FAN: The sights and sounds of Philadelphia
PHILADELPHIA – Joe Kadlec was among the first hires by the Flyers in August 1967 as their public relations man. So, who better to show me around the Directors Lounge between periods at the Wells Fargo Center during the Leafs visit, he and wife Joan inviting me in to talk about the Toronto-Philadelphia wars. When […]
On second thought, Bruins stick with first line
Bruce Cassidy started Boston’s practice on Tuesday by giving his forward lines half the rink for some 3-on-3 shinny, a chance for open ice and maybe some fun. A good call, because little of this series with the Maple Leafs has been enjoyable to date, particularly the Perfection Line of Brad Marchand, Patrice Bergeron and […]
Maple Leafs’ Moore and Bruins’ Heinen put aside friendship
The Pioneer spirit is alive and well in the Boston-Toronto series. Each team has a former linemate of the University of Denver; each had a point in Game 3, Trevor Moore’s goal for Toronto, a Danton Heinen helper for the Bruins. “That was cool, though you don’t want them to score,” Heinen said Tuesday at […]
Depleted Marlies open Calder Cup defence
Back-to-back champions are rare in the American Hockey League, never mind a dynasty. In a development league, personnel can change quite dramatically from one season to the next and if the parent NHL team is in playoffs, then good luck figuring out an accurate post-season roster for AHL purposes. But the Toronto Marlies are eager […]
Hutchinson grateful for opportunity given by Leafs to put family first
Mike Babcock often talks about the importance of family, whether it’s his own or that of others, and the Maple Leafs coach put some weight behind that line of thinking last week. Backup goaltender Michael Hutchinson returned to the Leafs on Monday following the birth of his daughter, allowing Garret Sparks to resume his break […]
Marner’s selfless acts go a long way in the Leafs dressing room
Funny guy, that Mitch Marner. The Maple Leafs winger, lauded for not turning away despite being prone and looking squarely at a David Pastrnak point shot in the final seconds of Game 3 Monday night, had an honest answer as to why he didn’t cover his face as the Boston Bruins forward wound up. “There’s […]
Maple Leafs’ depth, Nylander must stay on current path with Kadri suspended
The loss of Nazem Kadri until the second round of the 2019 Stanley Cup playoffs — provided the Maple Leafs advance — will be less of a problem if the Leafs’ depth players continue on the path they took in Game 3. The fourth line of Frederik Gauthier between Trevor Moore and Tyler Ennis was […]
