From the Branches: Avalaunched

There was a moment during the game thread last night when Species paused in the middle of all that goal celebrating and said, "Who was it who said the team this season is 'so much like Detroit it’s ridiculous'? Is that why the Leafs are destroying the West and dying in the East?"

The person in question was Patrick Sharp, who was quoted by Elliotte Friedman on Sportsnet radio, and Sharp would know, given that the Blackhawks played a tough series against the Red Wings in 2013.

Are the Leafs playing like the Red Wings? Of course they are. Not sure there's an alternative, with Babcock around. It's just nice to hear that the mind control has happened so quickly. It's not even American Thanksgiving and games are already getting better and better, with that strange and curious feeling to them as if the Leafs might even win a few...

Leafs News

Leafs 5, Avalanche 1: Special night for special teams | PPP
"P.A. Parenteau with two power play goals, making three in his last three games, and four total goals in his last five. RAISE THAT TRADE VALUE!"

Poor Special Teams Doom Avs to 5-1 Loss to Toronto | MHH
"Not many people currently wearing Avalanche uniforms played well, Maple Leafs players who used to wear Avalanche uniforms did play well, and any time the game wasn't even strength, most Avs fans most likely had the urging desire to put the blade of a hockey stick in their eyes."

Doug Gilmour wants you to have a sleepover at the Air Canada Centre | PPP

Fan re-designed Leafs jerseys | PPP

As Bernier struggles, Reimer takes over as Maple Leafs’ No. 1 | Sportsnet
"He's winless in eight appearances this season and has just one victory in the last 18 games overall with a .900 save percentage."

The Great Maple Leafs Goalie Debate | THW
Aw, they don't mention Massa or Madore.

Maple Leafs' Morgan Rielly: 'We don't want to even associate' with term 'rebuild' | Fox Sports
Oh, honey... But yeah, I get it. Nobody wants to be downsized.

Coyotes’ Domi talks beating, stealing from Maple Leafs | Sportsnet
I kind of want Max to get snitched by the Leafs, so that he can be Tie to Nylander's Sundin. Yanno?

Other Hockey News

Nick Shore is leading the NHL in Corsi% and it's pretty strange | Jewels from the Crown
Who?

Toronto Furies to host You Can Play night, will be broadcast nationally | PPP

All-Star Game: East vs. West in an actual meaningful rivalry | PPP

NHL slammed for ‘catastrophically’ bad advanced stats, listens to critics | Puck Daddy
"The first couple of points, those were great. Fantastic feedback. But the rest of the criticisms … I felt he was trying to pile on and paint the entire site as problematic, when he found a couple of issues that were corrected quickly," said Foster, the NHL’s director of digital media."

Attendance for Islanders in Brooklyn next to last in NHL so far this season | Newsday
"The Islanders rank next-to-last in the NHL with an average of 12,157 in paid attendance per game after the first 11 games in their new Brooklyn home."

NHL Power Rankings: Red hot Rangers bump Canadiens from top spot | SI
Watch my other blue team plummet...

NHL 2015-2016: Top Rookie Of The Year Candidates Emerging | International Business Times
Your time will come, Bill Nye!

NHL Draft prospects head U.S. Junior Select team | NHL
Your time will come, Bill Nye!

Prospects get early chance to prove themselves in NHL | ESPN
Your time will come, Bill Nye!

Tom Wilson is on the NHL Player Safety Watchlist | RMNB
Those who can't, enforce.