ICYMI

Leafs 2 - Penguins 1: Leafs dominate the champs as Marner shines

That CBC Graphic Is Dishonest Bullshit

The Leafs

Gutsy penalty kill helps Leafs end skid, beat Pens | Kristen's recap
"Nikita Zaitsev was the only one of Toronto’s regular skaters without a goal this season, but he fixed that on Saturday. The blueliner ripped a point shot that hit a Penguins’ stick and flipped over netminder Marc-Andre Fleury for his first goal as an NHL player. "

Maple Leafs manage rare feat in containing Penguins captain Sidney Crosby | Canadian Press
“The Leafs held Crosby, who leads the NHL with 21 goals this year, to just two shots in a quiet 20 minutes. The 29 year old notched an assist on the power play, but finished with a 33 per cent puck possession mark at even strength in Toronto's 2-1 overtime win.”

Jake Gardiner nets winner as Maple Leafs top Penguins in OT | Sportsnet
"We played about as good as we could tonight," said defenceman Jake Gardiner, who scored the winner in Toronto’s 2-1 triumph over the Pittsburgh Penguins. "But it also shows we can play with anybody."

Toronto Maple Leafs: Falling Closer To Timothy Liljegren | Editor in Leaf
"As the Toronto Maple Leafs continue to slide down the standings despite not playing particularly terrible, they’re getting closer to the top rated defensive prospect in the 2017 NHL Draft."

Do not slay Kypreos, Species:

Maple Leafs ‘willing to listen’ to trade offers on van Riemsdyk | Sportsnet
“The name JVR has been out there the last little while,” said Nick Kypreos on the Headlines segment Saturday. “I can tell you there’s nothing going on in terms of hard offers but teams are asking about him and the Leafs are willing to listen. They know that he wants a long-term deal and that’s a deal that can start negotiations as early as July.”

Awwwww:

Other Stuffs

When Alan Thicke got Phil Esposito to sing 'Hockey Sock Rock' | Tampa Bay Times
“When Thicke wrote a song called Hockey Sock Rock in 1979, with proceeds going to juvenile diabetes research, he talked Esposito, then with the Rangers, into participating with five teammates. Esposito had lead vocals, and the song raised $750,000.”

How tweaking NHL home-ice advantage can cure tanking for position | NY Post
“With all due respect to Carey Price, you can see it from a mile (or approximately four months) away whereby the crossover wild-card spot into the Atlantic presents a less challenging path to the conference final than second or third place in the Metro.”

From The Branches