The All-Star break starts Thursday, but that won't stop The Leafs from squeezing in a road trip before then. Tonight they play the red hot Panthers in Sunrise. Tomorrow they will be off to visit Tampa Bay and discreetly pass cheques from MLSE to Stamkos on the ice and play the Lightning. Our game preview will be up after noon.

In the meantime, check out what we wrote about The Leafs yesterday, and other Leafs news.

CWHL All-Star Game from the stands - Pension Plan Puppets
Spooner's Team White took on Chu's Team Black in a show of hockey skill that was fun for everyone involved.

Mark Arcobello named AHL player of the week - Pension Plan Puppets
4 goals, 3 assists in three games nabs Marky Arc the honour.

Lightning fans are proof that Southern hockey is all grown up - SBNation.com
A trip to the Tampa Bay Lightning Family Carnival reveals how strong hockey is in the South.

C’Mon Ref: Phaneuf play was dirty, but wasn’t spearing - Article - TSN
There is distinct difference between a spear, defined in Rule 62 (Spearing) as "stabbing an opponent with the point of the stick blade," and the short upward lift of Phaneuf’s stick shaft strategically placed between the legs of Weise, commonly known in hockey circles as a howdy-do.

‘Babsocks’ are a hit among Leafs fans, players – and Mike Babcock himself - The Globe and Mail
A pair of enterprising Toronto fans have sold nearly 3,000 pairs of socks featuring a likeness of the Maples Leafs bench boss.

Nikita Zaitsev, potential future Maple Leaf, in action in Russia - Pension Plan Puppets
Zaitsev was in a game today against one of the top teams in the KHL. What kind of a defenceman is he exactly? And how good?

Last night's games

Vomit City hit rock bottom last night, losing to the Blue Jackets 5-2. Subban scored a great goal from center ice.

Then for some reason he hit Atkinson who was on his way back to the Blue Jackets bench and took a pointless penalty.

The Oscar for best actor goes to....

"Damn hipsters scoring old school goals! Get off my crease!"

Remember when Scrivens was a Leaf and he would go on adventures out of the net every game?

SB Nation Game Recaps

Helm, Mrazek lift Red Wings to 4-2 win over Islanders - Winging It In Motown
The Wings came in tonight on the brink of the All-Star break, and needed to collect some points to withhold their spot in the Atlantic Division rankings.

Top line effort not enough as Flyers fall late - Broad Street Hockey
It was time for another third period comeback for the Philadelphia Flyers, but despite tying the game, a late goal from Brett Connolly gave the team their third straight loss.

Camsanity Buries Canadiens - The Cannon
WHAT A GAME, WHAT A WIN. A Cam Atkinson hat trick and 2 goals from Brandon Saad bury the Montreal Canadiens.

Brassard's Five-Point Night Fuels 6-3 Win Over Sabres - Blueshirt Banter
The New York Rangers bounced back tonight after a frustrating loss to the Senators, and defeated the Buffalo Sabres 6-3.

Two Outta Three Ain't Bad - Defending Big D
Calgary spent some time submitting their late Oscar nominations to the academy of Dave Jackson and Brad Watson, but Dallas's PK and top players led the way.

Coyotes play horrible hockey, win in a shootout anyway - Five For Howling
The Arizona Coyotes defeated the Minnesota Wild in a game they shouldn't have won, but an overtime they should have.

All-Star Game

An All-Star game fan vote starts today! It looks like lessons have been learned and John Scott is not eligible.

2016 Honda NHL All-Star Skills Competition to showcase hockey's top talent
Fans can vote via Twitter for their favorite eligible player by including his hashtag – #NHLBreakawayDuchene, #NHLBreakawayLarkin or #NHLBreakawaySaad. Voting will open on Tuesday, Jan. 26 at 12 p.m. ET and close on Thursday, Jan. 28 at 5 p.m. ET.

The All-Star break starts Thursday!

2016 NHL All-Star Skills Competition Format Announced - On the Forecheck
Everything you need to know about the best event of the weekend.

Coach's Challenge becoming more controversial

Another night and another controversial challenge of a goal; this time upheld, though many think it was offside by a few millimeters.

NHL coaches, players put the coach’s challenge under review | Toronto Star
"An offside that you miss by a fraction of an inch that caused a goal, a goal that had nothing really to do with being offside, does it matter?" - Mike Babcock

Other news

What A Mostly Black Hockey Club For Kids Tells Us About The Sport's Future
One day in 1976, Neal Henderson’s son came to his father with a question. "Dad, why don’t you start a hockey team?" he asked.

Graham James granted day parole in Quebec - The Globe and Mail
The disgraced former junior hockey coach who sexually abused several players under his watch more than two decades ago, was granted day parole Monday

Cap Wrinkle Makes Jared Cowen Intriguing Trade Option - Silver Seven
A team could buy out Cowen in the summer in exchange for a $650,000 cap credit in 2016-17.

Should the Blues ring the Dustin Byfuglien bell? - St. Louis Game Time
Could the Jets defenseman give the Blues something different and unique? Or am I nuts?

Jason Hammel: Way better at Shoot the Puck than Anthony Rizzo - Second City Hockey
He actually scored! And his other shot wasn't that far off.

Coyotes’ rookie goalie Louis Domingue set on seizing his opportunity - The Globe and Mail
Filling in for sidelined goaltender Mike Smith, the 23-year-old rookie is having a right-place, right-time season

Tlusty Out for 3 to 4 Months After Wrist Surgery - All About The Jersey
I wonder what he was doing when he injured his wrist?

Islanders Weighted Shot Attempts through 46 Games - Lighthouse Hockey
Nikolay Kulemin has been a monster in Weighted SC SAT%. He's been doing this despite average offensive numbers with his stellar defense. In fact, he's 25% better at limiting his opponent's weighted scoring chances than the next best Isles forward

Jeremy Roenick is exceedingly boring - Fear The Fin
The gutless analyst is back after Patrick Marleau again.

CWHL and Ottawa Senators officially announce two-year Clarkson Cup partnership - Eyes On The Prize
The Clarkson Cup will be held at the Air Canada Centre for the next two years.

Panthers sign Barkov to six-year, $35.4M deal - Litter Box Cats
Barkov signs on the line which is dotted, cementing his future in Sunrise

What do you think about the offside coach's challenge?

Rules are rules. The challenege should stay. If teams and players don't like it they shouldn't skate so close to the blue line.42
I think it's a good idea, but not when it comes down to a matter of millimetres. Isn't there a better way to do this?60
They should get rid of this challenege. It slows down the game and wastes time over something that ultimately doesn't matter.38
From The Branches