Good morning Toronto Maple Leafs fans!

Losing finally paid off last night as the San Jose Sharks, who finished dead last this season and didn't even win 20 games, won the Draft Lottery and will pick first overall at the NHL Draft in Las Vegas at the end of June.

It's as common as you'd want if you were a bad team. Recently it's been easier - in 2022 and 2022 Montréal and Buffalo kept their place in the standings - there have been times where we went years without the last place team keeping the first overall pick. Between Edmonton drafting Taylor Hall and Toronto picking Auston Matthews other teams kept jumping up and picking first. Usually Edmonton.

So, congratulations to the Sharks, and I hope whoever you pick leads you to losing to the Maple Leafs in the Stanley Cup Final.

Last night the Carolina Hurricanes attempted to tie their second round series against the New York Rangers, but were foiled in the second overtime, losing 4-3.

Recap: Vincent Trocheck, the Double OT Hero
What a playoff hockey game we would be in for. The Rangers looked to build off their success to take a key 2-0 lead on the series while the Hurricanes looked even it up before the series heads to Raleigh. No changes to the lineup on the Rangers side of
Blueshirt BanterChris Feldman

The Avs won in overtime on a goal from Miles Wood.

Avalanche rally from 3 goals down, defeat Stars in OT in Game 1 | NHL.com
Wood wins it at 11:03 for Colorado in Western 2nd Round opener
NHL logoTaylor Baird

On deck tonight is game two of the Boston/Florida series at 7:30PM. The Bruins lead 1-0 there.

Also on tonight is game one between the Canucks and Oilers, at 10:00PM.

Most importantly though, is the beginning of the PWHL playoffs, with Toronto hosting Minnesota in a sold out Coca-Cola Coliseum for game one of their best-of-five semi-final series.

Women’s hockey in spotlight as inaugural PWHL playoffs take centre stage | CBC Sports
With the inaugural PWHL playoff matchups set, top-seeded Toronto will take on a winless-in-five Minnesota team, while Montreal expects a physical series from 3rd-place Boston.
CBCKarissa Donkin

Montréal and Boston begin their series tomorrow night and you can watch all the games on TSN. The games are all scheduled for the PWHL YouTube channel as well.

The Jr A circuit Ontario Junior Hockey League is opening its own Hall of Fame, and will announce the first five inductees Friday night.

Ontario Jr. Hockey League announces its own hall of fame
Ceremony in Oakville on Friday will add the first five inductees to the hall of fame
BurlingtonToday.comSpencer Smye / OJHL Images

Current and former Maple Leafs John Tavares, Mark Giordano, Mitch Marner, Ryan O’Reilly, and Connor Brown are active alumni of the league.

Former Maple Leafs broadcaster Paul Hendricks stopped by CHCH TV to talk Leafs.

Sportsline: Retired Toronto Maple Leafs TV sportscaster Paul Hendrick
Retired CHCH and Leafs TV Sportscaster Paul Hendrick was host Bubba O’Neil’s guest on today’s Sportsline Podcast.
LogoNews Staff

More proof, that despite everything, everyone loves the Leafs.

Bruins-Maple Leafs Game 7 hits 12-year high on ABC, first round up 17% overall
The Boston Bruins and Toronto Maple Leafs delivered ABC the third-most watched first round NHL playoff game ever.
Awful AnnouncingJoe Lucia

Finally, the name Mammoth has been circling around the Utah Hockey Team, and I am in favour. But only if the mascot is Snuffleupagus sized.

Enjoy your day everyone!

From The Branches