Good morning Toronto Maple Leafs fans!

Today marks the first game of an epic, legendary, historic comeback for the Leafs! We have a great story with the rookie goaltender coming in to save the day:

And we have Morgan Rielly in playoff mode, and the most recent Maple Leaf to be nominated for an award!

Good for you Morgan! Now do some more charitable work and get the Leafs to the conference finals!

In bad news. Gabriel Landeskog is going to miss all of next season with a knee replacement. Missing two straight seasons, an artificial knee, things aren't looking good for the Avalanche captains future...

Avalanche captain Gabriel Landeskog expected to miss entire 2023-24 season
The Avalanche will have to play another season without their captain.
Yahoo SportsMichael Hoad

To continue to be a downer, Zach Whitecloud of the Vegas Golden Knights was insulted by the ESPN announcer:

Zach was more gracious than necessary in his comments, and hopes we learn and move on.

Manitoba NHLer accepts U.S. sportscaster’s apology for slur that mocked First Nations heritage | CBC News
Zach Whitecloud, a defenceman for the Vegas Golden Knights, says he accepts the apology of an American sportscaster who made a derogatory joke about his surname after a Stanley Cup playoff game on Monday night.
CBCStephen Ripley

Last night the Hurricane took a big step towards round three, and beat the New Jersey Devils 6-1 to take a 3-1 series lead.

Hurricanes’ balanced offence, advantage in net pushes Devils to brink of elimination
The Carolina Hurricanes have reasserted themselves in such dominant fashion in Game 4 to take a 3-1 stranglehold over the New Jersey Devils.
Sportsnet| May 9, 2023, 10:25 PM

The Dallas Stars also scored six and tied their series with the Seattle Kraken, winning 6-3 in Seattle last night.

Kraken Breaded and Fried By Stars To Tie Series
By Taylor Baird /@taylordbaird The Dallas Stars are used to staring down adversity this season and responding very well the next game, and they did it once again to tie their series 2-2 on the road. They exploded for four goals in the second period to put the heat on
Defending Big DTaylor Baird

On deck tonight:

Toronto Maple Leafs (0) at Florida Panthers (3)
7PM - CBC, SPORTSNET, TVA SPORTS, ESPN

Edmonton Oilers (1) at Vegas Golden Knights (2)
10PM - CBC, SPORTSNET, TVA SPORTS, ESPN

Cheering for a Leafs comeback to begin tonight, and the Knights to make Oilers fans real sad despite McDavid and Draisaital combining for 15 points.

The digital ads are annoying, but also, dangerous.

NHL Digital Rink Board Advertisements Pose Health Concern for Certain Fans
The digital board ads are alienating – and endangering – fans suffering from photosensitive epilepsy.
Daily FaceoffDylan Nazareth

To end on a high note, and an inspirational one for the Maple Leafs, the team we can always count on, the Newfoundland Growlers, are up 3-0 in their second round playoff series vs the Reading Royals, taking all three games on the road to start the series and will be heading back to St. John's with the chance to once again advance to the semi-finals in front of their fans.

Be more like your ECHL team Leafs.

Enjoy your day!

From The Branches