There are three games on tonight of interest to us:
Montréal Canadiens @ Toronto Maple Leafs
07:00 PM at Scotiabank Arena
Watch on: CBC, TVAS, SNE, SNO, SNP
Team Canada playing Japan is unlikely to be close. The fun from last year where Finland performed poorly and Japan and Czechia took advantage has resulted in some predictable group play so far this year. Czechia still look good, though.
Matt Knies playing in the Frozen Four final gets his chance to dominate in meaningful hockey before the hard part of his hockey career starts – likely tomorrow.
The Leafs minus a few regulars vs the Habs youthful new roster is going to be a typical late-season NHL game.
Cathy Squires
We have our answer on the backup goalie. The Leafs signed an upmarket jet-set sort of EBUG:
The @MapleLeafs have signed G Jett Alexander to an amateur tryout agreement. He will serve as the club’s backup goaltender tonight.
— Leafs PR (@LeafsPR) April 8, 2023
In the rest of the NHL, the Eastern Conference wild card spots are going to go to two of three teams: Pittsburgh, the Islanders or Florida. Pittsburgh played Detroit today and made some history while getting the win.
👏 SID-SATIONAL 👏
— NHL (@NHL) April 8, 2023
Sidney Crosby becomes the 15th player in NHL history to reach 1,500 career points! pic.twitter.com/DY4JS2FHS4
Buffalo got a huge win over the Hurricanes at home and are not out of it. They can still dream, but they need more than one team to start losing hard to cash in that dream. The Islanders and the Panthers both play tonight.
In the Western Conference, it's one of three teams to take the final spot – Winnipeg, Calgary or Nashville. The crucial game for two of the three is Nashville vs the Jets tonight. Whoever loses that game is likely done for. Calgary plays the Canucks in a late game.
