It's a day of rivalries: the Leafs will play the Canadiens tonight - a win will secure a Leafs-Habs first round, while a loss combined with two Ottawa wins would have the Leafs playing against the Caps in the first round. But there's an off-ice rivalry we're all going to get to watch, too: former Toronto Maple Leafs GM Brian Burke against anonymous internet posters.

Burke is suing some online forum users including "sir psycho sexy" and "poonerman" - not for having the greatest online handle every to be included in a legal brief, but for spreading the rumor that he had an affair with Hazel Mae and is the father of her unborn child. The post accused him of “hopping into the sack with as many wayward Ditchpigs as possible” - referring to Hazel Mae - and that he is “sex-addicted.”

Our own @67sound discussed the case briefly on twitter, and it looks like it'll be tough for this to stick. For one, Dellow argued, it's kind of tough to say that sex-addiction or a relationship with Hazel Mae would be damaging to Brian Burke's reputation, but two, they need to actually figure out who CAMBARKERFAN is. More likely than not, the only thing this lawsuit actually accomplishes is the Streisand Effect. By the way, I thought one of the reasons "real journalists" were disqualifying bloggers' opinions was because they couldn't be sued. Since these are just forum posters - not even bloggers producing content, I'm sure they'll come up with something else to cling to.

Anyways, on to the links!

Leiweke named president and CEO of MLSE, puts focus on Raptors and Colangelo - The Hockey News
Okay then!

The case against Tampa goalie coach Frantz Jean - Raw Charge
Someone else is getting the Francois Allaire Special.

Here are the Masterton Trophy nominees for all 30 NHL teams | Puck Daddy - Yahoo! Sports
Since you've read clrkaitken's post, you know that the Islanders' nomination is wrong.

Peter Berg Producing A Film On Derek Boogaard - Kukla's Korner
Focus Features and Peter Berg will combine forces to look at the life and death of former NHL enforcer Derek Boogaard.

PPP bloggers raising money for charity
Donate to save the comments. Donate because Kevin Paul Dupont doesn't think it matters until we match the Boston Globe's fund.

Tonight's games:

Minnesota couldn't manage to beat the Edmonton Oilers last night, so their playoff hopes will come down to the last game of the season. Funny, since some sources claimed they were supposed to be a powerhouse after the Suter/Parise signings, rather than a bubble team clinching on the last game of the season like those types of bloggers said.

Games with playoff implications in the west tonight: MIN v. COL, #Lumbus v. NSH, DET v. DAL.

We may get to see Kadri-Kessel play together tonight, but I don't think anyone has confirmed Bozak will continue to sit. Go Leafs go!

From The Branches