It’s been an eventful few days for the Maple Leafs. The team has won both games under new head coach Sheldon Keefe, and Tyson Barrie is scoring goals again. It was quite significant that last night’s goal was against his old team and it was a power play goal too. Several monkeys were removed from his back at once there.

Here’s our recap of the game.

Maple Leafs start on time (sort of), hold on late for win against Avalanche

John Tavares had some post-game comments on Barrie and the Leafs new system.

The Leafs now have a few days off. Their next game is Wednesday against the Red Wings who are in a full on tank under new GM Steve Yzerman so he can get some good draft picks.

The Buffalo Sabres—darlings of October—have lost 9 of their last 10 games. That is actually important for the chances of the Leafs making the playoffs. The Leafs have a home-away back-to-back series starting on Friday this week and picking up those wins against a division opponent like that will be critical to getting the team back in the playoff mix.

The Marlies are playing today at 4:00 p.m. for their second game of the weekend against the Manitoba Moose. Note to anyone who drives to Marlies games: Fleet Street will be permanently closed to westbound traffic at Bathurst effective tomorrow as a part of the Toronto Vision Zero campaign. You will have to go around via Fort York Blvd. to access the back entrance to the Exhibition Place, or gamble on Lake Shore Blvd. not being a total traffic disaster to get in the front entrance.

Other News

While you were watching the drama with the Leafs, the Dallas Stars have quietly won 13 of their last 15 games and rocketed up the standings in the Western Conference.

Renee Young does some colour commentary and she already seems better at it than several of the ones we regularly listen to at games.

There’s a lot of scrambling dives here.

This seems unnecessary by Robert Bortuzzo.

Jonah Sigel podcast – Toronto Sports Media Blog
"I speak with renowned Toronto attorney Gord Kirke. Gord was the attorney/agent for Eric Lindros, Rick Nash, Brett the Hit Man Hart, Bob McCown, Nick Kypreos, Michael Landsberg, Tim and Sid and many, many more. On this episode Jonah and Gord talk about naming the Toronto Blue Jays, Brett the Hitman Hart, Don Cherry, Mike Babcock, Non-Compete Clauses in sports and sports media and sports mediation today."

From The Branches