The Leafs clinched a playoff spot, and have positioned themselves to win the Atlantic Division after a closely fought 3-2 win over the Florida Panthers at home. Tavares, Marner, and Knies all scored for the Leafs. Nylander, Matthews, and Jake McCabe joined them on the scoresheet as well. Anthony Stolarz stopped 29 of 31 shots in the win.

Recap: Leafs best Florida
Stoli is the goalie.
PPP LeafsCathy Squires

In this recap by the NHL, you'll find this excellent photo. Just pure, 100% passion.

Maple Leafs clinch berth in Stanley Cup Playoffs with win against Panthers | NHL.com
Marner, Knies each gets goal, assist in 3rd period for Toronto, which is 4-0-1 in past 5
NHL logoDave McCarthy
Game in 10: Maple Leafs clinch playoff spot, open four-point lead in the Atlantic with gutsy if imperfect win over Panthers
The process wasn’t always pretty, but the Toronto Maple Leafs scratched out a pivotal regulation win over the rival Florida Panthers by a 3-2 score. Against a heavily shorthanded Panthers team on the second night of a back-to-back, the Leafs played a strong first period but didn’t get rewarded before surviving a terrible second period […]
Maple Leafs HotstoveAlex Drain

Ryan Reaves made his Marlies debut a few weeks after being demoted. It was an afternoon game against Utica and the Marlies lost 2-1 in overtime. Reaves had a blank stat sheet after the game and fashioned a visor that's fully flipped up.

Here's some more information about the new NHL-Rogers deal.

Expect fewer blackouts with new Rogers NHL rights deal
Elliotte Friedman writes about how special it is to be a part of Rogers Sportsnet NHL broadcasts, and why fewer blackouts can be expected in the next rights deal.
Sportsnet.caElliotte Friedman

The league is hoping for a quick and painless negotiation.

NHL-NHL Players’ Association CBA talks officially underway | TSN
The National Hockey League and NHL Players’ Association have officially begun talks on a new collective bargaining agreement extension, reports TSN Hockey Insider Pierre LeBrun.
TSNTSN.ca Staff

RIP to Cult Of Hockey legend, Bruce McCurdy, who passed away at the Oilers game two nights ago, according to his son, Kevin.

What a joke.

From The Branches