Welcome to November. There’s only 54 shopping days until Christmas.

The Maple Leafs California road trip continues with a game against the Ducks tonight. The Ducks are of course coached by one:

“RAAAAAAAAAAAANDYYYYYYY!!!”

“Oops.”

It’s the first of back-to-back games; they play the Kings tomorrow. We’ll have a preview up later this morning (or afternoon) when lineup information is available.

While the Leafs may be playing well after your bedtime tonight, the Marlies will be in action for a rare Wednesday game starting at 7:00pm. It’s a rematch against the Laval Rocket who defeated them 3-2 last Saturday. It’s the first game of a long road trip for the Marlies as Ricoh Coliseum is turned over to the animals, literally.

ICYMI!

Mike Babcock makes major changes to Toronto’s lines at practice - Kevin Papetti
Connor Carrick and Josh Leivo are in, Roman Polak and Dominic Moore are out. Tyler Bozak is the fourth line centre.

Solar Bears Drop pair of games against Atlanta - pas_55
The Bears out-shot the Gladiators in both games.

Other NHL News

Pittsburgh’s Crease Catastrophe: A Primer  - PensBurgh
Why the Penguins have fallen apart in net this year, goaltender by goaltender

What more does Buchnevich have to prove to Vigneault? - Blueshirt Banter
Buchnevich now occupies a spot on the fourth line. He’s embraced the role and continues to produce night in and night out which begs the question; what more does he have to prove to get a fair shake in the top six?

Interview: Kevin Weekes shoots the Long Island Breeze - Lighthouse Hockey
NHL Network pundit and former New York Islanders goaltender Kevin Weekes calls in to get you up to speed

Julius Honka Sent To AHL - Defending Big D
In one of the most head-scratching moves this season, the Dallas Stars are sending Honka to the Texas Stars to get some playing time. Ignoring how he could literally do that in Dallas, it seems.

Six spooky ice-sport stories, starring the Flyers - Broad Street Hockey
These are all definitely real.

Park seeks Winter Olympics ‘Miracle’ for South Korea’s hockey team - TheColorOfHockey
Richard Park won't say that South Korea's men's Olympic ice hockey team will win a medal at the 2018 Winter Games debut in February, but.... "It's a short tournament and anything can happen,"

From The Branches