The Maple Leafs are back in action tonight. Finally home from their long road trip which took them through California + Missouri.

On Monday, the Leafs defeated the unstoppable Golden Knights 4-3 in a shootout on this amazing shot by Mitch Marner.

Tonight they face the Wild, and the big question is will Auston Matthews play? Yesterday Kasperi Kapanen was sent down to the Marlies and Frederik Gauthier was called up and attended team practice.

Meanwhile, everyone is talking about Nikita Soshnikov and a new tidbit of information about his contract.

Video: Could Soshnikov clause pressure Leafs to make a move? - TSN
Nikita Soshnikov has a clause in his contract that states the Maple Leafs must call him up by November 14th or else he can return to the KHL on loan.

ICYMI

Remembering Roy Halladay - HardevLad
Thank you for being the perfect athlete, thank you for being the perfect role model, and thank you for being there every fifth day.

Anatomy of a shorthanded goal - Annie
Saulnier and Fortino vs Team USA’s power play

Leafs loan Fehr to the San Diego Gulls - ElSeldo
The Leafs lend a hand to the Anaheim Ducks AHL affiliate.

Babcock on the forward lines and Matthews - Katya
Everything is still up in the air with both things.

Other News

Guess which team is in the next Winter Classic - Second City Hockey
One guess.

Syracuse Crunch captain Erik Condra on NHL waivers - Raw Charge
Condra has been in rehabilitation after back surgery this past summer.

Who are the most underrated NHL goalies - ESPN
Goalies too often get the blame when things go wrong, but sometimes it works the other way, and they don't get any credit for things going right.

Couturier’s breakout season has been years in the making - Broad Street Hockey
It’s all coming together for the sixth-year pro offensively.

How Ho-Sang got sent to the AHL & how he can get back to - Lighthouse Hockey
An in-depth look at a shift gone very wrong.

Do the Bruins have a team toughness problem? - Stanley Cup of Chowder
It’s not all about fights and punching faces, but it seems like something is missing.

USA Hockey’s K’Andre Miller proves that looks, and stereotypes, can be deceiving - TheColorOfHockey
K'Andre Miller remembers getting occasional odd looks or sometimes racially-coded responses after telling people what sport he plays.

From The Branches