Tuesday’s FTB: Cheering guide for March 3rd

Good morning Toronto Maple Leafs fans!

It’s Super Tuesday in the United States and it’s a Super Tuesday for the Maple Leafs fans out west as well because it’s day one of the annual California Road Trip™ and they finally get to see a game after the work day has ended.

There are ten games on schedule for tonight and a couple of them have an impact on the Maple Leafs, so let’s kick off another edition of the Toronto Maple Leafs Cheering Guide.

(This is very useful for when i have no clue what to make FTB’s about)

Montreal Canadiens at New York Islanders
7:00PM - MSG+, RDS, TSN2

The Canadiens have not been listening to me very much lately even though I’ve said nice things like ”They should win a hockey game”. Hopefully they do so tonight, since they’re playing the Islanders who are currently occupying Wild Card playoff spot #1, and are tied with the Maple Leafs at 78 points. If the Leafs continue their winning streak and the Canadiens win, this will put the Leafs ahead of the Wild Card teams for the first time in what feels like forever, and give them some breathing room if the Florida Panthers feel like playing good again.

Cheer For: Once again, Go Habs Go.

St, Louis Blues at New York Ranges
7:00PM - MSG, Fox Sports Mid-West

It’s a simple formula, always cheer for the Western Conference team. The Rangers have been winning games lately - 7-3-0 in their last ten - and are just four points behind the Leafs and a playoff spot. We can’t have yet another team in our way, and it isn’t too far a stretch to hope the Western Conference leading Blues beat the Rangers.

Cheer For: The reigning champions.

Ottawa Senators* at Pittsburgh Penguins
7:00PM - AT&T Sportsnet Pittsburgh, RDS2, TSN5

This isn’t super important for the Leafs, but the Penguins have a two point lead over the Islanders for the last Metro Division playoff spot, and chaos is fun, so let’s all cheer for chaos and see the Penguins lose to the lowly Senators and panic about their playoff hopes.

Cheer For: Penguins to lose, not Ottawa to win.

Boston Bruins at Tampa Bay Lightning
7:30PM - NBC Sports, TVA Sports, Sportsnet

The two teams ahead of the Leafs meet tonight. The Bruins have a seven point lead over the Lightning for top spot in the NHL, Eastern Conference, and Atlantic Division. Who do we want to win? That all depends on who you want to face in the playoffs.

Cheer For: The team you fear the most.

Buffalo Sabres at Winnipeg Jets*
8:00PM - TSN3, MSG-B

We need a Jets* victory tonight, because the Sabres ar- LMFAO, they’re done, sorry.

Cheer For: The rebuild that will never end.

Toronto Maple Leafs at San Jose Sharks
10:30PM - NBC Sports California, Sportsnet Ontario

Hear me out on this one, because it makes a wee bit of sense. We obviously want the Maple Leafs to win but what if they won in overtime? The Senators* have the Sharks first round pick, and are hanging out at the bottom of the Western Conference with all of the California teams. If the Sharks can get a one point bump it makes the odds a tiny bit worse against winning the draft lottery. We all want things to be harder for Ottawa right?

Cheer For: No, that’s dumb. Let’s blow the Sharks up like Brody at the end of Jaws.

Now, the news.

The Toronto Marlies defeated the Texas Stars last night - the game was a make up game for the previously cancelled game after Marlies coach Rob Davison was taken to the hospital - and they had a comeback victory, but almost lost someone else at Cedar Park:

Egor Korshkov has had his right wrist cut. He's been rushed out of the rink. #Marlies #Leafs
— Hardev Lad (@HardevLad) March 3, 2020

Korshkov missed 14 games (not consecutively) earlier this season due to a laceration on his leg. Awful injury luck for the Marlies rookie. #Marlies #Leafs
— Hardev Lad (@HardevLad) March 3, 2020

But you can’t keep a Korshkov down for long.

I heard Egor Korshkov's name on the broadcast. Freaked out thinking it was misspoken. TURNS OUT HE'S BACK WEARING A FRESH JERSEY? #32 Egor Korshkov#Marlies #Leafs https://t.co/kUEnL1uxwx
— Hardev Lad (@HardevLad) March 3, 2020

Hopefully Korshkov is fine today.

The Maple Leafs had a practice out west and things were shaken up a bit.

Leafs in Cali practice update: Sandin scratched, Rielly and Ceci coming soon

Everyone loves Zach Hyman.

Why Maple Leafs’ stars want to play alongside Zach Hyman

Katya is here to tell you the odds whether you want to hear them or not.

I’m Telling You the Odds

Martin Marincin was feeling the love after Saturday’s game.

A Little Love for 'Marv'

Hart Trophies? In this economy?

For Your Consideration: Artemiy Panarin Is True Front-Runner for Hart Trophy

Good? Bad?