FTB: Mike Babcock has a lot to smile about

The Maple Leafs’ coach cracked a few smiles last night—well at least after the game was over. He still has the Mike Babcock face while on the bench. The Leafs now sit on top of the whole league in standings with six wins in the first seven games. It’s a hot start and the whole team has a right to enjoy that, at least for the next two days. Meanwhile, Babcock’s old team, the Red Wings, have yet to win a single game this season.

Until then, smile away Mike. It looks good on you.

Related

Maple Leafs Recap: Putting a Kap on the Kings, Kapanen and Matthews lead Leafs to 4-1 win

Auston Matthews with his seventh straight multi-point game to open the season, joining Mario Lemieux (92-93), Kevin Stevens (92-93), Mike Bossy (84-85) and Wayne Gretzky (83-84) as those to do it.

— Chris Johnston (@reporterchris) October 16, 2018

Kapanen gets his second of the night. Matthews with his second apple #Leafs pic.twitter.com/gdbdSLPhjI

— Omar (@OLW93) October 16, 2018

You know how sumg I am going to be about being the only voter to rank  Kasperi Kapanen at number 4 on our Top 25? Very smug.

The Leafs next game is Thursday when they host some serious competition in the Penguins. Frederik Andersen has already been confirmed as the starter for that game. Where Eamon McAdam will go now may depend on how badly injured Kasimir Kaskisuo is from that lats Marlies game, something we may find out at the Marlies practice today.

ICYMI
Here what we wrote about yesterday.

So you want to trade Nylander for a defenseman... - Brigstew
People who want to trade Nylander say it will help the Leafs get a top defenseman back. Will it?

Why is NHL scoring up this year? - Katya
I see so many opinions about this, and very few numbers. I decided to try mixing the two.

Other News

Dano claimed by Colorado - Arctic Ice Hockey
“At the end of the day, this is a move that the Jets did not need to make, and in doing so they give away Marko Dano for nothing to a division rival.”

Why it’s not time to panic about the Blues - St. Louis Game Time
[Species: They have young Tyler Bozak. Why would they panic?]

The Cost of Consumption – Toronto Sports Media Blog
“Papers traditionally fought for the heart and soul of the household, with the reasonable prediction that people would subscribe to one newspapers for the kitchen table but probably not two. They have imported that thinking to the digital domain, where it makes no sense at all.”