The Maple Leafs are in Philadelphia tonight to face the Flyers for the second of three games this season. The Flyers won the last match against the Leafs 4-2 on October 28, but we did get this sweet goal by Nazem Kadri from Auston Matthews in that game.

The Flyers’ poor performance this season (11-11-7) has lead the normally polite and composed Flyers fans to start up “Fire Hakstol” chants during the games. Perhaps we’ll get a good show like that tonight. Or one like this!

“Show some class, here. This is Philly."

Today we have the first big snow storm of the season in Toronto. I am reminded of a story often retold by my grandmother from when I was four years old.

My father was on a business trip to Philly and was stranded there a few extra days after a major snowstorm. Being only four, assimilating this information and understanding what was happening was a little difficult, but I managed to inform my grandmother on a phone call that “My Dad is stuck in Filthy Delphia.”

I knew even then.

ICYMI

There were doings a transpiring on the Marlies yesterday. Mysterious ones.

Martins Dzierkals and Jean Dupuy recalled from Orlando - Katya
The Marlies add two of the best producing Solar Bears to their lineup. The timing is a little interesting.

Other News

Will Michael McLeod become a star at the world juniors? - National Post
Canada’s roster will feature a bunch of names the average hockey fan probably hasn’t heard of. That's where the roadrunner-fast McLeod comes in.

Lagace deserves more credit for his run as Golden Knights’ backstop - Knights On Ice
Suddenly, not only do you get called up, but you’re now the starting goalie for an NHL expansion team in its inaugural season.

Icings do not generate a lot of offense - All About The Jersey
Icings are events in nearly every hockey game. But what are their impact? While the data is from the 2016-17 New Jersey Devils team, this post has plenty of conclusions from the data that would apply to this season and beyond. Namely that icings are not so dangerous.

Down Goes Brown: Metropolitan Division traffic jam - Sportsnet.ca
Roughly 30 games into the season, there’s barely anything to separate the top six in the division.

From The Branches