On Sunday night the Toronto Marlies succeeded where the Winnipeg Jets utterly failed... they won two home games vs their playoff opponents.

I’m both happy - because LOL Winnipeg - and sad, because the Winnipeg Jets are actually built the way I want NHL teams to be built. They just ran into hot goaltending and the unbeatable magic behind the Vegas Golden Knights’ success.

Like all things in life, this Western Conference finals can be linked back to the Toronto Maple Leafs, which is the only relevant thing in the hockey world at any given time, and don’t let anyone else fool you otherwise.

The Leafs already have their top 6 scorers: Matthews, Nylander, Marner, Kadri, Marleau, and one of Brown/Hyman/Johnssson/Kapanen. They already have two top scoring defensemen in Rielly and Gardiner. They already have a #1 goaltender who is honestly probably their MVP in Andersen.

They just need better depth, and a more shitty division to compete against come playoff time.

ONTO THE LINKS!

2018 IIHF World Championships: Medal Games | by Katya

Sheldon Keefe, Pierre Engvall and others speak at practice | by who else but Katya

Cap Friendly reveals Igor Ozhiganov’s contract details | by Katya again of course

2018 Memorial Cup preview: The second best teams compete for the cup | by elseldo

Is Pär Lindholm the solution for the Leafs at fourth-line center? | by MLHS

Miro Aaltonen might not be the brightest star on the Marlies roster, but he is still a playoff hero | by The Athletic

RFAs, the Series: Connor Carrick | by TLN

Have a great holiday Monday to those in the commonwealth, and a neener neener to those without a holiday!

From The Branches