Month: March 2022

The divide between the NHL’s top 16 (playoff) teams and the bottom 16 is pretty well defined as of today’s standings.  The east is already set with the haves and the have nots.  In the west there are a couple of stragglers (Dallas, Vancouver) but the playoff qualifiers are pretty much set. 

I am not a huge Corsi/Analitics kind of guy, but I can interpret what I see in the papers everyday as far as the standings go.  The Toronto Maple Leafs have been accused this season playing “down” to their competition.  In 65 games to date, they are 18 wins and 11 losses (.611%) vs the top 16 and 22W and 13L (.590%) against non-playoff teams.  In a perfect world, you would expect a team to play at or above .500 with the teams in your category and then feed off the lower echelon at a .700 or .750 pace.

The Leafs visited Boston for the first time since October 2019.  The Bruins have played at a recent 14-2-1 pace to maneuver themselves back into the conversation in the Atlantic – tied with the Leafs at 87 points just one back of Tampa.  The addition of stud defenceman Hampus Lindholm and strong 2.09 / .925 goaltending from rookie Jeremy Swayman have certainly helped.

The Leafs made a couple of adjustments to their fourth line prior to tonight’s game, moving newcomer Colin Blackwell to centre with Jason Spezza and Kyle Clifford on his wings.  That move paid off in the 6^th minute as Blackwell converted a nice net front feed from Spezza to score his first goal as a Leaf to make it 1 to nothing.  Not a minute later, David Pasternack tied the game on the power play.  Just as Petr Mrazek seemed to be settling into his role with 2 consecutive 2 GAA efforts, he seemed to tweak a knee or groin requiring Erik Kallgren to replace him during the 8^th minute.  Morgan Reilly continued his 10 ten points by a defencemen effort converting a 4 on 4 goal off an aggressive Nylander zone entry and a flip out from John Tavares.  The all-purpose Alex Kerfoot blocked a shot at his own line, broke away with great speed and then finished things off with a beauty deke of Swayman to end the period at 3-1 Leafs.

WOW what a period !  Mitchell Marner started things off scoring his 22^nd goal in his last 31 games – his 75^th point.  Justin Holl, had just taken off his “bubble” mask from a previous injury and sure enough he has to go off after a goal mouth scramble that didn’t go his way.  Ilya Kubushkin took a beating from a Taylor Hall retaliatory penalty and now the Leafs were down to 4 D-men.   Rocket Richard contender Auston Mathews shelfed his 49^th on a PP with support from Marner and Tavares, his 25^th goal in his last 25 games.  Morgan Reilly continued his winning ways pumping one to the net that David Kampf tipped in to make it 6 to 1.  The Bruins tried to “goon” it up after that goal foreshadowing what might have become a nasty third period.  Debrusk basically kicked in a late goal to end it 6 to 2.  But that didn’t end it – McAvoy and Bunting exchanged some ugly pleasantries before the buzzer and then after it, Brad Marchant received a 10 minute misconduct for “over-chirping” John Tavares.  This third period will test the mettle of the Toronto squad.

I’m pretty certain there is not one member of Leafs Nation who thought the Bruins were just going to fold up and walk away.  The Leafs were cautious not to “poke the bear” and played keep away for the first half of the final period.  Curtis Lazar put in an awkward rebound and then Taylor made it a little closer, but a 6-4 win in a hostile building at this time of year is a win, is a win, is a win.

HOPPER NOTES:  The Leafs chased starting goalie Jeremy Swayman for the third period, a good sign for Leafs Nation to pump 6 by him should they meet somewhere down the road…players I wish were on my team: Charlie McAvoy…I think that was the best game I have ever seen Pierre Engvall play…I wonder what grotesque thing Brad Marchment said to get him that 10 minute misconduct…c’mon, who amongst us wouldn’t love to go all Will Smith on Mr. Marchmant ?…hard to believe that was Coach Keefe’s first game in Boston…nice to see MO and TJ back as a pair in the third…my Baby Amy was born on this day – SO HAPPY that is the case

CHEERS – Keep your love for one anther flowing – comments welcome !

Saturday was moving day in the NHL’s Atlantic Division and everyone moved except for the Toronto Maple Leafs who, with their loss in Montreal were relegated to a wild card spot in the east.  With their wins, Boston was able to leapfrog in to second place (87 pts) and Tampa Bay in to third with 86 leaving the Leafs in 4^th with 85 points, just one ahead of resurgent Washington squad.  Tonight’s opponent, the Florida Panthers further solidified their division leading position (94 pts) with an OT win in Ottawa.

And what a story these Panthers are.  Door mats for years and years (last playoff round win – 1996) and hit with the loss of their Head Coach Joel Quenville early in the season, this current club continues to shine.  A balanced attack led by Jonathan Huberdeau (21G, 68A, 89 pts) and Alexander Barkov, solid goaltending from Sergei Bobrovsky and even a couple of Leaf minor league castoffs in Carter Verhaeghe and Mason Marchment have all contributed to the cause.

The Leafs continued with their fast scoring pace off the opening face off as Morgan Reilly ended a bit of a scoring slump to put the Toronto up 1 zip in the first minute.  That was Reilly’s 50^th point off a tip from his old pal TJ Brodie and Auston Mathews.  The Florida Panthers started a little slowly as the effects of 3 road games in 4 nights can do to a team.  Brandon Montour tied the game up as a result of the Panthers hemming the Leafs in for a significant amount of time.  The Cats have 6 x 20 goal scorers on their roster and it showed its potential during back to back power plays on marginal calls against Justin Holl.

Florida went back to their full court press mode early in the second resulting in another goal off a Nylander giveaway.  Not long after, the Tavares/Marner Power Play kicked in with Captain Johnny scoring his 21^st and 22^nd goals off of Marner primary assists.  The first assist was Marner’s 300^th as a Leaf, the fastest of any Leaf to get to that level so far.  The second was a beautiful tip in over the shoulder of Florida’s Spencer Knight from Marner and Reilly.  Interesting to note, the Leafs had actually outhit (25+) the Panthers in the game to date.

Ilya Mikaev was moved up to the second line to replace a wavering Nylander and although he wasn’t on with that unit when he took a pass from Marner, he was full measure for a beautiful deke goal to put a bow on the Leafs victory.  It was his 4^th in the last 6 games and Marner’s third assist of the night.  Auston Mathews took back the Rocket Richard goal scoring lead with his 48^th on the year on an empty netter with less than a second left making the final 5-2 Toronto.

HOPPER NOTES:  Final SOG were 31-22 Florida so hats off to a 29 save performance from Petr Mrazek…this was billed as a playoff preview and these two will go at it 3 more times in the next 3 weeks…although we haven’t seen much of the Panthers in this market, adding Claude Giroux and Ben Chairot has got to strengthen an already formidable squad…they missed their stud Aaron Ekblad tonight and I think they were kind of fatigued at the end… Tavares (2 goals), Marner (3 assists) Reilly 1 goal, 2 assists) were well deserving as the 3 stars…way to go Team Canada Soccer for clinching a spot in the World Cup for the first time since 1986…guys I’d like to have on my team: Radko Gudas…with Tampa winning today, Tuesday’s Leafs game in Boston will be all the more interesting (tied at 87 points)…RIP Taylor Hawkins – he’s on my top 10 list of Rock Drummers all time…

Cheers – Discuss – Enjoy life !

With all the hype around the recent trade deadline, maybe some of us fell asleep regarding just how tight the 4 playoff teams in the Atlantic Division had become. Earlier today, both Boston and Tampa Bay won to keep the peddle to the metal in that regard.  The other two pieces of the puzzle, Toronto Maple Leafs and the Florida Panthers both had 7 pm starts vs Montreal and Ottawa respectively.  Going in, Florida led the division with 92 points, followed by Boston (87) and Tampa (86) following their wins today and the Leafs held down the Wild Card spot with 85 points.

Always a great confrontation, the Canadiens/Leafs contest is so unpredictable.  Montreal lost a close one to Florida (4-3) on Thursday and have won only 2 of 8 with a couple of ties.  They will be without Jeff Petry, Brendan Gallagher and Jonathan Drouin.  Nick Suzuki has been leading the way with 18g, 29a and 47 points.  They are the first team to be eliminated from the playoffs after going to the Stanley Cup final just a season ago.

Can you top the atmosphere inside the Bell Centre when the Leafs/Canadiens play there on a Saturday night ?  I have GOT to add that to my bucket list !  Not to disappoint, Austin Mathews scored his 47^th (ties career high) at the 36 second mark from Michael Bunting (career high 50^th point) and Mitchell Marner (70^th point).  The Toronto club seemed to be firing on all cylinders throughout the first – out shooting Montreal 12 to 4 and out chancing them 18 to 6.

Things change.  As the Leafs took a collective nap (especially the Tavares line), Montreal got a second wind and pretty much dominated the second period.  Defenseman David Savard, just off injured reserve scored on a nice cross ice feed to beat Nylander and tie things up.   Goalie Jake Alan continued his strong play from the other night as Toronto could not muster up any serious chances.  Cole Caulfield scored on the second Habs PP in a row to put his club ahead 2-1 after two.

Nylander got out of the doghouse with his 24^th on a nice PPG from Marner and Tavares early in the third to tie things up.  Huge saves at both ends kept things close.  Despite the Leafs out shooting the home squad 51 to 18, Paul Byron made a nice steal to make it 3–2 and then Dvorak put in the empty netter for a final 4 to 2 score.

HOPPER NOTES:  Nice job on our Anthem in Cree, French and English pre-game…didn’t see it – but if Jake Allen wasn’t first star call the Cops…that Lubushkin is rockin’ up my top 10 chart…MAN, can that Mickaev skate…come playoff time, can you imagine Rielly & Lubushkin / Giardano & Brodie and Muzzin & Holl ?

Cheers – never forget the people who got you here….they are your saviour !

The New Jersey Devils brought their 23-35-5 act to Toronto to the play the Leafs in the Next Gen Game.  Toronto seemed to pay extra attention to Jersey’s young guns, Jack Hughes who has 41 points in his last 30 games and team scoring leader Jesper Bratt who has already doubled his best season with 62 point to date.  They were successful as the first period at zeroes.

The Leafs are looking to get on some sort of streak in their last 20 games now that the trade deadline is over.  They have won just 9 of their last 19 games.  Trade additions Mark Giordano and Colin Blackwell did not look out of place in their new roles, Giordano paired with Liljgren and Blackwell moving in alongside Spezza and Simmonds.

The Leafs came out for the second period in a bit of a daze – we’ve all heard of playing down to your competition – this was a good example.  They were clumsy with the puck coming out of their own zone and were pitiful on two early power play attempts.  David Severson was credited with the Devils’ first goal when a bad bounce of Lubushkin found the back of the net.  Ilya Mikaev tied up with a short handed goal in which he just blew past an aging PK Subban to deke the goalie and score.  Not to be outdone, Nico Hershiser slammed in a scramble rebound after Mzarek had made two fine stops.  And, finally Mitchell Marner picked off a beauty pass from Austin Mathews to score his career high 27^th.  2-2 after two.

The third period was rather uneventful except for some rambunctious body checking in the middle of the stanza.  Toronto went down on a 4 minute penalty when Mikaev’s high stick accidently cut Andres Joansson.  The Leafs got through the first one and then Engvall scored their second shorty of the night to take the win 3-2.

HOPPER NOTES:  I liked the black Next Gen sweaters the Leafs wore, not too sure about the reversable (just showing my age I guess)…they were apparently designed by the second biggest (next to Drake) jock sniffer in our land, Justin Beiber…was it just me or was that a rather “prickish” thing Arizona did by claiming the Leafs new Finish goalie on waivers ?…on a personal note, I want to thank all the staff at Peterborough Regional Hospital for the successful (to date) Arthoscopic Knee surgery performed on me this past Monday…what a fine group of professionals…and yes, that is why this report is so short and cranky !

CHEERS

The re-tooled Nashville Predators remain in the NHL conversation with a 35-22 and 4 record good for a tie with Minnesota in the Central and a secured Wild Card spot in the west.  Although they are coming off a loss to Philly on Thursday, they have won 5 of their last 6.  Captain Roman Jossi leads his team with 72 points (55 A) and is on an 8 game point streak ready to contend for the Norris Trophy.

The Toronto Maple Leafs welcomed back Austin Mathews (45 goals) which trickled down to Alex Kerfoot dropping to the 4^th line and Nick Robertson to the press box. Dermott was showcased for Monday’s trade deadline, replacing the not quite ready for prime-time Timothy Liljgren on the third pair.

We don’t see the Predators in this market that often, but this reporter’s first impression – these guys are good.  Hats off to GM David Poile for always icing a contender, despite turnover throughout his tenure.  New Leafs goalie Erik Kallgren continued his steady play during the first period starting with huge right pad save less than 30 seconds in followed closely by a nice save on Jossi from close in.  Rookie of the Year candidate Tanner Jeanott got the go ahead goal off a nice feed from Sissons, 1-0 after one.

Nashville pressed hard again to start the second period leading to nice deflection goal off a Davies point shot.  The Predators have a solid forward group lead by Matt Duchene and Mikael Granland with 61 points each and a strong supporting cast led by Philip Forsberg and Ryan Johansen.  Mitchell Marner got the Leafs on the board with his 7^th goal in his last 8 road games to make it interesting, but Mattias Ekholm put in a beauty off the half boards to retain the 2 goal lead.

Juuse Saros has fully stepped in to the Nashville # 1 goaltending role having  played 51 of 61 games with a 2.46 GAA and a 1.93 save %.  As the third period started the Leafs had a legitimate chance to get back in with a PP advantage.  They peppered Saros with 4 bell ringer chances but the score remained the same.  Toronto kept up the pressure and after another hilite reel save by Saros, Mathews finally pumped in his 46^th to make it close.  Kyle Clifford then took a completely useless penalty 150 feet from his net that lead to Philip Forsberg’s franchise leading 211th goal.  Duchene piled on with his 32^nd.  The Leafs pulled their goalie with less than 5 minutes left and Marner scored his 26^th. An empty netter put the Leafs out of their misery.  Final 6 to 3.

HOPPER NOTES: Significant divisional moves as this writing…Girioux to Florida and Lindholm to Boston…Kyle Dubas (as of this publication) has less than 17 hours to make a difference…how’s about Dermott and a second rounder this year and next for Marc Giordano ?…Uncle on the Brett Burns Kit Kat TV spot – a 1 joke ad (especially a bad one) has limited shelf life…guys I’d like on my team – Tanner Jeanot…I think I may have said this before but, does Ondrej Kase have a bit of a glass jaw?…I would not want to be the team that has to play Nashville in the first round… #21 for the Predators – his name is Nick Cousins and he’s played mostly bottom six roles for Vegas and Philly…I had the pleasure of coaching Nick during his Timbits (4 and 5 year old) era in Belleville, ON…even then you could tell he was special – skating, puck handling and a general sense for the game…he was an independent little guy – when me met for our traditional pre-game ceremony, he’d still be racing around…we used to turn our sticks over and (in unison) call out…NICOLA, NICOLA….one of the MANY great memories of my 9 year career coaching at the TIMBITS level…

CHEERS…feel free to comment and love life !

When your team is in the top 3 in wins (Colorado 43, Carolina 41, Florida 41) you know that all opponents are coming after you every night.  The Hurricanes brought their show to Toronto this St Patrick’s day to prove they are no fluke.  The Maple Leafs are coming off a strong showing on Tuesday thanks to a 35 save shutout from newcomer Erik Kallgren.  He got his second consecutive start tonight versus top GAA (2.06) and second place save % man, former Leaf and Vezina Trophy candidate Freddy Andersen.

Carolina came out in their now patented high flying manner buzzing the Leafs with the first 5 shots, one of which required a quality save by Kallgren.  The last time these clubs met, Toronto won in OT off a Mitchell Marner goal and tonight’s end to end match looked like another close one was pending.  Ilya Mikaev scored off a lovely give and go with Justin Holl to open the scoring with 4 minutes left.

WOW, a firewagon pace between 2 great clubs – great play both ways.  Marner popped his 24^th off a nice Tavares feed to put the Leafs up 2 zip after 2 despite being out shot 23-12 at the buzzer.

 The Toronto Maple Leafs were full measure for their 3 to 2 win over a solid Carolina club tonight.  Goalie Erik Kallgren made 34 saves for his second straight win.  Ondrj Kase scored the winner in his third straight game.  Pretty tough to argue that the Toronto team has a meaningful club.

HOPPER NOTES:  The St. Pat’s unis are cool, but I really think they need to re-design the backs.  Was it just me or was it hard to read the numbers ?  eg Jason Spezza looked he was wearing # 119…in addition to tonight’s 3 stars, kudos to Mikaev, Kerfoot, Reilly and Lyubushkin  – an all ‘round good team win…after Monday’s trade deadline, I sure hope the Leaf d-man pairings look like this:  Reilly & Lyubushkin, Giardano & Brodie, Muzzin & Holl (expendable Dermott ad Liljgren)…only 6 shots on Carolina’s 3 PP’s…maybe this kid CAN play goal at this level – 70 saves 2 GAA in 2 1/3 games…

CHEERS – Live your life as it was meant to be – pursue your happiness !

A couple of playoff/wild card wannabes went at tonight at Scotiabank Arena.  That’s correct, the Toronto Maple Leafs now fall in to the wannabe category having lost their last two and 4 of their last 6 games.  The Boston Bruins are just 2 points back.  Tonight’s opponent, the Dallas Stars are 3 points out of a playoff spot with a couple of games in hand.  Their top line of Joe Pavelski, Roope Hintz and Nick’s way bigger brother Jason Robertson lead their team in both points and + / -.

With Auston Mathews out, John Taveres moved up to the first line, Alex Kerfoot centered the second and Kyle Clifford got a turn on the fourth thanks to a Wayne Simmonds scratch.  25 year old rookie goaltender Erik Kallgren got his first NHL start.

After Sunday’s debacle in Hamilton, you could see the Leafs with an extra jump right off the bat.  Better team speed, breakouts and d-zone coverage led them their 1-0 goal.  A great clear out pass and excellent zone entry was converted by the guy who started it all 200’ away.   Rasmus Sandin shovelled in his 5^th with great set up passes from John Tavares and Mitchell Marner.  Later, a Tavares face off win went back to Timothy Liljgren whose set-up to for a Nylander point shot had Tavares tip it in to make it 2 zip.  A couple of late period saves by Kallgren and a mad scramble required a holding call on Ilya Lyubushkin to end the period.

The second period seemed dominated by penalties to both sides.  Was this a hangover from all that Mathews talk ?  Lallgren was again front and centre as he stopped 7 SOG during one such sequence.

Utility forward Ondrje Kase not only played a significant role on the fourth line, but filled in for Mathews on the # 1 power play unit and eventually scored his 13^th on assists from Reilly and Marner.  Ilya Mikaev buried the 4 nothing win with his 11^th in to an empty net.

HOPPER NOTES: Leafs Nation was more than a little annoyed when Colorado snared right shooting, tough guy d-man Josh Manson from Anaheim for a second rounder, a prospect and still paying half of his salary…if Dallas d-man John Klingberg was auditioning for a Leafs deadline acquisition, he failed…LOVE the teaming up of Mo Reilly and Lyubuskin – now maybe Morgan can play his own game…Rasmus Sandin skated miles tonight – maybe concerned that he will be the “add-in” on any deadline trades ??…Boy I wish I was the TV Ad rep on the new BET MGM account with the Wayner – just hammered it during the pre-game show…congrats to Coach Keefe on his 100^th win as Leafs Coach.

Enjoy Your Life – CHEERS !

The second period seemed dominated by penalties to both sides.  Was this a hangover from the Mathews talk ?  Lallgren was again front and centre as he stopped 7 SOG during one such sequence.

Utility forward Ondrje Kase not only played a significant role on the fourth line, but filled in for Mathews on the # 1 power play unit and eventually scored his 13^th on assists from Reilly and Marner.  Ilya Mikaev buried the 4 nothing win with his 11^th in to an empty net.

HOPPER NOTES: Leafs Nation was more than a little annoyed when Colorado snared right shooting, tough guy d-man Josh Manson from Anaheim for a second rounder, a prospect and still paying half of his salary…if Dallas d-man John Klingberg was auditioning for a Leafs deadline acquisition, he failed…LOVED the teaming up of Mo Reilly and Lyubuskin – now maybe Morgan can play his own game…Rasmus Sandin skated miles tonight – maybe concerned that he will be the “add-in” on any deadline trade ??…Boy I wish I was the TV Ad rep on the new BET MGM account with the Wayner – just hammered it during the pre-game show…congrats to Coach Keefe on his 100^th win as Leafs Coach.

Enjoy Life – CHEERS !

What’s 33 points between 50+ year rivals in the NHL ?  26,119 folks jammed Tim Horton’s field in Hamilton to find out at this year’s Heritage Classic.  The QEW combatants re-unite after the Buffalo Sabres embarrassed the Maple 5 to 1 just 11 days earlier in Toronto.

The afternoon started off under cloudy skies, light flurries and gusting winds.  Much maligned Petr Mrazek was kept very busy from the start, having to make 7 solid stops in the game’s first 10 minutes.  The Sabres top line of 6’ 7” Tage Thompson, Jeff Skinner and Alex Touch lived up their growing rep, outplaying the Mathews line for most of the period.  A late first period power play for the Leafs solved nothing.

Starting the second (the Leafs had the wind) Ondrej Kase opened the scoring by kicking a nice pass up off his skate to score his 12^th with the help of new linemates John Tavares and William Nylander.   Just :42 seconds later, Nathan Krebs buried a great feed from Vinny Anastosuk to tie the game.  Anderson had robbed Austin Mathews snaring a labelled shot from the high slot.  Not too long after that Mathews got his revenge scoring his 45^th off another nice pass, this time from Alex Kerfoot.  TJ Brodie was credited with the 2^nd assist, giving 300 for his career.  Anastosuk got on the board for the second time as he was the last one to touch the puck on a flukey goal to tie it at twos.

Everybody’s favorite Vinny “Barberino”, got another point with a crappy angle shot 6 minutes in to pretty much seal the deal.  A controversial 4^th Sabres goal nailed the coffin.  The Leafs gave up 4 unanswered goals to lose 5 to 2.

HOPPER NOTES:  What Leafs game recently has not seen at least 1 or 2 WEAK goals against…take your pick today…Petr Mrazek was not the sole cause for today’s loss…he made several key saves, came out and challenged shooters and made a wicked glove save at a key point in the third…look, this Sabres team is starting to come on….3 solid forward lines and an improving defence core led to their 20^th win of the season…loved the features throughout the telecast highlighting Hamilton’s rich history – Angelo Mossca, Pat Quinn, Garney Henley – legends all…and the tape of the Leafs arriving in Steelworker’s gear was priceless…so glad the Canadian Gold Medal winning Women’s Hockey team got proper acknowledgement at such a venue… can’t wait to hear the noise about Mathews’ cross check to the head of Dahlin late in the game…my guess ?  There’s goes the Lady Byng and a fine…

CHEERS, Discuss, enjoy lives !

Post Media (Toronto SUN) made a great case for the Phoenix Coyotes to remain in the NHL and in Arizona.  Even though their plan is to move to the 5000 seat Arizona State hockey facility for the next couple of years, they are hopeful for a full-on Major League rink in Tempe in the years to come.  Forbes Magazine has the franchise valued at $400 million (low by league standards) but that’s still nothing to sneeze at.  GM Bill Armstrong points out the excellent lifestyle of living/playing in the desert and he’s not wrong.  Now, if they can stick to a rebuild plan and survive the lower gate receipts, maybe they can earn what has been theirs since the move from Winnipeg way back in 1996.

The Toronto Maple Leafs began a stretch of 9 games in the next 18 nights with the news that Jack Campbell would not dress for tonight’s game due to a mysterious rib ailment.  25 year old Eric Kellgren would be the backup.  Another pre-game announcement had John Tavares to centre Ondre Kase and Nick Robertson with William Nylander moving to the third/fourth line.

Two minutes in, ex Leaf Alex Galchenyuk put one in over an ill-positioned Petr Mrazek.  If that wasn’t ugly enough, trade bait d-man Jacob Chychrun fanned on a Marzek rebound that still slid into the net for the 2 zip lead.  After a 13:22 seconds of continuous play incurred, LEAFS Nation screamed in unison, “Guys, we’re playing the Arizona Coyotes, a team 40 points below us with only 17 wins”!

One has to guess that plea was not heard as the Leafs were swarmed from the get go resulting in another weak goal to start the second.  Pierre Engvall tried to stop some of the bleeding but after another wave at a shot, Mzarek’s night was done and the Leafs were down 4-1.  Now give them credit, the Coyotes have won 3 in a row, 4 of their last 5 and even a blind squirrel finds a nut sometimes, but – c’mon !

OK, something was said or not said between the second and third.  The Leafs came out flying starting with Alex Kerfoot pinning one upstairs over Wedgewood’s ear at 3:38.  It was time for Austin Mathews to show up and he did just that with his (delayed review) 44^th.  Nylander tied at 4’s with a nice feed from Kerfoot :10 seconds later.  That was Kerfoot’s 3^rd point of the night and earned him a promotion to his rightful place on the second line with the Captain and Nylander for the rest of the game.  Wayne Simmonds, Ondre Kase and Nick Roberston rode the pine for the rest of the game.  The short bench led to 17 shots by the Leafs before the final buzzer and overtime.

You are going to hear a great many opinions over the next 24 hours about whether Mathews was hooked, mugged, held, jumped or interfered with on the eventual game winning goal.  I guess that’s why they play the games.

HOPPER NOTES:  Guys I wish I had on my team:  Jakob Chycrun…2 goals, always tough to play against…but his $4.6m is just too rich for the Leafs at this time…looking forward to Sunday in the ‘Hammer’…of all the things I would have thought about in reviewing Phil Kessel’s career, a 958 game iron man streak would not have been one of them…has Petr Mrazek played one meaningful, winning game ?

CHEERS, enjoy your life and stay healthy !

Jarred McCann of the Seattle Kraken joins Nathan Horton and Robin Lehner as some of the former Leafs who never played a game for Toronto.  He just signed a 5 year $25m contract to go along with his career high 21 goals for former Leaf Assistant Coach Dave Hakstol so he’s got to be OK with that. The Kraken had lost to Carolina and Washington on the first leg of this eastern trip.

The Leafs top line stood out again in the first 3 minutes as Austin Matthews posted his 41^st to finish a beautiful PPG from Nylander and Reilly. 

Again, all the talk seemed to be about Toronto’s inability to clear the front of their own net.  While that is a serious issue, this reporter has observed the lack of finish in getting the puck out when they get above their own D-Dots.  A perfect example was when Seattle pressured a fancy exit pass to let Carson Soucy tie it up.  

John Tavares later deked in a beauty after an equally beautiful lead pass from TJ Brodie to Pierre Engvall who lead a breakaway pass to the Captain to take back the one goal lead.

Somebody’s got to ask – how can a team with 36 wins be tied with a 30^th place expansion team with 17 W’s after two periods on their home rink ?   Not unlike last night’s escape in Columbus, the Leafs had a pretty good handle on things when William Nylander scored his 22^nd on a powerplay to make it 3-1.  Seattle came back with a real nice 3 on 2 rush goal and then just as Nylander got off my “shit list”, he hands the Kraken a shorty on a horrific giveaway 2 ½ minutes later to allow the visitors to tie the game up at three’s. 

A pitiful start for the Leafs in the third had them smothered by an inferior opponent.  Just 6 minutes in and the Kraken take a 4-3 lead.  That must have set some lights off on the Toronto bench because Mathews took a clever feed from Bunting (and of course Marner) to score his 42nd to tie it right back up.  Mitchell Marner has been smokin’ hot – he pumped in a laser right off another Tavares faceoff win. His 6^th goal in his last 6^th put the Leafs up to stay.  That’s 41 points in 24 games.  Matty got his “Hatty” with an empty netter for his 43^rd goal in 54 games.  MAN, I don’t know where this club would be without the “Big 3”.

HOPPER NOTES:  Great tribute for Wayne Simmonds’ 1000 game celebration before the opening faceoff  – so nice to see it happen in his home town with his Mum and Dad, wife and kids there to help him celebrate…why can’t the Leafs ever find a 6’ 5” 270 pound defenceman…still feeling sorry for Morgan Reilly having the burden of babysitting Lars Liljgren, the still not ready for prime time d-man (he makes me SO nervous !)…players I wish I had on my team – Yanni Gourde…kinda missed Jason Spezza not anchoring that 4^th line tonight … and, not to be a “Debbie Downer”, but this Maple Leaf play has got to stop !  Tampa Bay and/or Florida will eat them alive in the first round…Kyle get some defencemen…

CHEERS – Enjoy -Discuss – Comment !