The Eastern Conference is tight in the standings and you can bet tonight’s game is about as big as one gets with thirty remaining in the schedule. The Leafs have won three games in a row and look to make it four tonight versus a Panthers team that has been playing well as of late. Florida is only two points back of our beloved Toronto Maple Leafs, but they have two games in hand. With a win tonight the Leafs can begin to separate themselves from the pack, but at the same time, keep up with the big boys in Boston and Tampa Bay.

If the Buds can continue their streak and one of Tampa or Boston begins to stumble, the boys just may be able to catch them. Obviously number one is to just keep putting up points, the Leafs can’t afford to cough up any fur balls at this point of the season and they know it. What’s been a nice change for the blue and white has been the improvement in their backup goaltending. Hutchinson has been visibly more stable and confident when between the pipes. Its showing too as he’s another player who’s benefited from the removal of Babcock behind the Leafs bench. Hutchinson has gone 4-1 and sports a .927 save percent since Keefe has run the show. This is what the Leafs needed out the gates from Hutchinson and they would be sitting somewhere between Boston and Tampa.

Alexander Barkov was banged up against the Montreal Canadiens on Saturday night and he didn’t return to the game. The Panthers are hopeful Barkov will be in the game tonight, but that’s looking like more of a game time decision so we shall see how that plays out. It would be a nice bonus for the Leafs if Barkov were to miss some time as he’s the prized horse for the Panthers and a big part of Jonathan Huberdeau’s success.

Is Kasperi Kapanan hurt? What’s the deal?

Well it looks like it’s not a trade nor is he hurt. Keefe was dishing out some discipline by the looks of it with a firm slap on the wrist. Kapanen’s one-game stay in the press box was to be considered a “one-time thing”. Keefe said that Kapanen didn’t play in Saturday’s game because of “internal accountability”, so perhaps Kasperi missed a mandatory practice, meeting or broke curfew? Nothing to stress over, hopefully this keeps the Leafs on the road to success as they prepare for the final stretch. Kappy has 28 points in 51 games and the 23 year old has certainly turned some heads with his quickness on the ice.

Auston’s quest for fifty goals is inching closer every game and if my magic eight ball is working then he will hit 40 goals on the season this week. Matthews has 61 points in 52 games and you better believe that stache is elevating his game. Auston leads the NHL with 27 even strength goals, only Ovechkin is really close with 25 and the next closest is Jack Eichel with 23. Matthews has certainly proved his worth as a quality goal scorer when playing five on five hockey. As a rookie (age 19) he scored the most even strength goals in the entire National Hockey League and he’s looking to repeat here in 2020 (age 22).

Tonight’s game is a big one and the best Leafs player as of late has been none other than William Nylander.

Willy seems to be everywhere on the ice, creating opportunities and cashing in on his chances. It’s been a beautiful resurgence from last season and Nylander is certainly a candidate for bounce back player of the year.

Toronto has four games this week:
Panthers (Monday)
@Rangers (Wednesday)
Ducks (Friday)
@Montreal (Saturday)

Expect Hutchinson to get the nod on Friday against a weaker Anaheim team.

~ my son (age 6) scored his first goal on Sunday, it was a big moment! ~

Enjoy tonight’s game!
Thanks for reading.

Go Leafs Go!

Join the Discussion: » 128 Comments » Post New Comment

» Bust out your monocle and take a gander of the Atlantic

» Atlantic Division Spotlight: Tampa Bay Lightning

» Slicing the Atlantic Division in Half

» Atlantic Spotlight: Toronto Maple Leafs

» Atlantic Spotlight: Red Wings