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Introducing Kevin Gibson: Turning over a new Leaf. |
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Ek’s Note: we are so thankful to Mike Augello for building such a great community here on hockeybuzz and really wish him the best moving forward. I have no doubt the great things are in store for him and we were lucky to have them for 20 years. So replacing him is very difficult obviously and I’ve been looking around for the perfect person and I believe I found him. I’ve also known Kevin Gibson for 20 years and his abilities and history of hockey knowledge really is pretty much unmatched..
With over two decades in the sports media industry. Gibby began his career with a weekly column for the Sporting News. From there, he moved onto the Hockey News where he was a reporter at Toronto Maple Leafs games. And then forged himself a career for 16+ years at TSN. Gibby would write a regular column for the company website as well as working on shows such as SportsCentre, That's Hockey and The NHL on TSN. He has also written four books on hockey. Gibby also taught journalism students in university. A daily contributor to the Mike Richards morning show on TSN 1050. Kevin is no stranger to the radio and currently has his own sports talk show on 89.7FM in Northumberland County (Ontario). With a podcast www.TheGibShow.com
His sense of humor and sports knowledge will be evident in his regular columns and radio show. I’m very excited to introduce Kevin Gibson.
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The Leafs and Bruins had a tame affair on Saturday night, which also happened to be the 39th anniversary of the release of the Bay City Rollers song, Saturday Night. Boston and Toronto combined for only four penalties.
The game was tied 2-2 entering the final 20 minutes, then the teams exchanged three goals in under two minutes, five and half minutes into the third period, with the Leafs enjoying a 4-3 advantage before we headed into empty net time late in the game. With two empty goals, it allowed Knies and Marner to earn five points in the game.
Knies had gone 9 straight games without a goal heading into last night's ice participation and had only two, multi point games on the season.
Knies picked up his first career hat trick and became the third Maple Leaf to record one this season after John Tavares (Oct. 28 & Dec. 15) and Marner (Dec. 27). Marner combined with Knies to become the third Maple Leafs pair to each record five points in the same game in the past 40 years following Marner (4-2—6) and Michael Bunting (1-4—5) on Feb. 26, 2022 as well as Kyle Wellwood (3-2—5) and Alexei Ponikarovsky (2-3—5) on Dec. 16, 2006.
Marner's fifth point of the night was his 42nd assist of the season – only Doug Gilmour (44 in 1992-93) had more for Toronto through their first 40 games of a season. He also surpassed Gilmour and Syl Apps (both with 4) to move into a tie with Babe Dye (5) for the second-most five-point outings in franchise history behind only Darryl Sittler (7).
2025 has produced 5 hat-tricks already, 4 by American born players and 1 by a Canadian who doesn't wear a visor.
The victory was the Leafs third in a row and seventh in the past ten games. Toronto is at home again tonight, this time against the Flyers, the teams will meet again on Tuesday in Philly. This will be the Leafs 24th home game of the season, against only 17 away games, so definitely a long road ahead.
Toronto this season is 4-4-1 in the second game when playing on back2back days.
Matthews had a most triumphant return to the line up with 1G, 2A and was a +5. Just the second time in his career he was a +5 in a game (Feb 5/18 vs ANA)
The Leafs captain has an 8 game point streak vs Flyers (7G, 7A). Toronto is 7-1-0 in those 8 games.Matthews in his last 5GP at home against Philly he has 6G, 4A.
Tonight will also mark the Leafs halfway point of the season.
Flyers sit 2P out of a wild card spot, but there's five teams between them and that location in the standings. This will mark the end of the Flyers 6 game road trip (2-3-0). Overall Philadelphia is 3-6-0 in their last 9 games, going 2-20 on the PP. First meeting of the season between Leafs and Flyers. Toronto has won 4 straight at home vs Philly, and the last time Flyers won in regulation in Toronto was in October 2017, Leafs 6-0-1 since.
Gibby
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