Saturday news: Kaberle and Van Ryn in, Hagman out vs. Sens
February 28, 2009 by RobDM
Filed under Daily Round-Up
The Leafs will welcome two of their best defencemen, Tomas Kaberle and Mike Van Ryn, back into the lineup when the team takes on the Ottawa Senators at Scotiabank Place this evening (7pm, CBC, AM 640). Niklas Hagman, who suffered a concussion on Thursday after taking an elbow from the Islanders’ Brendan Witt, has returned to Toronto to undergo testing and will not play tonight. Witt, meanwhile, was suspended 5 games for the infraction.
Thoughts and prayers go out to NHL Senior VP of Hockey Operations Jim Gregory, who is in critical condition after suffering a heart attack. Gregory served as Leafs general manager from 1969-79, and brought in Hall of Famers such as Darryl Sittler, Lanny McDonald and Borje Salming to Toronto, as well as fan favourites Tiger Williams and Mike Palmateer.
Here are the headlines of stories relating to the Leafs and the Marlies in the news this morning:
Leafs Game Day
- Hot streak no threat to long-range Leafs plans Toronto Sun
- Expectations are wacky for March Toronto Sun
- Wilson sings praises of tiny Tim Toronto Sun
- Tiny talent riding big wave Toronto Star
- Witt hit costs 5 games Toronto Sun
- Two Leafs defenders ready to play Toronto Star
- No longer a battle in Ontario National Post
- Leafs not sure they can keep White The Globe And Mail
- Gregory in critical condition CP
- Our Prayers Are With Jim Gregory FAN 590
Marlies News
- Marlies blanked CP
- Monster Mash For Marlies TorontoMarlies.com
NHL and Hockey News
- Flyers lose two players Toronto Sun
- Trade or keep those draft picks? Ask Red Wings Toronto Star
- Ex-NHLer gets ring 55 years after the Cup Toronto Star
- Culture of violence in hockey has a long and tarnished record Toronto Star
- Schneider plays hero as Habs topple Flyers in overtime National Post
- For rent. Or not The Globe And Mail
- The cap The Globe And Mail
- Countdown to deadline The Globe And Mail
- Hockey players raising money for Right To Play CTVOlympics.ca
- Friday’s scores NHL.com
Friday news: Stapleton is the OT hero
February 27, 2009 by RobDM
Filed under Daily Round-Up
Rookie Tim Stapleton had a memorable NHL debut, scoring the shootout winner in the Leafs 5-4 win over the New York Islanders on Thursday. Stapleton, the Marlies’ leading scorer, was recalled to replace the injured John Mitchell.
Around the NHL, Martin Brodeur showed no signs of rust, posting a shutout against Colorado in his first game in four months. There were two trades in the NHL yesterday in which the Penguins and Ducks swapped Ryan Whitney for Chris Kunitz and prospect Eric Tangradi, while the Habs and Stars exchanged Steve Begin and Doug Janik.
Here are the headlines of stories relating to the Leafs and the Marlies in the news this morning:
Leafs Game Day
- Going that extra mile Toronto Sun
- Stapleton an instant hit Toronto Sun
- Rookie shines in Leaf debut Toronto Star
- Cavalry coming Toronto Sun
- Leafs hurting draft status with late-season wins National Post
- Instant impact AP
- This Season A Complete Write-Off For Maple Leafs FAN 590
Marlies News
- Marlies Sign Ryan to SPC TorontoMarlies.com
NHL and Hockey News
- Begin takes his act to Dallas CP
- Penguins give up on Whitney AP
- Uncertain times CP
- Laraque wants to stay Toronto Sun
- Lee’s loose lips sink Sens Ottawa Citizen
- Brodeur shines in return as Devils blank Avalanche National Post
- NHL Notebook National Post
- Mason blanks Oilers CP
- New arena could bring hockey up to full power Toronto Star
- GTHL parents must pay $520 to watch kids play Toronto Star
- Thursday’s scores NHL.com
Game Summary – Feb. 26: Toronto 5 at NY Islanders 4 (SO)
February 26, 2009 by RobDM
Filed under Leafs Game Recaps
Leafs scorers: White (9), Moore (12), Kubina (10), Antropov (21), shootout winner: Stapleton
Islanders scorers: Mcammond (4), Bergenheim (9), Streit (12), Sim (9)
Links: Game Summary | Stats | Discussion boards
Forward Lines:Ponikarovsky-Stajan-Antropov, Kulemin-Grabovski-Hagman, Stempniak-Moore-Blake, May-Mayers-Stapleton
Defence pairings: Kubina-Sifers, Frogren-White, Stralman-Schenn
Goaltenders: Toskala (Win 65:00 minutes played, 40 saves, 4 GA), Joseph (0:00)
Noteworthy:
-Tim Stapleton scored the shootout winner in his NHL debut. Stapleton (14:33 ice time, 3 shots) leads the AHL in shootout goals with the Toronto Marlies, and was recalled after Wednesday’s game to replace the injured John Mitchell.
-Jason Blake had two assists against his former team, and scored on a ’spin-o-rama’ move in the shootout.
-Vesa Toskala stopped the Islanders’ Sean Bergenheim on a penalty shot in the second period.
-The Leafs are 11-3-1 against the Atlantic Division this season, and do not have a winning record against any of the other five divisions.
Thursday news: Leafs spoil Tortorella’s debut
February 26, 2009 by RobDM
Filed under Daily Round-Up
A change behind the bench of the New York Rangers didn’t stop the Leafs from sweeping a home-and-home series between the two teams as Toronto prevailed 2-1 in a shootout over the Blueshirts at ACC on Wednesday night. John Mitchell and Jeff Finger were lost to injury, and will be replaced by Marlies call-ups Tim Stapleton and Anton Stralman for tonight’s game in Long Island against the Islanders (7pm, SportsNet, AM 640).
Also, Brian Burke has set the price for suitors for defenceman Tomas Kaberle. Meanwhile the Rangers have claimed former Leaf/Marlie Mark Bell off the waiver wire.
In other NHL news, Martin Brodeur is set to make his return to the Devils’ lineup this evening after missing four months with an arm injury.
Here are the headlines of stories relating to the Leafs and the Marlies in the news this morning:
Leafs Game Day
- Twice is nice Toronto Sun
- Leafs rough up Rangers again Toronto Star
- Tortorella shot down in Rangers debut National Post
- Leafs spoil Tortorella’s debut The Globe And Mail
- If you covet Kaberle, get ready to pay up: Burke Toronto Sun
- Burke seeks king’s ransom for Kaberle Toronto Star
- Price is high for Maple Leafs’ Kaberle Edmonton Journal
- Toskala, knife could hook up Toronto Sun
- Bell tolls for Rangers Toronto Sun
- Bell taken on waivers by Rangers Toronto Star
- Trade talk heating up The Globe And Mail
- Offside Thursday – Leafs, Tiger, A-Rod strike gold Toronto Sun
- Peddie, MLSE Patient But Anxious FAN 590
- Kaberle eyes Sens game for return to duty Toronto Star
Marlies News
- Marlies Weekly (PDF) TorontoMarlies.com
NHL and Hockey News
- Harsh reality for Tortorella Toronto Sun
- Crosby sits out Toronto Sun
- Tough-nut Tortorella isn’t likely to tolerate underachieving stars Toronto Star
- ‘Intense’ Tortorella sets the pace National Post
- Rangers’ woes Sather’s doing The Globe And Mail
- Brodeur ready to go AP
- Calgary billionaire has ‘handshake agreement’ to buy into Predators CP
- Tavares wins it for the Knights CP
- Wednesday’s scores NHL.com
Game Summary – Feb. 25: NY Rangers 1 at Toronto 2 (SO)
February 26, 2009 by RobDM
Filed under Leafs Game Recaps
Leafs scorers: Hagman (19), shootout winner: Kulemin
Rangers scorers: Redden (3)
Links: Game Summary | Stats | Discussion boards
Forward Lines:Ponikarovsky-Stajan-Antropov, Kulemin-Grabovski-Hagman, Stempniak-Moore-Blake, May-Mayers-Mitchell
Defence pairings: Kubina-White, Finger-Schenn, Frogren-Sifers
Goaltenders: Toskala (Win 64:55 minutes played, 31 saves, 1 GA), Joseph (0:00)
Noteworthy:
-John Mitchell left the game during the first period with an upper body injury. Jeff Finger did not return after the second period, also due to an upper body injury.
-After the game, head coach Ron Wilson stated that forward Tim Stapleton and defenceman Anton Stralman were recalled from the Marlies to play tomorrow night in Long Island.
-In four games against the Rangers this year, the Leafs did not score a first or second period goal.
-Mark Bell was claimed off waivers by the Rangers earlier on Wednesday morning, but did not dress for his new team.
-Wade Redden’s goal was his first in 58 games.
-The Leafs last played four consecutive overtime games from Oct. 7-14, 2006 a stretch in which they also went 2-0-2, as they are on this current streak (Feb. 19-25).
Tuesday news: Leafs play role of coach-killers
February 24, 2009 by RobDM
Filed under Daily Round-Up
For the second time in as many weeks, a Leafs victory has cost an opposing coach his job as Tom Renney was fired by the New York Rangers one day after Toronto’s 3-2 overtime win on Sunday. The move comes on the heels of Pittsburgh’s firing of Michel Therrien after the Leafs’ thumping of the Penguins on Valentine’s Day.
Trade speculation continues to foster as the March 4 deadline approaches. Meanwhile, in a move that proves that cost is not necessarily related to quality, the Leafs have raised their ticket prices by an average of 3%, a hike that comes in the wake of a season that will see them finish out of the playoffs for a fourth straight year.
Here are the headlines of stories relating to the Leafs and the Marlies in the news this morning:
Leafs News
- On the block Toronto Sun
- Leafs hike ticket prices Toronto Sun
- Offside Tuesday – Leafs get more expensive, more frightening Toronto Star
- Value of Leafs’ Kaberle rises Toronto Star
- Revenge a dish best served in blue-and-white National Post
- Kaberle won’t go West — but Antropov might The Globe And Mail
Marlies News
- Rocking A New Kind Of Show TorontoMarlies.com
NHL and Hockey News
- Tortorella handed Rangers’ coaching reins Faecoff.com
- Loss to Leafs puts final nail in Renney’s coaching coffin Toronto Star
- Slats not without blame Toronto Sun
- The looming showdown: John Tortorella vs. Sean Avery National Post
- Marty set to party Toronto Sun
- Hockey notes Toronto Star
- Iginla back on track Calgary Herald
- Centennial year goes from celebration to scandal The Globe And Mail
- Monday’s scores NHL.com
