Are the Toronto Maple Leafs back?

At the very least, Anthony Stolarz sure is. What a performance in Edmonton. The 32-year-old made 34 stops as Toronto smothered the Oilers 5-2 for its third straight victory.

That’s where the conversation started on the Wednesday edition of Leafs Morning Take. After their dreadful five game homestand from hell, the Leafs went 3-1-0 on their four game road trip ahead of the Olympic break. That’s what this team does, right? It’s been such a rollercoaster season.

So, Stolarz was great, Toronto’s power play, which has struggled to get chances recently, stepped up large. Unequivocally, the Jay Rosehill turning point of the game happened in the third period when the Leafs got essentially a full two minutes of 5-on-3 time. Full credit to them, too, they made it count. John Tavares connected on a back door tap in and Matias Maccelli hammered home a Max Domi cross ice pass. That was the difference. Just for good measure, Bobby McMann, the pride of Wainwright Alberta, iced it with an empty netter for the second straight game. His price tag continues to go up. Additionally, Rosey broke down the Brandon Carlo/Darnell Nurse scrap. He thought it was a nothing burger hit on Connor McDavid, but respected the fact that both Carlo and Nurse addressed the situation.

Just like that, the Leafs enter the Olympic break on a semi-heater. Speaking of which, The Fourth Period’s David Pagnotta dropped by to dish on the looming trade freeze and also the trade deadline. He hit on Toronto’s game plan, where they go from here, and who could be on the most. Most specifically, he dished on Bobby McMann and Morgan Rielly. On top of that, Pagnotta broke down what he’s heard when it comes to Brad Treliving’s future as GM. Ditto for Craig Berube as head coach.

Be sure to join us for the Thursday edition of Leafs Morning Take. We’ll discuss any trade freeze activity plus break down some talking points as the Leafs get some much-needed time off.

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