#Leafs can become first team in the North to clinch a playoff spot tonight.
If Toronto and Ottawa both win in regulation, the Maple Leafs will qualify for the playoffs.
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Page 6ix Wednesday April 28th: Clinching SZN is upon us
Hello gossip friends. Apologies for the lengthy absence – sometimes real life gets in the way of hockey entertainment, but what can ya do? Alas, we have returned, and just in time for teams all over the place to start clinching playoff spots, while Leafs fans watch in envy. There’s other stuff to discuss, too. Let’s do it.
Leafs Land
So, about that playoff spot:
Come on, Ottawa, help us out. (Yes, I know the Leafs have to win, too. Sigh.) We’ll see what happens tonight, won’t we?
Elsewhere in Leaf-land, @Mark Fraser is trying to impact change from the inside:
Mark Fraser hadn't really seen allyship in hockey until John Tavares & Maple Leafs wore "Black Lives Matter" shirts. That gesture impacted Fraser in such a way that he is now working for MLSE about making that allyship more commonplace. theathletic.com/2504802/2021/0…
@Nick Foligno continues to settle in nicely as a new Leaf, already making an impact on and off the ice:
Nick Foligno finally got some practice time in with the #Leafs, and that's helping him feel even better ahead of regular season stretch run: "I think we have a chance to do something special here" tsn.ca/talent/consecu…
Nick Foligno on his first week with #Leafs: "They've been fantastic. Just the staff, the players, they've just made me feel welcome. Great group in here so I'm having a lot of fun getting to know guys and it's pretty obvious why they've had so much success this year."
And it looks like the Leafs goalie depth might be getting a bit deeper, with a healthier @Frederik Andersen practicing again:
good morning from ~four~ #leafs goaltenders: andersen, campbell, hutchinson and rittich
And just a little beard news to round things off:
Alex Kerfoot says his bushy beard was inspired by Joe Thornton and that "it's horrible" but he's keeping it anyway: "I figured, middle of a pandemic, with Jumbo on the team, there's no better time to let it go but I'm never going back to it after going through this."
*shrug emoji*
Habs Health
An update from Montreal, on the status of @Jonathan Drouin:
Forward Jonathan Drouin will take an indefinite leave of absence from the team for personal reasons. He was placed on long-term injured reserve by the club. We ask everyone to respect his privacy.
Whatever the reason for his leave, we wish him well. Hopefully, following @Jonathan Toews similar leave from play this season, this signals a shift in culture to allow for putting mental health at the forefront and not brushing those issues aside.
Elvis Isn’t Impressed
Some news from Nick Foligno’s old homestead:
Elvis Merzlikins on the #CBJ winless skid, the embarrassment of it and the pain inside the Jackets' locker room as they try their hardest to just win a game -> "Like ... it's heavy. I don’t want to get, like, to Buffalo ... I don’t want to get to that point like Buffalo."
Definitely don’t want to get to Buffalo status!
Also:
Merzlikins with an homage to Nick Foligno in his post win celebration. #SoloJumpHugs #CBJ
Awwwww.
Quick Hits
Some quick hits from around the league:
@Taylor Hall is settling in nicely in Boston:
The NHL has a new TV deal:
NHL reaches U.S. TV rights deal with Turner Sports, ending NBC run ctvnews.ca/sports/nhl-rea…
The Panthers have got jokes:
Not the only ones to clinch with 69 points, @canes 😉
And finally:
At 44 years & 40 days, Zdeno Chara is the oldest player in NHL history to pick up a fighting major. @NHLonNBCSports research x.com/HeresYourRepla…
That’s all for now, folks. Catch ya next Wednesday!
Breaking News
- Canadiens GM Kent Hughes makes it about the Maple Leafs
- Penguins rally in 3rd period to defeat Marlies, Toronto leads AHL’s Eastern Conference Finals 2-1
- The David Carle hype was fun while it lasted: Leafs Morning Take
- Matthew Knies’ knee issue, trade rumours were some of the biggest storylines from his third year in Toronto
- Around the NHL: Senators & Ducks linked to McTavish trade; Marner vs. Andersen set for Stanley Cup Final