LOS ANGELES — The trade deadline is approaching, which in Lakerland means one thing: Kyle Kuzma rumors heat up. That’s been the nature of Kuzma’s career since he went pro. Forever a trade chip in backroom, imaginary scenarios as amateur general managers construct the title team of their dreams. “Kobe used to always tell me,…
Lakers’ Kyle Kuzma is making an on-court case not to be traded — Press Telegram
The Boston Celtics have had plenty of experience playing at less than full health this season. They’ll add to that on Wednesday night as the Cs host the Orlando Magic at TD Garden. The Celtics will be without starting point guard Kemba Walker, fellow guard Marcus Smart, as well as a new addition in Daniel…
Kemba Walker, Marcus Smart, Daniel Theis Out As Celtics Host Magic Wednesday — NESN.com
Tuukka Rask held up his end of the bargain on the ice, but it wasn’t just about his work between the pipes. The Boston Bruins goaltender came up with 25 saves Tuesday night, helping lift his team to a 4-0 win over the Vancouver Canucks. The win puts the Bruins at 30-10-12 and marked Rask’s…
Tuukka Rask Credits Bruins Teammates For Making His Job Easy In Third Shutout — NESN.com
TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS (28-18-7 – 63 Points) vs.
NEW YORK RANGERS (25-22-4 – 54 Points)
FEBRUARY 5, 2020 ▪ 7:30 PM EST
MADISON SQUARE GARDEN (NEW YORK, NY) ▪
TV: SPORTSNET ▪ RADIO: SPORTSNET 590 THE FAN
MAPLE LEAFS HISTORY versus NEW YORK
| ALL-TIME RECORD: | 288-222-95-11 (616 Games) |
| ALL-TIME ON THE ROAD: | 120-128-56-5 (309 Games) |
| 2019-20: | 1-0-1 |
| LAST FIVE: | 2-1-2 |
| LAST 10: | 5-2-3 |
MAPLE LEAFS CAREER LEADERS versus NEW YORK
| GAMES PLAYED: | John Tavares (48), Jason Spezza (44), Cody Ceci (20) |
| GOALS: | John Tavares (14), Jason Spezza (13), Zach Hyman (5), William Nylander (5) |
| ASSISTS: | John Tavares (28), Jason Spezza (22), Tyson Barrie (12) |
| POINTS: | John Tavares (42), Jason Spezza (35), Tyson Barrie (14) |
| PENALTY MINUTES: | John Tavares (44), Jason Spezza (24), Zach Hyman (7) |
MAPLE LEAFS – RANGERS TEAM STATS
| TORONTO | NEW YORK | |
| GOALS FOR (Rank): | 190 (t-2nd) | 166 (12th) |
| GOALS AGAINST (Rank): | 172 (t-26th) | 164 (17th) |
| POWER PLAY [%] (Rank): | 36/145 [24.8%] (5th) | 40/170 [23.5%] (7th) |
| PENALTY KILL [%] (Rank): | 114/148 [77.0%] (25th) | 139/178 [78.1%] (23rd) |
| SHOTS (Rank): | 1785 (4th) | 1557 (27th) |
| 5-on-5 SHOT ATTEMPTS FOR (Rank): | 2690 (4th) | 2111 (30th) |
| 5-on-5 SHOT ATTEMPT % (Rank): | 52.6% (5th) | 46.4% (30th) |
| FACEOFF % (Rank): | 53.0% (3rd) | 46.7% (30th) |
MAPLE LEAFS – RANGERS NOTES
| FIRST MATCHUP BETWEEN CLUBS: | Nov. 20, 1926 vs. New York (New York 5, Toronto 1) |
| ALL-TIME RECORD: | 288-222-95-11 (616 Games) |
| ALL-TIME RECORD AT HOME: | 168-94-39-6 (307 Games) |
| ALL-TIME RECORD ON THE ROAD: | 120-128-56-5 (309 Games) |
| LAST WIN VS. OPPONENT ON THE ROAD: | December 20, 2019 (Toronto 6, New York 3) |
MAPLE LEAFS MILESTONES vs. RANGERS
| Tyson Barrie | 300th NHL game (Dec. 31, 2016 vs. NYR) |
| Frederik Gauthier | 100th NHL game (March 23, 2019 vs. NYR) |
| Zach Hyman | 100th NHL game (Oct. 7, 2017 vs. NYR) |
| Alex Kerfoot | First NHL game (Oct. 5, 2017 (COL) at NYR) First NHL point (Assist) (Oct. 5, 2017 (COL) at NYR) |
| Martin Marincin | 100th game as a Maple Leaf (Dec. 22, 2018 vs. NYR) |
| Jason Spezza | 500th NHL assist (Jan. 5, 2016 (DAL) at NYR) |
MAPLE LEAFS LEADERS
| CATEGORY | LEADER |
| GOALS | 37 (Matthews) |
| ASSISTS | 39 (Marner) |
| POINTS | 62 (Matthews) |
| POWER PLAY POINTS | 19 (Marner) |
| SHORTHANDED POINTS | 2 (Engvall, Kapanen) |
| PIMs | 34 (Muzzin) |
| SHOTS | 212 (Matthews) |
| FACEOFF WIN% | 57.8% (Gauthier) |
| 5-on-5 SHOT ATTEMPT % | 55.4% (Nylander) |
| BLOCKED SHOTS | 76 (Muzzin) |
| TAKEAWAYS | 57 (Matthews) |
| HITS | 93 (Muzzin) |
| TOI PER GAME | 24:15 (Rielly) |
| PP TOI PER GAME | 3:07 (Marner) |
| SH TOI PER GAME | 2:50 (Ceci) |
MAPLE LEAFS PLAYER NOTES
| Frederik Andersen | – Is 14-4-0 on the road this season with a 2.52 goals-against average and a .922 save percentage. – Second in the NHL in wins (24).- Has recorded a save percentage over .900 in 24 of his starts, which is tied for fourth-most starts with a save percentage of .900 or higher. |
| Tyson Barrie | – Has five multi-assist games, which is tied for ninth-most among NHL defencemen.- Tied for sixth among NHL defencemen in multi-point games (9). – Has scored four of his five goals on the road this season.- Leads the Maple Leafs in slap shots taken (45). Lone Toronto skater to have taken over 30 slap shots. |
| Cody Ceci | – Ranks 27th among NHL skaters in shorthanded time on ice per game (2:50).- Has played 61.4 percent of Toronto’s shorthanded ice time this season, which is tied for the 11th-highest percentage among NHLers. |
| Pierre Engvall | – Has started 40.5 percent of his 5-on-5 shifts in the offensive zone, which is the third-lowest percentage among NHL rookies who have appeared in at least 30 games.- Has an on-ice goals-for percentage of 59.2 percent at 5-on-5, which is the fourth-highest among NHL rookies who have appeared in 30 games. |
| Justin Holl | – One of 23 right-handed defencemen in the NHL to have an on-ice goals-for percentage of at least 53 percent (53.9%) at even-strength in 40 games played.- Has the highest unblocked shot attempt percentage at 5-on-5 (52.6%) among right-handed defencemen to have started fewer than 45 percent (44.9%) of their shifts in the offensive zone. |
| Michael Hutchinson | – Is 2-1-0 with a 2.66 goals-against average and a .914 save percentage against Metropolitan Division opponents this season. |
| Zach Hyman | – Fourth among Toronto skaters in points since January 1 (5-6-12; 11 GP).- Has scored nine of his 14 goals on the road this season. – Ranks fifth among Maple Leafs skaters in points per game (0.76). |
| Andreas Johnsson | – Averages 1.97 shots per game, which ranks seventh among Toronto forwards.- Has drawn 11 penalties this season, which is tied for third-most among Toronto skaters. |
| Kasperi Kapanen | – Fifth among Toronto skaters in even-strength points (8-15-23).- Ranks second among Maple Leafs in assists per 60 minutes of ice time (1.19).- Has recorded 19 (eight goals, 11 assists) of his 29 points on the road this season. |
| Kasimir Kaskisuo | – Represented the Toronto Marlies at the AHL All-Star Classic on January 27. |
| Alex Kerfoot | – Tied for seventh among Maple Leafs in even-strength goals (7). – 10th among Maple Leafs in even-strength points (7-11-18).- Has recorded nine of his 13 assists on the road this season. |
| Mitch Marner | – Has 11 multi-assist games, which is tied for the third-most among NHL skaters.- Averaging 1.26 points per game, which is the 10th-highest average in the NHL.- Averaging 1.45 primary assists per 60 minutes of ice time at 5-on-5, which ranks second among NHLers who have appeared in at least 40 games.- Tied for eighth in the NHL in primary assists (26). His 26 primary assists are the most among NHLers who have appeared in 45 or fewer games.- Ranks fifth among NHL right wingers in shorthanded ice time per game (2:11). |
| Auston Matthews | – Third among NHL skaters in goals (37).- Tied for the League lead with 28 even-strength goals.- Leads the NHL in goals scored at 5-on-5 (23).- Leads the NHL in wrist shot goals (24).- Second in the NHL in multi-goal games (9).- 12th among NHL skaters in points (37-25-62).- Fifth in the NHL with 212 shots on goal. |
| William Nylander | – Ranks first in goals (25) and second in points (25-23-48) among Swedish skaters this season.- Tied for the Maple Leaf lead in game-winning goals (4).- Has scored the first goal of the game three times for the Maple Leafs, which is tied for the most first goals among Toronto skaters.- One of nine NHLers to average at least 14:00 minutes per game at 5-on-5 (14:34) while maintaining a goal per 60-minute rate of at least 1.30 (1.32). |
| Jason Spezza | – Averaging 2.04 points per 60 minutes of ice time at 5-on-5 this season, which is the fourth-highest average among Toronto skaters who have appeared in at least 40 games.- Averaging 1.12 assists per 60 minutes of ice time at 5-on-5 this season, which is fourth among Maple Leafs who have appeared in at least 40 games. |
| John Tavares | – Tied for 25th among NHL skaters in multi-point games (13).- Has 15 points (5 goals, 10 assists) in 12 games against Metropolitan Division opponents this season.- Has an on-ice shot attempt percentage of 54.7 percent at 5-on-5 when the Maple Leafs are leading in games, which is the highest percentage when leading among NHL forwards who have appeared in at least 40 games and average 15 minutes per game in 5-on-5 ice time (15:42).- Ranks second among Maple Leafs and 19th among NHLers who have appeared in at least 40 games in shot attempts per 60 minutes of ice time (17.03).- Has drawn a team-high 14 penalties this season. |
CURRENT POINT STREAKS
| Zach Hyman | Has assists (2) in two consecutive games and points (2-3-5) in four consecutive games. |
| Mitch Marner | Has points (1-6-7) in five consecutive games. |
| Auston Matthews | Has points (3-2-5) in four consecutive games. |
| William Nylander | Has points (6-4-10) in eight consecutive games. |
UPCOMING MILESTONES
| Mitch Marner | Four assists from 200 assists |
| Jason Spezza | Five assists from 600 assists |
| John Tavares | Three games from 800 games |
RECENT MILESTONES
| None | |
INJURY REPORT
| Frederik Andersen (Upper Body) | Left Toronto’s game on Feb. 3 vs. FLA and did not return. |
| Ilya Mikheyev (Wrist Laceration) | On injured reserve. |
| Morgan Rielly (Foot) | On injured reserve. |
| Man Games Lost: 128 |
RECENT TRANSACTIONS
| February 4 | Recalled goaltender Kasimir Kaskisuo from the Toronto Marlies (AHL). |
| January 31 | Loaned defenceman Kevin Gravel to the Toronto Marlies (AHL). |
| January 31 | Recalled defenceman Kevin Gravel from the Toronto Marlies (AHL). |
| January 30 | Loaned forward Tyler Gaudet to the Toronto Marlies (AHL). |
| RANGERS NOTES |
Injury Report: 02/05/20 01:30 PM
Indiana Pacers Bowen II, Brian Out G League – Two-Way
Johnson, Alize Out G League – On Assignment
Leaf, TJ Questionable Injury/Illness – Not Available; Illness
Mitrou-Long, Naz Out G League – Two-Way
Warren, T.J. Out Injury/Illness – Not Available; Concussion
Toronto Raptors Brissett, Oshae Out G League – Two-Way
Gasol, Marc Out Injury/Illness – Left Hamstring; Tightness
Hernandez, Dewan Out Injury/Illness – Right Ankle; Sprain
Hollis-Jefferson, Rondae Questionable Injury/Illness – Right Ankle; Sprain
Powell, Norman Out Injury/Illness – Left Finger; Fourth – fracture; metacarpal
RAPTORS NOTES
•The Toronto Raptors welcome the Indiana Pacers to Scotiabank Arena on Wednesday night. This is the second of four meetings between the two teams. In the first matchup in December, the Pacers won 120115 in overtime. Kyle Lowry led all scorers with 30 points in the game. Toronto has won 11 straight games at home vs. Indiana. The Raptors and Pacers will face each other three times in the month of February.
• The Raptors have tied the franchise record with 11 straight victories (Jan. 15 – Feb. 2). It’s the third time in team history Toronto has won 11 consecutive games (Feb. 26 – Mar. 16, 2018 and Jan. 6-30, 2016). Over the last 11 games, the Raptors are averaging 120.7 points and shooting .504 (491-975) from the field, including .397 (159-401) from three point range. Toronto also has a +57 (152-to-209) turnover differential during this stretch and leads the NBA in points per game off turnovers (23.9).
• Terence Davis II scored a career-high 31 points in 28 minutes off the bench Sunday afternoon vs. Chicago. He became just the sixth Raptors rookie, and first as a reserve, to score 30+ points in a game (Last: Norman Powell – Apr. 13, 2016 at Brooklyn). Davis is the only Raptor to appear in all 50 games this season and currently ranks second among rookies with a .417 (68-163) three-point shooting percentage. • The Raptors bench scored 66 points, including 32 in the fourth quarter, in Sunday’s victory over Chicago. During the team’s 11-game winning streak, Toronto’s reserves rank sixth in the NBA averaging 44.5 points, while shooting an NBA-best .517 (186-for-360) from the floor. • Toronto held Chicago to a .389 (35-for-90) shooting from the field Sunday afternoon. It was the 15th time this season the Raptors have held an opponent below 40 per cent shooting from the floor, posting a 13-2 record in those games. Toronto ranks second in the NBA this season in opponent field goal percentage (.427), behind only Milwaukee (.411).
• Serge Ibaka has scored in double figures in seven straight games (Jan. 22 – Feb. 2), shooting at least 50 per cent from the floor in all seven contests. He is averaging 18.4 points during this stretch.
• Kyle Lowry needs 40 points to tie Vince Carter (9,420) for third place on the Raptors’ all-time scoring list. DeMar DeRozan (13,296) is the franchise’s all-time leading scorer, followed by Chris Bosh (10,275).
• Nick Nurse and his staff will coach Team Giannis at the 2020 NBA All-Star Game in Chicago. Nurse will become just the third active head coach to coach in the All-Star Game in their first or second year as an NBA head coach, joining Steve Kerr (first year) and Mike Budenholzer (second year) – both in 2015.
• Kyle Lowry has been named a reserve for the 2020 NBA All-Star Game. Lowry will participate in his sixth All-Star Game (2015-20), the most in franchise history. He is the first player in NBA history to be selected to at least six All-Star teams after not being picked in any of his first eight seasons. Lowry will join forward Pascal Siakam in Chicago, who was voted a starter. Siakam’s selection extends a streak of six consecutive years that a Raptor has been voted into the starting five – Lowry (2015, 2016), DeMar DeRozan (2017, 2018) and Kawhi Leonard (2019). It also marks the fifth straight year (2016-20) two players will represent Toronto in the All-Star Game.
PROBABLE STARTERS
G – OG ANUNOBY #3
MIN: 29.0 REB: 5.4 AST: 1.6 STL: 1.1 TO: 1.2 BLK: 0.7 PTS: 10.3
• Contributed four points, seven rebounds and one steal in 21 minutes of action Feb. 2 vs. Chicago. • Toronto is 19-4 this season when Anunoby scores 10 or more points. • Averaging a career-high 10.3 points and shooting a career-best .490 from the field this season.
F – PASCAL SIAKAM #43
MIN: 34.8 REB: 7.6 AST: 3.4 STL: 1.0 TO: 2.5 BLK: 0.9 PTS: 23.7
• Recorded 17 points, a game-high nine rebounds and five assists in 28 minutes Feb. 2 vs. Chicago. • Ranks 15th in the NBA in scoring (23.7) and 12th in +/- rating (+284). • Has scored 30+ points 12 times; had five 30-point performances in 80 games played last season.
C – SERGE IBAKA #9
MIN: 26.4 REB: 8.0 AST: 1.3 STL: 0.6 TO: 1.9 BLK: 0.8 PTS: 15.5
• Totaled 16 points, six rebounds and three blocks in 25 minutes Feb. 2 vs. Chicago. • Averaging 18.2 points, 9.1 rebounds and 31.2 minutes in 17 games as a starter this season. • Is the only player in NBA history with 500+ three-point field goals and 1,500+ blocks.
G – KYLE LOWRY #7
MIN: 36.6 REB: 4.5 AST: 7.3 STL: 1.2 TO: 2.8 BLK: 0.4 PTS: 19.4
• Finished with 14 points, six assists and four rebounds in 30 minutes Feb. 2 vs. Chicago • Ranks 10th in the NBA in assists per game (7.3); has dished out 10+ assists seven times. • Became the franchise’s all-time leader in assists Jan. 28 vs. Atlanta, passing Jose Calderon (3,770).
G – FRED VANVLEET #23
MIN: 35.9 REB: 3.9 AST: 7.0 STL: 1.9 TO: 2.3 BLK: 0.3 PTS: 17.8
• Tallied 12 points, a game-high eight assists and four rebounds in 32 minutes Feb. 2 vs. Chicago. • Ranks fourth in the NBA in steals per game (1.93); has registered multiple steals in 19 games. • Has totaled 29 assists, compared to just six turnovers, over the last three games (Jan. 30 – Feb. 2).
INJURY REPORT Marc Gasol (Left hamstring; tightness) – TBD Dewan Hernandez (Right ankle; sprain) – TBD Rondae Hollis-Jefferson (Right ankle sprain) – TBD Norman Powell (Left hand; fourth metacarpal – fracture) – Out Malcolm Miller (Neck; strain) – TBD
NEXT GAME DETAILS Opponent: Indiana Pacers Date: Wednesday, February 5 Tip-Off: 7:30 p.m. (ET) Venue: Scotiabank Arena Television: TSN Radio: TSN 1050 Toronto
SERIES RECAP VS. INDIANA
OVERALL HOME ROAD
2019-20 0-1 0-0 0-1
ALL-TIME 40-49 27-18 13-31
STREAKS Lost 2 Won 11 Lost 2
LAST WIN: January 6, 2019 (121-105)
LAST HOME WIN: January 6, 2019 (121-105)
LARGEST MARGIN OF VICTORY: +25, March 19, 2017
LARGEST MARGIN OF DEFEAT: -29, April 8, 2009
LAST TIME VS. INDIANA
GAME 30 – DECEMBER 23, 2019 INDIANA 120, TORONTO 115 (OT)
INDIANAPOLIS — T.J. Warren and Myles Turner scored 24 points apiece, Aaron Holiday sank two 3-pointers late and the host Indiana Pacers outlasted the Toronto Raptors 120-115 in overtime on Monday night … Holiday hit a 3-pointer to give the Pacers a 116-113 lead with 2:05 remaining in overtime … Then he drained another for a 119-115 advantage with 54 seconds remaining … Holiday finished with 19 points, including 5 of 10 on 3-pointers … Raptors guard Kyle Lowry led all scorers with 30 points. Serge Ibaka added 23 and Fred VanVleet 21 … Both teams missed potential game-winning shots in the final minute of regulation as Holiday’s layup was too long off the glass before Lowry’s last-second 3-pointer bounced off the front of the rim … The Pacers were hot from the outset in hitting 8of-15 3-pointers to take a 44-29 lead midway through the second quarter … The Raptors made only one in their first 11 attempts … Turner, who averages 11.5 points, had 15 at halftime on 6-of-6 shooting … The Pacers led 54-44 … The Raptors rallied in the third quarter and a Lowry layup just before the buzzer gave the visitors a 79-78 lead entering the final quarter.
1 2 3 4 OT TOT
TORONTO 19 25 35 28 8 115
INDIANA 30 24 24 29 13 120
PACERS PROBABLE STARTERS
Pos. No. Player Ht. wt. Notes
Forward 26 Jeremy Lamb 6-5 185
2019-20 Averages: 12.9 ppg, 4.5 rpg, 2.1 apg, 1.2 spg, .456 FG%, .324 3FG%, .857 FT% Last Game: 11 points (5-8 FG, 1-2 3FG, 0-2 FT), five rebounds, one assist, one steal Set a new season high with 30 points as he shot 9-for-13 from the field, tied his career high with five 3-pointers on five attempts, and made all seven free throw attempts against Denver, 1/2…Has scored in double figures in all but seven of his appearances this season with 20 or more five times.
Forward 11 Domantas Sabonis 6-11 250
2019-20 Averages: 18.3 ppg, 12.7 rpg, 4.6 apg, .540 FG%, .229 3FG%, .727 FT% Last Game: 26 points (11-18 FG, 4-4 FT), 12 rebounds, nine assists, two steals Currently ranks sixth in the NBA in rebounding average and third with 38 double-doubles on the season, passing his career high set last season (30)…Recorded his 19th double-double of the season with 18 points and a career-high 22 rebounds against the Clippers, 12/9..His 22 rebounds was the most by any Pacers player since 1993…Recorded his first two NBA triple-doubles this season, becoming the first Pacers player since 2013-14 to record multiple triple-doubles in one season.
Center 33 Myles Turner 6-11 255
2019-20 Averages: 12.1 ppg, 6.0 rpg, 1.2 apg, 1.9 bpg, .452 FG%, .347 3FG%, .748 FT% Last Game: 11 points (4-8 FG, 1-4 3FG, 2-2 FT), five rebounds, one steal, three blocks Ranks fifth in the NBA this season in blocks (1.9 per game)…Posted his fourth double-double of the year and set season highs with 27 points and 14 rebounds in the road win at Chicago, 1/10…Led the NBA and tied for third in Pacers franchise history with 199 blocked shots in 2018-19…Also became the first Pacers player since Jermaine O’Neal in 2000-01 to lead the NBA in blocks.
Guard 7 Malcolm Brogdon 6-5 230
2019-20 Averages: 16.7 ppg, 4.5 rpg, 7.4 apg, .437 FG%, .327 3FG%, .904 FT% Last Game: 14 points (6-17 FG, 2-7 3FG), six rebounds, three assists, one block Ranks sixth in the NBA in free throw percentage this season (.904..Ranks eighth in the NBA in assists, and is averaging career highs in points, rebounds, asissts and steals…Has posted eight double-doubles on the season, including four straight to begin the regular season. He had only recorded four double-doubles over his first three NBA seasons entering this year.
Guard 3 Aaron Holiday 6-1 185
2019-20 Averages: 10.3 ppg, 2.3 rpg, 3.5 apg, .422 FG%, .424 3FG%, .870 FT% Last Game: Seven points (3-9 FG, 1-3 3FG), two rebounds, four assists, one steal Ranks 15th in the NBA in 3-point percentage while shooting 42.4 percent from long distance this season…Has made 19 starts this season and has averaged 13.3 points, 2.8 rebounds, 5.4 assists and 1.0 steal per game over that span…Set a new career high with 25 points against New Orleans, 12/28.
2019-20
INDIANA PACERS (31-19) at TORONTO RAPTORS (36-14) Game #51 | Road Game #26 Wednesday, February 5, 2020 | 7:30 P.M. (ET) Scotiabank Arena | Toronto, ON
Injury Report T.J. Warren ………………Concussion Protocol……….Out
TORONTO MARLIES (22-19-3-2 – 49 Points) vs. BELLEVILLE SENATORS (30-14-3-1 – 64 Points)
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 2020
| 1 | 2 | 3 | OT | FINAL | |
| BELLEVILLE | 1 | 2 | 0 | – | 3 |
| TORONTO | 1 | 0 | 0 | – | 1 |
GAME SUMMARY | GAME SHEET | PHOTOS | SCRUMS
SCORING SUMMARY
Belleville: R. Balcers (12) (V. Abramov, L. Brown), J. Szwarz (12) SH (J. Dougherty), R. Balcers (13) PP (J. Norris, M. Lajoie)
Goaltender: J. Daccord (25/26)
Toronto: E. Korshkov (11) (J. Schmaltz, T. Gaudet)
Goaltender: J. Woll (23/26)
ON THE SCORESHEET
OF NOTE…
REGULAR SEASON LEADERS
HOME SWEET HOME
RECORD WHEN…
CURRENT POINT STREAKS
MARLIES UPDATES.
RECENT TRANSACTIONS
POSTGAME QUOTES
HEAD COACH GREG MOORE
On tonight’s game:
Five-on-five, I was really happy with how we played against one of the top teams in the League, which I think we are as well. We went toe-to-toe with them. Special teams let us down tonight.
On the team’s placement in the overall standings:
That’s focusing on results, which are important. If we’re still looking back at the last four games before tonight, like I had mentioned in previous interviews, we’re starting to build a lot more consistency in our 5-on-5 play. I had mentioned prior as well that special teams had plagued us a little bit, tonight was a part of that again. There’s still positives to build on. It doesn’t happen overnight, we’re going to keep going.
On why Jeremy Bracco did not play tonight:
Away for personal reasons.
FORWARD GARRETT WILSON
On tonight’s game:
I thought 5-on-5 we were generating a lot of chances, a lot of looks. We didn’t capitalize on enough of them. Special teams, we’ve got to be better. It’s losing us hockey games not capitalizing on the power play, not shutting down the PK and we’ve got to find a way to get that going so we can start climbing the standings.
On not capitalizing on two consecutive power plays in the second period:
It’s huge. It’s a turning point. We had a five minute power play there and then a four right after. We just weren’t executing and we had a couple different looks there on the unit so we’ve just got to get back to the drawing board here. We know we’ve still got a good opportunity here this month so we’ve got to start winning some hockey games and doing our job and hopefully climb the standings as fast as we can.
On the message to the team as a leader in the room:
You’ve got to forget about this one. It’s behind us now, and just look for the next game. We know it’s not going to be easy. Teams come in and they’re ready to play us. Toronto’s been known to be a good team for the last five, ten years and teams get up for those games so we’ve got to find a way to bring our A-game and start winning some hockey games.
NEXT GAME:
February 7 at Belleville – 7:00 p.m. ET
February 8 vs Rochester – 4:00 p.m. ET
February 9 vs Laval – 4:00 p.m. ET
February 14 at Belleville – 7:00 p.m. ET
February 15 vs Belleville – 4:00 p.m. ET
The view from left field 