If the Red Sox need a man for the job — any job — Alex Verdugo is available. The last time they had a player who exudes this much confidence was probably in 2016, when David Ortiz went on his farewell tour while tearing up the league on his way to an MLB-best 1.021 OPS.…
Before the 2020 postseason began, Tyler Pazik texted his best friend Sean Manaea an article. It was a story about Greg Maddux hiring a mental health performance coach that helped transform the Hall of Fame pitcher into a savant. “We doin’ this or what?” Pazik texted along with the article. “Hell yeah,” Manaea responded. Manaea,…
The TorontoBlue Jays have agreed to terms with LHP Tommy Milone on a Minor League contract with an invite to 2021 Major League Spring Training.
Milone, 34, held a 6.69 ERA while splitting nine starts between the Orioles and the Braves last season. The 6-0, 215 lb. left-hander was traded from Baltimore to Atlanta on August 30 but had his season come to an end 11 days later when he landed on the injured list with left elbow inflammation. The native of Saugus, CA, was drafted by the Nationals in 2008 and has maintained a career 4.56 ERA while going 51-51 over the course of 10 Major League seasons.
Additionally, the Blue Jays have invited the following non-roster players to Major League Spring Training:
Looking at individual stats reveals nothing about the Utah Jazz. They have one player among those with the 50 highest scoring averages so far this season. They have only one player among the top 50 per game in rebounding. They don’t have anyone with a top-30 assist average. And they have the NBA’s best record […]
PHOENIX (AP) — Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker was selected Wednesday to replace injured Los Angeles Lakers forward Anthony Davis in the NBA All-Star Game. NBA Commissioner Adam Silver choose Booker to take Davis’ spot a day after Booker was snubbed by the league’s head coaches for a reserve spot in the March 7 game […]
Toronto: J. Duszak (2) (T. Gaudet, N. Robertson), T. Kivihalme (2) (N. Robertson, R. Chartier) Goaltender: A. D’Agostini (24/28)
Stockton: Z. Leslie (1) (C. Poolman, C. Zary), A. Ruzicka (1) (M. Philips, C. Mackey), A. Petrovic (1) PP (E. Pettersen, A. Ruzicka), A. Ruzicka (2) PP (Unassisted) Goaltender: D. Wolf (33/35)
ON THE SCORESHEET
Joseph Duszak opened the scoring at 1:28 of the first period. He has points (2-1-3) in three consecutive games. Duszak has collected five points (2 goals, 3 assists) through seven games this season.
Teemu Kivihalme scored Toronto’s second goal at 7:06 of the third period. He has points (2-1-3) in three consecutive games. Kivihalme has picked up four points (2 goals, 2 assists) in seven games this season.
Tyler Gaudet recorded the primary assist on Duszak’s first period goal. Gaudet has the team-lead in points (4-4-8) through seven games. He has five points (2 goals, 3 assists) in his last three games.
Nick Robertson had the secondary assist on Duszak’s first period goal and the primary assist on Kivihalme’s third period goal. This is his first multi-assist AHL game. He’s tied for the team-lead in assists (5).
Rourke Chartier registered the secondary assist on Kivihalme’s third period goal. He has four assists through seven games this season.
Andrew D’Agostini stopped 24 of 28 shots he faced. D’Agostini is now 4-3-0-0 on the season with a .922 save percentage and a 2.18 goals against average.
OF NOTE…
The Marlies are third in the AHL in goals for (26).
Toronto went 2-for-4 on the penalty kill and 0-for-6 on the power play.
Toronto had a 35-28 edge in shots in all situations. Kenny Agostino and Timothy Liljegren led the Marlies with six shots on goal.
The Marlies are 4-3-0-0 against Canadian Division opponents and 2-1-0-0 against the Stockton Heat.
RECORD WHEN…
The Marlies are 0-2-0-0 when tied after the first period and 0-2-0-0 when trailing after the second period.
Toronto is 2-3-0 when outshooting their opponent.
The Marlies are 0-1-0-0 in Wednesday games and are 4-3-0-0 in February.
MARLIES LEADERS
Goals: T. Gaudet (4)
Assists: K. Agostino, A. Brooks,T. Liljegren, N. Robertson (5)
Points: T. Gaudet (8)
PPG: A. Brooks (2)
Shots: K. Agostino (24)
+/-: T. Gaudet (+8)
PIMS: H. Elynuik (14)
POSTGAME QUOTES
HEAD COACH GREG MOORE
On how Stockton’s special teams performed against Toronto: They made it difficult for us. As we talked about in the last couple of games, they’re going to get better and better every game in the series. It’s early in the year. We know their staff is going to keep tightening up their details. They did a great job on the penalty kill, making it difficult for us to gain entry and get set up. And then in zone, they definitely made it challenging for us to get pucks to the net
On whether he saw growth from his team in this game: We think so. We came out with a good start. We haven’t had the greatest starts in the last few games. Today was a little bit better. They came out a little slow but they gained a lot of traction towards the end of the first. We definitely were on the wrong side of chances for and against by the end of the first period. We kept fighting, we kept coming back and finding a way. This team has been very resilient. They’re coming together as a really strong group. It was positive to see them fight through this game and claw their way back. Not the outcome we want at all but there’s definitely some positives to build off of it.
RECENT TRANSACTIONS
February 19: Recalled defenceman Noel Hoefenmayer from loan to Wichita (ECHL)Signed defenceman Dakota Krebs to an ATO
UPCOMING GAMES: *All times Eastern Standard Time
February 26 at Stockton – 4:00 p.m. March 1 vs. Manitoba – 7:00 p.m. March 3 vs. Manitoba – 7:00 p.m. March 5 vs. Stockton – 7:00 p.m. March 6 vs. Stockton – 3:00 p.m.
William Nylander put the Maple Leafs on the board with a goal at 18:32 of the third period and later scored the overtime winner at 1:06 of the extra frame. Tonight’s game is his second multi-goal and fifth multi-point game of the season. Nylander has four points (3-1-4) over his last four games. He has 13 points (5-8-13) in 12 games on home ice this season.
Zach Hyman registered the primary assist on Nylander’s third period goal. Hyman has registered six of his seven assists on home ice this season. He has seven points (2-5-7) in nine games during the month of February.
Auston Matthews collected the secondary assist on Nylander’s third period goal and later registered the primary assist on Nylander’s overtime winning goal. Tonight’s game is Matthews’ third multi-assist and eighth multi-point game of the season. He has 19 points (11-8-19) in 12 games on home ice in 2020-21. In 11 games during the month of February, he has recorded 21 points (12-9-21).
Justin Holl picked up the secondary assist on Nylander’s overtime goal. Holl has recorded five of his seven assists on home ice in 2020-21. He has a pair of assists in four games against Calgary this season.
Michael Hutchinson stopped 21 of the 22 shots he faced to earn his second win of the season.
The Maple Leafs went 2-for-2 on the penalty kill and 0-for-4 on the power play tonight.
Travis Dermott and Morgan Rielly were on the ice for a team-high 22 shot attempts for at 5-on-5. Dermott finished the game with a 5-on-5 shot attempt percentage of 75.9% (22 for, 7 against), while Rielly finished the game with a 5-on-5 shot attempt percentage of 51.2% (22 for, 21 against).
Auston Matthews won 63% (5 won, 3 lost) of his faceoffs against Calgary centre Elias Lindholm.
Jason Spezza and John Tavares were both 4-for-5 (80%) on offensive zone faceoffs tonight.
UPCOMING GAMES:
Saturday, February 27, 7:00 p.m. at Edmonton Oilers (Sportsnet, FAN 590)
Monday, March 1, 10:00 p.m. at Edmonton Oilers (Sportsnet Ontario, FAN 590)
Wednesday, March 3, 8:00 p.m. at Edmonton Oilers (Sportsnet, TSN 1050)
Thursday, March 4, 10:00 p.m. at Vancouver Canucks (TSN4, FAN 590)
Saturday, March 6, 7:00 p.m. at Vancouver Canucks (Sportsnet, TSN 1050)
Stats reflect official NHL stats at the time of distribution. Please consult official NHL game sheets (links above) to confirm no statistical changes were made.