There’s a lot of unknown surrounding what will happen to the rest of the NHL regular season with it being on pause due to the coronavirus outbreak. But two prominent stars wouldn’t mind jumping right into the playoffs if and when the season resumes. Pittsburgh Penguins forward Sidney Crosby joined a video conference call Thursday…
There’s a lot of unknown surrounding what will happen to the rest of the NHL regular season with it being on pause due to the coronavirus outbreak. But two prominent stars wouldn’t mind jumping right into the playoffs if and when the season resumes.
Pittsburgh Penguins forward Sidney Crosby joined a video conference call Thursday and shared how he felt about the current situation. “You try to get in as many games as you can,” he said, via Pens Inside Scoop’s Sam Kasan. I wouldn’t mind starting right at the playoffs. But there are a lot of guys in different situations. The more games you can play the better integrity of it. Get as many games as you can.”
Washington Capitals star Alex Ovechkin believes beginning the playoffs as as soon as possible is the way to go. “For us it is better for playoffs to start right now. We don’t want to play extra games,” he said, per the Washington Post’s Samantha Pell. “I would rather play playoffs right away. Sorry, guys.” Ovechkin’s Capitals would be guaranteed a playoff spot. But it isn’t as easy for teams like the New York Islanders, who were just outside of the playoff picture when the season paused March 12.
Even though no one can tell what the future holds, commissioner Gary Bettman is optimistic a Stanley Cup champion will be crowned this year.
A message of support and encouragement in the wake of the coronavirus came from John Tavares via social media on Wednesday night.
“To all hockey fans in Toronto & beyond,” the note on Twitter from the Maple Leafs captain started, “let’s all play inside & play for each other.
“With this challenge comes great opportunity to enjoy quality time with family and loved ones. Let’s take care of each other by washing our hands frequently and practicing social distancing.
“To all the healthcare & frontline workers, thank you! Thank you for your courage, determination and hard work to fight this crisis. We are all extremely grateful.
“To Leafs nation, my teammates and I can’t wait until we get the opportunity again to put on our skates, and wear the Maple Leaf on our chest.
“Until then, let’s do everything we can to help each other by staying safe and healthy!”
Tavares’ message was accompanied by a photo of him holding son Jace, who was born last September.
When the Maple Leafs skated off the ice 11 days ago — it seems more like weeks — after beating the Tampa Bay Lightning at Scotiabank Arena, none might have thought they could have just finished their final game as a member of the organization …. Read More
For the Leafs headed for unrestricted free agency, a group that includes forwards Jason Spezza and Kyle Clifford and defencemen Tyson Barrie and Cody Ceci, that the game against Tampa concluded their respective tenures with the Leafs is a clear possibility in the wake of the pandemic.
With the future of the 2019-20 regular season up in the air — and with the status of the 2020 Stanley Cup playoffs unclear — everything, as the saying goes, is on the table.
There’s no telling yet what the salary cap for the 2020-21 season will amount to once the NHL returns, whenever that may be. The $81.5-million US cap for this season was expected to rise to anywhere between $84 million and $88.2 million, based on numbers being projected at the conclusion of the general managers meetings in Florida two weeks ago.
Among the possibilities is that the cap could remain flat for next season, which could mean some trouble for the Leafs.
The Leafs have in the range of $77 million US committed to 17 players (including goalies Andersen and Jack Campbell) for ’20-21, using data from the web site capfriendly.com. Four restricted free agents with varying degrees of importance — forward Ilya Mikheyev, defenceman Travis Dermott and forwards Frederik Gauthier and Denis Malgin — are going to be looking for new contracts.
The Maple Leafs’ ECHL championship farm team won’t get a chance to defend its title.
But that’s the least of the problems for management of the Newfoundland Growlers, who had to recall the team from a road trip two time zones away, deal with the cancellation (not just postponement) of its entire season, then test and get its players off The Rock before borders and flights shut down.
“It’s disappointing for our people here, but as we live every day, you see how big (COVID-19) is globally,” Growlers Chief Operating Officer Glenn Stanford told Postmedia on Wednesday. “This is bigger than the sporting world.
“We were in the Toronto area, scheduled to play in Kalamazoo, Mich., on Thursday (March 12), made the decision to stay where we were and were instructed by the league to go home Saturday (on a commercial flight).”
The 26-team league’s board of governors and the Professional Hockey Players Association decided to end the regular season and playoffs that day.
True North Sports + Entertainment is doubling down on its decision to shun its casual and part-time employees.
In a letter obtained by the Winnipeg Sun and sent to the company’s 1,050 casual and part-time staff on Saturday, TNSE reaffirmed its position on not paying its staff for the remaining four NHL games plus affected dates for the American Hockey League’s Manitoba Moose, as well as other events such as concerts that have been cancelled due to the coronavirus outbreak.
The letter, signed by TNSE president and chief operating officer John Olfert, states that “for approximately 97% (of the 1,050 casual and part-time employees who worth at True North venues), income from True North is not their primary source of income.
“For this group, True North shared that the principle of paying employees when shifts are worked will remain,” the letter read.
The letter said for the other 3% of employees who count on the income for their livelihood, “other arrangements have and are being explored.”
The letter does not mention how TNSE arrived at the numbers it did.
Deslauriers scores three times in a little less than 12 minutes in the first period of the Ducks’ 5-2 victory over Ottawa for his first career hat trick. His fifth, sixth and seventh goals of the season help propel the Ducks to their third win in four games.
On the team having success putting the game away in the third period tonight:
I think it’s a confidence thing. That’s part of it. So yeah, I do. I don’t think that’s characteristic that a team has. I think it’s something that comes and goes, kind of with your confidence as a team. We haven’t really been going as a team, so we haven’t had that. This is another really close hockey game that we’ve had to play here and, again, at 5-on-5 we were outscored today. That’s been a challenge for us. That’s something that obviously we’ve worked at, but when you’re going up against the best offensive team in the NHL, you’re going to give up a great deal. When we did, Freddie [Andersen] was outstanding, in the second period especially. There were a lot of very good things for us and we’ll take two very important points.
On Morgan Rielly’s play tonight:
I thought he was pretty good, all things considered. He hasn’t played and it’s a tough game – especially in that second period. It’s hard for our defence to get off the ice and they’re really coming. It looked like it was taking a toll on him physically, in terms of his conditioning. It’s one thing to train, as we all know and say, and practice in the gym and all that, but it is a whole different ballgame. Just his legs and the way he skates, all of a sudden, he jumps into a hole – whether it’s offensively or defensively he’ll cover for you – he has instincts along the offensive blueline, waits above for the defensive pucks. He plays the whole game.
On if anything over the last couple of days led to a strong start tonight:
We’ve talked a lot about our starts and consistency in our play. I thought we started really well. It was a combination of a really good start for us, but I don’t think it was a good start for Tampa. I thought we moved the puck extremely well. It was a game we just played with the puck on our stick a lot. That’s when we are frustrating. We just kept coming and had lots of chances, lots of time with the puck. It was a really good period for us in that sense, we didn’t have to defend very much at all. That was a real key for us was to try to keep the puck out of their hands and in their end.
AUSTON MATTHEWS (1 GOAL)
On having a few days between the California trip and tonight:
You have lots of time to reflect, it’s a five-hour flight so kick back and relax and nice to get a couple days off and try to get adjusted back to the time zone and time change and everything. Then have a good day of practice and just try to come out like we did tonight. The second period, I think, it got away from us a bit, lots of penalties but I think our first period is a good starting point for us and how we want to play. We’ve got to make sure we do that more consistently and throughout the game.
On Morgan Rielly’s leadership:
He’s extremely vocal and I think he’s a guy that everyone looks up to. I know for myself he’s one of my closest friends on the team and someone that helped me out, especially my first couple years. I spent a lot of time with him and I still do. He’s a great leader and a great teammate and really good person. To go along with his hockey abilities, he’s a guy we’re definitely happy to have back.
WILLIAM NYLANDER (1 GOAL)
On tonight’s win:
Well, obviously, the PK was great, and I think our power play got some big important goals today. We played solid through the first and third periods, so we want to clean up that second period.
On what was the key to the strong start tonight:
I think we had a couple days to feel fresh and we felt we were buzzing already in warmups.
On what worked well on the power play tonight:
I think we just kept it simple, tried to move it around and make easy plays and not force anything really. It was really good work.
MORGAN RIELLY (21:47 TOI)
On the important of consistency this time of year:
Yeah, we’ve talked about that before, we’ve talked about being more consistent and I think now more than ever, just given the standings, the time of year and remaining games, I think it’s an opportunity for us to start to play well and build some momentum. I think if you look back to this time last year our performances weren’t what we wanted them to be in time for playoffs and this year we’ve got a chance to fix that and change that. It’s important that we take that seriously and take the good things here tonight and talk about it tomorrow.
On the key to the strong first period:
Well, I think we moved the puck quick; we’re not holding onto it. For me, I think it was just D-zone execution and the importance of that. Going back, if we’re able to breakout, quick and create speed that way, it just seems to be smoother for us. It’s when you go back for pucks and you get beat back for pucks and you lose races, that’s when you tend to get hemmed in. I think that if we focus on that and that rhythm it creates more of a support system and we can move the puck forward with speed through the neutral zone.
William Nylander put the Maple Leafs on the board with a power play goal at 12:42 of the first period. Nylander has goals (2) in two consecutive games. In three games against the Lightning this season, he has registered two goals and two assists. He has recorded nine goals and eight assists in 19 games played since the All-Star Break.
Auston Matthews scored the second Toronto goal of the night on the power play at 3:38 of the third period. Matthews has 32 goals and 17 assists in 34 games on home ice this season. He has 23 points (14 goals, 9 assists) in 22 games against Atlantic Division opposition.
John Tavares registered the primary assist on Nylander’s first period goal and later had the secondary assist on Matthews’ third period goal. Tonight’s game is his sixth multi-assist and 18th multi-point game of 2019-20. He has registered 29 points (10 goals, 19 assists) in 30 games on home ice this season. In three games against Tampa Bay this season, he has registered three goals and two assists.
Mitch Marner collected the secondary assist on Nylander’s first period goal and later had the primary assist on Matthews’ third period goal. Tonight’s game is Marner’s 13th multi-assist and 17th multi-point game of the season. He has 20 points (4-16-20) in 18 games against Atlantic Division opponents this season. In 32 games on home ice in 2019-20, he has recorded 40 points (4-36-40) in 32 games on home ice. Tonight’s game was Marner’s 300th NHL game.
Frederik Andersen stopped 32 of the 33 shots he faced to earn his 29th win of the season.
The Maple Leafs went 4-for-4 on the penalty kill and 2-for-5 on the power play tonight.
Pierre Engvall, Alex Kerfoot and Denis Malgin were the lone Toronto skaters to not start a 5-on-5 shift in the offensive zone.
Morgan Rielly was on the ice for a team-high 21 shot attempts at 5-on-5 tonight. Rielly finished the game with a 5-on-5 shot attempt percentage of 53.9 percent (21 for, 18 against).
Auston Matthews won 86 percent (6 won, 1 lost) of his offensive zone faceoffs.
UPCOMING GAMES:
Thursday, March 12, 7:00 p.m. vs. Nashville Predators (TSN4, TSN 1050)
Saturday, March 14, 7:00 p.m. at Boston Bruins (Sportsnet, FAN 590)
Tuesday, March 17, 7:00 p.m. vs. New Jersey Devils (TSN4, FAN 590)
Thursday, March 19, 7:00 p.m. vs. New York Islanders (Sportsnet Ontario, TSN 1050)
Saturday, March 21, 7:00 p.m. vs. Columbus Blue Jackets (Sportsnet, TSN 1050)
SCOTIABANK ARENA (TORONTO, ON) ▪ TV: TSN4 ▪ RADIO: SPORTSNET 590 THE FAN
MAPLE LEAFS HISTORY versus TAMPA BAY
ALL-TIME RECORD:
55-35-2-7 (99 Games)
ALL-TIME AT HOME:
28-18-1-3 (50 Games)
2019-20:
1-1-0
LAST FIVE:
2-3-0
LAST 10:
3-6-1
MAPLE LEAFS CAREER LEADERS versus TAMPA BAY
GAMES PLAYED:
Jason Spezza (48), John Tavares (35), Morgan Rielly (26)
GOALS:
Jason Spezza (23), John Tavares (13), Three players tied (4)
ASSISTS:
Jason Spezza (33), John Tavares (24), Tyson Barrie (8)
POINTS:
Jason Spezza (55), John Tavares (35), Auston Matthews (11)
PENALTY MINUTES:
John Tavares (18), Jason Spezza (18), Kyle Clifford (13)
MAPLE LEAFS – LIGHTNING TEAM STATS
TORONTO
TAMPA BAY
GOALS FOR (Rank):
235 (3rd)
242 (1st)
GOALS AGAINST (Rank):
221 (28th)
192 (10th)
POWER PLAY [%] (Rank):
43/190 [22.6%] (7th)
49/207 [23.7%] (5th)
PENALTY KILL [%] (Rank):
146/189 [77.3%] (23rd)
185/226 [81.9%] (12th)
SHOTS (Rank):
2266 (5th)
2143 (17th)
5-on-5 SHOT ATTEMPTS FOR (Rank):
3416 (3rd)
3085 (15th)
5-on-5 SHOT ATTEMPT % (Rank):
52.0% (6th)
52.3% (5th)
FACEOFF % (Rank):
52.5% (3rd)
50.5% (t-10th)
MAPLE LEAFS – LIGHTNING NOTES
First Matchup between Clubs:
October 15, 1992 vs. Tampa Bay (Toronto 5, Tampa Bay 3)
All-Time Record:
55-35-2-7 (99 Games)
All-Time Record at Home:
28-18-1-3 (50 Games)
All-Time Record on the Road:
27-17-1-4 (49 Games)
Last Win vs. Opponent at Home:
February 12, 2018 (Toronto 4, Tampa Bay 3)
MAPLE LEAFS MILESTONES vs. LIGHTNING
Zach Hyman
First NHL game (February 29, 2016 vs. Tampa Bay)
Kasperi Kapanen
First NHL game (February 29, 2016 vs. Tampa Bay)
William Nylander
First NHL game (February 29, 2016 vs. Tampa Bay)
MAPLE LEAFS LEADERS
CATEGORY
LEADER
GOALS
46 (Matthews)
ASSISTS
49 (Marner)
POINTS
79 (Matthews)
POWER PLAY POINTS
24 (Matthews)
SHORTHANDED POINTS
2 (Engvall, Kapanen)
PIMs
41 (Holl)
SHOTS
283 (Matthews)
FACEOFF WIN%
55.4% (Tavares)
5-on-5 SHOT ATTEMPT %
54.5% (Nylander)
BLOCKED SHOTS
110 (Muzzin)
TAKEAWAYS
76 (Matthews)
HITS
109 (Muzzin)
TOI PER GAME
24:15 (Rielly)
PP TOI PER GAME
3:11 (Marner)
SH TOI PER GAME
2:49 (Ceci)
MAPLE LEAFS SNAPSHOTS
Faceoffs
– The Maple Leafs rank third among NHL teams in faceoff win percentage (52.5%) and are third among NHL teams in offensive zone faceoff win percentage (53.9%).
Goals by Strength
– The Maple Leafs are third in the NHL in goals scored at 5-on-5 (159).
Goals by Period
– Toronto is second in the NHL in goals scored in the second period (86) and are ninth in the NHL in goals scored in the third period (78).
Power Play
– The Maple Leafs have the second fewest power play opportunities (190) among NHL teams that have scored at least 40 power play goals (43).
Penalty Kill
– Toronto has been shorthanded 189 times this season, which is the eighth-fewest times shorthanded in the NHL.
Scoring First
– Toronto has a .767 win percentage when scoring first, which the fifth-highest in the NHL.
MAPLE LEAFS PLAYER NOTES
Frederik Andersen
– Fourth among NHL goaltenders in wins (28).- Ranks fifth in the NHL in saves (1,402).- Has a 12-7-6 record on home ice in 2019-20, with a 3.11 goals-against average and a .901 save percentage
Tyson Barrie
– Has eight multi-assist games, which is tied for the fourth-most among NHL defencemen.- Tied for third among NHL defencemen in multi-point games (12). – Averages 14.15 shot attempts per game at 5-on-5, which is the sixth-highest average among NHL defencemen who have played in at least 50 games.- Ranks 17th among NHL defencemen in 5-on-5 time on ice per game (18:18).- Ranks 16th among NHL defencemen in slap shots taken (57).
Jack Campbell
– Has a 3-2-1 record with a .915 save percentage and a 2.63 goals-against average since being acquired by the Maple Leafs.
Kyle Clifford
– Ninth among NHL left wingers who have appeared in 50 games in 5-on-5 shot attempt percentage (53.7%). – Averages 14.86 shot attempts per 60 minutes of ice time at 5-on-5, which ranks 18th among left wingers.- Ranks 10.45 hits per 60 minutes of ice time, which ranks 29th among NHL skaters.
Pierre Engvall
– Tied for fourth among NHL rookie forwards who have appeared in 40 games in 5-on-5 shot attempt percentage (51.8%). – Has an on-ice goals-for percentage of 52.6 percent at 5-on-5, which is the seventh highest among NHL rookie forwards who have appeared in 40 games.- Ranks third among rookie forwards who have skated in 40 games in 5-on-5 shot attempts per 60 minutes (13.73).
Justin Holl
– Has started the seventh-lowest percentage of his 5-on-5 shifts (42.0%) in the offensive zone among right-handed defencemen.- Ranks second in 5-on-5 shot attempt percentage (51.9%) among NHL defencemen who have started less than 45 percent of their 5-on-5 shifts in the offensive zone (42.0%).- Has the highest unblocked shot attempt percentage at 5-on-5 (52.6%) among NHL defencemen to have started fewer than 45 percent (42.0%) of their shifts in the offensive zone.
Zach Hyman
– Ranks fifth among Maple Leafs skaters in points per game (0.76).- Fourth among Toronto forwards in even-strength time on ice per game (16:08).- Ranks third among Toronto forwards in shorthanded time on ice per game (1:48).
Kasperi Kapanen
– Has drawn 20 penalties this season and taken eight, which gives him the highest net penalties among Toronto skaters (+12) and ranks tied for 13th among NHL forwards.- Fourth among Maple Leafs and 18th among NHL right wingers who have appeared in 50 games in assists per 60 minutes of ice time (1.21) at 5-on-5.
Alex Kerfoot
– Ranks second among Toronto skaters who have appeared in 50 games in assists per 60 minutes of ice time (1.24) at 5-on-5.- Eighth among Maple Leafs in even-strength points (8-17-25).- Tied for second among Maple Leafs in primary assists at 5-on-5 (11).
Mitch Marner
– Ranks 10th among NHL skaters in assists (49).- Has 12 multi-assist games, which is tied for the seventh-most among NHL skaters.- Averaging 1.12 points per game, which is the 17th-highest average in the NHL.- Averaging 1.74 assists per 60 minutes of ice time at 5-on-5, which is 13th among NHLers who have appeared in at least 50 games.- Tied for ninth in the NHL with 31 primary assists.
Auston Matthews
– Third among NHL skaters in goals (46).- Leads the NHL with 35 even-strength goals.- Leads the NHL in goals scored at 5-on-5 (30).- Tied for first in the NHL in wrist shot goals (27).- Tied for second in the NHL in multi-goal games (10).- Seventh in the NHL in multi-point games (25).- Ninth among NHL skaters in points (46-33-79).- Fourth in the NHL with 283 shots on goal.
William Nylander
– Leads the Maple Leafs and is tied for fifth among NHLers in game-winning goals (7).- Tied for 14th in the NHL in goals scored at 5-on-5 (19).- Tied for seventh among NHL forwards who average 14:00 per game (14:31) in 5-on-5 shot attempt percentage (54.6%).- Has a goal and two assists in two games against Tampa Bay this season.
Jason Spezza
– Averaging 2.00 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 50 games.- Averaging 0.78 goals per 60 minutes of ice time at 5-on-5 this season, which ranks fifth among Maple Leafs who have appeared in at least 50 games.- Averaging 1.22 assists per 60 minutes of ice time at 5-on-5, which is tied for the third-highest average among Toronto skaters.
John Tavares
– Tied for 24th among NHL skaters in multi-point games (17).- Ranks 10th among NHL centres in 5-on-5 ice time per game (15:28).- Ranks 14th in the NHL in faceoff wins (610)- Has recorded 18 points (10-8-18) in 18 games against Atlantic Division teams.- Had three goals in two games against Tampa Bay this season.
CURRENT POINT STREAKS
None
UPCOMING MILESTONES
Cody Ceci
Five games from 500 NHL games
Mitch Marner
One game from 300 NHL games
Jason Spezza
One assist from 600 assists
RECENT MILESTONES
Zach Hyman
300th NHL game (March 5 at Los Angeles)
Kasperi Kapanen
200th NHL game (March 5 at Los Angeles)
INJURY REPORT
Andreas Johnsson (Knee)
On injured reserve.
Ilya Mikheyev (Wrist Laceration)
On injured reserve.
Jake Muzzin (Hand)
Sustained a broken hand on February 25 at Tampa Bay.
The view from left field 