MLHS Morning Mashup: Final Stretch
They say if you need something done, do it yourself because the rest of the Eastern Conference is bloody useless. I’m paraphrasing, and in the Leafs‘ case it will more than likely be too late regardless, but the Blue and White will attempt to hand the eighth place Sabres their first regulation loss in five games tonight at the Air Canada Centre and hope it initiates a miraculous sprint to the finish for the Leafs and a disastrous tailspin for Buffalo.
Once a matchup near guaranteed to see the Leafs drop points, the Buds have beat Ryan Miller’s Buffalo Sabres in the team’s prior two meetings by scores of 2-1 and 4-3. A win (in regulation) tonight would at least make things a little more interesting for a few more games. Most fans conceded any final playoff hopes after the Leafs loss/Buffalo win on Saturday, but the players are saying the right things in professing their continued beleaf:
Quotables:
“I feel like we’ve been pressing them the whole time and they’ve been answering back,†said Clarke MacArthur. “We just have to find a way to win this game and give ourselves a chance.â€
“We don’t expect them to go in the tank or anything here,†said Joffrey Lupul, “but strange things happen at the end of the season when you can put some pressure on teams.â€
Leafs Links:
Reimer adopts Optimus Reim logo on his mask
James Reimer embraces his nickname with the addition of Pucking Hilarious‘ Optimus Reim logo on the side of his new goalie mask design. Congratulations, Likely! The power of the Barilkosphere on full display here.
PPP finds a video of Lashoff on the guitar. Mad skillz.
Leafs fans have nothing to grouse about
Steve Lansky at Leafs Nation says Leafs fans should be happy with this season, playoffs or not.
James Mirtle: Kadri feeling more comfortable
With two goals and an assist in his last four games, Kadri appears to be settling in with the Leafs. A more complete game has helped.
Disappointment yet to sink in for Leafs’ Boyce, as hope still lingers
Mark Zwolinski at The Star reports Boyce’s dreams are as big as his nose.
Leafs “still alive” with Sabres on deck
Jonas Siegel with an early preview of tonight’s matchup at the ACC.
The Toronto Marlies announced that forward Christian Hanson has been named the team’s winner of the IOA/American Specialty AHL Man of the Year award for his outstanding contributions to the Toronto community during the 2010-11 season.
Eyebeleaf takes us through his trip to Detroit to see the Leafs at the Joe on Saturday. Sounds like a good time despite seeing the Leafs’ playoff hopes laid to rest.
Other hockey links:
Selanne’s 5-point night leads Ducks over Avs
The Finnish Flash continues to defy the aging process with a three-goal, two-assist night. That’s his 22nd career hat trick. Incredible.
Video: Todd Bertuzzi ejected for elbow to the head of Ryan Johnson
Looks more like an armpit to me as Bertuzzi goes in sideways, but the arm is up. Suspendable?
Leafs Video of the Day:
Let’s hope the Leafs can replicate their March 12 success against Miller tonight:
