The Marlies are on the ropes against Grand Rapids after a 4-1 loss last night in Michigan. They’re down 3-1 in their series headed into tonight. If they can take Game 5, the series would come back to Toronto for Games 6 and 7, so you never know. Also on the upside, Carter Ashton has goals in two consecutive.
Audio to tonight’s game will be available here.
Some long weekend links…
Good Marlies-related read on Morgan Rielly from earlier this week.
Here’s your list of pending UFA forwards. There are some interesting bottom six options on this list. Matt Cullen is an experienced 40 point centerman with good faceoff numbers and a Stanley Cup ring to his name, who could be especially useful if we are to presume Bozak won’t be back. Boyd Gordon is also a good faceoff center and special teams guy who has the wheels to fit Toronto’s team speed identity. Whether or not you believe faceoffs deserve the attention they seem to get from colour commentators, having a few guys on your roster who can take a key faceoff at an important time (while also doing other useful things) is an asset. For what it’s worth, Gordon has an amazing 61% draw success rate in the post season.
Cam Charron makes arguments for why Clarke MacArthur should be brought back next season and why Tyler Bozak should be set free.
How the Maple Leafs broke an astronaut’s hockey-loving heart. Yeah well they broke a Leafs bloggers Leafs-loving heart, too. Where’s my headline?
Breaking news, seeing a Leafs game is expensive.