Leafs Beat Canadiens 3-2 on 2018-2019 Opening Night

[Box Score]
[NHL.com] [Pension Plan Puppets]

It was a storybook beginning for the John Tavares/Auston Matthews era, right in Toronto on Opening Night.

Auston Matthews got on the board twice, including the game winner. Here are his two goals:


Power Play, Goal #1 of 2018-2019:



Overtime Game-Winner, Goal #2:


Matthews has 76 career goals now, and although he began opening night on the Leafs second line; he's going to be knocking on the door of 100 soon enough. I think he wins the Rocket Richard trophy in goal scoring this year, and the Leafs are finally in a Stanley Cup Final.

Dylan Larkin Signs Extension

Dylan Larkin has signed a five-year contract extension with the Detroit Red Wings, and indications are that he will become the team's next captain.

The Red Wings open their season on October 4th at 7:30 at home against the Columbus Blue Jackets.

Here are highlights from the press conference, from the future of the Red Wings and GM Ken Holland.

Dylan Larkin Figure Coming Soon

Dylan Larkin is finally getting an Imports Dragon figure!

I am going to go up to Little Caesars this winter and catch a Red Wings game.

https://youtu.be/-ag28WFV5no

I Loved this Connor McDavid Game

I thought this was a great image from Imports Dragon figures. And a perfect figure. I need to get this figure graded. It's an all-timer hockey collectible.

Oh and here's the game where he lit the lamp four times and had an apple in Edmonton.

https://youtu.be/Xd-B92lydcs

41 goals, 67 assists and 108 points in his 2017-2018 campaign. Mr. Ross Trophy.

Maple Leafs Force Game Seven Against Bruins

[Event Summary]

[NHL.com]

On a night where a terrorist attack happened in Toronto, on a night where the Columbus Blue Jackets were eliminated by the Washington Capitals in game six here in Columbus. The Toronto Maple Leafs played game six in their city like their lives were on the line. These guys sacrificed so much to force a game seven for their city, overcoming all odds and trying to advance in a series they trailed 2-0 and 3-1. 

The Maple Leafs entered as underdogs, but I saw a team play as a team. Frederick Andersen several times was out of position, only to have a Toronto skater make the save for him. Andersen made so many improbable saves on his own. He stopped 32 of 33 shots. Boston took the lead 1-0, but Toronto charged back from there and wouldn't be denied. 

Auston Matthews had an assist waved off for goalie interference on the Leafs. But this team is gutty. They'll look to him Wednesday night to do something he's never done before in his career. The biggest goal in the biggest moment wins and advances. One of these tremendous teams has to go home. 

The winner Wednesday night gets to face the #1 seed Lightning. 

Great Yahoo Article on the Impact of Matthews' Answering Critics Game Three

Game three was an absolute dream of a game for the Maple Leafs. I'm not sure if it's the apex of the entire season or not at this point.

So I'm trying to savor as much as I can of it before Thursday night arrives. The Leafs are installed as early -115 to -110 slight favorites over the Bruins. They went off at -105 the other night, so they have appeared to at least halt the Bruin momentum for the time being in the eyes of oddsmakers.

Great read here at Yahoo! about Auston Matthews answering the bell in game three with the biggest goal of the year.

Maple Leafs Win Game Three, Round One 4-2 Over Bruins

[Maple Leafs 4, Bruins 2]
[NHL.com]

My team really did it. I watched the entire game. The Maple Leafs will not be swept in futility as it looked in games one and two in Boston. My favorite player rose at the big moment and scored the biggest goal of the game to give his team the final lead.

This was an incredible game. The Leafs are very much alive; for now. Trying to hang on until Nazem Kadri returns from suspension and extend this series out long.

Here's a look at Auston Matthews' first goal of these playoffs, a beautiful snipe that gave the Maple Leafs a 3-2 lead. A lead that would hold up (Patrick Marleau later scored his second goal of the game to make it 4-2).



Frederick Andersen stood on his head for several saves to keep this a 3-2 game. These teams really played hard, and fast paced. Zdeno Chara scored an incredible goal to make it 2-2. This was action packed for three periods. The Toronto crowd was outstanding from the anthem to the final whistle.

It was a Monday night in Toronto, and all was safe and well for a night. The Maple Leafs extended the season against the seemingly unstoppable Bruins; for at least a game.

I can't wait for Thursday night.

The Brothers Sedin Retire

In a heartfelt letter, Daniel and Henrik Sedin retire on the Canucks website.

Part of Canadian hockey closes a chapter. They have three games left to play, but it's going to be weird next year not having the Sedin's as part of the fraternity on-ice.

Auston Matthews Goals 30 and 31 of 2017-2018

As the Maple Leafs come down the home stretch with just three regular season games remaining, things are not looking as up as they were when the season got underway. There is some talk of a first round exit to the Bruins. But yet, Auston Matthews has pressed on. In a difficult and injury-shortened season; Matthews once again found the way to cross the 30-goal plateau.

These are goals 70 and 71 of his illustrious young career.

Goal #30:


Goal #31:


I want to see Matthews take it to another level in the playoffs, and let it all hang out. If he goes to the next gear in the first round or otherwise, the Leafs can get by absolutely anyone.

Auston Matthews Returns from Injury, Scores Goal 29

[Maple Leafs 5, Predators 2]

Auston Matthews returned from injury and hit a top shelf wrist shot for his 29th goal of the season. What could have been this year in the way of goal scoring if Matthews had not had three stints of missed games.

He's played in 55, 29 goals and 23 assists. The Maple Leafs are mostly playing out the string, trying to get ready for an opening round playoff matchup. It's going to be an absolute barn burner with the Boston Bruins; so things will get ugly early with a true test. Some people think the Bruins are suited to win the Stanley Cup.

It was nice to see Matthews get back out there, and at some point in the final few days, he's going to tally goal number 30. With the way things have gone with his health all year, it's still been an incredibly productive season when he's out there. He's +24 on the year. It's a different game when he's on the ice for Toronto.

Matthews Puck at the Tampa All Star Game 2018

He's the biggest star in hockey, and this deserved to be here.

Maple Leafs Log Big Comeback on Hockey Day in Canada

[Maple Leafs 4, Senators 3]
[Pension Plan Puppets]

Everyone loves a good comeback story. The Maple Leafs trailed 3-1 in the third period. I had the thought that they were going to rally. That I should live bet them to come back and win. And then they woke up.

Auston Matthews netted his 20th goal of the 2017-2018 season on a little backhander, and cut the deficit.



Today was one of the best days of the year for the sport of hockey. It was Hockey Day in Canada presented by legendary Scotiabank.



Today is one of those days that I wish I were Canadian and grew up in the land up north as a kid loving this game since I was a baby. I wish I knew how to skate and got up early in the morning and played in a pond hockey game with snow covering the ground all around me. Then I could take my kids to a parade and then settle in to watch Sportsnet Canada, a channel I obviously don't even get here in the USA and watch hockey from morning until night.

Instead, I went to the gym and attended a neighborhood birthday party with my kids. Then I did Uber for the first time ever as a driver and made $35.

But on this day, Auston Matthews and the Leafs ended a four-game losing streak in a big way and represented.

Maple Leafs lose on New Years Eve in Las Vegas 6-3

[Golden Knights 6, Maple Leafs 3]
[NHL.com]

When the NHL schedule came out, this was one of the dates that was circled on the calendar. It was a strange Sunday afternoon tilt in Las Vegas, and the first time in history that the Maple Leafs would visit Sin City. It was also New Years Eve day.

Auston Matthews didn't disappoint in a losing effort, netting his 100th career point. Sporting News has a great feature on him that is just a few days old that talks about the evolution of his career.

Auston Matthews 16th Goal:


Matthews' 17th Goal of the season, 100th career point:


But William Karlsson was the guy who stole the show; scoring a hat trick and now with 20 goals on the season. Vegas continued their storybook inaugural season.