Thursday's FTB: Out of it
Leafs lose their first game back after the break.
Latest news and updates about the Maple Leafs
Leafs lose their first game back after the break.
After a three-week break, Leafs hockey returned with a whimper in Tampa, where Toronto suffered a 4-2 defeat that wasn’t really much of a contest after the first period. The first and third periods (particularly the end of the third) were really strange segments of this game. The opening frame could’ve ended 2-0 or 3-0 […] The post Game Review: Leafs hockey returns with a whimper in Tampa Bay appeared first on Maple Leafs Hotstove .
Welcome back, Brayden Point (2 goals, 1 assist). Welcome back, Charle-Edouard D’Astous (2 assists). Welcome back, Tampa Bay Lightning hockey. The Lightning returned to the ice from the Olympic break with a 4-2 win over the Toronto Maple Leafs, spearheaded by a two-goal performance from Brayden Point, who had been out of the line-up since suffering a lower-body injury in mid-January against Philadelphia. Nikita Kucherov also posted a three-point night which included his 700th car...
Craig Berube addressed the media after his team’s 4-2 loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning, which dropped the Maple Leafs’ record to 27-22-9. On the team’s performance: I thought we played a good, solid first period. We had three 2-on-1s in the first period and didn’t get a shot off. We have to execute those […] The post Craig Berube on the Leafs’ poor execution in the loss to Tampa: “We had three 2-on-1s in the first period and didn’t get a shot off” appeared first on Maple Leafs Hotstove .
Everyone is getting healthier. On both teams.
Toronto Maple Leafs hockey is back with a big test and a massive two points on the line in Tampa Bay (7:30 p.m. EST, Sportsnet) Game Day Quotes Craig Berube on whether he will manage Auston Matthews’ workload in the game: I don’t know about that. I will see where he is at later on […] The post Toronto Maple Leafs vs. Tampa Bay Lightning – Game #58 Projected Lines, Preview & TV Info appeared first on Maple Leafs Hotstove .
After returning from the Olympics, Auston Matthews discussed the whirlwind 72-hour experience of winning the gold medal for Team USA, visiting the White House, and now resuming the NHL schedule. What was the experience like yesterday, going to the White House and meeting the President? Matthews: It was cool. It is special. We’re proud Americans, […] The post Auston Matthews on visiting Donald Trump in the White House: “We believe it’s a great honour, no matter who is in office… It’s somethin...
Back to work.
An eventful week of hockey before the NHL returns this week.
On TSN Insider Trading, Darren Dreger provided the following updates on the Maple Leafs’ deadline approach with their top two pending UFAs, Scott Laughton and Bobby McMann: Dreger: It sounds strange, what I am about to say. It is less about Toronto’s playoff chances and more about the cost-effectiveness of extending certain players like Bobby […] The post Decision time is nearing for the Leafs on Bobby McMann, Scott Laughton — Latest Trade Deadline Updates appeared first on Maple Leafs Hotst...
Game Fifty-Six: Toronto Maple Leafs (27-21-9) at Tampa Bay Lightning (37-14-4) Time: 7:30 PM EST Location: Benchmark International Arena, Home of Gold Medalist Jake Guentzel TV/Stream/Radio: TNT/ HBO Max/ Tru TV, 102.5 FM, Lightning App (audio) Odds: Lightning -230 Know the Opponents: Pension Plan Puppets Twenty-seven games in the next fifty days. Buckle up Bolts’ fans, there is about to be a lot, and we mean, a lot of hockey. Fresh off of the Olympic break, the T...
The Florida Panthers remain idle, however, there will be big-league hockey tonight as the NHL resumes play after taking a three-week break for the 2026 Winter Olympics with eight games on the docket. The key match on the Wednesday slate is between the Buffalo Sabres and New Jersey Devils. The Sabres are nine points ahead of the Cats and hold the first wild card in the Eastern Conference playoff race. So, go Devils! Florida’s next opponent, the Toronto Maple Leafs will face the Tampa ...
After talking about the “dream come true” of playing in the Olympics, Tampa Bay Lightning captain Victor Hedman spoke to reporters about returning to action. He confirmed that he is good to go as the team returns to action against the Toronto Maple Leafs tonight. Assistant Coach Rob Zettler also confirmed that all of the Olympic players will be playing and that Emil Lilleberg and Charle-Edouard D’Astous should be ready to go. Even with Max Crozier out and Nick Paul likely out, this may be...
The NHL returns this week and we've already seen two trades go down on Tuesday, with several others expected this week. There's been no shortage of trade conversations taking place, and specifically looking at the blueline, there's several right-handed defencemen being discussed on ongoing discussions. Bruce Garrioch: A league executive told the Citizen that Brandon Carlo; Dougie Hamilton; Connor Murphy...and both Justin Faulk and Colton Parayko...are likely available - Ottawa Citizen As Garri...
The Olympics have come and gone, and the NHL stretch drive has officially arrived. There are all sorts of narratives flying around after the Olympic tournament, and all I’ll say is that we must be very careful when assessing a short tournament with a single-game elimination format, compared to the two-month grind of the NHL […] The post Can Olympic gold provide a stretch-run boost for Auston Matthews? + Other key storylines as Leafs hockey returns appeared first on Maple Leafs Hotstove .
After Tuesday’s practice, head coach Craig Berube discussed the transition back to the NHL schedule for the Olympians on the team, the status of Dakota Joshua, John Tavares, and Chris Tanev, and the plan for Easton Cowan coming out of the break. What did you see from William Nylander in his first practice post-Olympics? Berube: […] The post Craig Berube on Auston Matthews visiting the White House with Team USA: “It is a great honour to go there for these guys… Enjoy the day” appeared first o...
The Toronto Maple Leafs are still within striking distance of the playoffs and they have the team and star talent to get there, but what won't help is one challenging year sends them into a large retool for more players than are necessary to change around. Bobby McMann is the prime candidate I'm talking about here as he is a UFA after the season and there is no contract in place yet. Darren Dreger said, "Bobby McMann is very comfortable with the Maple Leafs. I don't think he wants to go anywhe...
The NHL Trade Deadline is fast approaching and now that the Olympic trade freeze is over, look for all kinds of rumors and inuendo to explode around hockey social media for the next several days. Yes, even more so than usual. If NHL General Managers want to try to improve their respective teams, they have […]
A few of Toronto's better prospects have put in strong performances the past couple of weeks.
The Oilers want our guys, eh?
“I thought it was a step in the right direction. We got one point, and we’ll move on from this. We didn’t really give them much, but unfortunately, a couple of our mistakes were catastrophic, and there wasn’t much Dennis [Hildeby] could do about them. Other than that, we played a pretty good game, so […] The post Late Jacob Quillan goal rescues point after Toronto Marlies forfeit another third-period lead in Cleveland appeared first on Maple Leafs Hotstove .
And just like that, the 2026 Winter Olympics have come to an end, with the gold medal game between Team Canada and Team U.S.A. standing as the pinnacle of the Games. From a hockey fan’s perspective, the gold medal game had everything you could ask for — aside from a ton of goals, of course…
The U.S. women’s hockey team winning Olympic gold is more than a championship on ice; it’s a statement about where the sport stands in America and how deeply it is woven into places like Minnesota. Their 2-1 overtime victory over Canada capped an intense tournament and delivered a defining moment fo...
Hello and happy Monday, folks. Hope you’re not totally snowed in today. If you are, maybe the joy of an Olympic men’s hockey gold medal yesterday can help lift your spirits. Or maybe an Arsenal 4-1 win over Spurs can. Or maybe something else can, I dunno. A question for you, dear readers: how we […]
Montreal Canadiens news and notes Lane Hutson believes Team USA’s gold medal ranks right at the top of the list of hockey accomplishments by the American men. [ Journal de Montreal ] Juraj Slafkovský was named to the Olympic All-Star Team, joining Connor McDavid, Macklin Celebrini, Cale Makar, Quinn Hughes, and Connor Hellebuyck. [ NHL.com ] Hutson won the fastest skater competition at the Habs’ skills showcase. Arber Xhekaj once again had the hardest shot at 107.3 mph, while ...