Maple Leafs rally, top Lightning in OT for 3-1 series lead
The Toronto Maple Leafs wiped out a three-goal deficit in the third period, then beat the Tampa Bay Lightning 5-4 on Alexander Kerfootโs power-play goal at 4:14 of overtime to take a commanding 3-1 series lead in their first-round NHL playoff matchup.
Babcock on Franzen: โI thought we had a really good relationshipโ
(Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images)Former Detroit Red Wings coach Mike Babcock has been on somewhat of a โreclamation tourโ recently, addressing accusations about his character and coaching tactics. One of those players is former Red Wings forward Johan Franzen, who was forced to leave pro hockey early due to serious head injuries. AdThe former Detroit coach had stayed away from addressing the Franzen issue specifically, until this week during an interview with SportNetโs Christine Simpson. Simpson: โWhen you think back to some of the tactics you used with (Franzen), do you think you went too far?โBabcock: โI thought we had a really good relationship. Babcock spent 10 seasons with the Red Wings from 2005-2015, posting a record of 458-223-105 in 786 career games.
Former Red Wings coach Mike Babcock takes over at U of Saskatchewan
(Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)SASKATOON, SK โ Mike Babcock, the former NHL coach who directed the Detroit Red Wings to a Stanley Cup title and Canada to two Olympic medals, is taking over the University of Saskatchewan hockey team. The Huskies announced Saturday that Babcock will lead the team on a full-time volunteer basis for the next two seasons. Babcock, a Saskatoon native and former Huskies player, replaces Dave Adolph, who announced his retirement on Dec. 7 after 27 years coaching Saskatchewan. Babcock joins the Huskies after spending the past 17 seasons in the NHL, including guiding the Red Wings to the Stanley Cup championship in 2008. Babcock was fired 23 games into the 2019-20 season, his fifth with the Maple Leafs.
Bobrovsky shines as Panthers edge Red Wings 2-1
It was a close game, but it didnโt feel like that.โBobrovsky allowed an early goal but was able to stop the Red Wings the rest of the way. It was a good win for us.โAdFilip Zadina scored for the Red Wings. The Red Wings have lost nine of 10. โWe had some chances on the power play, but we need to score.โZadina put the Red Wings ahead 1-0 at the 3:31 mark of the first. The Red Wings visit the Nashville Predators on Thursday.
Hockey Hall of Famer George Armstrong dies at 90
The Maple Leafs confirmed the death Sunday, Jan. 24, 2021, on Twitter. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya, File)TORONTO, ONT โ George Armstrong, who captained the Toronto Maple Leafs to four Stanley Cups in the 1960s, has died. His death was announced Sunday by the Maple Leafs, who said he died of heart complications, citing his family. โGeorge is part of the very fabric of the Toronto Maple Leaf organization and will be deeply missed,โ Maple Leafs president Brendan Shanahan said in a statement. โFor 70 years, he represented his beloved Maple Leafs and the entire NHL with class and distinction as a player, coach, executive and ambassador.
Ryan makes Red Wings history in 3-2 OT win over Blue Jackets
DETROIT, MICHIGAN - FEBRUARY 01: View of the Detroit Red Wings center ice logo during a game against the Toronto Maple Leafs at Little Caesars Arena on February 01, 2019 in Detroit, Michigan. Elvis Merzlikins stopped 24 shots for the Blue Jackets, who barely got settled in on their bench during the overtime before it was time to go to the dressing room. PANDEMIC PLAYThe Blue Jackets have not had newly acquired center Mikko Koivu in the lineup this season due to NHLโs COVID-19 protocols. Fox Sports Ohio analyst Jody Shelley was not a part of the Blue Jackets' broadcast, citing an abundance of caution. The Blue Jackets also will face Florida on their homestand.
Red Wings announce partnership with PointsBet sportsbook operator
DETROIT, MICHIGAN - FEBRUARY 01: View of the Detroit Red Wings center ice logo during a game against the Toronto Maple Leafs at Little Caesars Arena on February 01, 2019 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)DETROIT โ The Detroit Red Wings announced Tuesday a new partnership with PointsBet, a sportsbook operator. The NHL club said this sports betting partnership will โenhance fan engagement and game-day excitement.โSports & Social Detroit at Little Caesars Arena will be rebranded as the PointsBet Sports Bar. As part of that deal, PointsBet will have branding at Comerica Park and will be featured on the Detroit Tigers Radio Network. More: Detroit Red Wings news
Ex-Red Wings coach Mike Babcock joins NBC Sports as studio analyst
(Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)Former Detroit Red Wings coach Mike Babcock has a new job as a studio analyst for NBC Sports. Babcock spent 10 seasons with the Red Wings from 2005-2015, posting a record of 458-223-105 in 786 career games. Babcock left Detroit in 2015 when he signed an 8-year, $50 million deal with the Toronto Maple Leafs. Read back: Chelios says Babcock caused Franzen to have nervous breakdown on Red Wings benchJohan Franzen went as far as calling Babcock โthe worst personโ had ever met. Read more: Ex-Red Wings D Colaiacovo on Babcock: Guys hated him in Detroit, tried to get him fired every year
Dear Red Wings Discussion Board
DETROIT, MICHIGAN - FEBRUARY 01: View of the Detroit Red Wings center ice logo during a game against the Toronto Maple Leafs at Little Caesars Arena on February 01, 2019 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)Welcome to the Dear Red Wings Discussion Board. Here you are welcome to discuss anything related to the Detroit Red Wings, the NHL and hockey in general. Moderated by: Dave Bartkowiak (dbartkowiak@wdiv.com | @DaveBartko) -- sign up for his Dear Red Wings newsletter here. Log in and join the conversation below:
Ontario mulls how all-Canadian division in NHL might work
(Photo by Jana Chytilova/Freestyle Photography/Getty Images)TORONTO, ONT โ Ontarioโs minister of sport says the provincial government is examining how a Canadian division in the NHL might work. Lisa MacLeod says discussions about the leagueโs return-to-play plan are being studied by Ontario public health authorities, the provinceโs chief medical officer of health and officials from Toronto and Ottawa. Seven of the NHLโs 31 teams are in Canada: Montreal, Toronto, Ottawa, Winnipeg, Calgary, Edmonton and Vancouver. The Ontario Hospital Association on Thursday asked the Ontario government for a strict four-week lockdown in regions with high rates of COVID-19 positivity that would include Toronto and Ottawa, the two Ontario cities with NHL teams. Quebec Premier Francois Legault said Wednesday the provinceโs public health measures shouldnโt impact a resumption of activities for the Montreal Canadiens.
Lightning Effect: Skilled NHL teams add grit to go for Cup
Rewind to 2019 and early 2020 and that description fits the Tampa Bay Lightning, who added some grit and toughness to their talented core and went on to win the Stanley Cup. The Lightning effect was clear as soon as NHL free agency opened. โYou need guys that are going to have a little bit of sandpaper. โWe maybe have taken a little bit of a step back from the most skillful lineup weโve ever had to more of a balance between the will and the skill," Poile said. We certainly have a little bit more physicality, a little bit more grit and I think itโs probably and hopefully a better mix than we had last year.โ___More AP NHL: https://apnews.com/NHL and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports
Bob Nevin, won 2 Stanley Cups with Maple Leafs, dies at 82
Bob Nevin, a fan favorite who won two Stanley Cups with the Toronto Maple Leafs before a successful run as captain of the New York Rangers, has died. He played his first full NHL season in 1960-61, scoring 21 goals as a rookie and finishing runner-up to Maple Leafs teammate Dave Keon in the Calder Trophy voting. While Bathgate helped the Maple Leafs win another championship in 1964, Nevin became an important part of the Rangers, serving as captain of the team from 1965 to 1971. Nevin was from South Porcupine, Ontario, came to the Maple Leafs via junior hockeyโs Toronto Marlboros. โBob was ever-present at Leafs games and within the alumni community,โ the Maple Leafs said on Twitter.
Blue Jackets advance with 3-0 Game 5 win over Maple Leafs
TORONTO Goalie Joonas Kirpisalo and the Columbus Blue Jackets proved how they learned their lesson about holding three-goal leads. Korpisalo stopped 33 shots, Zach Werenski's floater from the left point in the first period held up as the winner, and the Blue Jackets defeated the Toronto Maple Leafs 3-0 win in a decisive Game 5 on Sunday night. The Maple Leafs ran out of offense with captain John Tavares misfiring by hitting the post while facing a wide-open side in the first period. The Maple Leafs continued their one-and-done playoff woes in making their fourth straight postseason appearance, and fifth since the 2004-05 NHL lockout. NOTES: Maple Leafs LW Andreas Johnsson returned to play after being activated off injured reserve earlier in the day.
Maple Leafs shut out Blue Jackets 3-0 to even playoff series
TORONTO, ONT Auston Matthews and John Tavares scored and the Toronto Maple Leafs beat the Columbus Blue Jackets 3-0 on Tuesday to even their best-of-five qualifying series at one game. Five Leafs power plays helped keep the Blue Jackets on their heels. Blue Jackets captain Nick Foligno was just as disappointed. ... Blue Jackets D Dean Kukan left the bench for observation in the first period after a big hit by Toronto's Kyle Clifford but returned later in the period. That also was the first playoff shutout in Blue Jackets history.
Hutchinson wins 1st, Maple Leafs beat Red Wings 4-1
TORONTO โ Michael Hutchinson made 29 saves in his first win of the season and the Toronto Maple Leafs beat the Detroit Red Wings 4-1 on Saturday night for their fourth straight victory overall and first with a No. Zach Hyman and Auston Matthews each had two goals and an assist for the Maple Leafs (19-14-4). Tyler Bertuzzi scored for the Red Wings (9-25-3), who have lost 15 of 17. The Leafs scored again when Matthews finished off a pass in front from Marner at 13:39. The Red Wings took advantage of the man advantage, spoiling Hutchinson's shutout bid when Bertuzzi scored with 1:44 remaining in the game.
Maple Leafs beat Red Wings 5-2 to snap 3-game skid
(Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images)DETROIT - On a night when their biggest stars were quiet offensively, the Toronto Maple Leafs still scored plenty. Ilya Mikheyev put the Maple Leafs ahead in the final minute of the second period when goalie Jimmy Howard's gamble backfired, and Toronto went on to beat the Detroit Red Wings 5-2 on Saturday night, snapping a three-game losing streak. Instead, the Maple Leafs got goals from Mikheyev, Nicholas Shore, Alexander Kerfoot, Jake Muzzin and Trevor Moore. The Maple Leafs tied it when Timashov won a battle for the puck behind the net and found Shore, who had plenty of time to beat Howard from in front. "We thought our work ethic was really good in camp, really good at the start," Maple Leafs coach Mike Babcock said.
Report: Pierre McGuire no longer on NBC Sports' top NHL coverage team
(Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images)Pierre McGuire will not be in the starting lineup this season for NBC Sports' coverage of NHL games. That's according to The Athletic's Rick Carpiniello, who tweeted earlier this week:"Per impeccable source, Pierre McGuire has been removed from NBC Sports' No. Carpiniello said McGuire will still work NHL games for NBC, but Brian Boucher will replace him on the No. McGuire, 58, joined NBC Sports after the network acquired NHL games in 2006. McGuire started out as a coach at Hobart College, then became an assistant coach in the NHL for Pittsburgh and Hartford.
Red Wings, Maple Leafs honoring Red Kelly with public memorial in Toronto
The Detroit Red Wings and Toronto Maple Leafs are hosting a public memorial Friday to honor Red Kelly. The Red Wings & Maple Leafs will host a public memorial for Red Kelly on Friday, May 10 in Toronto. pic.twitter.com/5LCSxtGEAn Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) May 8, 2019Join us to honour Leafs legend Red Kelly. pic.twitter.com/ZdV5OcqlPA Toronto Maple Leafs (@MapleLeafs) May 8, 2019Kelly was a major part of four Stanley Cup championships with Detroit -- 1950, 1952, 1954, 1955. 4 earlier this year during a game against the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Maple Leafs vs. Bruins in Game 7: Follow live game score updates here
The Toronto Maple Leafs and Boston Bruins will meet in a playoff elimination game Tuesday night for the third time since 2013. Boston won those other two Game 7s against Toronto in 2013 and in 2018, both in the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs. "It is what is now," Maple Leafs forward John Tavares said. The Maple Leafs have not advanced to the second round of the playoffs since 2004. Follow live game score updates here: