Marlies: So close but so far.

With 5 games remaining and only 2 points out of the final playoff spot. Time is running out for the Toronto Marlies. There are only 7 points seperating the 7th placed Peoria Rivermen and the 13th placed Abbotsford Heat, the final games for the Marlies will be cruical, for a loss here and there could be the difference between them making the playoffs and missing it for the 2nd straight year. The Marlies will be taking on the Lake Erie Monsters twice, as well as the Manitoba Moose, Rochester Americans and the Abbotsford Heat. This will not be easy for the Marlies as the Monsters lead the season series 5-1, the Moose lead the series 4-3, the lowly Americans also lead the series 4-3 and the Heat also lead the series 4-3 as well. A huge problem for the Marlies, they are so close to a playoff birth but the stats have their backs against the wall. Leafs management have stated that they will try to help them (Marlies) out by giving them reinforcements like, Nazem Kadri, Matt Lashoff, Keith Aulie and any other player that is eligible, but only when the Leafs have been mathematically eliminated. GO MARLIES GO

Sabers, Canes Win; Leafs farther back now

Last night, both the Buffalo Sabers and the Carolina Hurricanes won last night, meaning that A) Buffalo is not tied with the New York Rangers for 7th and that the Leafs are once again 7 points back. The Leafs will be taking on the Boston Bruins tonight in a game they must win, if they want to continue their improbable run. GO LEAFS GO

Leafs beat Sabers; move closer to a playoff birth

Last night at the ACC, one heck of a game took place, between the 10th place Toronto Maple Leafs and the 8th place Buffalo Sabers. For the Leafs there hopes and dreams of ending their playoff drought were on the line, while for the Sabers a win would make the playoff hopes for the Leafs going from slim to not a chance. Goals by the captain Dion Phaneuf, Darryl Boyce, Clarke MacArthur and Mikhail Grabovski, including stellar goaltending by James Reimer sealed the 4-3 victory for the Leafs, and move them to within 5 points of 8th place Buffalo and 7 points behind the idle New York Rangers. The Leafs will try to continue their unbelievable run when they take on the Boston Bruins at TD Garden. But all eyes will probably be on the scoreboard today as the Sabers and the Carolina Hurricanes are in action tonight. The Sabers are taking on the Rangers at HSBC arena while the Hurricanes are at home to host the Montreal Canadiens.

Leafs vs. Sabers

Tonight will be THE BIGGEST GAME for the Toronto Maple Leafs. They are currently sitting in 11th place and 7 points back of the Buffalo Sabers who are desperatly holding onto the 8th and final playoff spot. With 6 games remaining (incl. tonight) the question is can the leafs pull off the impossible? Todays game will be the 6th and final game of the season between the two, the Sabers lead the series 3-2 and look to win the series while the Leafs are trying to tie the series and more importanly stay in the playoff hunt while gaining ground on both the Carolina Hurricanes as well as the Sabers. For the Leafs, Phil Kessel and Joffery Lupel have been hot as of late, with Kessel having 4 points in 4 games and Lupel having 3 points in 3 games. For the Sabers Ryan Miller has been on fire going 4-0-1 in his last 5 games which includes 2 shutouts. Playoff Race: Buffalo - 7GR 85 Points ----------------------- Carolina- 7GR 80 Points Toronto- 6GR 78 Points Atlanta- 7GR 76 Points For the Leafs they will be counting on their top 2 lines to contribute as well as their special teams. The Leafs powerplay has been an issue for the Leafs, they have only scored 5 PPG going 5 for 51 in the month or March and 2 for 20 in their last 5 games. Their penalty kill hasn't been much better, allowing 3 PPG in their last 4 games, if the Leafs want to have success tonight their special teams will have to be a lot better. The Sabers rank 12th in the league on the PP and 15th on the PK, both not amazing stats but much better than the Leafs who rank 27th on the PK with a 77.56 success rate and 25th on the PP with a 15.74 sucess rate. Also tonight the Carolina Hurricanes will be taking on the Washington Capitals at the Verizon Centre, and the Atlanta Thrashers will be facing the Montreal Canadiens at the Bell Centre. Three Huge games for 4 teams looking to clinch a playoff spot in the round of 16. What will be the outcome? No one knows Hopefully it will be the Leafs coming out on top with the Sabers, Hurricanes and Thrashers all losing their games, but then again thats just a dream right? GO LEAFS GO

Leafs playoff Hope's Continue with Win over Flyers

With the Leafs 3-2 win last night over the Eastern Conference leading Philadelphia Flyers, the Leafs are inching closer to the final playoffs spot, currently held by the New York Rangers. Last night's win in the "City of Brotherly Love" was their first since March 12 2008, it was also their first game since trading former Leaf Kris Versteeg their for a couple of picks in this up coming draft.

The scoring got started by none other than Versteeg, who scored his first goal against him former team and his second in a Flyers uniform. Mike Richards and Chris Pronger were credited with the assists. The goal was scored shortly after the game began.

Seconds later the Leafs were able to get on the scoreboard when Nikolai Kulemin tipped in a Clarke MacArthur shot pass Sergei Bobrovsky. The goal was Kulemin's 24th of the season, while the assist was Macarthur's team leading 31st of the campaign.

After 1 complete period it was all tied up at 1.

Early in the second period it would be Versteeg who would once again haunt his former squad, as he reclaimed the lead for the Flyers' off a nice pass by Richards. That goal would be his 17th of the season. Richards and Matt Carle earned assists on the play.

As the second period was about to end, with both teams serving penalties, Leafs captain Dion Phaneuf tied the game at two, after banging a rebound home. His goal was just his fourth of the season. Mikhail Grabovski and Kulemin got assists on the play.

In the third period with less than five minutes play in the third, it looked like the Leafs were going to be going into extra time once again. But Daryll Boyce was able to score on a wrap around after battling hard in the Flyer's corner for the puck. His goal was his fourth of the season and gave the leafs the edge. Colby Armstrong and Phaneuf were credited with assists.

The Leafs were able to survive several attacks by the Flyers and hold onto the 3-2 win, thanks to some phenomial saves by James Reimer. Reimer stopped 28 of 30 shots to pick up the win and now lead the team in wins.

By now you've got to think that James Reimer could be a clear canadite for the Calder Trophy, after last night's win he now spots a record of 12-4-3 and 2 shutouts which is unbelievable.

With the win the Leafs are now 3 points behind the struggling Rangers who have lost 3 straight and are barely holding onto the 8th and final playoff spot. Also last night the Carolina Hurricanes and Buffalo Sabers squared off with the Hurricanes beating the Sabers 3-2 in overtime. With the win it puts the Hurricanes 4 points ahead of the Leafs, and with Buffalo picking up the extra point in extra time it puts them 1 point ahead of the Leafs with the Leafs playing 2 more games extra compared to the Sabers.

The Leafs are back in action tomorrow as they return home and get set to host the defending Stanley Cup Champions, Chicago Blackhawks.


GO LEAFS GO

Quick Marlies Update

As of right now the Toronto Marlies (AHL affiliate of the Toronto Maple Leafs) are currently sitting 11th in the Western Conference with 68 points, they trail the conference leader Milwaukee Admirals (AHL affiliate of the Nashville Predators) by 8 points. The question becomes, Can the Marlies squeeze into the top 8 with only 18 games remaining? Right now Mike Zigomanis leads the team with 40 points (10G 30A) and Fabian Brunnstrom and Nazem Kadri lead the team with goals with 14 a piece. Jonas Gustavsson has been doing very well in net ever since being sent down on a conditioning stint with the Marlies. The 26 year old in 5 games has posted a 3-1-1 record with a .955% save percentage and a 1.14 GAA. The marlies have the day off today and will host the Admirals tomorrow at Ricoh Coliseum.

GO MARLIES GO
GO LEAFS GO

Deadline Day

Hockey deadline day is one of the most memorable and exciting days in the NHL. Today we've seen a number of trades happen, unfortunately, the leafs have yet to strike. There have been many rumours that the leafs were targeting Brad Richards as well as John Michael Liles but those rumours have been shot down by Brian Burke. Right now there aren't a lot of big names out there that are available. According to a source Burke is still looking for a defenseman and the 3rd rounder they acquired in the Versteeg deal is being used as bait. According to a different source Toronto has yet to agree on a deal with winger Clarke Macarthur, this will most likely mean that he will stay in Toronto and go to an arbitration hearing or get traded right before the deadline or get traded on draft day.