Wednesday’s FTB: Will the Oilers get even one goal against the Leafs this series?
The Leafs are playing the third of three games in Edmonton tonight, and they could leave town with the Oilers not scoring even one goal.
It’s been two games for the Toronto Maple Leafs against the Edmonton Oilers, and it’s been two shutout wins for the Leafs, all with Auston Matthews and Frederik Andersen out injured. It’s possible one or both could be back for tonight’s game, as they were both in practice yesterday.
We’ll know more about the lineup and goalie situation after the morning skate—though morning may be a stretch. This is another game in Alberta tonight, but with a slightly more reasonable 8:00 p.m. ET start time, but that morning skate might be after at noon in Ontario.
One player on the Oilers confirmed to be out tonight is Alex Chiasson who was suspended by the league after his cheap-shot cross check on Jimmy Vesey after the final horn sounded in Monday’s game.
Another matter on the mind for the Leafs is that no matter how tonight’s game goes they have a very quick turnaround and travel after this game. They play again tomorrow in Vancouver against the Canucks, and, yes, that one is going to be a later 10:00 p.m. start again.
The Marlies are also playing tonight too, hosting the Manitoba Moose at the Coliseum where Alex Galchenyuk continues to work with the team to adjust to the Leafs systems. Game time is 7:00 p.m. ET.
Hobey Baker Memorial Award
The annual fan vote for the Hobey Baker Award finalists is now underway and there’s a candidate that was drafted by the Leafs who you should support: Veeti Miettinen! He is currently trailing behind several players in the poll, including Cole Caufield. We, the fans of the Maple Leafs, simply cannot allow a Habs prospect like Caufield to win this, even if it is only a glorified online poll to pick “finalists”. We must step in now and vote for Veeti en masse!
Click on this link to vote for Veeti and vote often!
There’s a lot of names on the page and the location appears to be randomised each time you refresh, so simply search for “Veeti,” select his photo (a blue outline appears) and click on “Submit” at the bottom!
If you are not yet familiar with our new Finnish winger prospect, here is some material to get you started from our Maple Leafs Top 25 Under 25 series in December.
He is playing in the NCAA for St. Cloud State University in Minnesota, and he has one hell of a shot.
#LeafsForever prospect Veeti Miettinen continues his hot streak with an absolutely ridiculous wrist shot on an individual effort. His wrister is just special.
— Nicholas RobertSTAN (@brigstew86) January 3, 2021
His 6th goal and 11th point in 11 games. https://t.co/ZQ0D3G7r2o
The Fins will never be satisfied!#unleashSCSU #NCHCPod #NCHCHockey #SCSUHuskies @MidcoSN @SCSUHUSKIES pic.twitter.com/eo6Gv6ofJg
— SCSU Men's Hockey (@SCSUHUSKIES_MH) December 21, 2020
How Canadian Hockey Fandoms Took Over the Hobey Baker Vote - SBN College Hockey
[SPECIES: Remember when we rigged the fan vote in favour of Matt Frattin in 2011? Let’s do it again! #voteveeti ]
Other News
Here you can watch the Canucks make bungle after bungle and give the Jets a lead that they would keep to the end of the game. Best watched to the Benny Hill theme.
Auston Matthews point streak ended because he was injured and didn’t play, but clearly Brian Burke and the Penguins play by a different set of rules.
Attendance is announced as 2,800. The Penguins claim it as their 610th consecutive sellout.
— Seth Rorabaugh (@SethRorabaugh) March 3, 2021
IIHF working to postpone women's world hockey championship to May - CBC
Nova Scotia's government has yet to approve the women's world championship scheduled for April 7-17 in Halifax and Truro, and the International Hockey Federation wants to postpone it until May.
The Rangers Case For Claude Julien - Blueshirt Banter
With questions rightly starting to bubble up concerning David Quinn’s job security, a prime replacement has recently entered the market.
Blue Jackets GM gives Tortorella the 'vote of confidence' -- for now - NBC
Jarmo Kekalainen gave John Tortorella the "vote of confidence" amid a losing streak [SPECIES: the kiss of death.]
Has Rogers Sportsnet Given Up On Sports Radio? – Toronto Sports Media Blog
The Toronto Blue Jays become the only MLB team to simulcast games from TV to radio.
99 Blue Jays Way has been demolished to make way for condos - CP24
Crews have now demolished 99 Blue Jays Way, which for years was home to the longstanding Wayne Gretzky's restaurant and the Second City comedy theatre. The restaurant actually closed in October, but the building itself was demolished this week. The Second City is reportedly still looking for a new space, though deliberately taking their time to find the best one since they can’t actually host events right now anyway.