Steven Matz was an ace, the bats fall asleep in the nightcap, Blue Jays split double header

That was quite a long day of baseball and we’re back to where we started!

Things worth mentioning…

Steven Matz continues to be extremely good, which was the big thing to draw from today. Matz made his third start of the season in the first game of the double-dip and flirted with a, abbreviated no-hitter, holding the Royals to fuck all until the sixth inning when Nicky Lopez hit a Royals-esque bloop single. Matz would end up going six innings, allowing one earned run on two hits while striking out five. His ERA is 1.47 and the Mets look stupid for giving him to the Blue Jays in exchange for a bag of magic beans.
The Blue Jays put up five runs on Mike Minor and the Royals, led by a Lourdes Gurriel first-inning double, Jonathan Davis’ first dinger (and hit) of the season, which was as big as Lake Ontario, and a bomb from Vlad.

Welcome to the Vladimir Guer-air-show #PLAKATA pic.twitter.com/MK8i9s6qTf
— Toronto Blue Jays (@BlueJays) April 17, 2021

The second game was a bit limp-dick after the first, to be honest. Tommy Milone got the start and allowed a couple of runs over two-and-one-third …

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Author: Cam Lewis / Blue Jays Nation

Toronto Raptors: Frontcourt surprisingly leads Raptors to win over feisty Spurs team

Toronto Raptors: Frontcourt surprisingly leads Raptors to win over feisty Spurs team

The Toronto Raptors were able to get back in the win column, coming away with a 117-112 win over the San Antonio Spurs. Things were going to be difficult when it was announced that Toronto would be without five key players for this game. The Raptors were able to keep up and overcome a hungry Spurs […]
Toronto Raptors: Frontcourt surprisingly leads Raptors to win over feisty Spurs team – Raptors Rapture – Raptors Rapture – A Toronto Raptors Fan Site – News, Blogs, Opinion and More

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Author: Nickeem Khan / Raptors HQ

Undefeated in 2021, baby

Holy hell, baseball is most certainly back. The Blue Jays picked up a 3-2 win over the Yankees in an extra-innings nail-biter. That’s absolutely what you love to see.

Things worth mentioning…

Hyun Jin Ryu got the ball for the Blue Jays and went toe-to-toe with the second-best free-agent pitching addition from the 2019 off-season, Gerrit Cole. Ryu spun five-and-one-third innings in which his only blemish was a two-run home run to Gary Sanchez in the second inning. All told, Ryu allowed four hits and one walk while striking out five. He had the Yanks looking confused and off-balance, vintage Ryu.
The Blue Jays’ bullpen locked things down after that, though there were some stressful moments. Tyler Chatwood got the final two outs of the sixth after Ryu was pulled, David Phelps navigated a couple of hits and a walk, Rafael Dolis allowed a walk but had an otherwise clean inning, and then Jordan Romano worked around two walks with help from Cavan Biggio, who made a great play to nab what would have been the game-winning run at home.

Let’s Tauch about @doinitBIGgio23 at the hot corner pic.twitter.com/iAuyaY3tj4
— Toronto Blue Jays (@BlueJays) April 1, 2021

There wasn’ …

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Author: Cam Lewis / Blue Jays Nation

Channel Six Podcast: Leafs are winning the wrong way

We’re back with another installment of the Channel Six Podcast.
This week we went guestless and kick off the show with Mer’s recap of the very brief return to play for the Toronto Six, their impact, and what we can expect from them in the future. Following that we dived into the good and bad of the Toronto Maple Leafs:
The Good: The Leafs are on a 3 game win streak.
The Bad: Their offense has looked shaky and they are winning in OT.
The Good: Jack Campbell has looked good.
The Bad: Hutchinson is starting because Campbell might still be hurt.
The Good: Alex Galchenyuk looks like a good fit for the Leafs.
The Bad: Whomever else they bring in is probably going to cost more than Egor Korshkov and David Warofsky.
Yes, we got at all this and more in 40 minutes of gripping discussion.

Channel 6 Toronto · Episode 3: The saddest three game win streak
If listening to us in your browser doesn’t cut it for you, you can find us on Apple and Spotify as well. And we’ll be back in a couple of weeks with even more Channel Six for your ears.

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Author: Jon Steitzer / The Leafs Nation

TLN Three Stars: Justin Holl of all people? Yep.

Almost one week later, and the Buds are back. Coming off a lengthy break, the Toronto Maple Leafs made their way to the Canadian Tire Centre to take on the Ottawa Senators. As the puck dropped for the first period, the Leafs had a few good chances but the Senators’ 12th goalie in rotation, Anton Forsberg, kept the door shut. As the Battle of Ontario goes, the Senators ended the first period with a 1-0 lead from a goal by Connor Brown. Then, Ilya Mikheyev managed to tie it up in the second period with a goal that almost didn’t count. The Leafs managed to take their first lead of the game with Jason Spezza’s goal in the third, but the Senators answered right back just a few minutes later with a goal by Alex Formenton. By now you shouldn’t be surprised that such a strange game went to overtime. With 18 seconds left in OT, Justin Holl got the winner past Forsberg and the Leafs took the W.

It feels like a decade since the Leafs last scored a goal how long has it actually been???
— Mer (@MerOutLoud) March 26, 2021

When I say it was a strange game, …

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Author: Roxanne Khasow / The Leafs Nation

WoHo: What’s happening in women’s hockey is the Isobel Cup Playoffs!

NWHL hockey is back, baby! That’s right, starting tomorrow we will get to see four NWHL teams finally compete for the 2021 Isobel Cup! Including, of course, our very own Toronto Six. Who. Is. Excited?
And would you look at that? The NHL showed some support over on Twitter:

Championship action! @NWHL
Starting this Friday on @NHLonNBCSports @OnHerTurf pic.twitter.com/M4Pv0fRBHz
— NHL (@NHL) March 24, 2021

The NWHL also made a super cool announcement about the broadcast team for the Isobel Cup games:

The NWHL is excited to announce the NBC Sports broadcast team that will be covering our championship weekend! Kate Scott (play by play), AJ Mleczko (analyst), & Caley Chelios (rinkside reporter)
Details : https://t.co/9SHWa3uoOL: @NBCSports pic.twitter.com/KZ6zeI0jez
— NWHL (@NWHL) March 19, 2021

But before we dive deeper into this weekend’s women’s hockey plans, let’s take a quick peek at some potential drama with our very own Six:

I reached out to Cronin she told me she was surprised and devastated it happened after all the work she did, but she appreciated hearing from players and staff.
— Marisa Ingemi (@Marisa_Ingemi) March 19, 2021

Cronin helped build the roster, created partnerships, …

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Author: Mer / The Leafs Nation

Throwback Thursday: This week in 1995, Wendel Clark makes return to Toronto Maple Leafs

Welcome back to another edition of Throwback Thursday! 

This week in 1996, the Toronto Maple Leafs acquired Wendel Clark making his triumphant return to Toronto.
On March 13, the Leafs acquired Clark along with Mathieu Schneider and D.J. Smith, while Toronto gave up Sean Haggerty, Darby Hendrickson, Kenny Jonsson and a 1997 1st round pick (Roberto Luongo).
The Leafs also acquired a 1996 2nd round pick on that day, shipping Dave Andreychuk to the New Jersey Devils.
He scored a goal and an assist in his first game back two days later in a 3-0 win.
Clark’s return came after he spent parts of two seasons with the Quebec Nordiques and the New York Islanders, and saw him come back for parts of three seasons. Between 1995 and 1998, Clark scored 83 points in 125 games with the Leafs.
In ’98, Clark left via free agency to join the Tampa Bay Lightning, before ultimately returning for a final season in 1999-2000 before he retired.
Zach Laing is the Nation Network’s news director and senior columnist. He can be followed on Twitter at @zjlaing, or reached by email at zach@oilersnation.com.

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Author: Zach Laing / The Leafs Nation

WoHo: Here’s what’s happening in Women’s Hockey

Hello friends and WoHo fans! We’re back with another look at what is making headlines in the world of women’s hockey this week. There are lots of rumblings and rumors and activity, so let’s dive in.
Remember last week how we mentioned that there seemed to be some indication that one women’s hockey league was the way of the future? Well…

Dani Rylan Kearney has resigned today from her position as NWHL advisor and President of W Hockey Partners: https://t.co/Hi9WnnDzdU
— NWHL (@NWHL) March 16, 2021

More resignations, more changing of the guard at the NWHL certainly seem to support that notion. Whether this is just a cleaning of house or something more remains to be seen – but it’s something.
Speaking of changing of the guard –

BREAKING NEWS : The #Beauts have named @rhea19coad as the team’s new head coach.
: https://t.co/ZpmplwyhPm#FortBeaut #NWHL : @mikehetzelphoto : @jsantalucia96 pic.twitter.com/rbOe40Sjz3
— Buffalo Beauts (@BuffaloBeauts) March 16, 2021

While some guards are a’changing, the NWHL playoff teams make preparations for the Isobel Cup playoffs happening next weekend:

#NWHL announces rosters for four teams in the Isobel Cup Playoffs https://t.co/eMPiDm0mcb
— …

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Author: Mer / The Leafs Nation

Channel Six Podcast Episode 2: Breaking down the Leafs trade, prospects, return of The Six, and more with Nick and Roxanne

We’re back for second real episode and third episode if you include our shakedown voyage. This time Mer and I were fortunately joined by Roxanne Khasow and Nick Richard of TLN fame to discuss all things Toronto hockey.
What were those all things Toronto hockey, well we dipped our toes into the Leafs losing streak, the Mikko Lehtonen trade, the goaltending situation beyond our shiny new fourth string goaltender, the next contract for Zach Hyman, plenty of Leafs prospects talk, and of course, a little discussion of the looming Isobel Cup and Dream Gap tour.
We definitely ran a little longer than we did previously to get all that in, as well as our summer camp style ice breakers with Nick and Roxanne.

Channel 6 Toronto · Episode 2: The Gang Learns How to Say Veini Vehvilainen.
If listening to us in your browser doesn’t cut it for you, you can find us on Apple and Spotify as well. And we’ll be back in a couple of weeks with even more Channel Six for your ears.

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Author: Jon Steitzer / The Leafs Nation

WoHo: This week in the women’s hockey world

Welcome back to an exciting and relevant WoHo column – on the heels of International Women’s Day, smack dab in the middle of Women’s History Month – there is loads of good women’s hockey stuff to recap! Let’s take a look at what’s going on with the PWHPA, the NWHL, and women’s hockey in general, shall we?
Let’s start with Women’s Worlds. An announcement was made this week about the 2021 IIHF Women’s World Championship tournament:

The @IIHFHockey announced this afternoon that the 2021 Women’s World Championship has been moved to May 6–16, while remaining in Halifax and Truro. https://t.co/994auf5FBt
— The Ice Garden (@TheIceGarden) March 4, 2021

The tournament has been pushed back to account for COVID concerns, and allow for proper preparations of medical personnel and COVID safety protocols. The IIHF is hopeful that despite the delay the tournament will proceed in May, in Canada. It’s always exciting to watch the best in the world compete, so this is definitely something to look forward to.
Over in Seattle, the Kraken are putting their stamp on women’s hockey by partnering with Black Girls Hockey Club on their scholarship program:

As the …

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Author: Mer / The Leafs Nation