Leafs fall 5-3 to Hurricanes on Saturday night: Game highlights

The Leafs controlled the play for most of the game against the Hurricanes on Saturday night but Pyotr Kochetkov made 41 saves and  Carolina took home the W 5-3. Below are the highlights from the game.
Toronto got into penalty trouble early and the Hurricanes capitalized on the 5-on-3 to open the scoring. Brent Burns beat Matt Murray glove side to put Carolina on top…

Burn baby Burns! Canes convert on the 5 on 3 power play to open the scoring. 🌪️ pic.twitter.com/M49j9wBBuQ
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) March 25, 2023

Jordan Stall doubled the Canes lead halfway through the first period. The puck came to him in the slot off a broken play and he swatted it top shelf…

Good things (goals) happen when you forecheck pic.twitter.com/KR6Zy68oKu
— x – Carolina Hurricanes (@Canes) March 25, 2023

Near the end of the period Jake McCabe created a scoring chance off a neutral zone draw. Sam Lafferty tried to put the rebound home but Pyotr Kochetkov shut the door…

McCabe breaks through off the draw
Lafferty nearly scored on the rebound pic.twitter.com/9PAXPqvm6A
— Omar (@TicTacTOmar) March 25, 2023

Less than five minutes into the second Calle Jarnkrok got the Leafs on the board. He sniped a wrist shot from the top of the circle to get Toronto within one…

SWEDE SNIPE 😮‍💨 pic.twitter.com/uBp1T92fKI
— Toronto Maple Leafs (@MapleLeafs) March 26, 2023

Midway through the middle frame Auston Matthews nearly tied it up with a scoring chance off the offensive zone draw. Kochetkov kept the Canes in front…

Matthews is denied again pic.twitter.com/MOuMPUOu3M
— Omar (@TicTacTOmar) March 26, 2023

Matthews found the back of the net 12:41 into the second. He pounced on the puck at the top of the circle and ripped a wrist shot past Kochetkov to make it 2-2…

PAPI POTS IT 🏡 pic.twitter.com/sOjPPXkrjJ
— Toronto Maple Leafs (@MapleLeafs) March 26, 2023

Just over eight minutes into the third period Stefan Noesen gave the Canes the lead again. Jesperi Kotkaniemi threw the puck on net and Noesen picked it up. He attempted a wrap-around then forced the puck into the net. 3-2 Canes…

UNREAL EFFORT pic.twitter.com/S1jlYOONR2
— x – Carolina Hurricanes (@Canes) March 26, 2023

With less the …

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Author: Scott Ony / The Leafs Nation

Exploring three internal injury replacements for Mitch White

Heading into this spring, most of the Toronto Blue Jays roster was already set, with 25 of the 26 spots decided upon, leaving room for internal competition involving the final bench position. But another role could open up in the bullpen if Mitch White isn’t ready by Opening Day.
White, acquired by Toronto from the Los Angeles Dodgers at last season’s trade deadline, was impacted by a right shoulder impingement over the winter and entered spring training behind schedule. The injury is behind him, although it significantly delayed his off-season throwing program, forcing him to build up his stamina in camp with the team before being cleared for game action.
The 28-year-old is still a ways out from that progression, though, as he has yet to face any live hitters thus far. And he’s starting to run up against the clock. He did throw a 40-pitch side session over the weekend, which is a step in the right direction, but he still has a few hurdles to jump before making his 2023 spring debut.

Mitch White, whose spring build-up has been delayed by a right shoulder impingement, is expecting to throw a 40-pitch side session this weekend at Blue Jays camp.
Next steps after that would be facing hitters in a live bullpen and then getting into games.
— Arden …

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Author: Thomas Hall / Blue Jays Nation

Will Gary Trent Jr. or OG Anunoby start for fully healthy Raptors?

Will Gary Trent Jr. or OG Anunoby start for fully healthy Raptors?

The Toronto Raptors have had one of the most immutable starting lineups in basketball over the last few years. All-Star Pascal Siakam and second-year standout Scottie Barnes would make up the frontcourt, OG Anunoby would hang out in the corner, and the Fred VanVleet/Gary Trent Jr. duo would comprise the backcourt. The acquisition of Jakob […]
Will Gary Trent Jr. or OG Anunoby start for fully healthy Raptors? – Raptors Rapture – Raptors Rapture – A Toronto Raptors Fan Site – News, Blogs, Opinion and More

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Author: Mike Luciano / Raptors HQ

2023 NHL Draft: Five European targets for the Toronto Maple Leafs

Europe can be one of the most challenging areas to scout.
You can have an elite talent ripping up their respective country’s U-20 league, only to earn an NHL call-up and not see a single shift. That happens all too often – even to guys like Lucas Raymond – so it’s tough to get a good read on a guy when that happens.
But, that pro experience, even if small, is always interesting. And when they’re dominating any level against their peers, it’s noteworthy. So while you won’t see any European prospects putting up 90 points a year like in the CHL, even a 20-point season in the KHL or Liiga is huge.
So, let’s look at five European-based players the Leafs could look to select with their first pick in the 2023 NHL Draft in Nashville:
Kasper Halttunen, RW (HIFK, Liiga)
From a points perspective, there’s not much to see this season. Halttunen scored just one assist in 25 games and his ice time has fluctuated anywhere from around 16 minutes a night to not even getting a shift. But his play in the U-20 league and internationally has turned some heads, and it helps that he stands at 6-foot-3 and over 200 pounds. The big power forward is skilled, can shoot from anywhere and is built like …

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Author: Steven Ellis / The Leafs Nation

Pascal Siakam not being named All-Star in career year is a disgrace

Pascal Siakam not being named All-Star in career year is a disgrace

The Toronto Raptors are one of the most disappointing teams in the league, as Nick Nurse’s much-maligned squad went from a 48-win feel-good story to a lottery team inundated with trade rumors. However, one of the positives to take away from this season is Pascal Siakam becoming an undeniable elite player in the league. Siakam […]
Pascal Siakam not being named All-Star in career year is a disgrace – Raptors Rapture – Raptors Rapture – A Toronto Raptors Fan Site – News, Blogs, Opinion and More

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Author: Mike Luciano / Raptors HQ

Fred VanVleet, Gary Trent Jr. increase trade value as Raptors topple Knicks

Fred VanVleet, Gary Trent Jr. increase trade value as Raptors topple Knicks

Fred VanVleet and his Toronto Raptors saw most of the air leak out of their proverbial balloon over the last week, as they managed to lose three straight games against the Bucks, Timberwolves, and Celtics despite all three of those opponents missing most of their most impactful players. The New York Knicks aren’t exactly playing […]
Fred VanVleet, Gary Trent Jr. increase trade value as Raptors topple Knicks – Raptors Rapture – Raptors Rapture – A Toronto Raptors Fan Site – News, Blogs, Opinion and More

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Author: Mike Luciano / Raptors HQ

Nick Nurse comments on Scottie Barnes’ offensive struggles

Nick Nurse comments on Scottie Barnes’ offensive struggles

The Toronto Raptors are playing without most of their big guns. Pascal Siakam and Precious Achiuwa have groin and ankle injuries, respectively, while an illness and sore hip have sidelined Fred VanVleet and Gary Trent Jr. The last few games could have been a showcase for Scottie Barnes, but he hasn’t taken advantage. Barnes has […]
Nick Nurse comments on Scottie Barnes’ offensive struggles – Raptors Rapture – Raptors Rapture – A Toronto Raptors Fan Site – News, Blogs, Opinion and More

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Author: Mike Luciano / Raptors HQ

Blue Jays, Position by Position: Outfielders, and decisions the Jays must make for 2023

The Toronto Blue Jays outfield is the most interesting position as they head into the off-season.

Unlike the catching position and the infield, the outfield is where the Jays may be able to sign a free agent. Just like with both the backstop and the infield (namely second base) the Jays could conceivably trade on an outfielder for a position of need.
Like the other two articles, we’ll also look at a few prospects that could impact the Jays’ roster in a few seasons. There are of course infielders who also play outfield positions, such as Otto Lopez, Davis Schneider, Tanner Morris, Zach Britton and Spencer Horwitz, but they were mentioned in the last article.
This isn’t to say that the 2022 Jays had a bad outfield, in fact, it was actually pretty good (at least in terms of with the bat). Let’s look into how the Jays’ outfielders did in 2022.
How did the Blue Jays outfielders do in 2022:
Just a quick note: I won’t be including Cavan Biggio or Whit Merrifield, as they are natural second basemen. I will include both Bradley Zimmer and Jackie Bradley Jr.
Teoscar Hernandez:
After each season, there are some people that believe that the year Hernandez had just had was a fluke, but time and time again, he produces. It was a slow start for Herandez, mainly because of injury (a trend that we’ll see often here), but overall the 30-year-old right fielder had a great season.
He slashed .267/.316/.491 with 25 homers in 535 plate appearances. As to be expected, Hernandez had a high K% of 28.4% and a low BB% of 6.4%, but he finished with a 129 wRC+. 
This was the third straight season that Hernandez had performed well, as h …

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Author: Brennan Delaney / Blue Jays Nation

Leaving Las Vegas ..but sub Nicolas Cage for the Toronto Maple Leafs: Muzzy’s Muzings

Leaving Las Vegas ..but sub Nicolas Cage for the Toronto Maple Leafs: Muzzy’s Muzings

Coming off arguably their most complete effort of the season in Winnipeg, the Leafs were off from puck drop at T-Mobile Arena in Vegas on Monday night.
Chandler Stephenson potted the game winner early in the third period as Vegas smothered Toronto 3-1.
For the fifth straight outing, the Leafs surrendered the first goal of the game. And it actually happened twice. Phil Kessel, who tied Keith Yandle’s ironman streak of 989 consecutive games, had a goal called back after a successful challenge by Sheldon Keefe for offside. That said, just moments later, Nicolas Roy cashed; Kessel picked up an assist.
Meantime, William Nylander’s 4th of the season tied things up midway through the second period. That was the score until Stephenson’s tally. Former Leaf Michael Amadio provided some insurance at the 8:11 mark of the final frame to put the game out of reach.
Toronto fell to 4-3-0 on the season, they’re 1-1-0 through two games of their five game road trip.
Muzzy’s Muzings:
HOW’S THE CAPTAIN?
The silver lining on another disappointing loss is that it appears the Leafs dodged a major injury bullet in this one. 6:58 into the third period, John Tavares took a 97 MPH Rasmus Sandin clapper off the outside …

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Author: Nick Alberga / The Leafs Nation

3 huge problems Raptors must fix amid shaky start to 2022-23

3 huge problems Raptors must fix amid shaky start to 2022-23

The Toronto Raptors were one of the most surprising teams in the league last year, thanks to a 48-win season that established the fraudulent nature of their Tampa performance. Pascal Siakam, Fred VanVleet, and O.G. Anunoby entered this season with tons of promise, but their team hasn’t been as dominant as some may have expected. […]
3 huge problems Raptors must fix amid shaky start to 2022-23 – Raptors Rapture – Raptors Rapture – A Toronto Raptors Fan Site – News, Blogs, Opinion and More

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Author: Mike Luciano / Raptors HQ