Page 6ix Wednesday, June 16th: And then there were four

Well friends, the Stanley Cup semifinals have started and just as everyone predicted, the remaining four teams are the Golden Knights, the Lightning, the Islanders, and the Canadiens. Exactly as planned, amirite? ANYWAYS, that’s fun, I guess. Let’s see what else is going on.
Leafs Land

Mirtle: This appears to be the end for Zach Hyman as a Maple Leaf https://t.co/UvQg36QSDg
— The Athletic Toronto (@TheAthleticTO) June 16, 2021

Haha okay never mind we’re done here.
 
 
Just kidding. Kind of. SIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIGH so apparently chatter is picking up about zachhymanleavingtheleafs and I don’t want to talk about it, okay?
Elsewhere, Auston Matthews, Frederik Andersen, and apparently William Nylander checked out a UFC event with Justin Bieber, nbd.

photo of Justin Bieber and hockey player, Auston Matthews, spotted at a UFC event tonight. (June 12) pic.twitter.com/6sVhQGp10s
— Tanya Hilleshiem (@TanyaHilleshiem) June 13, 2021

Fan reactions to the reporting of this were hilarious:

the nhl is so bad at their jobs that not only is auston “a hockey player” and freddie isn’t even mentioned, apparently willy was with them too and is not in ANY photos https://t.co/3Vu9dswFRX
— liv (@happygo_pucky) June 13, 2021

It’s …

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Author: Mer / The Leafs Nation

The Top 16: Ranking the key players in the Raptors vs. Sixers series

With their Eastern Conference Semi-Finals series set to begin tomorrow, we teamed up with Liberty Ballers to rank all of the players we’ll be watching over the next few games. We’re just a day away from tip-off for Game 1 of Raptors vs. Sixers in the second round of the NBA Playoffs. For Toronto, this series represents a chance for the team to really assert itself against some high-level competition. For Philadelphia, it’s their time to prove the process wasn’t a fluke and that they really are ready to go all the way.
Over the next four to seven games, approximately 16 players will be the difference between a series win for one city or the other. Obviously we’re rooting for the Raptors to pull it out, and are already favouring them in this series, but Sixers fans can make the case going the other way. In that spirit we’ve decided to rank those 16 players as to their importance and ability for both teams — but with a twist.
Below you’ll find the justifications for the eight Sixers players on the list, as written by Liberty Ballers’ Kevin F. Love. Meanwhile, over at SB Nation’s …

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Author: Daniel Reynolds / Raptors HQ

Toronto Raptors vs. Philadelphia 76ers second round playoff schedule

Clear your calendars, the Eastern Conference Semi-Finals are here! We’ve got your schedule, and the action starts Saturday. In case you were under a rock last night, or Damian Lillard’s heroics gave you short-term amnesia, both the Toronto Raptors and Philadelphia 76ers closed out their first round series — and are now set to meet in the Eastern Conference Semi-Finals.
The NBA has now released the schedule for the best-of-seven series; the action starts Saturday, April 27 in Toronto, and wraps up no later than Sunday, May 12. That’s when an if-needed Game 7 would take place, also here in Toronto.
Not all tip-off times are not set yet, as we await results of the Western Conference side of the bracket; we also await Canadian broadcast info. Look for updates to the schedule below as we learn more.
And naturally, we’ll have all kinds of preview material in the coming days! Go ahead and clear your calendars now.
Raptors vs. 76ers Second Round Schedule
Game 1: Saturday, April 27 — TBD — Scotiabank Arena — TNT
Game 2: Monday, April 29 — TBD — Scotiabank Arena — TNT
Game 3: Thursday, May 2 — 8pm — Wells Fargo Center — ESPN
Game 4: Sunday, May 5 — 3:30pm — Wells Fargo Center — ABC
**Game 5: Tuesday, May 7 — TBD — Scotiabank — TNT
** …

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Author: Josh Kern / Raptors HQ