If the Maple Leafs are going to capture the Atlantic Division crown, they will need to have a big weekend.
On Saturday, they host the Montreal Canadiens. On Sunday, they will visit the Carolina Hurricanes.
Things are tight. Very tight. Florida smothered Detroit 4-1 on Thursday night to move four points behind Toronto. Meantime, without question, the Leafs will be scoreboard watching tonight as Tampa entertains Detroit and Montreal visits Ottawa.
We dissected the up-to-date standings to kick off the Friday edition of Leafs Morning Take. If the Leafs can collect at least three points, we figure that they should be in a really good spot to clinch the division title when we go to air for Monday’s show. That’s the hope —at least.
At any rate, we talked a bit about Toronto’s signing of Flint blueliner Blake Smith to a three-year entry level contract. The Oshawa native is 6-foot-5, 225 pounds. You love to see it! It’s amazing how much Toronto’s over ideology has changed in a few short years.
Courtesy Charm Diamond Centres, we previewed the monster weekend. Incredibly, the Leafs have just four games left on their 24-25 regular season slate. When it comes to the division title, it’s put up or shut up time. Of note, Oliver Ekman-Larsson didn’t practice on Friday and he will not play tomorrow. Also, there was no sign of Jake McCabe and David Kampf didn’t take part in the main practice.
Then, we got into all the Matthew Knies noise. The 22-year-old’s hat-trick against Tampa seems to have sparked yet another debate in the hockey world about the potential of an offer sheet this summer. Memo to everyone: IT’S NOT HAPPENING.
Lastly, we got to the CRISPI HOT TAKE OF THE DAY, presented by the Ninja Crispi 4-in-1 Portable Glass Air Fryer. Producer Vick thinks this is the best Leafs team since he was born (1990). Spicy!
Vincent Lecavalier will drop by Monday’s show. Additionally, we’ll recap this weekend’s back-to-back as well as look ahead to the final two games of the regular season.
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