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TAMPA – That the majority followers are having fun with this sequence between the two-time Stanley Cup champions and the largest Canadian market runs counter to critics of the Gary Bettman-endorsed playoff system.
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A staunch defender of giving division leaders the benefit of going through wildcard groups whereas a second-place groups typically will get a tricky opening-round ticket in opposition to one other 100-point staff has some crying foul. Or wanting a return to one-versus-eight, or one thing else that creates a greater path for a deserving groups after 82 video games.
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“Individuals are all the time considering: ‘What can we do totally different to make it higher?’ ” the commissioner stated Friday night time at Amalie Enviornment in an intermission media scrum. “What now we have is working actually, rather well. Once you take a look at the variety of video games we get within the playoffs, (pleasure) within the first spherical and our aggressive steadiness within the common season, it’s extraordinary.
“I’ll put it up in opposition to the rest that’s happening in sports activities.”
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Into 5 nights of playoff video games and his tour of cities in Canada and the U.S., Bettman stated “regular is feeling fairly good” with regard to COVID-19 restrictions hopefully being within the rear-view mirror.
As for league points, Bettman stated he’s glad the league has turned the warmth up sufficient on the difficulty of punishing Russia to the extent it may well for its invasion of Ukraine.
“We condemned Russia instantly, severed our enterprise ties, forgoing many tens of millions of {dollars}. It’s truthful to level out that lots of gamers play for NHL groups, they don’t play for Russia, and so they’re in a tough scenario with households there.
“We’re keeping track of the scenario because it pertains to the World Cup (anticipated in 2024) and down the street.”
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DYNAMIC DUO
After quashing the notion they couldn’t stick with the highest groups within the Atlantic Division in common season, the main focus turned as to whether high Leafs Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner may carry their career-best years into Could and turn into true playoff difference-makers. They each have had some post-season hiccups whereas the staff has been unable to advance previous the primary spherical, Matthews coming into this sequence with three objectives in his previous 12 video games in opposition to Columbus and Montreal, Marner no objectives eight assists in the identical span.
However heading into Sport 3, each had 5 factors, extra paying homage to Matthews’s productive sequence in opposition to Boston in 2019 and Marner’s 13 factors in 13 video games in opposition to Washington and his first Bruins’ sequence.
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“They’ve been nice and nice all yr alongside,” winger Wayne Simmonds stated between Video games 2 and three. “(Playoff questions) that‘s all up to now and hopefully these first two video games put that to mattress. It’s as much as the remainder of us to match their depth. Large kudos to these guys (in Sport 2), placing their our bodies on the road.”
Mark Giordano stated he picked up straight away upon arriving from Seattle that “they’re the fellows who drive this staff. It’s been fairly good to look at.
“Once you see issues corresponding to Matty back-checking, breaking apart 2-on-1’s and stuff like that it goes a great distance for our group.”
Marner turned the 26th participant in franchise historical past to succeed in 30 playoff factors in Sport 2, Matthews has 29.
MARLEAU MOVING ON
Patrick Marleau, the NHL’s profession video games performed chief, is anticipated to announce his retirement on Tuesday after he and the San Jose Sharks scheduled a information convention. Marleau, who appeared in 164 consecutive contests for the Maple Leafs as a part of 1,779 whole appearances since arriving in 1997, was idle by 2021-22, however there was no affirmation he was formally achieved.
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In 2020-21, Marleau handed Gordie Howe for many profession video games and remained 12 forward at first of this yr. Joe Thornton, nonetheless with the Florida Panthers, is sixth total at 1,714, whereas Islanders defenceman Zdeno Chara is seventh at 1,680. Marleau wasn’t simply an ironman, amassing 1,197 factors, principally with the Sharks.
LOOSE LEAFS
On Thursday afternoon, the Leafs took the bizarre step of taking buses to Buffalo, N.Y., and flying from there to Tampa, skirting necessary COVID-19 testing for air passengers as different professional groups have achieved. “The most important factor at this level is to do all we will to keep away from false positives or issues that may come up that will influence our group,” coach Sheldon Keefe stated … Marner accurately identified the fluid Leafs’ offence has extra to lose if caught up in too many penalties that maintain expert gamers not on the PK anchored to the bench. “When that occurs, guys lose their groove,” he stated. Added John Tavares “it takes us out of our rhythm. That’s why we need to be those drawing them and being on our entrance foot. Generally it’s not going to go completely, you’re going to should kill just a few in a row” … Defenceman Ryan McDonagh of the Lightning tied Brian Rafalski for the fifth-most playoff video games by an American NHLer on Friday, reaching 165 … Accessible within the Tampa Bay sports activities e-book market, publications protecting all three Stanley Cup championships since 2004. What the Leafs wouldn’t give to be the topic of only one.
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