Toronto Maple Leafs

Toronto Maple Leafs center Auston Matthews said John Tavares sent teammates a group text Thursday night to say his condition was improving after being stretchered off the ice during the team's first-round playoff game against the Montreal Canadiens.

"He texted us last night and said he was feeling better," Matthews told reporters Friday. "... There are some things bigger than hockey."

Leafs defenseman Morgan Rielly added: "We're playing for him."

Tavares was falling to the ice after a hit from Habs blueliner Ben Chiarot when his head struck the knee of Montreal winger Corey Perry. The Leafs captain tried to get up to skate off but immediately fell back to the ice, creating a scary scene in Toronto.

Leafs winger Nick Foligno fought Perry on the first shift after the game resumed, but explained it wasn't a reaction to a dirty hit but rather a necessary move for the series to continue without further issue.

"Our captain is laying on the ice," Foligno said. "They would have done the same if [it was] their captain. [The hit] wasn't malicious. [The fight] takes away any grey [area]. Perry's a big boy. It just allows everyone to go back and play."

Toronto announced Friday that Tavares was discharged from a local hospital but will be "out indefinitely":

An update on @MapleLeafs captain John Tavares. pic.twitter.com/sV0dlfpdI8

— Leafs PR (@LeafsPR) May 21, 2021

The Canadiens went on to secure a 2-1 victory in Game 1 of the seven-game series with Paul Byron scoring the game-winning goal midway through the third period.

Game 2 is scheduled for a 7 p.m. ET puck drop Saturday on CNBC in the U.S. and CBC in Canada.

The Toronto Maple Leafs announced Friday that center John Tavares is out indefinitely after getting kneed in the head during the Leafs' Game 1 first-round playoff loss to the Montreal Canadiens on Thursday.

The Maple Leafs added that Tavares was released from the hospital Friday and is home resting under the supervision of team doctors.

Tavares released a statement on Twitter on Friday afternoon:

pic.twitter.com/XiHjGvSewg

— John Tavares (@91Tavares) May 21, 2021

The injury occurred in the first period of the Leafs' 2-1 loss when Tavares fell to the ice on a clean hit by Ben Chiarot before taking a knee to the head from Habs forward Corey Perry. The 30-year-old captain stayed motionless on the ice until trainers could attend to him. Tavares was then seen falling over again as he tried to regain himself.

That led to trainers immediately calling for a stretcher as the terrifying scene quieted Scotiabank Arena. 

"I honestly felt sick to my stomach when I saw it," Perry later told reporters. "When I saw him, with the way he is, it's a scary situation. I'll reach out to him and talk to him, and hopefully he's OK."

Tavares was alert enough to give a thumbs-up sign as he was taken away by paramedics. Perry even skated over to him as he exited the ice to give him some words of encouragement after the incident. It did not appear there was any malicious intent on the part of the Habs for the injury, but that didn't stop Toronto's Nick Foligno from dropping the gloves with Perry as soon as the two were back on the ice. 

After the game, Toronto head coach Sheldon Keefe said Tavares was conscious and communicating well at the hospital but would remain there overnight even as tests came back "clear." 

Without Tavares in the lineup, the Leafs were forced to play without one of the most dynamic two-way centers in the sport—and will likely remain without him for the foreseeable future. 

In 56 regular-season games, the Mississauga, Ontario, native posted 50 points (19 goals, 31 assists)—the third-most on the team behind Mitch Marner (20 goals, 47 assists, 67 points) and Auston Matthews (41 goals, 25 assists, 66 points).

Montreal Canadiens forward Corey Perry said he did not intend to injure Toronto Maple Leafs captain John Tavares when his knee caught the center's head in Game 1 of their first-round playoff series.

The incident occurred in the first period of the Habs' 2-1 victory and left Tavares crumpled on the ice before paramedics were able to get him on to a stretcher and transport him to a local hospital for further evaluation.

"I honestly felt sick to my stomach when I saw it," Perry told reporters after the win. "When I saw him, with the way he is, it's a scary situation. I'll reach out to him and talk to him, and hopefully he's OK."

The Maple Leafs and Canadiens showed their support for John Tavares after a scary collision in Toronto.

Tavares gave the thumbs up as he was being stretchered off. pic.twitter.com/1OpiVLXmOu

— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) May 21, 2021

Tavares took a clean hit from Ben Chiarot and was falling to the ice when Perry's knee caught him flush in the head. The Canadiens veteran said he tried to avoid Tavares as soon as he fell in his path but couldn't react quickly enough.

"I don't know what else I could do," Perry explained. "I tried to jump over him."

Maple Leafs head coach Sheldon Keefe told reporters Tavares was conscious and communicating well following the hit but will remain in hospital overnight despite initial tests coming back "clear."

None of that mattered in the immediate aftermath of the injury, as Toronto's Nick Foligno took it upon himself to drop the gloves with Perry when play resumed.

Despite the accidental nature of Perry's hit, Foligno felt a need to drop the gloves with Perry as retribution.

"Our captain's laying there on the ice," Foligno said. "Nothing more than that. I don't think it's malicious, but our captain's laying there."

Perry understood the sentiment, even if he was clearly shaken from what happened to Tavares.

When asked by @JohnLuTSNMtl if any Leafs accused him of the hit being intentional, Corey Perry said:

“I mean, it’s an accident. All [Foligno] said was ‘let’s settle this now. I know it’s an accident,’ he said. But it’s their captain, so it is what it is. That’s all I can say.”

— Greg Wyshynski (@wyshynski) May 21, 2021

Perry himself made it clear to Tavares that he had no ill intent, skating over to the center as he was being taken off the ice to wish him well.

Toronto Maple Leafs captain John Tavares had to be taken off the ice on a stretcher during Thursday's Game 1 matchup against the Montreal Canadiens after he took a knee to the head.

The Maple Leafs later announced Tavares had been transported to a local hospital for further evaluation.

The 30-year-old center tallied 19 goals with 31 assists in 56 games this season, following up a 2019-20 campaign that saw him post 60 points. He had a career-high 47 goals in his first year in Toronto (2018-19), including an NHL-best 37 from even strength.

If Tavares misses time, Mitchell Marner, Auston Matthews and William Nylander will need to carry the offense for the Maple Leafs, who lost 2-1 Thursday and next play Saturday at 7 p.m. ET.

At just 23 years old, Auston Matthews has already established himself as one of the best players in the NHL. 

Since being selected No. 1 overall by the Toronto Maple Leafs in the 2016 draft, Matthews has made four All-Star Game appearances and won the Calder Memorial Trophy. He currently leads the league in goals scored with 39. 

Before putting the finishing touches on a fantastic regular season next week, Matthews sat down with B/R to answer fan questions about everything from playing in Toronto, his dream top line, starting his own NFT collection and more. 

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@SgtObilly Who has the strangest pregame rituals on the Leafs?

Jason Spezza, after on-ice warmups, he gets fully undressed and does another warmup in-between warmups and the first period. Taking off your full gear and warming up again is not something I would do.

@Dana_Grey What made you start your own NFT collection and what's your take on the movement itself?

I'd say my take is it's pretty interesting, but I think it's just something I wanted to look into and just experiment. I would like to think I'm a pretty artistic guy so I kind of like that stuff. I was pretty excited with how they came out.

@STLBluesBR If you could create a line to play on with anyone in the league (including 2 defensemen), who would make the cut?

Myself, McDavid and Patrick Kane as the two guys on the forward line. At D, Roman Josi and Victor Hedman.

@TheTonyRomo What do you think about Team USA's chances in the Olympics next year?

I really like them. A lot of really good young talent. Fortunately, I've been able to play with a lot of guys that might make the team. I think it will be just an amazing experience to get to play in the Olympics and be in that kind of environment.

@therealGM How important is it to you that you're Hispanic hockey at the pro level

I take a lot of pride in my ancestry and where I come from. I love my family and they've been a huge support cast for my whole career, so I feel really lucky. I definitely take a lot of pride in where I come from for sure.

@BR_NHL It seems like some NHL players, including yourself, have shown more personality and individual brands lately. What have you seen from other stars around the league like yourself PK, Seguin etc. showing personal style through social media and other outlets?

I think it's great. I love seeing stuff like that. Over the past 5-6 years, the league has continued to get younger. It's awesome to see young guys making an impact. In other leagues, guys do a really good job of branding themselves and just showing their personalities through their social media and style, so I think that's a really good direction for where the NHL has gone.

@Wrage You're in charge of picking talent for The NHL on TNT show. Who are the NHL personalities you'd want to watch? 

Jeremy Roenick, Brett Hull—two fiery personalities, and then I need two guys to balance it out. Maybe a Patrick Sharp, someone very well-spoken who has been in the league. And maybe Kevin Weekes, got to get a goalie on there.

@VaughnViktorr Who has the best stache out of Freddie Mercury, Ron Burgundy and yourself?

Freddie Mercury. I dressed up as him for Halloween last year. Will Ferrell isn't a full-time stash guy like Freddie, mine’s not as mature.

@justi_in_time Is Bieber the better hockey player or you the better singer?

He's the better hockey player for sure. I'm not a great singer at all. He can dangle. My singing is not up to par, I might need a few lessons before I try anything.

@BayLegend Who’s the funniest teammate you've ever played with?

Joe Thornton. I've been with him for 4 months so that tells you all you need to know. He's a legendary guy. He's so funny and keeps things light. He just makes everyone happy with this aurora, this great energy.

@realalexlarsen What's your best story from playing with a legend like Joe Thornton?

He's never really got clothes on. He's always without a shirt or just in his little thong or spandex. Our PR guy came up with a good idea to film a video for our old teammate Patrick Marleau so we made Jumbo get in his thong which he had no problem doing and it came out pretty good.

@AnthonyRossi16 What advice would you give to a young kid trying to go pro?

Have people around you that you trust and have your best interest in mind. For me, it has always been my parents/my family. I have a really good relationship with my agent too.

@CJShoe Is it weird being an American superstar for a Canadian team?

I don't think it’s weird, but I find it funny. It's funny that people just forget that I'm not Canadian.

@CJShoe Where would you have committed if you went the college route?

Denver and Boston University would have been the choices.

@ZPetersel Who is the young player in the league that you love to watch and think has high potential?

I like Tim Stutzle on Ottawa. He plays with a lot of pace and is a good skater. And Rasmus Sandin on our squad. I think can be a really good player for us as well.

@BundleNation77 Tim Horton or Dunkin Donuts?

Timmy's. I'm personally not a fan of Dunkin Donuts. I think I would choose Starbucks over the three.

@avfanatic Favorite shoes you own?

Got a couple nice pairs of Jordans—Jordan Off-White UNC edition, but I don't wear them a lot because they're pricey. I've probably worn them one time. I like to get more affordable stuff that I don't mind wearing as much.

@BR_Walkoff: Who's your favorite MLB player and why?

David Ortiz and Manny Ramirez we're my favorite players growing up because I watched the Red Sox a lot. I'm a Dodgers fan though so I like Cody Bellinger. He's a chill dude.

@DutchMatrix If you left hockey tomorrow, what career would you pursue?

I feel like I was put on earth to play hockey so I don't really think about that. That's a tough one for me.

@BR_Betting: Best team gambling story?

It was my first or second year and we were in Edmonton. There's a casino attached to the rink and Mitch Marner won a lot of money playing blackjack that's all I'm going to say. I was playing with him and he got really hot. I've never seen someone play like that before.

@realjacobkonrad Thoughts on Tom Wilson and the Rangers’ organizational response to his actions?

It was quite a statement. I think it's important that guys gotta respect players. It's obviously a contact sport and there's physically and other elements to it but I think everyone just wants to have respect for one another and play within the rules.

---

Rapid-fire Questions:

Favorite movie?

The Dark Knight

Go-to cheat meal? 

Five Guys

First thing you bought when you made the NHL?

I think I bought a car - a Jeep SRTA was my first car. 

Favorite fashion brand right now?

Fear of God’s

Music you’re listening to on the way to the arena?

Lil Baby, Future or Young Thug - I listen to a lot of rap.

---

Matthews has been instrumental in turning the Maple Leafs back into a powerhouse franchise. 

Prior to his debut in the 2016-17 season, Toronto made just one playoff appearance in the previous 11 years. The Maple Leafs have made the postseason in each of the past four years, though they are still seeking their first series win since 2013. 

Toronto currently leads the North Division by six points over the Edmonton Oilers. The franchise has already clinched a berth in the Stanley Cup Playoffs this season with four games still to play. 

The Toronto Maple Leafs are headed to the playoffs for the fifth consecutive season.

Toronto clinched its postseason spot Wednesday with a 4-1 win over the Montreal Canadiens.

Locked in 🔒

With tonight’s win, we’ve secured our spot in the #StanleyCup Playoffs. Let’s get to work 👊#LeafsForever https://t.co/UxYDf1jVUH

— Toronto Maple Leafs (@MapleLeafs) April 29, 2021

Here is a look at how Toronto stacks up to the rest of the league in the updated playoff standings.

     

North Division

Toronto Maple Leafs: 67 points (31-13-5)

Edmonton Oilers: 58 points (28-16-2)

Winnipeg Jets: 57 points (27-18-3)

Montreal Canadiens: 51 points (21-18-9)

     

West Division

Vegas Golden Knights: 70 points (34-11-2)

Colorado Avalanche: 66 points (31-11-4)

Minnesota Wild: 65 points (31-14-3)

St. Louis Blues: 50 points (22-19-6)

     

Central Division

Carolina Hurricanes: 71 points (32-10-7)

Florida Panthers: 69 points (32-14-5)

Tampa Bay Lightning: 68 points (33-14-2)

Nashville Predators: 56 points (27-22-2)

     

East Divison

Washington Capitals: 68 points (32-13-4)

Pittsburgh Penguins: 67 points (32-15-3)

New York Islanders: 63 points (29-15-5)

Boston Bruins: 62 points (28-14-6)

     

Whether the Maple Leafs can end their title drought will be one of the biggest storylines of the entire playoffs. After all, the proud franchise last won a Stanley Cup during the 1966-67 season and has fallen well short of challenging to change that in recent years.

It lost in the first round three straight years prior to last season when the qualifying round was put in place during the COVID-19 pandemic. Toronto didn't even make it past that qualifying round, losing to the Columbus Blue Jackets in five games.

That was the backdrop as this season started with a division realignment to minimize travel during the pandemic.

Toronto found itself in the North Division with the other six Canadian teams, which wasn't a problem out of the gates.

The Maple Leafs started 18-4-2 and built enough cushion to allow for brief losing streaks during the season. While those came, such as when they went 1-6 in their next seven and lost five in a row in April (two of which came in overtime), they remained in a position where it was just a matter of time before they clinched a playoff spot as they battled for a division crown.

A major reason for that is the play of Auston Matthews, who has lived up to his reputation as one of the most skilled players in the league.

The Hart Memorial Trophy contender has anchored Toronto's offense as a premier goal scorer who has 59 points on 35 goals and 24 assists. He scored a goal in Wednesday's win over Montreal.

"He's playing at a different level right now," teammate Alex Kerfoot said in February, per Jackie Spiegel of Sporting News. "It's fun to watch. We're lucky to have him on our team. It seems like he's playing a different game than most guys out there. So, it's fun to watch. I don't have any more adjectives other than what you guys have probably been using, but, yeah, he's playing at an elite, elite level."

Throw in Mitchell Marner and John Tavares, and Toronto has enough firepower to compete against any team in the league during the playoffs.

Fans who have been looking for a title for decades are desperate for more than just a competitive team, though, as the Maple Leafs attempt to make even the second round for the first time since 2003-04.

Grammy-winning singer Justin Bieber has released a new song that he calls a "love letter" to the Toronto Maple Leafs. 

Five days after "Hold On" was released as a single, the video dropped on Wednesday and includes clips from Maple Leafs games, shots of fans in the stands and the scenic Toronto skyline:

The song is about offering to be there when a friend has experienced a traumatic event in their life. It could also double as the way fans use sports teams to serve as an escape. 

Bieber was born in Ontario, Canada, and has made no secret of his adoration for the Maple Leafs. The 27-year-old regularly posts pictures after games on his social media pages, including writing "This is the year" on Instagram following Toronto's Jan. 16 win over the Ottawa Senators.  

When it comes to popularity, brand recognition and history, the Toronto Maple Leafs are the New York Yankees of the NHL. And like the Yankees, the Leafs are desperate for a championship. Every spring, there is palpable anxiety around Ontario. And every summer, there is palpable disappointment. 

And much like the Yankees, the Leafs regularly have some of the best players in the game. The club has produced Hall of Famers and heroes like Doug Gilmour and attracted hometown heroes like John Tavares. 

Not everyday you can live a childhood dream pic.twitter.com/YUTKdfMALl

— John Tavares (@91Tavares) July 1, 2018

Excellence is not just expected by fans and supporters of iconic teams, but demanded. 

But unlike the Yankees, the Maple Leafs haven't won a championship since 1967. 

That could change this season, as the team that represents the hockey capital of the world is in first place in the league's all-Canadian division. Toronto is 18-6-2 with 38 points, six more than the second-place Edmonton Oilers and seven more than the third-place Winnipeg Jets. 

The Maple Leafs are good, but are they for real? The answer appears to be yes, but like everything else in 2021, it's complicated by pandemic-related factors. 

    

Locking It Down

One could reasonably make the argument that the Leafs' biggest hindrance over the last few years was their defense. Sure, dominant forwards like Tavares and Auston Matthews can beat any goalie in a myriad of ways, but their own goalies were getting crushed. 

From 2017 to '20 (three seasons), the Leafs allowed more than 30 shots per game (33.0). Last season, they allowed 31.9, an improvement under coach Sheldon Keefe, and that number has continued to improve. Right now, Toronto is limiting teams to 28.7 shots on goal each night. The Leafs have significantly limited opponents' chances, with scoring chances tilted in their favor 342-208. 

A powerful lineup like this has always been adept at creating scoring chances and getting into the dirty areas for high-danger chances, but the Leafs are now better able to cash in on high-danger chances. They can commit more blueliners to the offensive zone with skaters being able to get back and shut things down if the chances don't pan out.

The Leafs defense is driven by the same guys driving their offense. Matthews, Tavares, Mitchell Marner and William Nylander are all playing much better in their own end. This team has been much better defensively since Keefe took over behind the bench for Mike Babcock in November 2019. The shot total and scoring chances have gone down, allowing the Leafs to spend more time in the offensive zone. 

It might be a tired sports cliche, but they say offense wins games and defense wins championships. The Maple Leafs have been hurt by their defensive shortcomings in recent postseason appearances, so they are trending in the right direction. 

   

Stars Playing Like Stars

A star-laden team like this one is favored to win nearly every game. But even the best players in the world have bad nights because athletes are humans and humans are prone to errors and bad luck. And playing for a team like this means playing under a microscope, no matter the stature of the player. 

Big things were expected for forward Ilya Mikheyev this season. He may not be a household name, but when you play in Toronto there is a certain expectation that you will play your way to that status. So far, he's produced only three goals and five assists. But the Leafs are getting quality play from Mikheyev, even if it's not showing up on the scoresheet. He's doing a lot of little things right, as Justin Bourne of Sportsnet pointed out in this video, and he's drawing some tough assignments. 

My piece on Mikheyev from earlier included these clips, which are just examples of "the little things" he does so well. Getting above guys and using his stick to disrupt and free pucks. Good to see him get one, more will come if he keeps doing these "little" things. pic.twitter.com/cQRduyJtuU

— Justin Bourne (@jtbourne) March 4, 2021

The reality is Mikheyev is only a second-year North American pro and he doesn't need to be a star. Neither does veteran center Jason Spezza or defenseman Jake Muzzin. The Leafs' elite players are doing their jobs effectively and giving the team a chance to win each night, which allows these role players to play to their own strengths and complement the top talent. 

Marner has 34 points, Matthews has 31, Tavares has 22 and Nylander has 20. Matthews is currently mired in a five-game scoreless drought with a wrist injury affecting his shot, but he leads the league with 18 goals. The Leafs have the right blend of superior talent and strong supporting cast members.

    

The Trouble with the North Division

The problem with determining how good a team is this season is the divisional format. Due to the strange circumstances of the coronavirus pandemic, the league adjusted the divisions for the abbreviated 2021 season.

It was necessary to cut down on the travel, but playing against the same six or seven teams makes it tough to gauge the level of play at times. It's easy to determine the bad ones, like the Ottawa Senators and the Buffalo Sabres, but it's tough to know whether some of the teams at the top are truly elite or if they just know how to play the scouting reports.

The Vancouver Canucks are in the midst of a disappointing season, the Oilers have been inconsistent and the Jets have had a few ugly losses as of late.

Two clubs in the North Division have already made coaching changes. The Montreal Canadiens promoted assistant coach Dominique Ducharme to interim head coach after firing Claude Julien, and the Calgary Flames brought back former coach Darryl Sutter after firing Geoff Ward.

The Sutter hire in particular is strange since he typically employed an outdated style of play. Defenses have learned to stop the endless puck cycling Sutter-coached teams are known for, and while big, heavy teams haven't exactly gone by the wayside, the game is now dominated by speed and skill. 

Sutter won two Stanley Cups with the Los Angeles Kings, but the game appeared to pass him by in his later years in the Southland. The Kings fired Sutter in April 2017 an he retired to his cattle farm in Viking, Alberta. He returned to hockey in an advisory role with the Anaheim Ducks in 2019, so he has been a part of the rebuilding process for a team that was also playing an outdated style, but it's yet to be seen if he can adapt to a faster game. 

The Flames are 0-1-1 with Sutter at the helm, though it's still early in his second tenure with the team. Maybe the coaching changes will work out and the Habs and Flames will push the Leafs. 

As of now, it would appear that yes, the Maple Leafs are true Stanley Cup contenders. The defense has improved to the point where it allows the offense to shine and goalies Frederik Andersen, Michael Hutchinson and Jack Campbell to handle a manageable workload. They have the high-end talent to go deep into the playoffs.

But it's tough to know how good they really are until they face a team outside of the North Division, which would happen if they make it to the semifinals of the playoffs. Keeping with the theme of the last year, these uncertain times are affecting all, and the best teams in sports aren't exempt. 

The Toronto Maple Leafs announced that they have signed former Boston Bruins and San Jose Sharks star center Joe Thornton to a one-year deal for $700,000. 

Thornton finished last season with seven goals and 24 assists in 70 games for the Sharks.

The 41-year-old has played 22 seasons in the NHL. The Boston Bruins took him first overall in the 1997 NHL draft, and he proceeded to score 169 goals and 285 assists in seven-plus seasons with the B's, who traded him to the San Jose Sharks during the 2005-06 season. Thornton won the Hart Memorial Trophy and Art Ross Trophy that year.

He starred with the Sharks, too, posting 251 goals and 804 assists during his 15 seasons in San Jose, who made the playoffs 13 times and the Stanley Cup Final once during his tenure. The Sharks lost the Cup in six games to the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2016.

Thornton also won gold with Team Canada during the 2010 Winter Olympics and 2014 and 2016 World Cups.

Inking a deal with the Maple Leafs signals a return near home for Thornton. He is a native of London, Ontario, which is roughly 120 miles southwest of Toronto.