RICK VAIVE: Don't over-crowd the Leafs bandwagon just yet
Article content
And how important was that Auston Matthews power-play goal? Like everyone has been saying, just get pucks on net. I know they have lots of skill with the five forwards, who love to throw it around on the outside while looking for the perfect seam shot. But when you have men in front such as Matthew Knies, you must use their talents. You know Florida is going to do that heavy work in front on its power plays.
It was good that William Nylander was able to be around to score two goals. I heard about the pre-game lineup mix-up with his brother Alex. It reminded me of the night at the Gardens in October of 1989, the home opener for the Leafs, when I was playing for the Buffalo Sabres.
On the bench as the anthems were ending, I noticed Gary Leeman's No. 11 had been circled on the game sheet as a starter, but Vince Damphousse, No. 10, was out there in the centre-ice circle.
I told our assistant coach, who let the officials know and the Leafs were penalized. Dave Andreychuk scored for us on that power play and we won, 7-1. Writing lineups seem like a such a simple task, but messing them up can happen in the rush before a game.
A guy on my son Justin's team, the Cincinatti Cyclones, had to leave an ECHL game this year because his name was not recorded.
Let's hope it's the last time a Leafs star is almost left off the guest list.
The Toronto Sun welcomes former Toronto captain and three-time 50-goal scorer Rick Vaive to our 2025 Leaf playoff coverage. He played 16 NHL and WHA seasons and is the author of 'Catch 22: My Battles in Hockey and Life.' He can be heard on Squid and The Ultimate Leafs Fan podcast with Mike Wilson and special guests.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Edmonton Journal
7 hours ago
- Edmonton Journal
'Oh God, that hurt': Toronto Maple Leafs insider can't bring himself to celebrate Oilers OT win
Article content It's also part of the so-called 'Elbows Up' approach to Trump's USA, but with added impetus when it comes to hockey because a Canadian team hasn't won the Stanley Cup since Montreal did it in 1993. On Friday's Real Kyper and Bourne show, McKee told a heart-felt story of his own muddled half-hate, half-love response to Edmonton's historic 5-3 comeback win over Florida — the first time since 1919 that an NHL team has come back from three goals down to win a game in the Final. Edmonton's push for the Cup comes after Florida beat the Leafs in seven in Round 2, an embittering loss that now sees the Leafs franchise in disarray, with star forward Mitch Marner reported to be wanting out of Toronto now. 'What a hockey game,' McKee said of Edmonton's Game 4 win. 'I just, I can't… I'm having a hard time with this. Because I think a lot of Leaf fans listen to the show. And it is such an electric final. And these are two unbelievable teams. But there are like two, it's very like directly connected to Leaf fandom and like, just because I want to root for the Oilers, okay? I really do.'
Winnipeg Free Press
11 hours ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
Longtime Maple Leafs broadcaster Joe Bowen to retire after 2025-26 season
TORONTO – Longtime Toronto Maple Leafs broadcaster Joe Bowen is calling it a career after the 2025-26 NHL season. The 74-year-old from Sudbury, Ont., made the announcement on social media Friday. Bowen has handled radio play-by-play duties for the Leafs for more than 40 years and is famous for his booming voice, enthusiasm and catchphrase 'Holy Mackinaw!' He was also honoured by the Hockey Hall of Fame with the Foster Merritt Memorial Award in 2018 for outstanding contributions by a hockey broadcaster. In his announcement, Bowen thanked fans for their support and expressed appreciation for broadcast partners Harry Neale and Jim Ralph, whom he called 'the best' after 28 years together. Thursdays Keep up to date on sports with Mike McIntyre's weekly newsletter. 'I have been totally blessed to be able to do 'My Dream Job' for this long, eclipsing the career of my idol Foster Hewitt. I will reach 3800 games some time this season,' he said. This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 13, 2025.
Winnipeg Free Press
11 hours ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
Panthers power play could be an edge in tight Stanley Cup final against the Oilers
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) — Staying out of the penalty box is a good place to start for all the players involved in the Stanley Cup final. After talking all week about being more disciplined, the Edmonton Oilers were whistled for high-sticking a couple of times and tripping once in the first 16 minutes of Game 4 on Thursday night. Naturally, Matthew Tkachuk scored twice for the Florida Panthers, and then a slashing call put the Oilers on the power play, and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins' goal sparked their comeback that tied the series. 'It's a good series,' Tkachuk said. 'Special teams, both teams' power play seemed to be clicking.' Florida is clicking at a higher rate at 33 per cent, going 7 of 21 with the man advantage, compared with 20 per cent on 4 of 20 for Edmonton. In a final knotted 2-2 that has often been as tight as it can be with three games already decided in overtime, the Panthers' power play production has the potential to be a difference-maker. Until Tkachuk broke through, it had been the second unit of Brad Marchand, Sam Bennett, Carter Verhaeghe, Evan Rodrigues and Nate Schmidt doing most of the damage. 'We're building a lot of chemistry playing together,' Verhaeghe said. 'We have so many great players on the unit. Both units have been pretty good. I mean, we just want to move the puck right and get pucks to the net.' The Panthers have five power-play goals over the past two games and have scored at least one every night in the final. The Oilers have also cracked Sergei Bobrovsky at least once on the power play each game. Nugent-Hopkins scoring Thursday night could be a sign Connor McDavid and Co. are revving up against what has been a fairly effective Florida penalty kill. Coach Paul Maurice believes that task has gone 'reasonably well.' 'I think they're still going to generate some action,' Maurice said Friday before flying across North America. 'I think the even-strength chances are pretty tight through four games.' EKHOLM'S BLOCK Tkachuk almost completed a hat trick in Game 4, and it could have changed the course of the entire series. With the score tied at 3-all late in the second period, he had the puck with a wide-open net to shoot at. Edmonton defenceman Mattias Ekholm got his right skate and leg in front of Tkachuk's shot just in time. 'I didn't even know that the net was empty or anything — I was just in the moment trying to get as big as possible,' Ekholm said. 'It ended up hitting me. It was obviously a big block at the time. I haven't thought too much more about it. It was a block, and sometimes you need those.' BETTER BARKOV? Winnipeg Jets Game Days On Winnipeg Jets game days, hockey writers Mike McIntyre and Ken Wiebe send news, notes and quotes from the morning skate, as well as injury updates and lineup decisions. Arrives a few hours prior to puck drop. Panthers captain Aleksander Barkov picked up his first two points of the series in Game 4 with assists on Tkachuk's power-play goals. He has none at even strength. Some of that could be connected to how much energy Barkov — a three-time Selke Trophy winner as the NHL's best defensive forward — is expending trying to keep McDavid's line and also Leon Draisaitl from scoring. He does not want to use that as an excuse. 'It's tough to say,' Barkov said. 'You need to know, those two guys, where they are on the ice. Of course, you're trying to have your head on a swivel, but I think I could be better, for sure.' ___ AP NHL playoffs: and
