Toronto GM Dave Nonis expects James Reimer to be back as the team's number one goalie next season.
"At this point, I'd say he'll be back as No. 1," Nonis told reporters on Thursday to wrap up the year. "I think his mental make-up remains his strength. It's something you could question last year. I think it was clear that a lot of his issues a year ago were based upon his health. When we needed quality goaltending ... James was very good. I don't think anyone could point to goaltending as an issue with our team." The Leafs may continue their search for a quality veteran keeper, but Reimer made plenty of positive steps during the lockout-shortened campaign.

Mark Fraser isn't certain if the X-ray floating around the Internet, depicting his fractured skull, is real or not.
"I haven't seen anything, but to be honest I can't bring any validity to anything," he said Thursday while sporting a nasty scar above his right eye. "I wasn't the one taking the picture and I haven't even seen it." Fraser suffered a frontal skull fracture when was struck by the puck in Game 4 against Boston. He is expected to be available in time for training camp.

Toronto GM Dave Nonis said the team will re-sign Tyler Bozak if the contract makes sense.
Nonis said, "the (salary) cap is going down, and how we allocate our dollars is very important if we're going to remain competitive." Bozak will become an unrestricted free agent in July if a new deal isn't worked out with the Maple Leafs. It was also revealed that he tore his triceps muscle at the end of Game 5 against Boston. The injury was initially reported as a bicep issue. In any event, his "arm injury" will take about four weeks to recover from.

Mark Fraser sustained a frontal skull fracture in Game 4 against Boston.
He didn't suffer brain damage, bleeding or a concussion though which is good news.

Toronto's brass was thrilled with the play of Phil Kessel this season.
"From a development standpoint, what we would say is the biggest plus, because there were a lot of pluses, is probably the play of Phil Kessel," Leafs vice-president of hockey operations Dave Poulin said on Wednesday. "Not only in the playoffs and in that series, but throughout the year. He took his game to a different level. He did it physically and he did it in all three zones and he played hard (against the Bruins)." Much was made about Kessel's past struggles versus his old team heading into the first round, but he put those talks to rest by netting four goals and recording six points in the series. The 25-year-old winger has one year left on his current deal, so an extension could be in the works as soon as this summer.

Tyler Bozak won't need surgery for his bicep injury.
According to Leafs vice-president of hockey operations, Dave Poulin, the Toronto center suffered the injury on a faceoff late in Game 5. The ailment kept him out of Games 6 and 7. Bozak is expected to need four weeks to recover. He can become an unrestricted free agent this summer and now that the Leafs' season is over, it is expected that contract talks will resume.

Mikhail Grabovski represents an interesting situation for the Maple Leafs this off-season.
Toronto may want to re-sign potential unrestricted free agent Tyler Bozak and lock up restricted free agent Nazem Kadri to a long-term deal. To free up some cap space, Grabovski's $5.5 million cap hit could be moved. If the Leafs decide to go down that route then GM Dave Nonis will probably seek a trade partner first and if that's doesn't work out then he could use a "compliance" buyout. Of course all of this is pure speculation right now. Grabovski had a tough regular season before showing some improved play in the postseason. However, as a whole points were hard to come by for him.

Clarke MacArthur had a solid playoffs for Toronto, but it might not save his roster spot on the team for next season.
He will probably be permitted to walk as a free agent this summer despite getting two goals and three points in five postseason appearances. The Leafs have some depth players on the Marlies, in the AHL, who could take his place in the lineup and play for less money. MacArthur had eight goals and 20 points in 40 games with Toronto during the regular season.

Toronto Maple Leafs assistant GM Claude Loiselle said Tuesday that Tyler Bozak has a bicep injury.
Bozak missed Games 6 and 7 with an upper-body injury. It was thought to be the same shoulder injury that sidelined him late in the season. We still don't know the severity of the bicep injury and it's unclear if the two ailments are related. Unless something is torn, it's hard to imagine Bozak will need surgery, but it's clear now why he couldn't play through the injury.

Toronto Maple Leafs reassign Joe Colborne to AHL Toronto.
Colborne, who is a former Bruins first-round draft pick, played in Games 6 and 7 of the Leafs' first-round series against Boston. He didn't score but did finish with three shots on goal in the two games. He'll join the Marlies during their second-round playoff series.

Toronto Maple Leafs reassign Korbinian Holzer to AHL Toronto.
Holzer was recalled as a precaution more than anything. It makes sense to send him back down with the Maple Leafs now eliminated and the Marlies in the second round of the AHL playoffs.

Joffrey Lupul tweeted the Monday's Game 7 loss to the Boston Bruins will "haunt me until the day I die."
It's hard to blame Lupul for feeling that way after the Maple Leafs blew a three-goal lead in the third period and then lost in overtime. Lupul didn't have a point Monday night but was all over the ice and just missed on a couple of opportunities. It's unlikely anyone on the Maple Leafs will get over the feeling of collapse anytime soon, but eventually they'll move past it and start preparing for next year.

Leafs coach Randy Carlyle thought his team couldn't sustain enough of their energy Monday night.
"I thought we ran out of gas, Carlyle said. "We knew they were going to come with a push and it seemed that we stopped they started to pinch their game down the wall. They started that early in the third and we capitalized on it, but we couldn't seem to execute for the full 20 minutes of the third period. We scored two or three goals off of rushes that we exploited them, pinching, and had support underneath and got a two on one I think the Kadri goal. We had another breakaway, (Matt) Frattin missed on the breakaway and we weren't executing in getting some things off of it. When you build a 4-1 lead you want to check, check, check, and as I said I thought we just ran out of gas as far as our group."

Phil Kessel wasn't ready to look at the bright side after the Leafs were ousted in Game 7 of their first-round series.
While some were able to find a silver lining, Kessel wasn't ready to do that after being a part of a monumental collapse that saw the Leafs blow a three-goal lead in the third period. "How can you look at the positives after a game like that?" Phil Kessel said. "I don't know what happened to us. 4-1, you can't lose that game," said Kessel. "Obviously we'll have the summer to think about it, work hard and get back at it next year." Kessel had four goals and two helpers in the seven-game series.

After the disappointment of blowing a three-goal lead settled, Nazem Kadri took the glass-half-full approach.
"At the end of the day, we proved a lot of people wrong. Nobody gave us a fair shake at this series. We pretty much gave Boston all it could handle," said Kadri. "I truly believe it's going to make every single person in that dressing room a better hockey player in the future. This is an experience you can't buy. We're going to take what we can and go back to work next year. Despite the struggles early in the playoffs, Kadri emerged as one of the better up-and-coming young centers in the league with 18 goals and 44 points this season.

James Reimer was despondent following the Leafs' loss Monday night.
Toronto blew a three-goal, third period lead. "There's no way to describe it I don't think," Reimer said. "Just an empty feeling really. It's over and there's nothing you can do about it. When you go through the season and a goal goes in or somebody scores in the shootout or whatever deciding goal that it is, you know, it sucks but you'll get them next time. But a case like tonight there is no next time, it's just next year. So you know, it's really just an empty feeling." Reimer made 30 saves on 35 shots, ending the postseason with a 2.87 goals-against average and .923 save percentage.

Phil Kessel's goal was poised to be the game winner before the Boston Bruins tied Game 7 in the final minute and then won 5-4 in overtime.
Kessel's goal made it 3-1 and looked to be the game-winning goal entering the final two minutes of the third period. It surely would've been a sweet moment for Kessel, whose history with the Bruins franchise and Boston fan base is impossible to ignore. Perhaps even worse for Toronto fans, Tyler Seguin, who was taken with one of the picks acquired in the Kessel trade, had the primary assist on Patrice Bergeron's overtime winner.

Cody Franson scored Toronto's first two goals in the Maple Leafs' eventual 5-4 loss in overtime of Monday's Game 7.
Franson was guilty of a brutal turnover on the first goal of the game when he tried to clear the puck between his legs through the middle of the ice. Of course, the Bruins pounced and scored shortly after, but Franson's two goals over the first and second periods staked the Leafs to a lead they wouldn't relinquish until the final minute of the third. Unfortunately for Franson, that wasn't enough as Boston won Game 7 six minutes into overtime to eliminate Toronto.

James Reimer allowed five goals on 35 shots as the Toronto Maple Leafs gave up a 4-1 lead halfway through the third period in Monday's 5-4 overtime loss to the Boston Bruins.
Reimer and the Leafs had a three-goal lead and looked like a lock to avenge a 3-1 series deficit and oust the Bruins. Unfortunately, Reimer couldn't secure the puck on the Bruins' third goal and the overtime winner, which allowed Milan Lucic and Patrice Bergeron, respectively, to score on the rebound. While Reimer played great in this series, it's hard to imagine this loss will do much to quiet the Roberto Luongo rumblings this summer.

TSN's Darren Dreger reported that Korbinian Holzer is up with the big club as a precaution.
He's been playing in the AHL playoffs so he's more ready to go than Jesse Blacker, who had been up with the Maple Leafs as an extra. It's expected that Blacker will head back to the minors and Holzer will be scratched for Game 7.

Tyler Bozak (upper body) reportedly won't be available for Toronto in Game 7 Monday night.
According to TSN's Darren Dreger, Bozak didn't travel with the team to Boston. He took the warmup in Game 6, but he didn't participate fully and doesn't appear to be close to returning.

Dion Phaneuf atoned for his overtime mistake in Game 4 by scoring the opening goal of the contest in Toronto's Game 6 victory over Boston.
He redirected a shot from Nazem Kadri 1:48 into the third period in what would become a 2-1 Leafs' win. "I felt I owed it to the guys," said Phaneuf. "It was a mistake I didn't feel too good about. Obviously, with our last game in here, I didn't feel great about the outcome." He didn't make a good pinch in overtime, but he had a strong showing in Game 6 and now the Leafs and Bruins will face in a winner take all match-up on Monday night.

Joe Colborne made his NHL playoff debut Sunday night in Game 6 against Boston.
The Bruins drafted him with the 16th overall pick in the 2008 draft and traded him to Toronto as part of the Tomas Kaberle deal. He had two shots in just over 15 minutes of ice time while playing between Joffrey Lupul and Matt Frattin for most of the night. Colborne replaced Tyler Bozak in the lineup, but he may have stepped on the toes of coach Randy Carlyle when he admitted to the media that he knew he would play after Game 5. "Randy wanted to throw you guys for a bit of a loop," he said. "We kept it real quiet. I wasn't able to tell anyone outside of my parents, and I made them swear they wouldn't be letting that slip." The Leafs bench boss didn't appear to be happy when the Toronto Star told him about Colborne's comments. If Bozak can't play in Game 7 then it's possible that Colborne will play again.

Predictably, coach Randy Carlyle chose not to comment on the status of Tyler Bozak for Game 7 on Monday night.
He didn't play Sunday in Game 6 because of an "upper-body injury," which is believed to be his ailing shoulder. Bozak is a valuable faceoff man for the Leafs and he has two points in five games versus Boston in the team's quarterfinal series. We probably won't know if he's playing until close to game time.

Korbinian Holzer might be going to Boston with the Maple Leafs for Game 7.
He was seen at the airport which led to speculation that he was traveling with the team. Holzer has been playing in the AHL postseason with the Marlies. It isn't clear if a defenseman was injured or will be scratched for Monday's game and the Leafs won't hold a morning skate.

James van Riemsdyk picked up two assists in Toronto's 2-1 win over Boston Sunday night in Game 6.
The budding power forward has enjoyed success in the postseason against Boston before when he was with the Philadelphia Flyers and he has played well for the Leafs in the series with two goals and five points in six contests. JVR has also been physical in the series with 13 hits.

Tyler Bozak was not able to play in Sunday's game against the Bruins due to an upper-body injury.
Given it's the playoffs the Maple Leafs have been even less liberal with injury information, but the belief is it's a recurrence of the shoulder ailment that troubled him toward the end of the regular season. His status for Monday's Game Seven is not yet known, but Joe Colborne will likely step in again should the center be unable to suit up.

Phil Kessel scored a goal for the Maple Leafs in a 2-1 win over Boston Sunday to send their opening round playoff series back to Boston for Game Seven Monday.
Kessel's goal near the midway point of the third period gave the Leafs a 2-0 cushion at the time, but it turned out to be a crucial marker as Boston narrowed the lead to 2-1 in the final minute of the game. Dion Phaneuf scored the other Leafs' goal while James van Riemsdyk picked up two assists.

James Reimer was sensational Sunday as he stopped 29 of 30 shots for the Maple Leafs in a 2-1 win over Boston to force Game Seven in their opening round playoff series.
Reimer was excellent in this victory and has unquestionably been the biggest reason the Maple Leafs have not yet been eliminated from the playoffs. If not for a Milan Lucic goal with less than 30 seconds to play Reimer would have earned a well-deserved shutout.

Maple Leafs coach Randy Carlyle expects to see a desperate hockey team playing his in Toronto Sunday night.
The Boston Bruins take a 3-2 lead in the best-of-seven series into Toronto tonight but Carlyle insists the favored vistors have a disadvantage. "I see that we've poked the Bruins," Carlyle said. "hey're going to be a very desperate hockey club come Sunday night."

Deb MacArthur says her son, Maple Leafs forward Clarke MacArthur, has promised her a goal on Mother's Day today.
"If he can get some points to help the team win, that would be the best gift," Deb told The Toronto Star.

Nazem Kadri continues to struggle against the Bruins in the playoffs.
He has seen his ice time reduced in favour of others including Mikhail Grabovski. According to coach Randy Carlyle, Kadri is having trouble skating away from the Bruins' back-side pressure. Kadri is one of the few Maple Leafs on the ice for Saturday's optional skate. We're sure you have better roster options in your playoff pool.

Jake Gardiner has been one of the best Maple Leaf players the past two games.
He has been outstanding moving the puck out of the Toronto zone with his smooth-skating ability. Gardiner has also been solid defensively taking the Bruin forwards out with efficent positioning and physicality. Gardnier has been rewarded for his fine play with ice time. He led all Toronto skaters with 24:05 minutes of ice time in Game 6.

One of the more surprising turn of events in the Maple Leafs-Bruins series is the play of Mikhail Grabovski.
He had a terrible regular season and was not expected to play much in the playoffs but he has been nothing short of a revelation. Grabo has been skating like the wind setting up his teammates while taking a terrible beating from the Bruins' Zdeno Chara, Johnny Boychuk and Milan Lucic who have delivered bone-crushing checks to the Belarusian. His pass to himself over the Bruins' net in Game 5 is worth a look. http://www.cbssports.com/nhl/blog/eye-on-hockey/22226334/video-mikhail-grabovskis-dazzling-attempt-on-tuukka-rask

Matt Frattin was surprisingly physical in the Maple Leafs' Game 5 win over the Bruins.
Frattin, who is known more for his speed and his offence, tied Milan Lucic and Dion Phaneuf in hits during Game 5 with seven. We have also liked his overall game this post-season. Keep Frattin in mind next season as we see a matruing player with skill emerging here. He could be a nice sleeper in 2013-14.

John-Michael Liles, who was a healthy scratch for Games 2-4 of the first round series against the Bruins, played well in his return to the lineup in Game 5.
He got the chance to play due to the injury to Mark Fraser and was steady during his 14:31 of ice time with a plus one rating. We are not recommeding you rush to add Liles to your playoff pool roster but he if you are desparate for a post-season defenceman, you could do worse.

Tyler Bozak netted a shorthanded goal in Toronto's 2-1 victory against Boston.
Clarke MacArthur accounted for the Maple Leafs other goal. James van Riemsdyk had a team-high six shots on goal, but didn't get a point in this contest. Ryan O'Byrne led the Leafs with five blocked shots in 16:31 minutes of playing time. Matt Frattin recorded seven hits, giving him 17 hits in four games.

James Reimer kicked out 43 of 44 shots in a 2-1 victory on Friday.
Reimer has been constantly peppered by the Boston Bruins in this series and he's done well under those circumstances. He came just 8:48 minutes away from a shutout, but as it is, he played a crucial role in the Maple Leafs forcing a Game 6. If the Maple Leafs manage to pull off an unlikely comeback and eliminate the Bruins, it will likely be primarily because of their netminder's contributions.

Coach Randy Carlyle praised the play of Jake Gardiner Friday prior to Game 5 of Toronto's first-round playoff series against Boston.
"I think Jake is moving better than at any time he's moved this year," Carlyle said. "I think his competitiveness on the defensive side of the puck has gone up dramatically from where he was at Christmas when he came back. ... He's elevated his game here in the playoffs - he has an element that every team would like." Gardiner has picked up a point in three straight games since getting back into the lineup. He has a goal and three assists in the first three playoff appearances of his career.

Cody Franson will be paired with Jake Gardiner in Game 5 Friday night.
Franson normally plays alongside Mark Fraser, but he's recovering from surgery to repair broken bones in his forehead after getting struck in the face by the puck in Game 4. The 25-year-old blueliner has played well offensively in the series with three points in four games. Franson also has 14 hits.

John-Michael Liles is ready to get back into action after being a healthy scratch since Game 1.
"It's never easy, just keep working hard, wait for an opportunity to get back in," said Liles, who will play in Game 5 Friday night after Mark Fraser was hit in the face by the puck on Wednesday. "The team has been playing well. We've had a few mistakes that have cost us and they've capitalized. The team is playing hard. We'll do what we can. A bounce here and there, and we'd be in a different situation. It's not over yet." He had a minus-1 rating and one shot in 16:13 of ice time in the Leafs' postseason opener.

Toronto has recalled defenseman Jesse Blacker.
He will probably serve as an extra blueliner with Mark Fraser sidelined after he took a puck to his forehead in Game 4 Wednesday night. John-Michael Liles is projected to play in Fraser's place.

Jake Gardiner posted two assists and a plus-1 rating in Toronto's overtime loss against Boston Wednesday night.
The 22-year-old blueliner has displayed plenty of mobility, while picking up four points in three playoff games for the Leafs. Gardiner played in just 12 games during the regular season, where he accounted for four assists. He still makes some defensive miscues, but even that part of his game has seen some improvement in the postseason which has led to more ice time from the coaching staff.

Clarke MacArthur scored in his return from the press box Wednesday night.
He had played since Game 1 and he netted an important goal in Game 5 to tie the contest after Boston had taken a 3-2 lead. MacArthur finished Wednesday's overtime loss with just 8:50 of ice time though.

Dion Phaneuf owned up to his mistake in overtime that put Toronto down 3-1 to Boston on Wednesday night.
He pinched inside the Boston blueline and tried to hit Nathan Horton, but the Bruins continued their rush up the ice and scored the game-winning goal. "It was a bad mistake," Phaneuf said after the game. "At a bad time to make it ... What else do you want me to say?" The Toronto captain has one assist and a minus-4 rating in four games versus Boston in the first round of the playoffs. He'll need to be better in Game 5 if the Leafs want to extend the series.

John-Michael Liles is expected to play in Game 5 Friday night in Boston.
He has been a healthy scratch for the Leafs' past three playoff games after playing in Game 1. Liles is being pressed into duty because Mark Fraser had to undergo surgery for a facial fracture Wednesday night after being hit in the forehead by the puck.

Mark Fraser underwent surgery Wednesday night to repair fracture between his eyes and the cranial area.
Coach Randy Carlyle said the big defenseman is recovering and resting at home, while texting and talking to his teammates Thursday morning. Fraser won't be available to play Friday night in Game 5 against the Bruins. He was injured after taking the puck to his forehead in Wednesday's loss to Boston.

Joffrey Lupul and the Maple Leafs didn't have a defeated attitude after Wednesday's 4-3 overtime loss to Boston.
The Leafs trail the Bruins 3-1 heading into Game 5 on Friday night, but the club still believes they can come back. "We're not done," said Lupul. "We talked about it after the game. We think we're going in a positive direction here with our tempo and pace of play. We'll have to bring that in Boston." Lupul has three goals and four points in four games versus the Bruins in the series.

Mark Fraser (forehead) walked out of the Leafs locker room with a bandaged head, according to the Toronto Sun's Lance Hornby.
Fraser was struck in the forehead with a Milan Lucic slapshot in the third period, leaving a pool of blood on the ice. This is obviously promising news, as Hornby said he seemed to be walking "OK," too. James Mirtle of the Globe and Mail said Fraser has been sent to the hospital for further evaluation.

James Reimer made 41 saves but they weren't enough in the Leafs' 4-3 overtime loss to the Bruins on Wednesday night.
Even though he's now given up four goals in two straight games, Reimer was very solid in Game 4 and the loss can't be hung on him. Toronto had a 2-0 lead, then allowed three straight goals to the Bruins before tying it late in the second. The Leafs now head to Boston down 3-1 in the series. Reimer has a 3.33 goals-against average and .914 save percentage in the postseason.

Joffrey Lupul netted a goal in Toronto's 4-3 loss to the Bruins in Game 4 of their first-round series.
Lupul, who also notched an assist, has now scored three times in the series. After poor Game 3, Lupul bounced back with nine shots on goal, too. Cody Franson and Clarke MacArthur, who got the game-tying goal with 2:37 left, had the other markers. Jake Gardiner had two assists. Phil Kessel, who had an assist, and James van Riemsdyk each had eight shots on goal apiece. Dion Phaneuf finished with an astounding 10 hits and two penalty minutes, but it was his pinch in overtime that cost the Leafs the game.

Mark Fraser left Wednesday's game after taking a puck to the forehead.
Not again. Fraser was struck in the forehead by a slapshot from Bruins forward Milan Lucic. The rearguard was rushed off the ice, leaving a pool of blood behind. He had an assist in 12:49.

Maple Leafs coach Randy Carlyle wants to see his team put more pressure on Boston goaltender Tuukka Rask in Game 5.
"A lot of the goals that are scored are mostly rebound goals coming off pads," Carlyle said. "The new scheme of goaltending is the butterfly and there's a lot more junk laying around the front of the net area. Off the goalie's pads, it's just like making a pass to a player if you can pass it off the goalie's pads. We haven't been scoring enough of the dirty goals." Rask faced a series-high 47 shots on Monday, but the Leafs suffered a 5-2 loss.

James van Riemsdyk finished tied with the team-high in shots with seven on Monday night.
Cody Franson also had seven shots on goal. Though van Riemsdyk finished a minus-two, he did have four hits and an assist. He now has two goals and a helper in the playoffs and is truly growing into a great young power forward.

Leafs coach Randy Carlyle said his team gave the Bruins too many prime scoring opportunities in its 5-2 loss.
It was not the way the Leafs wanted to play in their first home playoff game since 2004. "Grade A scoring chances," Carlyle said. "And a team filled with recent Stanley Cup winners is not going to let those pass. ... You try to explain to your team it's a test. Every game is a test, every shift. This is a war of attrition. There is skill, will and luck involved. But you have to earn every one. We didn't do enough and we made too many mistakes."

Jake Gardiner scored his first career NHL postseason goal in Monday's 5-2 loss to the Boston Bruins.
Gardiner's goal was also the Maple Leafs' first home playoff goal since 2004 and the tally sent off a raucous celebration inside and outside of the Air Canada Centre. Unfortunately for all of Toronto, the Bruins scored 50 seconds later and again two minutes after that. The Maple Leafs likely need to win Wednesday night to ensure to the series heads back to Toronto for Game 6.

Phil Kessel found the back of the net for the second straight game, scoring a power-play goal 47 seconds into the third period of Toronto's 5-2 loss Monday night.
Kessel and Maple Leafs coach Randy Carlyle took full advantage of having last change at home Monday night. The pair did everything they could to keep Kessel away from Bruins defenseman Zdeno Chara, who's been stalking Kessel ever since the winger was traded to the Leafs. While it sounds cruel to say, the Maple Leafs will need more out of Kessel and the rest of their forwards if they're going to even the series at 2 on Wednesday night.

James Reimer allowed four goals on 37 shots as the Maple Leafs lost Monday's Game 3 5-2 to the Boston Bruins.
The Air Canada Centre was all sorts of jacked up for the first home playoff game in nine years but the Bruins' first goal of the game sucked the wind out of the place. Reimer appeared to have the puck lined up on an Adam McQuaid shot from the point, but the puck deflected off a stick and Reimer completely missed it. It was that kind of night for Toronto, who just couldn't get enough going despite 47 shots on goal. The Maple Leafs now trail 2-1 in the series and will look to even things up Wednesday night.

Mike Kostka missed Game 2 with a broken finger and will be out of action until June.
Kostka suffered the injury in Game 1 and persevered through the rest of the game even though he couldn't shoot. "It's heartbreaking," Kostka said. "It's been a really exciting year for me and then, the emotions of being a part of the first (Toronto) team in nine years to be in the playoffs. Then, the second period you play, you get an injury and can't continue." Kostka will continue to skate and hope that the Leafs have a long run so he could get back in the lineup.

As a brief distraction from the wildness of the NHL playoffs, Bates Battaglia and his brother Anthony have won the 22nd season of "The Amazing Race."
The brothers beat out three other duos for the $1 million prize in a two-hour finale, which aired Sunday night. "It's a lot like hockey. It's very competitive," said the former NHL forward. "You're going nonstop. It gets your competitive spirit going. It's nonstop racing, just a great time." Our congratulations go out to Bates and his brother for their accomplishment.

With their opening round series tied 1-1, the Maple Leafs will play their first home playoff game in nine years Monday.
Joffrey Lupul is anticipating a huge response from the home crowd at Air Canada Centre for Game Three, saying "I think it will be crazy. I'm really excited. This game's only been over for 20 minutes and I'm already thinking about playing back in Toronto. I can't wait to get out there. Hopefully, it will be crazier than ever." Lupul was one of the best Leafs in Saturday's victory as he potted a pair of goals, continuing the trend that existed for the regular season when the winger was healthy.

Phil Kessel got a huge monkey off his back by scoring the game-winning goal for Toronto in Saturday's 4-2 win over the Bruins.
Kessel's breakaway goal early in the third period put the Maple Leafs ahead by a score of 3-1, a lead they would not relinquish as they evened up their playoff series 1-1. "It has been a long time against these guys," Kessel said. "It was nice to get one. I was happy." The goal was the first even-strength tally registered by Kessel against Boston since his arrival in Toronto three seasons ago.

Jake Gardiner enjoyed a solid game for the Maple Leafs in Saturday's 4-2 win over the Bruins.
Gardiner was a healthy scratch for the series opener, but after the team struggled with its breakout passes it became clear Gardiner's puck handling skills were needed. The slick blue liner shook off a first period giveaway and his calm demeanor while carrying the puck proved invaluable for Toronto. Of all the players inserted into the Maple Leafs' lineup for Game 2, Gardiner has the greatest chance to make a long-term impact on their playoff run.

Winger Ryan Hamilton is happy to have been a part of Toronto's impressive win over the Bruins on Saturday.
The 28-year-old AHL veteran picked up an assist in his NHL playoff debut and did exactly what the coaching staff had hoped for when they inserted him into the lineup. For his part, Hamilton understands his role with the club. "It feels good to be part of the battle and help the team any way you can," Hamilton said. "You've got to focus on what you've got to do, focus on the details, play the system. Stay in the moment." Given the uphill battle the team faces and his limited role, Hamilton's not worth a selection in playoff pools.

Joffrey Lupul scored twice in Toronto's 4-2 victory Saturday night.
Phil Kessel, who has struggled against the Boston Bruins since they traded him to Toronto, scored the game-winner. James van Riemsdyk scored Toronto's fourth goal at 16:53 of the third period, which means that all of the Leafs goals tonight were accounted for by players that former Leafs GM Brian Burke traded for. Jake Gardiner, Carl Gunnarsson, Matt Frattin, Dion Phaneuf, Nazem Kadri, Ryan Hamilton, Mikhail Grabovski, and Nikolai Kulemin each registered an assist for the Maple Leafs.

James Reimer kicked out 39 of 41 shots in a 4-2 victory against the Boston Bruins on Saturday.
The Bruins outshot the Leafs 13-6 in the third period, but Toronto ended up outscoring Boston over the final 20 minutes, thanks in part to Reimer's efforts. After his spectacular rookie season and rough sophomore campaign, Reimer has spent this season proving himself all over again. In this contest he showed that he's capable of rising to the occasion in postseason contests. The series is now tied 1-1.

Matt Frattin is projected to play in his first playoff contest on Saturday.
Frattin had seven goals and 13 points in 25 regular season games. He's likely to play alongside Leo Komarov and Mikhail Grabovski.

Clarke MacArthur will not play in Game 2 on Saturday.
MacArthur has just one goal in his last 18 games, dating back to the regular season. "I think he gets frustrated with himself ..[he] takes a lot of that on and isn't able to shake it," Maple Leafs coach Randy Carlyle said. MacArthur is scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent this summer.

Ben Scrivens was on the ice Saturday morning for Toronto's optional skate.
He obviously made it back from a family funeral and will dress as James Reimer's backup Saturday night. Drew MacIntrye won't get his chance to dress after all.

Nazem Kadri, who did not play very well in Game 1 against the Bruins Thursday night, promised a better effort in Game 2 scheduled for Saturday night.
Kadri had this to say about his performance in the Leafs' 4-1 loss: "I just had a couple of turnovers, down low I wasn't moving my feet as well as I can, wasn't able to find guys on the move, It's a game that I love to play. Now I've got to bring that same heart and passion that I always bring, that competitive nature, to the next game. I think we all understand that we didn't play our best games." For Toronto's playoff-starved fans sake let's hope they do.

James Reimer will be between the pipes Saturday night for Game 2 of the Leafs' Eastern Conference quarterfinals against Boston.
Well he better be! Backup Ben Scrivens may not make it back from a family funeral which makes Drew MacIntyre Reimer's understudy.

The Maple Leafs shuffled their forward lines during Friday mornings practice.
Coach Randy Carlyle didn't like what he saw Thursday night from his forwards and is hoping to get line combinations that can break through the Bruins' defense. The Leafs iced the following units Friday: Joffrey Lupul-Tyler Bozak-Phil Kessel, James van Riemsdyk-Mikhail Grabovski-Nikolai Kulemin, Leo Komarov-Nazem Kadri-Clarke MacArthur, Ryan Hamilton-Jay McClement-Colton Orr. It remains to be seen if the team will lineup this way for Saturday night's Game 2. If they do, Frazer McLaren is the big loser, while Ryan Hamilton gets a chance to play.

Ryan Hamilton practised on the Maple Leafs' fourth line alongside Jay McLement and Colton Orr during Friday's scrimmage.
Hamilton may get the opportunity to play in Game 2 Saturday night against Boston at the expense of Frazer McLaren. No real fantasy impact here but we thought you should know.

Mike Kostka will not be in the Toronto lineup for Saturday night's game against the Bruins.
He will miss at least Game 2 of the Eastern quarterfinals due to a broken finger. Ryan O'Byrne will take his place on the Toronto blueline.

Look for Jake Gardiner to draw back into the Toronto lineup against the Bruins for Game 2 Saturday night.
With Mike Kostka out with a broken finger and John-Michael Liles being a healthy scratch due to ineffectiveness, Gardiner will suit up and skate with Ryan O'Byrne on the Buds' third defenseman pairing. Feel free to activate him if you need a defenseman in your lineup.

Cody Franson left Game 1 of the Leafs' first-round series in the second period with an undisclosed injury.
Franson blocked a shot with his left foot, and ended up with only three shifts in the second period, so it appears that's what caused him to depart. Coach Randy Carlyle had no update on Franson's status. The rearguard had an assist on the lone goal.

James Reimer sticked aside 36 of 40 shots Wednesday night in the Maple Leafs' 4-1 loss in Game 1 of the first-round series with the Bruins.
It doesn't look good on the score sheet, but it doesn't tell the whole story. Reimer was simply hung out to dry by his teammates, who were basically a no-show in the franchise's first playoff action since 2004. If the Leafs are going to put forth this kind of effort the rest of the way, it's going to be a very short series. Lucky for them, it's only one game.

James van Riemsdyk potted the lone goal for Toronto in its 4-1 loss in Game 1 of the first-round playoff series Wednesday night against Boston.
The power-play tally was the first goal of the game and came at 1:54 of the first frame, so one would think the Leafs would want to carry that momentum through the rest of the game. Instead, it was a rare moment of joy for the Leafs as they were thoroughly dominated. Cody Franson and Tyler Bozak had the helpers. The Leafs' top players were invisible. Phil Kessel did not have good game, going shotless in 13:51. Joffrey Lupul also had a bad night, finishing a minus-two with two shots in 15:25. Colton Orr had 16 penalty minutes and Leo Komarov had 15.

Based on pre-game line rushes, Matt Frattin and Ryan O'Byrne will be healthy scratches Wednesday for Game 1.
Frattin had a tough time of things since returning to the lineup after suffering a knee injury. He had seven goals and 13 points in 25 games but did not score after February 11.

Nazem Kadri fired the first shot across the bows in the Maple Leafs-Bruins' opening round series prior to Game 1 Wednesday night.
"We've got to give them respect. We're not approaching this as underdogs," he said. "This is a very, very winnable series for us." Kadri also said the Leafs finished not that far behind the Bruins in the Eastern Conference standings. The 22-year-old center enjoyed a superb regular season with 18 goals and 44 points in 48 games. The Leafs will likely start him on the third line though to provide the team with more depth, but it wouldn't be surprising to see him back with Joffrey Lupul during the contest.

Coach Randy Carlyle has spoken with Leo Komarov about assuming more faceoff responsibilities in Wednesday's playoff opener versus Boston.
Tyler Bozak is expected to play in Game 1, but he may not take draws which is significant blow to the Leafs since he is the club's top faceoff man. Komarov is viewed as underrated in that regard after he won 29 of the 57 draws he took during the regular season. Komarov is slated to take his regular shifts on the fourth line with Colton Orr and Jay McClement, where he'll throw plenty of hits and try to get under the skin of the Bruins.

Mikhail Grabovski might start Game 1 as Toronto's second-line center.
Early indications suggest he will play between Joffrey Lupul and Nikolai Kulemin, while Nazem Kadri will be flanked by Clarke MacArthur and Matt Frattin to give him easier match-ups. Grabovski didn't have a good showing in the regular season, with nine goals and 16 points in 48 games, but he has a fresh canvas to work with in the playoffs.

Tyler Bozak (shoulder) says he expects to play in Wednesday's Game 1 but taking faceoffs could be an issue.
Bozak missed the Leafs' final two regular-season games with the ailment. While the Leafs need him in the lineup, it's unclear how useful Bozak could be if he can't take draws. Also, if Bozak's shoulder is bad enough to inhibit his ability on faceoffs, there's a question about how much it will affect his shot. Even if Bozak plays, it doesn't sound like he'll be anywhere near 100 percent.

Phil Kessel has never been one to soak up the spotlight and the media shy winger dodged reporters on Monday.
The decision wasn't the best call since it will only draw more attention to Kessel, who is already a focal point of Toronto's opening-round series against Boston. It's not like anything he would have said would end up being bulletin board material, but he still should've faced the media. Kessel ended the regular season on a scoring tear, but his struggles against his former team have been well documented. It will be interesting to see if his can silence his critics or if the additional attention will be too much for him. Either way the Leafs will need more than just Kessel producing to beat Boston.

Toronto GM Dave Nonis expects Tyler Bozak to be ready for the Maple Leafs' playoff opener Wednesday night.
He skated with the team during Monday's practice but left early. Bozak has missed the last two games with an upper-body injury that is believed to be a shoulder ailment.

Toronto's playoff success could hinge on the ability of Phil Kessel to produce against the Boston Bruins.
Kessel hasn't had much success against Boston since joining the Leafs and being shadowed by Zdeno Chara has kept him in check. The Toronto sniper tallied 20 goals and 52 points in 48 games this season to finish among the league's top-10 scorers.

Tyler Bozak (shoulder) skated in full gear prior to Monday's practice.
It was his first time back on the ice since he suffered a suspected shoulder injury against Tampa Bay last Wednesday. However, Mark Zwolinski of the Toronto Star reported that Bozak looked uncomfortable shooting so his status for Wednesday night's playoff opener in Boston should be considered questionable.

Cody Franson had an assist in Toronto's final regular season game.
Franson had 10 points in 12 April games to give him 29 points in 45 contests this season. That's more than we anticipated going into the season, but we wouldn't dismiss his breakout campaign. Franson is capable of surpassing the 40-point mark next season.

Dion Phaneuf recorded an assist in Toronto's season finale.
Phaneuf finished the season with nine goals and 28 points in 48 games. That ended his streak of seven-straight seasons of at least 30 points, but of course, that's only because this was a lockout shortened campaign. Phaneuf isn't one of the league's top blueliners from a fantasy perspective, but he is one of the safest bets to put up solid numbers every season.

James Reimer struggled Saturday, giving up four goals on 23 shots in the Leafs' 4-1 loss to the Canadiens.
Reimer was yanked 2:23 into the third period, which is certainly not the way you want to finish the year heading into the postseason. Ben Scrivens made five saves in relief. Toronto (26-17-5) gets the fifth seed; their goaltending and defensive play will determine their playoff fate.

Phil Kessel sniped the lone goal for Toronto in its 4-1 loss to Montreal on Saturday night.
Kessel began the year a bit sluggishly, but the super-talented winger eventually kicked it into high gear, getting 20 goals and 32 points on the season and tallying points in five straight games. Cody Franson and Dion Phaneuf had the helpers. Frazer McLaren had 24 penalty minutes and Clarke MacArthur had 14.

James Reimer will get the start Saturday night against Montreal.
The Leafs desperately want to defeat the Canadiens so that they can finish fifth in the conference and relegate the Habs to fourth. A Toronto-Montreal matchup in the first round would be a ratings bonanza for the networks and will also be a more favourable one for the Buds than one involving the Bruins or Capitals.

Tyler Bozak will likley not be able to play Saturday night against Montreal.
He apparently has a shoulder injury and is listed as day-to-day. Bozak did not skate Saturday morning and we have some serious doubts as to whether he will get the green light to dress. Look for Nazim Kadri to center Phil Kessel and Joffrey Lupul as he did Thursday night against Florida.

Tim Leiweke is the new CEO of Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment.
MLSE owns the Toronto Maple Leafs, Toronto Raptors, Toronto FC, and the AHL Toronto Marlies. Leiweke is the former president and CEO of AEG, which owns, among other things, the Los Angeles Kings. Leiweke parted ways with AEG on March 14, mere months before the Kings won the Stanley Cup. On the NBA side of things, the Leiweke hiring means that former Los Angeles Lakers coach Phil Jackson might be headed to Toronto.

James Reimer has been selected as the Toronto Maple Leafs' 2013 Bill Masterton Trophy.
Reimer was terrific in his rookie campaign, but he struggled in his sophomore season, likely in no small part to the fact that he suffered a mid-season concussion. Over the summer and even late into this season he had to endure constant fan and media speculation that he might be dethroned as the Leafs' starter in favor of Vancouver Canucks netminder Roberto Luongo. Despite the rumors, scrutiny, and with his sophomore shortcomings fresh, Reimer bounced back with a 2.38 GAA and .926 save percentage in 32 games this season.

Nazem Kadri centered a line with Phil Kessel on Thursday and the two clicked immediately.
Tyler Bozak, who normally is the first-line pivot, was getting a day of rest. Kadri set Kessel up for two second-period goals. "I have always wanted to play with Phil (Kessel) because he is a world-class player," Kadri said. "I want to make myself better by playing with those type of guys. He really opens the ice up for you, especially with (Joffrey Lupul) on the other side."

The Maple Leafs responded to coach Randy Carlyle's demands of being more physical.
A game after recording just 18 hits, the Leafs had 45 in their 4-0 win over the Panthers. Carlyle wanted his team to be more physical heading into the playoffs. He especially liked Mark Fraser's response after Alex Petrovic landed a few fists in Nazem Kadri's face. "Definitely," Carlyle said. "We were much more engaged in the game. (What Fraser did) goes deep into our lineup. That is what our expectations will be in any of those situations, we have to have people who are going to answer the bell."

Phil Kessel picked up a pair of goals for the Maple Leafs in a 4-0 win over Florida Thursday night.
Kessel's under-the-radar season has him in a tie for sixth place in league scoring with 19 goals and 51 points. Leo Komarov and Clarke MacArthur also found the back of the net in the Toronto victory.

James Reimer made 34 saves Thursday en route to a 4-0 shutout win over the Panthers.
Florida may not be the stiffest of competition this season, however a shutout deserves some recognition nonetheless. Reimer has enjoyed a solid season and will head into the playoffs as the Maple Leafs starter.

Colton Orr was scratched from Toronto's lineup Wednesday night.
Fellow Leafs' enforcer Frazer McLaren didn't play in Wednesday's loss to Tampa either. Coach Randy Carlyle likes to play his tough guys though, so they will probably be back in the lineup soon. Carlyle likes his team's identity with Orr and McLaren in the lineup even though the Leafs outshot an opponent for the first time in 11 games with them in the press box. The Toronto bench boss will ice the squad he feels gives them the best chance of winning and the Leafs have played well with them skating on the fourth line. Orr leads the league with 155 penalty minutes in 42 games this year.