• Maple Leafs hold playoff spot
• Koivu becomes franchise leader
• Hossa celebrates milestone in Ottawa
• Marchand ups lead in Richard race
Maybe that extra vitamin D gained from a recent fishing trip just needed a few days to kick in for the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Just kidding, but what a difference one game makes.
After several Leafs documented their fun in the sun on social media Tuesday, the team was subsequently shelled by the Florida Panther in 7-2 loss. But on Thursday against the Tampa Bay Lightning, Toronto bounced back in mighty fashion in what was its most important game of the season — which is pretty much every contest at this time of year.
The Leafs entered the day trailing the Lightning by one point but after manhandling them in a 5-0 win, Toronto now has sole possession of the second wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference. (The Winnipeg Jets helped the cause by defeating the New York Islanders on Thursday night).
It turns out Mike Babcock’s boys are making a habit of nice bounce-backs this season.
Toronto Blue Jays third baseman Josh Donaldson was at Amalie Arena in Tampa Bay for the game and said he’s “cheering for both sides,” so he’s got half of a reason to celebrate, too.
Here are some more things we learned in the NHL on Thursday night:
Get back to the office in no time with BPs New Half-Time Lunch and $10 Combos. Dine-In Only. Click here to learn more.
Koivu Kredit
Will somebody please give Mikko Koivu some credit?
The longtime Minnesota Wild centre became the franchise leader in short-handed points with his assist on Mikael Granlund’s marker.
Hopefully the impressive penalty-kill feat garners some league-wide attention for Koivu in the Selke Trophy race.
The 34-year-old is having a sneaky good defensive campaign, which was highlighted by his coach Bruce Boudreau recently.
“Who’s got better numbers for a defensive forward than Mikko?,” Boudreau said in January, according to the Pioneer Press. “He plays against every team’s top line … There’s nobody in the league that has better numbers for what you’re asking him to do.
“He kills every penalty. He takes every big faceoff. Everything a defensive forward is supposed to do, he does.”
Wild general manager Chuck Fletcher agreed.
“I’ve felt that way for many years, but I don’t know if playing in Minnesota, you get quite the viewings you would that some players do in other markets,” Fletcher said.
Koivu now has 18 goals and 52 points in 68 games this season.
Hossa’s Home
Chicago Blackhawks winger Marian Hossa played his 1,300th career NHL game on Thursday night and it was beautifully fitting that the milestone took place in Ottawa, where he began his career in 1997.
Hossa wasn’t a factor on the scoresheet during his 18:07 minutes of ice time, but his Blackhawks did defeat the Senators, 2-1, curtailing Ottawa’s chance to leapfrog the Montreal Canadiens in the Atlantic Division.
Hossa is No. 61 on the NHL’s all-time games played list, one behind Sergei Gonchar and 14 behind Bobby Holik.
Marchand’s Magic Marker
Boston Bruins forward Brad Marchand is continuing his pursuit of the NHL goal-scoring title, adding to his tally with a marker against the Edmonton Oilers on Thursday.
He’s now got 37 goals, two ahead of second-place Sidney Crosby.
Marchand, who has gone from good to great, deserves extra props for doing it big for all the short skaters out there.
[relatedlinks]
