Toronto’s early‑season surge feels good, but defensive woes loom. The Leafs are winning, yet Oliver Ekman‑Larsson’s regression raises red flags—he’s fifth in 5‑on‑5 ice time but posts a poor goals‑for% despite decent Corsi and xGF. Coach Jim Hiller’s pairings with Stecher work, while combos with Blankenburg or Darren Raddysh falter. Raddysh, the 30‑year‑old home‑grown defenseman, shines on the power play and brings a heavy shot, but his 5‑on‑5 responsibility and defensive metrics lag behind his top‑pairing expectations, especially when paired with Jake McCabe. As the Leafs gear up for a test against the Oilers, fixing 5‑on‑5 defense becomes the priority.
The Oilers face a steep roster shake‑up ahead of Saturday’s showdown with the Toronto Maple Leafs. Starting goalie Devon Levi skips Friday’s practice for an undisclosed injury, prompting coach Mike Babcock to name Tristan Jarry as the starter and hint at a possible call‑up (likely Matt Tomkins). Veteran defenseman Mattias Ekholm also sits out after a hard hit from Carolina’s William Carrier, with an upper‑body injury that will keep him sidelined for at least a week. Rookie Shakir Mukhamadullin is expected to fill the defensive gap, while the lineup sees Isaac Howard and Trent Frederic on the fifth line and Jason Dickinson placed on injured reserve. The Oilers aim to solidify their roster before the home‑stretch continues.
Maple Leafs rookie Gavin McKenna explains the origin of the team's new post‑goal hand gesture, tracing it back to a college tradition he brought to the NHL during training camp. With seven points in 12 games, McKenna also discusses the upcoming road trip, starting with a showdown against Connor McDavid and the Edmonton Oilers, praising McDavid's blistering 31‑point start and lightning‑fast play. Toronto rides a three‑game winning streak after a 5‑4 win over the Rangers and aims to contain the Oilers’ star as they continue their momentum.
Sean Avery stops by Leafs Morning Take after Toronto’s 5-4 win over the Rangers, praising Troy Stecher’s late-game heroics, Easton Cowan’s play and the bench’s newfound passion. He notes the Leafs’ three‑game streak, a heated power‑play (7‑for‑11 recent), and depth scoring from the Duhaime‑Blueger‑MacEwen line. Avery also weighs in on Auston Matthews’ early-season impact, the Matthew Knies‑Kirill Marchenko trade, and the blue‑line injury updates (Marshall Rifai, Nick Blankenburg, with Dakota Mermis next). The segment wraps with a fashion “JAY or NAY” ranking and a preview of the upcoming Leafs‑Oilers showdown in Edmonton.
The Toronto Maple Leafs, fresh off three straight wins, head west for a four‑game road swing that opens against Western Conference‑leading Edmonton. Captain Connor McDavid has exploded in his 12th season, posting eight goals and a league‑best 31 points in 10 games. Former Oilers teammate Jack Roslovic says facing McDavid is a "fun challenge" and is eager to test himself on the Leafs’ top line alongside Auston Matthews, who sits fifth in NHL scoring with 18 points in 12 games. The matchup pits Roslovic’s renewed pace against his old club as the Leafs aim to extend their streak to four.
Yaroslav Askarov shines as the San Jose Sharks snap their winless streak with a 6-2 victory over the Ottawa Senators on Oct. 23, 2026. The rookie netminder delivered an even stronger performance than his recent game against Toronto, earning his first career shutout and solidifying the Sharks' first regulation win of the season. Captain Macklin Celebrini remains goalless, but Askarov's heroics propel the team forward.
Toronto captain Auston Matthews is soaring early in the 2026‑27 season, tallying eight goals and 18 points in 12 games while ranking fifth in league scoring. New internal data shows his skating speed is the best in five years, which he says has boosted playmaking for linemates Jack Roslovic and Kirill Marchenko. As the Leafs head into a four‑game road trip, Matthews prepares for a marquee showdown against Connor McDavid and the Edmonton Oilers, who sit at 31 points in 10 games. Teammates praise his tenacity and game‑breaking ability, highlighting his growing role as a premier two‑way forward.
The Toronto Maple Leafs don't seem to be interested in trading Easton Cowan, but they have some other pieces they could move for a defenseman.
The Toronto Marlies steamroll the Hamilton Hammerheads 4‑1 for their fourth straight win, extending a perfect 4‑0‑0 season record against the Hammers. Goalie Samuel Hlavaj earns first‑star honors after a key early stop on Matthew Highmore, while rookie forward Aleksi Räty nets his first Marlies goal and defenseman Filip Holinka records his first AHL assist. Toronto dominates throughout, with the decisive scoring burst coming in the second period.
The Leafs head into a four‑game road swing with several veterans on the injury list. Defenseman Chris Tanev remains week‑to‑week with an upper‑body issue but will travel, while captain John Tavares is also week‑to‑week after a hurt in Saturday’s loss to Buffalo and will stay home. Dakota Joshua stays on a conditioning loan after a core injury, and Nick Blankenburg and Marshall Rifai land on IR. Call‑ups Cole McWard and Dakota Mermis are set to suit up, with Mermis likely to play against the Oilers, who feature Connor McDavid’s league‑leading 31 points. Goalie Sergei Bobrovsky receives a scheduled maintenance day.
The Toronto Maple Leafs recall defensemen Dakota Mermis and Cole McWard from the AHL’s Toronto Marlies after injuries to Marshall Rifai and Nick Blankenburg on Thursday’s game against the New York Rangers. Mermis, 32, posted seven points in 27 regular‑season AHL games and helped the Marlies win the 2026 Calder Cup, and has one NHL goal from last season. McWard, 25, tallied 27 points in 63 AHL games with Bridgeport and appeared in three NHL contests earlier this year. Both are on one‑year deals (Mermis $812.5K, McWard $875K) as the Leafs brace for a tough Western Canada road trip.
Former professional hockey player Madison Packer joins Michael Traikos and Ryan Kennedy to discuss Easton Cowan’s successful start with the Maple Leafs, the St. Louis Blues’ competitive outlook, and more.
In this edition of The Hockey News Morning Skate, Eric Cruikshank and Michael Traikos break down Connor McDavid's incredible five-point game against the Carolina Hurricanes and the Toronto Maple Leafs' depth stepping up in a win over the New York Rangers.
The Toronto Maple Leafs edged the New York Rangers 5-4 on Oct. 23, 2026, showcasing a new team identity anchored by passion and depth. Coach Jim Hiller praised the fourth line—Zack MacEwen, Teddy Blueger and Brandon Duhaime—which contributed seven points and relentless forechecking. Defenseman Troy Stecher capped the win with a decisive goal 28 seconds left, while forward Nick Paul drew a crucial penalty in the final moments. Hiller highlighted the line’s chemistry, the impact of role players, and the growing cohesion that could shape a playoff‑ready squad.
The Toronto Maple Leafs are starting to find some momentum. Thursday night’s 5-4 win over the New York Rangers, sealed by Troy Stecher’s goal with 26.3 seconds remaining, gave Toronto…
The Toronto Maple Leafs' depth players stepped up in a big way on Thursday, elevating the team to a 5-4 win over the New York Rangers.
The Toronto Maple Leafs extend their winning streak to three games with a 5-4 victory over the New York Rangers, propelled by a hot fourth line. Brandon Duhaime, Teddy Blueger and Zack MacEwen combined for seven points — the first of the season for each after signing on July 1 — and Duhaime says the unit will keep “snowballing” as chemistry builds. Their play complements Toronto’s top-ranked penalty kill and helped secure a 6‑4‑2 record through 12 games. Duhaime also praised Troy Stecher’s game‑winner and his hard‑nosed style.
Dylan Garand finally came back down to earth, Adam Fox piled up the assists, and a late goal stung. Plus: where the goalie search should go from here.
The Toronto Maple Leafs edge the New York Rangers 5-4 on Oct. 23, 2026, thanks to a surge from their fourth line and a game‑winning goal by defenseman Troy Stecher with 28 seconds left. Duhaime, Blueger and MacEwen combined for seven points, marking the line’s first big offensive output. Captain Morgan Rielly praised Stecher’s work ethic and chemistry after stepping in for the injured Chris Tanev, and lauded the fourth line’s hard‑working forecheck. The win caps a three‑game streak and sends the Leafs on a west‑bound road trip before a six‑game home stand.
On Oct. 20, we looked at five NHL teams already regretting their 2026 offseason moves. Now, we're looking at those whose offseason pickups are paying off thus far in 2026-27.
Troy Stecher caps a dramatic comeback as the Toronto Maple Leafs edge the New York Rangers 5-4 on Oct. 23, 2026, scoring the winner with 27 seconds left. The win fuels a three‑game streak and a four‑game road trip. A standout night comes from the Leafs' fourth line—Brandon Duhaime (three points), Teddy Blueger and Zack MacEwen (two points each)—who post a season‑best performance, outshooting the Rangers 4‑0 in 5:19 of shared ice time. Coach Jim Hiller praises Nick Paul’s play leading to the goal, while Sergei Bobrovsky endures a shaky night despite the team’s run support. The article breaks down five key takeaways from the victory.
The Maple Leafs scored five in this regulation win over the Rangers, four at even strength and one on the power play, without a goal from Auston Matthews or William Nylander. Offensively, this looks like a team that’s not just talented — which was apparent from jump — but is now starting to smooth out […]
The post Game Review: Maple Leafs’ depth scoring delivers in dramatic 5-4 win over Rangers appeared first on Maple Leafs Hotstove .
The Toronto Maple Leafs are feeling it. After beating the Columbus Blue Jackets on the road, 6-2, on Tuesday, the Leafs returned home and took down the New York Rangers on Thursday at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto. The Maple Leafs are now on a three-game winning streak, and just had the best game of their […]
The post Jim Hiller dubs win over Rangers Maple Leafs’ ‘best game’ of 2026 appeared first on ClutchPoints .
The New York Rangers fall 5-4 to the Toronto Maple Leafs at Scotiabank Arena on Oct. 23, surrendering a late lead after Alexis Lafrenière’s third‑period tying goal. A delayed‑penalty misplay by Tye Kartye sets up Troy Stecher’s game‑winner with 27.5 seconds left, marking only the third career game‑winning goal for the stay‑at‑home defenseman. Coach Mike Sullivan blames a lack of structure and collective effort, noting the Rangers allowed a season‑high 36 shots and 14 high‑danger chances while posting a 0‑3‑1 road skid (7‑4‑1 overall). The team must rebound quickly ahead of a road clash with Ottawa Saturday.
Toronto defenceman Marshall Rifai (28) is placed on injured reserve and listed week‑to‑week after a lower‑body injury suffered during Tuesday’s win over the Columbus Blue Jackets, where he notched his first NHL goal. Nick Blankenburg steps into Rifai’s spot on the third pairing with Oliver Ekman‑Larsson, while Chris Tanev remains on IR and Jake McCabe returns from stitches. With the Leafs heading into a four‑game road trip on a three‑game skid, the club may call up top AHL prospect Ben Danford. Morgan Rielly says the roster is adapting amid the injury influx.