Ahead of the Oct. 24 game in Edmonton, Maple Leafs coach Jim Hiller praises Auston Matthews’ transformation into an elite two‑way talent while still delivering offensive firepower. Hiller also tackles the challenge of containing Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, highlights Nick Paul’s impact, and confirms Anthony Stolarz will start in net with Mermis in the lineup.
The Toronto Maple Leafs have won three straight games, but a rash of defensive injuries threatens to derail their progress. Chris Tanev, Jake McCabe, Nick Blankenburg and Marshall Rifai are all on week‑to‑week IR, leaving the Leafs with just 38 goals allowed in 12 games and a troubling even‑strength record. The team has recalled Cole McWard and Dakota Mermis from the Marlies, while top prospect Ben Danford stays in the AHL to protect his development. General manager John Chayka has hinted he may trade for a “difference maker” if the injury list grows during the upcoming Western road trip.
The Edmonton Oilers host the Toronto Maple Leafs Saturday, Oct. 24 at 7 p.m. ET at Rogers Place. The Oilers sit atop the 2026‑27 season at 8‑1‑1, with Connor McDavid leading the league with 31 points (8 G, 23 A) and Leon Draisaitl bolstering a potent offense. Toronto arrives 6‑4‑2 after three straight wins, driven by Auston Matthews’ eight goals and 18 points, though it will miss John Tavares and Chris Tanev. The game streams on ESPN+ (ESPN Unlimited) and airs on the ESPN+ channel. Expect a star‑powered showdown between McDavid and Matthews.
The Oilers host the Toronto Maple Leafs Saturday at 5 PM MT, promising a high‑octane showdown after back‑to‑back emotional wins over Minnesota and Carolina. Edmonton enters with a 46‑goal offense in 10 games (4.60 per game), driven by Connor McDavid’s 31 points, Leon Draisaitl, and Evan Bouchard, while Toronto sits 6‑4‑2 with 43 goals (3.58 per game). Key injuries loom: Ryan Nugent‑Hopkins returns, but Mattias Ekholm is out for a week. Power‑play dynamics could decide the game—Edmonton’s PP is 35.3% versus Toronto’s 97.4% PK, while Toronto’s PP sits at 28.6% against Edmonton’s 72.4% PK. The article previews tactics and health concerns ahead of the clash.
Leafs face a team having a hot start to the season.
Jack Roslovic, now with the Toronto Maple Leafs on a two‑year, $4 million AAV deal, faces a revenge week against his former clubs. He posted a goal and three points vs. the Columbus Blue Jackets on Tuesday and tallied an assist against the New York Rangers Thursday. Tonight he meets the Edmonton Oilers, where he spent 69 games last season, scoring 21 goals and 36 points. Roslovic praises the Oilers’ culture and work ethic, especially admiring Connor McDavid’s impact, and notes his early success in Toronto with four goals and ten points in his first ten games alongside Auston Matthews.
Edmonton Oilers coach Mike Babcock downplays facing his former team, the Toronto Maple Leafs, and old assistant Jim Hiller. But the truth is, that overshadows the storyline of Connor McDavid and Auston Matthews going head-to-head.
Troy Stecher has become the Maple Leafs’ unexpected hero this season. Claimed off waivers from Edmonton in November 2025, the gritty defenseman logged over 20 minutes per game, including a 26:25 effort in a 6-2 win over Columbus. He sparked a dramatic game‑winner against the New York Rangers on Oct. 23, 2026, scoring with 32 seconds left to lift Toronto to a 5-4 victory. His relentless work ethic earned a June contract extension despite a coaching change, and fans applaud his blue‑collar passion that mirrors Toronto’s demanding fanbase. Stecher’s story showcases how hard‑nosed play can win over even the most critical Leafs supporters.
A week after Vancouver traded for Jacob Quillan and Brandon Buhr from Toronto, both prospects have debuted in the Canucks system. Quillan scored in each of his first two AHL games with Abbotsford, lining up with Ty Mueller and Bennett Schimek and earning special‑teams minutes and an overtime chance. The 23‑year‑old, a former Quinnipiac star who posted 46 points in 39 games last season, says he feels wanted after being moved on by the Maple Leafs’ new management and is eager to contribute with speed, physicality and a 200‑foot game. He’ll be back in action tonight as Abbotsford faces Calgary at 5 PM PT.
Ahead of the Oilers’ showdown with the Toronto Maple Leafs on Nov. 14, former Leafs coach Mike Babcock reflects on his 2015‑19 tenure. He jokes that "even the Beatles broke up" while recalling his work with Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner, John Tavares and William Nylander, admitting the team never delivered in the playoffs. Babcock also praises former assistant Jim Hiller, now the Leafs’ head coach, and emphasizes his focus on winning today with an Oilers squad that leads the NHL in points percentage behind Connor McDavid. The article previews the personal storyline behind the high‑stakes matchup.
What premium assets do the Toronto Maple Leafs have to give up for an impact defenseman? The Nashville Predators have gotten calls on Brady Skjei.
What premium assets do the Toronto Maple Leafs have to give up for an impact defenseman? The Nashville Predators have gotten calls on Brady Skjei.
The Edmonton Oilers are facing off against the Toronto Maple Leafs on Saturday. Edmonton is facing some tough injury news ahead of that contest. The club is placing goaltender Devon Levi on injured reserve, the team announced Saturday. “Goaltender Matt Tomkins has been recalled from the (Bakersfield) Condors under emergency conditions,” the Oilers posted on […]
The post Oilers make disappointing Devon Levi injury move appeared first on ClutchPoints .
The Toronto Maple Leafs have won three straight games, and that’s a welcome change for a team still trying to find its identity. Thursday’s 5-4 win over the New York…
The Oilers host the Maple Leafs on Oct. 24, bringing a stacked slate of storylines: Connor McDavid’s 31‑point 10‑game start versus Auston Matthews, Mike Babcock’s first clash with his former team and protégée Jim Hiller, and a pivotal power‑play showdown against Toronto’s league‑best penalty kill (37‑for‑38). Edmonton deals with injuries to goalie Devon Levi and defenseman Mattias Ekholm, while Tristan Jarry is slated to start and Shakir Mukhamadullin fills in on defense. Both clubs ride three‑game winning streaks, with the Oilers’ power play humming at 35% after recent 6‑for‑10 success. Coach Babcock hints at potential lineup tweaks ahead of the nationally‑watched game.
The Toronto Maple Leafs have gotten out to a decent start, and while they have had strong starts from most of their star players, they still have some holes to…
The Toronto Maple Leafs are actively scouting an impact defenseman and GM John Chayka is ready to trade valuable assets to secure a top‑pair blueliner. Potential pieces include the Colorado Avalanche’s 2027 first‑round pick (acquired via Nicolas Roy), veteran Oliver Ekman‑Larsen, promising 19‑year‑old center Tinus‑Luc Koblar, highly‑rated prospect defenseman Alexander Bilecki, and goaltender Anthony Stolarz, who already fielded interest from the Rangers. With a two‑year window to win the Stanley Cup and lock in Auston Matthews, the Leafs may move one of these items—often in a package—to add the needle‑moving defenseman they need.
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.