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The Toronto Maple Leafs return home Wednesday night for Game 5 tied 2-2 with the Florida Panthers in their second-round showdown.
Goaltending has been one of the stories of the series so far, with Leafs starter Anthony Stolarz leaving midway through Game 1, passing his place in between the pipes to Joseph Woll. Toronto’s backup had a shaky start through his first three appearances, but locked in for Game 4, where he displayed the confidence and swagger he’s shown in postseasons past.
On the other end of the ice, Stanley Cup and two-time Vezina-winning netminder Sergei Bobrovsky had a mediocre start of his own, but also came ready to play last Sunday, posting his second shutout of the playoffs.
In the wake of Game 4’s battle of the goaltenders, both unquestionably playing their best hockey of the series so far in the tight 2-0 affair, it remains to be seen who will step up to the task Wednesday night for Game 5, as both groups come in hungry for the series lead. For Toronto’s netminder, that will mean needing some offensive action from the group in front of him compared to the last game, which John Tavares spoke about after an optional skate Wednesday morning.
“I think Joe’s been great since he’s come in,” Tavares said. “Certainly gave us a great chance to get a win. Unfortunately, we weren’t able to put any home for him. On us to go out there and provide some support, and for him to continue what he’s been doing all game and throughout the series.”
Last Sunday was the second time the Leafs were shut out this postseason, averaging just over four goals a game outside those two blank efforts. Now returning home, they’ll be relying on their offensive superstars, along with key depth pieces, to step up and get creative on the attack to get back on track.
“I think we just enjoy being at home,” Tavares said. “Tremendous fanbase and energy that they provide.”
That being said, Leafs fans won’t soon forget that the other shutout they faced this postseason came in Game 5 last series, at home. And while Toronto has fared better at home in their other contests these playoffs, all but one have been decided by just one goal.
As we’ve seen many times through many Leafs playoff runs, tonight is another test of whether they can rise to the occasion. If Bobrovsky keeps up his peak form, can Woll respond with the same? And if Woll plays lights out once again, can the group in front of him bounce back offensively and reclaim their series lead?
More must-reads:
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Red Wings Announce Major Change for Their 100th Season and Fans Are Fired Up
The Red Wings have announced that they are bringing back their iconic 'Hockeytown' logo to center ice at Little Caesars Arena for their 100th year in the NHL. A somewhat familiar look is coming back to center ice at Little Caesars Arena, which has been the home of the Detroit Red Wings since 2017. A special fan polling has resulted in the announcement that the iconic former 'Hockeytown' logo from Joe Louis Arena, their former home, is coming back as part of a new special logo for the team's 100th year. Asia Gholston, Senior Vice President of Brand Marketing for Ilitch Sports + Entertainment, released the following statement. The center ice fan vote, launched in partnership with Meijer, was a great way to get fans involved in Red Wings Centennial right from the start. Through an incredible response to this vote, fans have made it clear they're fired up for what's to come in celebrating 100 years of Hockeytown, which is only possible due to their unwavering support for the Winged Wheel. The Red Wings featured the 'Hockeytown' logo at Joe Louis Arena in 1996, which remained until the building's closure in 2017. The Red Wings then used the same logo in their 1st year at Little Caesars Arena, but since then have just utilized a large team logo. The Red Wings celebrate their 100th year in the NHL The Red Wings were founded in 1926, but are in the midst of the longest drought of postseason hockey in their history. Considering that they've now been around for 100 years, that postseason absence is a surprising statistic. Red Wings GM Steve Yzerman has started to feel some heat for having not been able to get the team to the postseason in each of his first 6 years on the job.
Steelers Rookie Kaleb Johnson Gets Very Honest Rating In First Game Against Jacksonville
The Pittsburgh Steelers drafted running back Kaleb Johnson in the third round of the 2025 NFL Draft. Johnson comes to the Steel City after a tremendous career at Iowa, where he routinely faced stacked defensive fronts and still found ways to excel. The Steelers clearly believe he has the physicality, vision, and work ethic to contribute right away, especially in an offense that prides itself on a strong running game. In the Steelers’ first preseason game against the Jacksonville Jaguars, Pittsburgh came away with a 31-25 victory. Johnson saw limited but notable action, carrying the football eight times for 20 yards and catching one pass for six yards. While his stat line didn’t jump off the page, his debut provided the coaching staff with an initial look at how he adjusts to NFL speed and physicality. Following the game, former Steelers two-time Super Bowl champion Chris Hoke appeared on the KDKA Nightly Sports Call to give his honest assessment of Johnson’s first NFL outing. Hoke noted that while Johnson showed flashes of his college toughness, he still needs to work on reading NFL-level defenses and hitting the hole with more urgency. He emphasized that preseason is about learning and adapting, and that Johnson has the tools to grow into a productive player for Pittsburgh if he embraces the grind. "On the one sack earlier in the game, Mason [Rudolph] wanted to check it down to him and he stayed in to protect," Hoke said Saturday on the KDKA Nightly Sports Call. "There's been a lot of talk about, 'Can Kaleb Johnson protect?' That's a big part of why he needs to be out there getting these reps, because he needs to protect Aaron Rodgers in the regular season. He stayed in there too long, didn't leak out for the safety valve, but Kaleb Johnson broke tackles." Hoke, as a whole, sounded very pleased with what he saw from Johnson. While the stats were not impressive, the eye test revealed Johnson’s burst and vision. Perhaps his best moment came when he planted Jaguars rookie Travis Hunter into the turf. Hoke acknowledged that Johnson still has plenty to work on but expressed confidence that he can get there. "A lot of times when you are a running back and you get to a hole, you are going to have a guy there," Hoke continued. "You've got to make the first guy miss. He stiffed-arm, he got outside, got some positive yardage when a lot of times we saw last year running backs were going down on contact at the first guy. So, I really like what I see from Kaleb Johnson." The Steelers’ running back room looks noticeably different heading into the 2025 season. Like several other key positions on the roster, it underwent a complete overhaul. Pittsburgh will open the year with a one-two punch of Jaylen Warren and Johnson, though many analysts believe Johnson could begin stealing carries from Warren as the season progresses and eventually emerge as the lead back. Steelers Could Have A Punishing Rushing Attack In addition to Warren and Johnson, the Steelers added veteran running back Kenneth Gainwell in the offseason. Fresh off a Super Bowl victory with the Philadelphia Eagles, Gainwell brings playoff experience and versatility to the group. Together, this trio will be the foundation that Offensive Coordinator Arthur Smith and Head Coach Mike Tomlin lean on to power the offense. If the Steelers are serious about being legitimate contenders in 2025, their ground game will need to set the tone early and often. With Smith’s physical, run-first philosophy and a backfield that blends youth, experience, and explosiveness, Pittsburgh has the pieces to build one of the most punishing rushing attacks in the league.
Commanders' signing of former third-round pick shows their opinions on the position group, and might foreshadow a current injury
Washington Commanders HC Dan Quinn spoke with the media before practice today and continued to express his displeasure with the team's results in their blowout loss on Friday night. He spoke about the depth he likes on the team, but also hinted at some positions that could use some help. Quinn also said that the team would be working out a handful of players following practice today, and that they are always willing to improve the team where it's possible. Well, the Commanders signed a player today following the workouts that could hint at what Quinn was talking about, and more. Commanders sign former third-round pick The Commanders are signing a former third-round pick in LB Duke Riley, who was actually drafted by the Atlanta Falcons when Dan Quinn was the head coach there. This signing comes after the Commanders worked out 14 players after practice today, which contained seven linebackers and no wide receivers. After the performance we saw in the first preseason game on defense and special teams, these workouts shouldn't be surprising though. Riley was a starting linebacker in Atlanta when he was drafted in 2017, and eventually landed in Miami in 2021, where he has been a rotational linebacker and special-teams defender. That tells me a lot about what they saw on film after watching the first preseason game. Could the writing be on the wall? This immediately raises two flags for me: who would he replace on special teams, and what does this mean for the health of another linebacker? When you go back and watch the film, Dominique Hampton did not look good at all at his new linebacker position, and I don't have him making the active roster. The team also drafted Kain Medrano, who is listed as a linebacker on the depth chart by the team. Other than that, the Commanders have no true depth at linebacker. You have a special-teams ace who can't play linebacker, and a linebacker who can't play special teams. That's not a good combo for roster cuts. Veteran Nick Bellore has been an outstanding special-teams player, but could his lack of ability at linebacker cost the 36-year-old? Hopeful second-round linebacker Jordan Magee has so much potential, but he's already dealing with an undisclosed injury after playing only 16 snaps in his rookie season due to injuries. Signing Riley, who can rotate at linebacker and be a key special-teams piece, means that the team either doesn't like what they saw on film with special teams, or they aren't sure if Magee can stay healthy. Either way, this signing is filling in two major needs right now.
Warriors Take Strong Stance on Jonathan Kuminga Trade
The Golden State Warriors want free agent forward Jonathan Kuminga to agree to the contract they offered this summer. The last deal the Warriors presented to the young forward was a two-year $45 million contract. However, Kuminga still declined it and insists on his desire to have at least a $30 million salary per season. The Warriors want to move on from Kuminga. By giving him a team-friendly contract, they believe it'll be easier to facilitate a sign-and-trade. However, the 22-year-old wants to have a bigger deal than what Golden State has offered. Most people think it's because of the contract extensions that his fellow 2021 draftees have signed with their teams. For example, Orlando Magic guard Jalen Suggs signed a five-year, $150 million extension. Another player who has had a better deal with their team was Franz Wagner. Wagner signed a five-year, $224 million extension with the Magic and was drafted after Kuminga. The Warriors Are Putting Their Foot Down Kuminga has not received a fresh offer from the Warriors, and it appears that it will remain the same. NBA insider Jake Fischer of "The Stein Line" revealed that the organization isn't looking forward to making any amendments to their two-year deal for the forward. "But Golden State, sources say, is not open to amending its stance on the second year of the two-year, $45 million offer it has extended to the 22-year-old swingman. The Warriors are insistent that Year 2 is a team option; Kuminga would naturally prefer a player option," Fischer wrote. There's a stalemate between the two sides, as they both want what's best for their current situation. Kuminga believes in his talent and wants to earn like a starter. Fischer added that the current state might extend until September. This gives the 6-foot-8 forward less time to decide what his next step should be. The Warriors would still prefer that Kuminga accepts the offer, to make it easier for them to make a trade. "The sides thus remain locked into a staring contest that some well-placed observers believe could drag into September at this rate. Kuminga has until Oct. 1 to accept his $8 million qualifying offer for the 2025-26 season and bet on himself to capitalize once he becomes an unrestricted free agent next summer." Kuminga is rumored to be part of a trade that would allow the Warriors to acquire guard-forward Josh Giddey.
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