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The Toronto Maple Leafs opened their second-round Stanley Cup Playoffs series with a win that was both electrifying and historic. In a 5–4 victory over the Florida Panthers at Scotiabank Arena, the Leafs tied a long-standing franchise record for the most goals by defensemen through the first seven games of a postseason, with seven total from the blue line.
Morgan Rielly, who has consistently stepped up in big games, scored his 14th career playoff goal in the opening period. That goal not only added to Toronto’s early momentum but also pushed Rielly to the top of the team’s all-time playoff goals list among defensemen. Chris Tanev also added a goal and an assist, contributing to the defensive scoring tally that now matches the mark previously set by the franchise.
Toronto’s blue line was not the only unit contributing. William Nylander exploded with two goals and an assist, all coming in a dominant first period that gave the Leafs a 3–0 advantage. Matthew Knies also chipped in with a goal and an assist. The Leafs built a 4–1 lead heading into the third period, but the Panthers clawed their way back with a flurry of goals from Eetu Luostarinen, Uvis Balinskis, and Sam Bennett.
Goaltending took a dramatic turn during the game. Starter Anthony Stolarz left midway through the second period after taking a hit to the head. Backup Joseph Woll came in and made 17 crucial saves to help preserve the win, especially in the final minutes as Florida pressed hard for the equalizer.
Despite the late surge from the Panthers, the Leafs displayed poise and resilience in the closing moments. Their ability to hold off the defending Stanley Cup champions highlighted a level of maturity and balance that has often eluded them in previous playoff runs.
With this win, Toronto takes a 1–0 series lead and continues to showcase a more complete, team-wide effort. The defense is not just contributing with physicality and zone coverage, but is actively driving offense and impacting the scoreboard.
Game 2 is scheduled for Wednesday, May 7, in Toronto. If the Maple Leafs can continue to get production from all areas of the ice, their hopes for a deep playoff run may be more realistic than ever.
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'Michael Hage is five years away from possibly making a significant impact with the Habs.'
Excluding NHL veteran Ivan Demidov, Michael Hage is the Canadiens’ best forward prospect. A guy like Alexander Zharovsky, as talented as he is, is still far from Hage’s level, who is seen as a top-quality prospect on the Bettman circuit.Scott Wheeler, this summer, placed him 51st in his ranking of the NHL’s top prospects, after all.And in light of the Canadiens’ current search for a 2nd center, Hage is a name that has people talking. The forward plays center, and has a number of interesting attributes that could make him the answer to the Habs’ need any day now. But not everyone agrees… and Eric Macramalla ( TSN 690 contributor), on The Shaun Starr Show, agreed: [Michael Hage] is five years away from making a significant impact with the Canadiens. – Eric Macramalla https://youtu.be/ImpQNAqVSdI?si=QQCooQi7xyhg3Hok t=1082 [content-ads]Hage, who just turned 19, scored 34 points in 33 games in his first NCAA season. He’ll play another year in the American college circuit… and we expect to see him make the jump to the pros for the 2026-27 season.Or at the very end of the 2025-26 season, but his first full-time season in the pros won’t be until 2026-27.In the event that Hage spends another year in the NCAA and needs a season or two to take off in the NHL, it’s possible that his real impact in Montreal won’t be felt for a few years. And I think that’s the point: we can’t (yet) consider Hage a sure bet for the second center position.Hage definitely has the potential to become the team’s second center, but he still has some way to go in his development. And in reality, it wouldn’t be surprising if he didn’t become an excellent second center until, say, 2027-28 or even 2028-29.Can the Canadiens afford to be so patient? Inan ideal world, Kirby Dach would have developed sufficiently to be minimally a good transition option. But in the real world, his health is unclear… and he really hasn’t proven to be the solution to that problem.No, there’s a reason Mason McTavish is so linked to the Canadiens… and one wonders if sooner or later, the Habs will have to try to bring in reinforcements from the outside while waiting for Hage… if he really does become that much-sought-after second center, of course.[spacer title=’Overtime’]- I like it. – Incredible. – It happens every summer, that. – Things are bad in the Bronx. – Ah.
The Lakers could have another undrafted gem on their hands
In a summer dominated by LeBron James and Luka Doncic headlines, the Los Angeles Lakers may have quietly struck gold once again in the UDFA market, this time with former Villanova standout Eric Dixon. After initially agreeing to a two-way contract following the 2024–25 NBA Draft, Dixon’s path to the professional ranks was temporarily delayed due to injury, forcing him to miss Summer League. The Lakers, however, remained invested in the 24-year-old forward, eventually signing him to an Exhibit 10 deal, a move that keeps him in the pipeline and positions him as a potential breakout candidate through the G League. Dixon brings one of the most decorated resumes in college basketball. The 6-foot-8, 255-pound forward led all Division I scorers last season, averaging 23.3 points per game while shooting an impressive 40.7% from beyond the arc on 7.2 attempts per contest, a remarkable transformation for a player once seen as a traditional low-post presence. He concluded his five-year career at Villanova as the school’s all-time leading scorer, finishing with 2,314 points and etching his name into Big East history. While concerns around his age and lateral quickness may have contributed to him being passed over in the draft, Dixon’s refined skill set and ability to stretch the floor make him a strong fit in today’s NBA. He delivered in big moments throughout the season, including a 38-point outburst against Maryland on Nov. 11, and consistently carried the offensive load for the Wildcats. With his Exhibit 10 deal, Dixon is expected to begin the season with the South Bay Lakers, where he’ll aim to prove he’s healthy and ready to make an immediate impact. If he performs as expected, a return to a two-way contract, and possibly NBA minutes, could be on the horizon. The Lakers have developed a reputation for identifying and nurturing overlooked talent, with Austin Reaves and Alex Caruso emerging as prime examples. Dixon, with his offensive versatility and physical readiness, could be next in line. In a loaded Western Conference, unearthing low-cost contributors is more important than ever. Dixon might just be the next hidden gem to emerge from the Lakers’ development pipeline.
Steelers Now Have A Surefire Solution To End Cam Heyward's Hold-In
The Pittsburgh Steelers got hit with quite a bit of interesting news on Thursday. It started when NFL insider Adam Schefter reported that veteran defensive lineman Cam Heyward was staging a hold-in, attending training camp but not fully participating as he seeks a new contract. Not long after that, kicker Chris Boswell was also reported to be interested in a new deal, adding another contract situation to the team’s growing list of concerns. As for Heyward, Steelers insider Mark Kaboly quickly suggested a possible solution that could effectively end the hold-in without requiring a full contract extension. Kaboly proposed the idea of adding incentives to Heyward’s existing deal, which would reward performance while avoiding a long-term financial commitment. He believes this compromise would allow the Steelers to show respect for Heyward’s contributions while keeping the team’s salary cap in check. Kaboly explained that the Steelers used a similar approach in 2016 with star wide receiver Antonio Brown. At the time, Brown was also seeking a new deal, and instead of offering an extension, the team added incentives to his contract to keep him satisfied for the season. The move kept Brown on the field and productive, and Kaboly believes this method could work just as well for Heyward, helping resolve the situation without complicating the team’s financial outlook. "Steelers don't restructure contracts until a year out, but Cam Heyward has 2 years remaining on his deal," Kaboly posted on his social media. "Here is the kicker and this is what I would use if I were Heyward: The Steelers worked some funny math with Antonio Brown in 2016 to get him a $4 million raise." Heyward just received a new deal ahead of the 2024 season. Now, Kaboly is pointing out that with two years remaining on his contract, the Steelers typically don’t restructure deals until there’s only one year left. However, Kaboly believes that if the team follows the same approach they used with Brown, it could help resolve Heyward’s situation. "They moved $4 million of AB's 2017 money to 2016, then tore up the contract in 2017 and made him the highest-paid WR in the NFL," Kaboly said. "AB got a $4 million raise, and the Steelers were able to keep their long-standing policy intact." Both sides could technically come out ahead with this approach. The money was going to Heyward anyway, but by advancing a portion of it to this year, he gets earlier financial recognition without requiring a full extension. Then, when the time comes to negotiate a new deal, both parties can do so in good faith, working toward a contract that makes sense for everyone involved. For now, moving some money forward would be a clear sign of appreciation for Heyward’s contributions and an acknowledgment of how the market has shifted for elite defensive linemen. It would also allow the Steelers to maintain their long-standing policy of waiting until a player enters the final year of his contract before negotiating an extension. Ultimately, it’s a short-term financial gesture that builds trust and buys time for a more permanent solution. Steelers And Cam Heyward Both Could Come Out As Winners This approach not only benefits Heyward financially in the short term but also helps preserve the relationship between the player and the organization. It shows the Steelers value his contributions and want to keep him motivated without rushing into long-term decisions prematurely. By handling things this way, the team retains flexibility in managing their salary cap and future roster moves. It also avoids the potential pitfalls of a large extension that might limit options later. For Heyward, it offers a sense of security and respect while keeping open the door for a more comprehensive agreement when the time is right.
Colts lose impressive rookie for the season due to devasting injury
Justin Walley had impressed during the offseason program and into training camp, pushing hard to start alongside Kenny Moore and Charvarius Ward. A major injury will change the Indianapolis cornerback equation. The Colts third-round rookie suffered an ACL tear. Shane Steichen confirmed postgame, via the Indianapolis Star’s Nate Atkins. This comes shortly after the third-year Colts HC confirmed Anthony Richardson had suffered a dislocated finger. Initially coming up as an option in the slot behind Moore, Walley made an offseason leap to the point he was being given real consideration to beating out JuJu Brents and Jaylon Jones for the Colts’ boundary spot opposite Ward. The Colts have experienced issues at outside corner for multiple seasons, and this development thins their latest competition. Brents has experienced frequent injury trouble since being drafted in the 2023 second round, missing 23 games. This included a 15-game absence last season, altering the Colts’ CB plans early. Walley’s setback comes as both Brents and Jones — a regular CB starter over the past two seasons — had missed camp time because of hamstring issues. The Colts chose Walley 80th overall in April, further augmenting a position group bolstered by winning the Ward free agency derby. GM Chris Ballard followed through on his stripe-changing proclamation by handing both Ward and safety Camryn Bynum big-ticket deals on Day 1 of free agency. Moore is already tied to a three-year, $30M deal. This still left one spot open at corner, and Walley had regularly mixed in with the first team — to the point he may have been moving ahead of Brents and Jones in the competition. A Minnesota alum, Walley intercepted seven passes in four seasons with the Big Ten program. The 5-foot-11 corner returned an INT for a touchdown last season and blocked two kicks, earning second-team All-Big Ten acclaim. Walley’s rookie contract runs through 2028, but this injury will impact his time spent to claim a 2026 starting job, as a lengthy rehab odyssey is on tap.
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