This part of the schedule is what coach Ron Wilson had in mind when he urged his kid-friendly lineup to be spoilers.

Starting with overtime wins over Boston on Tuesday and Tampa Bay on Thursday, the 29th-place Leafs have four games with clubs in the playoff race or below them. That's plenty of incentive for the second-youngest team in the NHL, which is trying to find ways to make an impression for coach Wilson and general manager Brian Burke for 2010-11.

"With the position we're in, you want to take a lot of pride and purpose going into a game," second-year defenseman Luke Schenn said before the Leafs beat the Lightning.

"It's a matter of finding our identity," winger Viktor Stalberg added.

No. 1 Star: Joe Pavelski, San Jose Sharks The Sharks forward had two goals and two assists in the third period,...

TORONTO - The youth movement has injected some new life into the long moribund Toronto Maple Leafs, and the way the kids have played of late offers up some tantalizing visions of better times ahead.

The youth movement has injected some life into the Toronto Maple Leafs. The pieces fit together brilliantly Thursday night in a 4-3 overtime victory over the Tampa Bay Lightning, with rookies Viktor Stalberg, Tyler Bozak and Luca Caputi doing the heavy lifting in regulation and Phil Kessel, himself just 22, sealing the deal at 3:33 of the extra session.

I'm kind of a Tomas Kaberle supporter, as anyone who reads this blog might have guessed. He became my favourite Leaf during the Quinn era, mostly because of his unselfish and under-appreciated play, and remains so today, though the spotlight has definitely shifted. While Sundin, Tucker, Cujo, and McCabe were celebrated like heroes for their superstar qualities as much as their playoff success, Kaberle's quiet but vital contributions were steadily overlooked by the media.

These days, Tomas is one of the most talked about Leafs, but appreciated mostly for his theoretical trade-value to the team, and not for the skill-set that he brings to the ice. He is now the Leafs leading scorer, destined to become the first defenceman in the history of the universe to accomplish that, and the only player on the current roster to play more games in a Leafs uniform then Nikolai Kulemin. Yes, Kulemin. I've triple-checked that to make sure it's correct. Kulemin has played 2 more games then Luke Schenn.

So, while I'm usually the guy defending Kaberle from unfair criticism, and pointing out his contributions when I think they've been overlooked, I have to be honest here; something doesn't feel quite right. Tomas is struggling right now. I'm not sure why. Gonna try to figure it out.

Tomas hasn't exactly been a scoring dynamo from the blue-line, other then a couple of 4 and 5-point games in late October, but he has been steady and consistent. Prior to the Olympic break, Kaberle had not once gone more then 3 consecutive games without registering a point. Since returning from a quarter-final exit with the Czechs, Kaberle has now yet to appear on the scoresheet for 5 consecutive games and is currently in the midst of a six-game slump. He's also a brutal minus 7 in the last 6 games, minus 6 since returning from Vancouver, plummeting his total plus/minus all the way down to -16.

Since December 1st, Kaberle has had just one multiple-point game. He has just 6 points on the powerplay since January, a span of 25 games. With still 16 games left in the season, his lead over Kessel in team scoring - with the distinction of being the first Maple Leafs defenceman to do it hanging in the balance - is down to just 3 points and looks less then assured.

Is it the GM?

How many times can you hear somebody say they're not going to ask you to do something before you realize you're expected to do it? I doubt Kaberle's mini-capitulation on deadline day came as any surprise to Burke, who holds the real hammer in the summer, but it came too late to impress. There's a fine line between being stubborn and being loyal and Kaberle has walked this line very well in the past, but he might be beginning to wobble as Sundin once did.

Is it the Coach?

Kaberle and Wilson don't seem to click so well, but who does Wilson click with? The powerplay, the penalty kill, 4-on-4, our overtime record - all are atrocious. There has to be some disappointment on Kaberle's part that there wasn't more of a push for the playoffs, and more urgency from the coaching staff to fix some serious issues, earlier in the season. Now, most of the players that led the Leafs to the bottom of the Conference are on playoff-bound teams while Kaberle watches his ice-time and relevance diminish before another early summer holiday.

Is it the New Guy?

When Phaneuf joined the team, I was excited for Tomas becuase I had visions of spectacular cross-ice passes being blasted from Dion's rocket-cannon, as the Leafs new and improved powerplay duo unleashed devastating one-timers from the blue line. So far, not so much. Since Phaneuf's arrival 10 games ago, Kaberle has just 3 points on the powerplay, scored consecutively over 3 games, and zero points at even-strength. The team is just 5-for-45 on the PP since Phaneuf came aboard, starting out well, but now mired in an 0-for-29 slump. So far, the chemistry is not there.

Am I the New Guy now?

It really wasn't that long ago that Kaberle shared dressing rooms with Mats Sundin, Darcy Tucker, Bryan McCabe, and Pavel Kubina. They even had a nickname for their clubhouse. Now even the supporting characters, like Steen, Colaiacovo, Antropov, Stajan, White, and Ponikarovksy, have turned in their keys and found new places to dwell. With all of the unfamiliar faces around, being welcomed and making themselves feel comfortable, not to mention a whole new atmosphere and culture, who's the new guy around here anyhow? Tomas might feel just as lonely and alienated as any newcomer in this dressing room, maybe more.

Is it burnout?

It's been a long and arduous season for the NHL players that participated in the Olympics, trying to cram 14 or so games into every month, plus a mini-tournament. Kaberle turned 32 just last week (March 2nd) and may be wearing down a little. His ice time is reduced now with the arrival of Phaneuf, but I'm thinking that it's down to what it's supposed to be, and that the injury to Komisarek had Kabby eating more ice time, and playing in more strenuous situations then the GM had originally intended for him. In any case, carrying the load for a losing team has gotta be tough and Kabby could be burning out. I don't want to believe it, but it's a maybe.

Where's my motivation?

Team-goals aside, Tomas has accomplished much this year. Tied for 5th among NHL defenceman for points. Tied for 14th in the NHL (with Crosby) for points on the powerplay. Tied for 18th overall (again, with Crosby) for assists. Reached the 800 games played milestone, passing Tied Domi for 10th spot on the Leafs all-time roster. Surpassed the career point totals of Maple Leafs legends Wendel Clark, Doug Gilmour, Tim Horton, Lanny McDonald, and Norm Ullman. Reached the 400 assist milestone with his last assist (now 7 games ago). What's left?

For most of the season, Kaberle was on pace for his 2nd-best offensive totals of his career, though his recent slump has put that target curiously in doubt. Without 12 points in his remaining 16 games, it'll be just his 3rd best season, and he still needs 7 points to do that. His plus/minus is by far the worst it's ever been.

Meanwhile, a huge motivating factor looms before him. Since October, Kaberle has led the team in scoring and could become the first defenceman in the history of the franchise to do so. However, as mentioned, the gap is closing fast. Kessel is just 3 points behind Tomas with still 16 games left to play. But there could be even more at stake...

A hypothetical scenario came into my mind where I envisioned Burke quietly telling Kaberle's agent that "the team's leading scorer" (whomever that may be) would never be traded under his watch. I could see this being true, as it doesn't send a great message to the rest of the team if the leading scorer gets dealt, and it fits with my perception of Burke's firm principles about loyalty and rewarding success. On the other hand, should Kaberle lose the team scoring crown to Kessel, it might reflect a player who's good - but not quite a leader. A great guy, but not a winner. A player whose talent is being surpassed, whose best days are behind him. If there's a way for Tomas to prove he belongs, I think this would be the way to do it. Finish the season as the team's leading scorer and make history... or don't, and people will see what they want to see.

"I always look at the guys like Steve Yzerman and those guys that played on only one team. Obviously, these days, it's really tough to stay on one team your whole career... you never know what will happen in the summertime. Now I have to show I want to be here and play my best hockey."
-Toronto Star, March 4th.
Except, that's not happening so far. Instead we're seeing the opposite, almost as if the bags are already packed.

( "Sleepers, Keepers, Bench'em or Drop'em" is a weekly fantasy hockey column written by Darryl...

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By now, you've probably seen Jimmy Kimmel's "Handsome Men Club" video. It's been all over the web this week, and for good reason: it's slickly produced, packed with superstar cameos, and completely hilarious.

Too bad the whole thing was ripped off from the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Yes, the Leafs have had their own very similar private club for decades. But few people know about it, so apparently Kimmel thought he could steal the concept, tweak it slightly, and pass it off as original work.

Nice try Jimmy. Unfortunately for you, Bloge Salming has top secret footage of the most recent meeting. And now we're posting it for the world to see.



(Special thanks to Vintage Leafs for helping us track down all the photos.)

Tampa @ Toronto 7pmStamkos will edge his way closer to 50 goals tonight as the Lightning fight for their playoff lives against the Buds. Stamkos, like all home town boys, seem to save their best for the ACC. Unlucky for us.Sens @ Calgary 9:30pmThe Sens also play the Leafs, in a way, with 5 players recently from the blue and white possibly in the line-up for the Flames. The Sens would only be so

Matt Cooke's hit on Marc Savard was a vicious cheapshot. It wasn't a case of "finishing a check", it was an intent to seriously injure a defenseless opponent by targeting his head.

The league announced today that they won't suspend Cooke. They made the right call. And they should be embarrassed by that.

As sickening as Cooke's hit was, he didn't do anything that's against the rules. He didn't leave his feet. It wasn't an elbow. It wasn't a charge. You can watch the replay as many times as your stomach can stand, and you won't see anything illegal. Put simply, there's nothing in the NHL rule book today that says Cooke did anything wrong.

There should be. Even among NHL fans, there seems to be a growing consensus on that point. But right now the league doesn't have a rule against blindsiding a defenseless opponent with a direct hit to the head. If you want to scramble a guy's brains, you can. Just make sure you use your shoulder, and it's case closed.

Was it intent to injure? Sure. But there's nothing in the rule book that says you can't try to hurt someone with a legal hit. Wendel Clark tried to hurt guys with his hits. So did Scott Stevens. So did plenty of guys.

(Update: As commenters point out, there are match penalties for "attempts to injure an opponent in any manner". So it's wrong to say there's nothing in the rulebook on this. That said, I can't remember ever seeing a match penalty called on a hit that didn't violate any other rule.)

Long-time readers know that I'm a Don Cherry acolyte. I love fighting and I'm not embarrassed to say so. And I love hitting, and celebrate it every chance I get. There's room for big hits in this league, even ones that hurt somebody.

But there has to be line, and Cooke crossed it. We know too much about concussions now to celebrate that sort of hit anymore.

Here's the problem: The solution isn't to invent a reason to suspend Cooke. The solution is to fix the rule book. Now.

I don't know about you, but I don't trust this league to start handing out suspensions based on intent. They have enough trouble handing out suspensions for obvious violations -- imagine what they'd do with some room for interpretation. I'd rather see them have clear rules with clear consequences. When it comes to head shots, they don't have that today.

They should. They've had years to get this right. They could have done it last year. In fact, they could have done it this year, effective immediately, if they wanted to (remember when they invented the Avery rule in the middle of a playoff series?). Real leagues, with real leadership, make tough decisions like this all the time. The NHL could have done it too.

They just didn't. That's where the outrage should be. Not that they didn't find a reason to suspend Matt Cooke for a hit that was clean according to the rules; but because they have a set of rules that actually allow blindside hits aimed directly to the head in the first place.

The league got it right this time. Let's hope that next year, when somebody throws the same hit, they get it right again: with a double-digit suspension.

Boston Bruins GM Peter Chiarelli says centre Marc Savard might miss the team's final 17 games of the regular season because of the severity of the Grade 2 concussion he suffered Sunday.

The Vancouver Canucks hope to end a gruelling 14-game road swing on a winning note when they visit the Phoenix Coyotes on Wednesday night (10 p.m. ET).

1. Several weeks back I was screaming at my TV during a Leafs game. I said "For Christ's sake Stalberg, start skating and hitting or get the Fu¢k off my team". I can't believe it worked! He has been a beast these last few games. My only regret is that I used up this magic on the Leafs instead of those GM commercials during the Olympics. 2. Kessel can't score on Thomas. One would have to assume

Luca Caputi had to share the spotlight during his big homecoming after Nikolai Kulemin stole the show with an overtime goal. Kulemin scored 4:11 into overtime to give the Toronto Maple Leafs a 4-3 victory over the Boston Bruins on Tuesday night. While Kulemin was the star with the winning goal, it was also a big night for Caputi.

TORONTO - Luca Caputi's big homecoming had to share the spotlight with Nikolai Kulemin's overtime heroics.

I’m not a fan of the Olympics.It’s not that the IOC is a litigious, corrupt, and venal organization, nor is it the fact that so many of the events aren’t even sports (why aren't darts, shuffle board or ballroom dance IOC sanctioned?).Who am I kidding? It’s all of these things.I thoroughly enjoyed the men’s hockey. I watched just about every match and sincerely hope the pros are back in the winter

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The Toronto Maple Leafs host the Boston Bruins on Tuesday, hoping to turn some of their youthful energy into goals.

The Ottawa Senators hope to snap a three-game winless streak when they visit the Edmonton Oilers Tuesday night (9:30 p.m. ET) at Rexall Place.

The Calgary Flames play the first of two big games in six days against the Detroit Red Wings at Joe Louis Arena on Tuesday.

HNIC's senior online reporter Tim Wharnsby dishes out the latest news, buzz and inside information from the hockey world.

Leafs vs Boston: With Savard injured the Bruins can't like their chances of making the playoffs anymore. In fact it's such a huge loss that this actually could mean they draft twice in the top 5 for the first time since the Islanders did it in 2000. Boston are 8 points away from a 4th or 5th overall pick as of today. It's gotta be on Chiarelli's mind and frankly wouldn't that be better than just

Short and sweet, I am trying to be productive today so you don't get any filler (funny how the post isn't empty eh?)
Here are the top 5 dreams of Leaf fans round yon Interwebs that NEED TO DIE BECAUSE THEY ARN'T FUCKING HAPPENING.

1 - Getting Kovalchuck in the off season. Too much money, too much term, too much soft one way sniper and we already have Kessel and half what he will cost.

2- Trading Kaberle to Vancouver for Hodgeson/Kesler whatever. The Nucks don't need Kaberle bad enough to part with the price Burke will be asking.

3 - Trading Kaberle for Jordan Staal. See number 2, the Pens wont even consider it.

4- Penciling Kadri in the lineup next year. He won't get more than a cup of tea with the Leafs next year and will spend the majority with the Marlies to put on weight and test his metal against grown ass men.

5- Another quantity for quality trade (see Phaneuf trade). I've seen a lot of "well look what we gave up for Phaneuf!" talk when discussing possible future trades. But think about this. Most of the remaining peices are either UFA's that are going to be let walk (Exelby, Lundmark) or young talent (Kulemin, Schenn, Caputi) that Burke won't trade.
All of the tradeable value, except Kaberle , is gone.

Bonus crushed dream
Stop expecting a Kings ransom for Kaberle.
Lets pretend the Hawks need a puck mover, and they don't win the cup, maybe get beat in the quarters or whatever(note, I am not suggesting this trade it is just a value example) and they REALLY like Kaberle and think he could be the final peice to get them the chalice. Ignoring cap situations and logistics, I peg maximum return for a Kaberle straight up to Chicago at the 26th over all 1st round pick, Akim Alue and either a 2nd round in 2011 or a 3rd in 2010, and even that is pushing it.

Each week, CBCSports.ca senior hockey writers Scott Morrison and Tim Wharnsby conduct (mostly) friendly banter on the latest hot-button issues in the NHL.

BOCA RATON, Fla. - As more ugly head shots make news, the NHL's 30 general managers are still wrestling with how to handle the issue.