NHL Playoff races: Leafs now 7 points out of 7th place

NHL East has 6 teams battling for 3 playoff spots

By picking up two points in their overtime and shootout losses on the weekend, the Toronto Maple Leafs find they are now just 7 points out of 7th place, and only four points behind Carolina holding the eighth and final Eastern Conference NHL playoff spot:

EASTERN DIV GP W L OT PTS

6. MONTREAL NE 63 33 23 7 73

7. NY RANGERS ATL 64 33 27 4 70

8. CAROLINA SE 63 29 25 9 67

9. BUFFALO NE 61 29 25 7 65

10. TORONTO NE 63 27 27 9 63

11. ATLANTA SE 63 26 26 11 63


Montreal is very close to being in, so in my mind there are really 5 teams battling for 2 playoff positions.


NHL Western Conference 2011 Playoff Race

The West is truly crazy, and we're gonna have to keep an eye on this one and narrow it down a bit in a week or two, but right now it is wide open. There are 11 NHL teams battling for West playoff spots 3 through 8:

WESTERN DIV GP W L OT PTS

3. SAN JOSE PAC 63 36 21 6 78

4. PHOENIX PAC 64 33 21 10 76

5. LOS ANGELES PAC 62 35 23 4 74

6. CALGARY NW 64 32 23 9 73

7. MINNESOTA NW 62 33 23 6 72

8. DALLAS PAC 62 33 23 6 72

9. CHICAGO CEN 62 33 23 6 72

10. NASHVILLE CEN 63 32 23 8 72

11. ANAHEIM PAC 63 33 25 5 71

12. COLUMBUS CEN 61 31 24 6 68

13. ST LOUIS CEN 62 28 25 9 65



The Elite: Vancouver, Philadelphia, Detroit, Tampa Bay, Pittsburgh, Boston, Washington


The Pack: ALL the teams featured in the playoff races above.


The Future: Edmonton, Colorado, Ottawa, NY Islanders, New Jersey, Florida

With the NHL trade deadline being tomorrow afternoon, we're down to the nitty gritty and already seeing playoff-style intensity in games affecting divisional standings. This is gonna be fun!!!

Go Leafs Go!

Phil Kessel on fire as Leafs outscore Habs 5-4

Four points for red-hot Phil Kessel as Toronto Maple Leafs win 5-4 over Montreal Canadiens

The Toronto Maple Leafs sniper Phil Kessel stayed hot, scoring two nice goals and adding crucial assists on both of Bozak's markers, including the game winner.

GOAL SCORERS

TOR: Kessel, P. (PPG, 08:00 in 1st), Kessel, P. (PPG, 12:03 in 1st), Lebda, B. (13:02 in 1st), Bozak, T. (PPG, 08:30 in 2nd), Bozak, T. (04:26 in 3rd)

MTL: Halpern, J. (05:43 in 1st), Cammalleri, M. (PPG, 03:42 in 2nd), Wisniewski, J. (PPG, 04:02 in 2nd), Pacioretty, M. (17:23 in 3rd) GOALIES

IN THE NETS:

TOR: J. Reimer (W) MTL: A. Auld , C. Price (L)


Meanwhile, on the Marlies

The AHL's Toronto Marlies have been matching the Maple Leafs step-by-step, game by game, win by win. Their recent winning streak finds the Marlies battling for first place, yet the race is so close nobody has secured a playoff spot yet.


Toronto Marlies scoring leaders, as of February 24, 2011:

Number Player GP G A PTS +/- PIM PP SHG SOG SH%

17 Mike Zigomanis 52 10 30 40 -3 56 5 0 113 8.9

13 Nazem Kadri 34 13 20 33 0 54 1 0 75 17.3

29 Fabian Brunnstrom (total) 56 14 16 30 4 20 2 0 126 11.1
TEX 37 11 10 21 4 16 2 0 84 13.1
TOR 19 3 6 9 0 4 0 0 42 7.1

22 Joe Colborne (total) 58 15 14 29 -15 37 5 0 97 15.5
PRO 55 12 14 26 -16 35 4 0 92 13.0
TOR 3 3 0 3 1 2 1 0 5 60.0

Younger, Faster, Stronger Leafs showing lots of promise

Since the NHL All-Star break, the Toronto Maple Leafs are among the hottest teams in the league, with a 7-2-2 record after tonight's 2-1 win over the Islanders.

The New York Rangers just beat Carolina in a shootout, so the Buds are now six points out, with plenty of time if they can keep playing well.

"King James" Reimer shuts down Isles 2-1 to keep Leafs in playoff hunt

Kessel pots game winner as Maple Leafs stay hot

Young "King James" Reimer was outstanding again tonight in another goaltender duel, this time with the New York Islanders Montoya. Phil Kessel proved to be the knight in shining armor, scoring the game winner in the third period on a wicked wrist shot after carrying the puck 2/3 of the ice.

The Toronto Maple Leafs are now 7-2-2 in their last 11 with hot scorers and a strong and steady goalie. At post time Leafs are 6 points back of carolina, as they've just ended the 3rd period tied with the Rangers 3-3, thus earning at least a point.

Go Rangers!

Joe Colborne to Leafs in Kaberle trade

Former NCAA Division I Centre Joe Colborne headed to Maple Leafs

The Toronto Maple Leafs have today traded Tomas Kaberle to the Boston Bruins for former USA college player Joe Colborne, a 21 year old 2008 draftee who is now a 6-foot-5 centre with Boston’s AHL farm team at Providence (12 goals and 14 assists in 55 games this year), plus a 2011 first-round draft pick (Boston's, not Toronto's) and a conditional pick, likely a second-round pick in 2012, due only if Kaberle resigns with the Bruins or if Boston makes the Stanley Cup final this season.



As Kaberle is a free agent and Toronto may have an opportunity to resign him (if Boston doesn't lock him in) this summer, this deal ensures that we get at least 2 young players for Tomas Kaberle.

Well done Burkie!!!

Leafs-Bruins trade: Kaberle for Wheeler, Stuart

Although nothing has been announced yet, speculation about a Tomas Kaberle trade from Toronto to Boston is growing by the hour. As the Bruins are seeking a puck-carrying defenceman and the Toronto Maple Leafs want to get younger still, here is one possible scenario:

From Toronto to Boston:

Tomas Kaberle, D, 32 (33 on March 2nd)
Fredrik Sjostrom, LW, 27


From Boston to Toronto:

Blake Wheeler, RW, 24
Mark Stuart, D, 26


Though this may seem one-sided as Kaberle is by far the best player, he is a free agent at the end of the year and the Leafs will have an opportunity to sign him again this summer. Toronto also would receive players that are cumulatively 9 years younger than the players traded away.

Other possibilities include Boston trading a goalie prospect, or even one of their 2 first round 2011 draft picks (Toronto, Boston).

Big Jim has regal top line, storied broodmare roots

Three year old pacing colt Big Jim has a royal sire line above and some wonderful broodmare sires in his bottom line that will surely delight old-time fans of Standardbred horse racing.

Top Line - Big Jim

BIG JIM
b p2,149.1 ($834,080) 2008

WESTERN IDEAL
br 16.1 H p,5,1:48m $1,455,422 1995

WESTERN HANOVER*
br 15.1 hands p3,1:50.4m $2,541,647 1989

NO NUKES*
br 16.1 p,3,T1:52.1m $572,430 1979

OIL BURNER
br p4,1:54.2m $535,541 1973

MOST HAPPY FELLA* b p,3,T1:55m

MEADOW SKIPPER



Bottom Line - Big Jim

Dam: BOLD PINK
p,5,1:51.3m $216,852 1996

by BIG TOWNER
br p,4,1:54.4m $547,126 1974

by GENE ABBE
b p,T2:00.3m $51,239 1944

by BERT ABBE
b p,T1:59¼m 1922

by THE ABBE
blk 3,T2:10¾ m p,2:03½m 1903



2nd Dam: COOL PINK
b p4,154.2 $149,295 1984

by SONSAM
br p3,1:53.2m $820,104 1976

by ALBATROSS*
dkb/br p,4,1:54,3f $1,201,470 1968

by MEADOW SKIPPER*
br p,3,1:55.1m $428,057 1960



3rd Dam: SEA PINE
b p,3,1:56.4f $114,077 1975

by AIRLINER
b p,2,2:07.3h $8,672 1954

by ADIOS*
b p,5,T,1:57½m $33,329 1940



4th Dam: VACATION BYRD
b p3,203,4f $1,377 1964

by BYE BYE BYRD*
b p,5,T1:56.1m $554,272 1955




Here's hoping for an amazing 2011 season for Big Jim, as he looks like he may be able to carry on in the shed when his racing days are done!

"King James" Reimer gets W in relief; Leafs beat Sabres 2-1 in regulation

Young James Reimer inspires solid play from teammates

Joey Crabb was a grinder who scored the winner, Phil Kessel continued his goal streak and James Reimer and J-S Giguere combined to provide the Toronto Maple Leafs with stellar goaltending in the crucial victory over Buffalo Sabres.

After tonight's win, the Buds find themselves 6 points out of a playoff spot and just 8 points behind 7th place New York Rangers.

Go Leafs Go!

2011 Harness Racing; BIG JIM heads up Top 10 Pacers Experimental Ratings

Big Jim, Feel Like A Fool, Shadyshark Hanover and Fashion Delight: All projected to go sub 1.48!



Big Jim with his connections, including owner "Big Jim" Carr.



Stan Bergstein’s 2011 Experimental Championship Ratings

As an appetizer to Trot's NA Cup Spring Book, the release of Stan Bergstein's 2011 Experimental ratings for 3 year old pacers represents a ray of sunshine on a cold grey day.

Rank) Horse Name - 2yo Record - 3yo Rating

1) Big Jim - 1:49.1 - 1:47.1
2) Feel Like A Fool - 1:49.4 - 1:47.2
3) Shadyshark Hanover - 1:50.4 - 1:47.3
4) Fashion Delight - 1:51 - 1:47.4
5) Big Bad John - 1:50.4 - 1:48
6) Mystician - 1:52 - 1:48.1
7) Great Vintage - 1:50.4 1:48.2
8) Prodigal Seelster - 1:50 - 1:48.3
9) Mystic Desire - 1:51.4 - 1:48.4
10) Lookinforadventure 1:51.3 - 1:49



View Big Jim's World Record 1.49.1 final in the 2010 Governor's Cup:




To all horsemen and handicappers, good luck this weekend!