Fischler Report: Two Sides to the Toronto Maple Leafs

1. My now fantasy for April = Leafs versus Bruins.

2. The Kraken keep cracking me up. Here's why: they're 9-2-1 on the road. They beat Florida 5-2 Sunday night in Sunrise. Matty Beniers delivers again.

3. The two down-trending teams I'm worrying about are the St. Louis Blues (who lost Sunday night) at 12-15-1 and the Florida Panthers at 13-12-4. I expected better.

A year ago at this time, I got crazy and picked Toronto to win its first Stanley Cup since General Motors manufactured Oldsmobiles. I admit it – The Maven was a mad and impetuous boy – as I allowed my foolish heart to make that foolish call.

No, I won't do any such thing again. But I can say that I'm beyond impressed with the Maples. In fact, I'm tempted – only tempted – to repeat the prediction.

How could I not, judging by the Royal Blue and White's recent behavior. His skaters have made Kyle Dubas look like a blend of Nostradamus, Socrates, Plato, Einstein and, of course, Tie Domi.

Egad! Marner, Matthews, Tavares – the whole dang bunch – are hellbent for records on top of records. Even the alleged weak underbelly – goaltending – is more right than wrong. Defensemen go down and replacements step up.

This is one heckuva hockey club. Why it's enough to make one do cartwheels of joy, up and down, on very old Yonge Street.

Important note: Remember, I'm only talking about the regular season.

Wanna know what's gonna happen in the post-season? Sure you do. See below – although, if you're a Leafs fan – then you should have a vial of smelling salts handy.

You got The Maven's view (above) – now read how no-nonsense Sean McCaffrey's sees an eventually tormented Toronto team.

“Like sands through the hourglass, so are the days of our lives.”

For many of us during our lifetimes – the Toronto Maple Leafs have yet to win their 14th Stanley Cup, nor have we been alive to witness such a feat – an occurrence that seems as rare as seeing Haley's Comet.

The blue-and-white, who haven't won the chalice since 1967, will enter their 55th straight Spring looking for the prize that has eluded them for generations.

However, as the expression now goes – "the only leaves that fall in the Spring are the ones in Toronto."

If it weren't for the red-hot Devils and the blistering Bruins, then perhaps more American fans would be talking about the Leafs right now.

Through all games played as of Dec. 12, the Leafs are one of the four members of the "Forty Club." Only the Bruins (45 points) and Devils (43 points) have more points than Kyle Dubas' club (42 points), with the Knights just below them (41 points).

Despite their current performance during the regular season, that's all that it is – "regular."

It doesn't matter if the Leafs finish as the first or the eighth seed. What matters is what happens when the games become "extraordinary," which post-season hockey always is.

The Leafs have been motoring, but until they can prove they have enough gas to make it through the first round (everyone's well aware of the Leafs' first-round follies), then just as has been the case for the past 18 years – this season will be all for naught.

As Leaf lovers are well-aware – Boston, a perennial thorn in Toronto's side, remains atop of the Atlantic Division. Needless to say, it would benefit the Leafs if they could avoid the Beantowners in the first round. However, no matter the opponent – the Leafs will only be judged by what they do in the playoffs and not during the 82 games that precede them.

The playoff-hungry Red Wings have far exceeded expectations. What gives? Who's to blame for the Motor City Madness? Alan Greenberg has the answers:

It was supposed to be another rebuilding year, yet the new coach and several free-agent signings are paying dividends. While most experts picked the Wings to sink in the Atlantic Division, if the season ended today, they would be minutely short of a wild-card playoff spot.

After last season’s second-half fade, GM Steve Yzerman showed, as he did in Tampa, that he is not afraid to pull the trigger on deals.

The new acquisitions, and the new attitude brought in with coach Derek Lalonde, have made this team highly competitive. Lalonde's first mission was to alter the defensive style, and he's succeeded.

Last year’s dead-last blueline is now mid-pack, as is last season’s anemic offense. Special teams, which were horrendous last year, are now respectable. Check out the GM's moves: free-agent acquisition Dominik Kubalik is on a power-play tear and on pace for a career season.

Likewise, David Perron, at age 34, is providing the same offensive contribution from his peak St. Louis years.

Yzerman’s most effective get is goaltender Ville Husso, acquired from St. Louis during the off-season, for a 2022 third-round draft pick. Husso, who is 11-4-4, replaced Thomas Greiss, who struggled last year. Ville also took the No. 1 spot from Alex Nedeljkovic who has struggled this season.

On defense, sophomore Moritz Seider continues to show that he can do it all. Filip Hronek, who had a rough season last year, looks like he’s turned it around defensively and is heading for a career season with his offensive production. New acquisitions Ben Chiarot and Olli Maatta have provided veteran stability.

Lalonde appreciates the response he’s had from his charges. 

“It’s the buy-in,” he said recently. “Our goalies are making some saves. Ville of late. Some depth on our ‘D’ has helped us immensely. We’re playing well. We don’t turn pucks over and we’re taking away the middle of the ice. It’s a commitment to team defense.”

Since it's clear that Detroit has exceeded expectations, the big question is: how will the Wings maintain the momentum?

Alex Ovechkin is on a march toward history while collecting his own milestone memorabilia. Great stuff – except that all of the memorabilia filling his gym is wearing on his wife, Nastya.

Ovechkin told the media that he’s been “saving sticks, jerseys, gloves. I keep 'em in my gym, in my house," he revealed. "Nastya don’t like it because every time I have gloves or helmets, she’s like ‘Geez, when are you going to get rid of this?’

He said it'll all be nice to have for his kids, his grandkids and his friends, so "We'll see."

After his Flames lost 3-1 at Columbus, Calgary's coach did away with analytics and put his verbal cards on the table: "We lost because we had some guys who came for a visit, not to win a game. Guys thought they were 'Wheeler-Dealers' and wouldn't touch anybody."

* Desperate for goaltending band-aids, the Sabres may decide that prospect Devon Levi is worth a shot.

* You want another "Miracle On Ice?" How about Kris Letang back in game action just 12 days after having a stroke?

* As I figured, a lot of people disagreed with my "Yay, salary cap" piece last Friday. I say, "Good, good, good, it's a free country. Nix it if you like."

* The Jets deserve more love. Winnipeg remains the most egregiously underplayed, good team in the NHL.

* Not to bore you with stats, but the umpteenth goalie went down with an injury over the weekend. Joonas Korpisalo was the latest victim.

* Won't somebody – anybody – catch the Butterfly and put it under glass?

* "The Quiet Man As Scorer" – Brock Nelson.

* Just a thought, but I'd like to create a "Society For The Prevention Of Firing Good Coaches."

* Naturally, Cousin Brucie Boudreau is Exhibit A.

A three-game winning streak ordinarily will be cause for celebration. But our Sean McCaffrey points out that – in the Rangers' case – one must look beneath the surface. The following is a basic lesson in hockey learning, minus analytics.

A week and three games later – the streets have cooled in Manhattan – much like the perceived "hot seat" of Rangers bench boss Gerard Gallant.

Admittedly, the Rangers caught three teams all under tough circumstances. However, the Blueshirts, nor their backers, should have any pity for the Blues, Knights and Avalanche. After all, the Rangers have been on the wrong end of many games this season, and they needed something to spark a turnaround.

On Monday, New York hosted St. Louis. If it weren't for the shaky goaltending of 2019 Cup champ, Jordan Binnington – then it's very likely the Rangers wouldn't have won this tilt by a final score of 6-4.

Following what was an unimpressive victory at MSG (but two points is two points), on Wednesday, the Rangers hit the strip in Sin City. With Bruce Cassidy's team missing their top two players, Jack Eichel and Alex Pietrangelo, the Rangers were able to cash out in Vegas, 5-1.

Turk and company took their new two-game winning streak (a rarity thus far this season) to the Mile High City on Friday night, where they played a depleted Denver team. The Avalanche, the reigning-and-defending champs, have lost more man-power (games played) than any other NHL squad this season. Among the ten MIA players? Captain Gabriel Landeskog and perennial Hart Trophy candidate, Nathan MacKinnon.

Despite fielding a roster that looked ready to compete for the Calder Cup rather than the Stanley they won six months ago, the Avalanche, led by former Ranger, Alexandar Georgiev, kept the game close.

After Georgiev was able to beat the Rangers at MSG earlier this season via a shootout, in the rematch, it was Igor Shesterrkin's turn. Behind Iggy's 41 saves after 65 minutes played, and two more flawless stops during the shootout – the Blueshirts escaped Colorado with a 2-1 victory – and their second three-game winning streak of the season.

This upcoming week will be the biggest litmus test yet, as we'll see what Gallant's Gang is truly made of.

A rubber match with the Devils awaits on Monday. After another battle with their warring Hudson River rivals, the Rangers will then host a fellow Original Sixer, the Maple Leaf red-hot team from Toronto.

If the Rangers don't "drive for five," then these three recent victories will be viewed as what they were – three wins against three teams experiencing tough times. It's up to the Rangers to not endure tough times themselves.

Four NHL players are members of the single-season "Golden Suitcase" club. The quartet played for four different clubs in one campaign: Dennis O'Brien (1977-78), Dave McLlwain (1991-92), Mark Arcobello (2014-15) and Jussi Jokinen (2017-18). Even among that select group, McLlwain holds a unique distinction. Dave recounted that chaotic season on the Squid and the Ultimate Leaf Fan podcast. Our Glenn Dreyfuss produces that podcast and sent along McLlwain's comments.

"I'm the only guy who played in every division. I went from the Smythe to the Adams to the Patrick to the Norris.

"I started my third year in Winnipeg. I thought things were going well; a goal and an assist in three games. I come in after warmup in San Jose and the trainer says, 'Mac, you're not playing tonight.' At 7 a.m., I get a call from the GM, 'We've traded you to Buffalo. You've gotta meet them in Quebec City.'

"It was an awkward game. New gloves, different pants, new teammates. It was a whirlwind. I had a penalty shot the first game there. I hit the post.

"I got to Buffalo. Two weeks in, my car, my furniture, everything was showing up. I signed a lease Thursday night. On Friday, John Muckler says to me, 'Dave, sit down here a minute. We've traded you to the Islanders.'

"The lady ripped up my lease for me. The furniture just kept going down the turnpike to Long Island. Two guys had been traded from Chicago, and four of us from Buffalo, so there were six new guys in the lineup the next Saturday night.

"Fifty-two games on the Island. Ken Baumgartner ends up getting in a fight with (Islanders coach) Al Arbour (and so was being shipped to the Maple Leafs). I'm at home, we have a game that night. Don Maloney phones, 'Dave, we made a trade today. By the way, you're part of the trade. You've gotta be on the plane in a couple of hours with Bomber. You're meeting Toronto in Minnesota.'

"I was pretty happy to see the season end. I was at a golf tournament that summer. I think I played with 32 of the 34 guys who were at the tournament!"

YAY TO DAVID PERRON for playing his 1,000th game on Saturday night. Wings coach Derek Lalonde loves his vet. "David has brought a lot to our group in a short period of time. He keeps competing and playing with such passion."

YAY TO PORTLAND FANS for a super "Teddy Bear Toss" on Saturday night before a sellout crowd of 9,863. A total of 14,787 teddy bears were collected during the battle between the two top teams in the Western Conference. Portland (20-4-2-1) beat Seattle (19-4-1-1) 4-3. Marcus Nguyen scored the first goal at 8:26 of the opening period to launch the remarkable toss. He also tallied the shootout-winner.

WHO SAID IT? "A mustache never lost a hockey game. Besides, the facial hair may make our guys look a little tougher." (ANSWER BELOW)

BIG QUESTION: After losing to the Islanders, can the Devils stay on top?

BIG ANSWER: (via Gus Vic): "The good news is that though I don't see Jersey as sustainable at this high level over 82 games, they have built up plenty of capital to keep themselves in safe playoff position."

Paul Gardella, who recently died at 93, was the quintessential Rangers rooter. A former FBI agent, Paul attended every Blueshirt game at old Madison Square Garden with his buddy, Lefty Adelson. Their pews were directly behind my press box seat. Thus, Paul and Lefty were my pals. Later on, I met Paul's daughter, Daria, who was raised at MSG. With Daria's permission, I'm running a portion of her loving letter sent to her dad before his passing.

"Since she was a child of six in the 1970s, her dad took her to the Garden to watch the Rangers play. She never forgot the excitement of walking in and seeing that huge, white ice! He taught her to keep her eyes on the puck as they cheered and laughed the whole game.

"He taught her the players and who was at what position. He helped her memorize the numbers and names. When it was time for an old-time hockey fight, she heard her dad yell, 'Stick it in his ear!' And when the game was over, they ran for the subway to go back home to the Bronx.

"She spent her childhood loving the game, listening to the game on radio, making scrapbooks and cherishing her Rangers mittens that her dad bought her one Christmas.

"When she had her own child, she taught her daughter to follow the puck and laugh and cheer. (Especially when they won the Cup in ’94.) She passed on the Blue tradition and bought her daughter a little Rangers jersey and even got her a ride on the MSG Zamboni!

"Every day during the season, dad and his daughter talked Rangers’ hockey, rumors and scores, players and plays, prospects and possible deals, wins and losses, and the ultimate – making the playoffs.

"The years wore on and tragedy struck – her daughter passed away – Paul's wife passed away. But dad and his daughter needed their Rangers for the family to live again. Endlessly, they talked hockey. It helped them feel that life was normal.

"They were each other’s puzzle pieces and they shared it all because of their deep love for one other…and their love of the Rangers. They talked hockey!"

If you like ice hockey, roller hockey, Ebbets Field, Coney Island, egg cremes (not creams), candy stores, the BMT, IRT and IND, not to mention all the els, then you'll love The Maven's latest book. It's called Tales of Brooklyn and it's bulging with stories about Stan Fischler growing up in Williamsburg, Brooklyn from age 3 (1935) to age 19. It's filled with stories about life during the Second World War, Spaldeens, punchball, ringolevio and all the fun – and not so fun – times. And with a lot of music sprinkled throughout.

It's available on Amazon. Plus you'll love the pix. The perfect, inexpensive holiday gift.

ANSWER TO WHO SAID IT: North Stars GM Lou Nanne endorsed facial hair when other management types did not.