• The Canadian Press

    Maple Leafs star centre Auston Matthews among finalists for Selke Trophy

    Toronto Maple Leafs star centre Auston Matthews is a finalist for the NHL's Selke Trophy. Florida Panthers centre Aleksander Barkov and Carolina Hurricanes centre Jordan Staal are also nominated for the honour awarded to the best defensive forward in the league. Members of the Professional Hockey Writers Association submitted ballots for the Selke Trophy at the end of the regular season, with the top three vote-getters designated as finalists. Matthews already won this season's Maurice Richard T

  • The Canadian Press

    Nylander defends Leafs' core after playoff exit, Toronto again picks up the pieces

    BOSTON — William Nylander stood in a solemn visitors locker room at TD Garden just before midnight. The Maple Leafs had battled back from a 3-1 series deficit against the Boston Bruins with consecutive 2-1 victories — including one that required extra time — in their first-round playoff series to push the club's Original Six rival to the limit before suffering a devastating Game 7 overtime loss. Nylander's message was emphatic. "Look, I don't think there's an issue with the core," the winger sai

  • The Canadian Press

    Bruins avoid blowing another 3-1 series lead in Game 7. Now they get a shot at revenge vs. Panthers

    BOSTON (AP) — Boston Bruins coach Jim Montgomery wanted to do something different with his team heading into a first-round Game 7 matchup with the Toronto Maple Leafs. The Bruins were facing the prospect of blowing back-to-back 3-1 leads in the opening round and a sense of impending doom hung over the team. Montgomery hoped a little change of scenery might do the trick. So instead of sleeping in their own beads ahead of the winner-take-all game Saturday night, they stayed at a hotel and took bus

  • The Canadian Press

    Pastrnak scores OT winner, Bruins down Leafs 2-1 in Game 7 to send Toronto packing

    BOSTON — Sheldon Keefe told his players hockey history would remember them one way or another. Down 3-1 in their first-round playoff series a week ago, this iteration of the Maple Leafs — left for dead by fans and media alike — could roll over and book their tee times. Or push back and fight. Keefe had no complaints after his group battled injury and illness to stretch a patient, defensively stout opponent to its limit. In the end, however, that effort still wasn't enough. David Pastrnak scored