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The Maple Leafs are looking to complete the season-series sweep against the Tampa Bay Lightning (two points behind, same games played) in a big four-point game that will go a long way in deciding the coming-down-to-the-wire Atlantic Division race (7:00 p.m. EST, Sportsnet). source

Projected Lineup:

Matthew Knies — Auston Matthews — Mitch Marner
Bobby McMann — John Tavares — William Nylander
Scott Laughton — Max Domi — Calle Jarnkrok
Steven Lorentz — Pontus Holmberg — Nicholas Robertson

Morgan Rielly — Brandon Carlo
Oliver Ekman-Larsson — Chris Tanev
Simon Benoit — Philippe Myers

Anthony Stolarz
Joseph Woll

Scratched: None

Injured: Jani Hakanpaa (lower body), Max Pacioretty (tightness), Jake McCabe (undisclosed), David Kampf (upper body)

Status report: The Maple Leafs will announce any additional lineup changes prior to pregame warmups.

Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender Joseph Woll will start Tuesday’s game against the Florida Panthers.

Anthony Stolarz received starts in consecutive games for the Maple Leafs, and will almost certainly get the nod for Wednesday’s game against the Tampa Bay Lightning.

Aside from the goaltending change, the Maple Leafs will be running back the same lineup from Saturday’s 5-0 victory over the Columbus Blue Jackets. Jake McCabe and David Kampf have already been ruled out of the Maple Leafs’ next two games due to injuries. source

Projected Lineup:

Matthew Knies -- Auston Matthews -- Mitch Marner
Bobby McMann -- John Tavares -- William Nylander
Scott Laughton -- Max Domi -- Calle Jarnkrok
Steven Lorentz -- Pontus Holmberg -- Nicholas Robertson

Morgan Rielly -- Brandon Carlo
Oliver Ekman-Larsson -- Chris Tanev
Simon Benoit -- Philippe Myers

Joseph Woll
Anthony Stolarz

Scratched: None

Injured: Jani Hakanpaa (lower body), Max Pacioretty (tightness), Jake McCabe (undisclosed), David Kampf (upper body)

Sup. Here's some highlights.

Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender Anthony Stolarz will get the start Saturday against the Columbus Blue Jackets, head coach Craig Berube confirmed. . . .

Toronto held an optional morning skate Saturday, with Jani Hakanpaa, Simon Benoit, Philippe Myers Steven Lorentz, Pontus Holmberg, Nick Robertson, Max Pacioretty, Max Domi, Scott Laughton, Bobby McMann, Joseph Woll and Stolarz among the participants. It was a true optional skate, with Myers getting shots up on Stolarz, while the forwards worked on routine shooting drills. source

Projected Lineup:

Matthew Knies -- Auston Matthews -- Mitch Marner
Bobby McMann -- John Tavares -- William Nylander
Scott Laughton -- Max Domi -- Calle Jarnkrok
Steven Lorentz -- Pontus Holmberg -- Nicholas Robertson

Morgan Rielly -- Brandon Carlo
Oliver Ekman-Larsson -- Chris Tanev
Simon Benoit -- Philippe Myers

Anthony Stolarz
Joseph Woll

Scratched: None

Injured: Jani Hakanpaa (lower body), Max Pacioretty (tightness), Jake McCabe (undisclosed), David Kampf (upper body)

Status report: Van Riemsdyk will replace Kunin, a forward, after being a healthy scratch the past four games. ... McCabe, a defenseman, and Kampf, a forward, each is day to day after being injured during a 3-2 win against the Florida Panthers on Wednesday; Myers will replace McCabe after being a healthy scratch the past 11 games and Robertson will replace Kampf after being a healthy scratch the past three games.

A goal-scoring binge has landed John Tavares league-wide recognition.

The Toronto Maple Leafs centre was named second star of the month on Tuesday, behind the Vegas Golden Knights' Jack Eichel and ahead of St. Louis Blues goalie Jordan Binnington.

Tavares found the back of the net a league-leading 13 times in March — the most by a player in any calendar month this season.

The scoring run was highlighted by a five-game streak that ended on Sunday against the Anaheim Ducks.

In the biggest game of the regular season (so far), the Maple Leafs enter this four-point matchup against the Panthers with a two-point lead in the Atlantic Division race (7:30 p.m. EST, Sportsnet).

There is one more matchup between these two teams to come, but being four points ahead with seven games to go is a major difference compared to being tied on points with seven to play. To accomplish that four-point cushion, the Leafs will need to beat the Panthers in regulation, something they’ve done just once in the last six meetings. With the Panthers at the end of a three-in-four (second half of a back-to-back) and without some key pieces due to injury/suspension, this is a golden opportunity for the fully-healthy and rested Leafs, one they really need to take advantage of. source

Projected Lineup:

Matthew Knies -- Auston Matthews -- Mitch Marner
Bobby McMann -- John Tavares -- William Nylander
Scott Laughton -- Max Domi -- Calle Jarnkrok
Pontus Holmberg -- David Kampf -- Steven Lorentz

Morgan Rielly -- Brandon Carlo
Jake McCabe -- Chris Tanev
Simon Benoit -- Oliver Ekman-Larsson

Anthony Stolarz
Joseph Woll

Scratched: Nicholas Robertson, Philippe Myers

Injured: Jani Hakanpaa (lower body), Max Pacioretty (tightness)

Status report: The Panthers did not hold a morning skate after a 3-2 overtime loss at the Montreal Canadiens on Tuesday. ... Sturm is day to day after he left that game in the first period following a collision with linemate A.J. Greer. Coach Paul Maurice said after the game, "We'll get him looked at again (Wednesday). He didn't feel he could come back, so we'll get him assessed (Wednesday)." Nosek replaced him in the lineup ... Megna was recalled from Charlotte of the American Hockey League. ... The Maple Leafs will use the same 18 skaters for the third straight game.

The incoming German chancellor, more convinced than ever that the defense and trade relationship with Washington is crumbling, has made plans to execute on his goal of “independence from the U.S.A.”

He’s not the only one.

The new Canadian prime minister said last week that “the old relationship we had with the United States” — the tightest of military and economic partnerships — is now “over.” Poland’s president is musing publicly about getting nuclear weapons. And the new leader of Greenland, host to American air bases since World War II, reacted to the uninvited visit of a high-level American delegation with indignation.

. . .

These are the results so far of President Trump’s threats to abandon NATO allies whose contributions he judges insufficient, his declaration that the European Union was designed “to screw” the United States and his efforts to expand the United States’ land mass. The main reaction is resistance all around. Now, into this maelstrom of threats, alienation and recriminations, President Trump is expected to announce his “Liberation Day” tariffs on Wednesday.

. . .

Mr. Trump is already showing signs of concern that his targets may team up against him.

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Dozens gathered at Brennan Park in Squamish Sunday to bid farwell to the beloved goose

A Canada goose named Wilson — who spent months with an arrow lodged in his rump — is finally flying free.

The bird was released Sunday at Squamish's Brennan Park field, where dozens had gathered to cheer him on to freedom.

As the cage door opened and Wilson took a few tentative steps, he turned toward a nearby flock of geese and took flight, marking the end of a months-long rescue effort that brought together a local photographer, veterinarians, wildlife rescuers, and an entire community.

Leafs had a real win-win today outside of this game:

The Toronto Maple Leafs . . . are on the cusp of clinching spots in the post-season, however, fate isn't entirely in their hands just yet.

Here's how they could get the job done Sunday:

• Maple Leafs: If they defeat the Anaheim Ducks in any fashion AND the Montreal Canadiens lose to the Florida Panthers in any fashion. source

Montreal won today so no clinching a spot. But the Panthers lost, so there's a chance to get 3 point separation from Tampa and Florida in the Atlantic

Projected Lineup:

Matthew Knies — Auston Matthews — Mitch Marner
Bobby McMann — John Tavares — William Nylander
Pontus Holmberg — Max Domi — Scott Laughton
Steven Lorentz — David Kampf — Calle Jarnkrok

Morgan Rielly — Brandon Carlo
Jake McCabe — Chris Tanev
Simon Benoit — Oliver Ekman-Larsson

Joseph Woll
Anthony Stolarz

Scratched: Philippe Myers, Nicholas Robertson

Injured: Jani Hakanpaa (lower body), Max Pacioretty (tightness)

Status report: Neither team will hold a morning skate.