The Minnesota Timberwolves (2-0) open the season at home against fellow 2‑0 Toronto Raptors on Sunday, Oct. 25 at 6 PM CT. Both teams are averaging over 120 points while holding opponents under 100, but the Wolves have beaten stronger Eastern rivals (Heat, Magic) compared to the Raptors' wins over rebuilding squads. Key matchups include Kawhi Leonard, back with Toronto, versus the Wolves' defense anchored by Rudy Gobert, and the guard battle between LaMelo Ball and Anthony Edwards against Toronto’s Scottie Barnes. Expect the Raptors to rely on mid‑range and paint scoring, while Minnesota aims to exploit its pick‑and‑roll and rebounding. Bench energy will be pivotal, with Ayo Dosunmu leading Minnesota’s reserves against Toronto’s depth.
Ahead of the Oct. 24 game in Edmonton, Maple Leafs coach Jim Hiller praises Auston Matthews’ transformation into an elite two‑way talent while still delivering offensive firepower. Hiller also tackles the challenge of containing Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, highlights Nick Paul’s impact, and confirms Anthony Stolarz will start in net with Mermis in the lineup.
The Toronto Maple Leafs have won three straight games, but a rash of defensive injuries threatens to derail their progress. Chris Tanev, Jake McCabe, Nick Blankenburg and Marshall Rifai are all on week‑to‑week IR, leaving the Leafs with just 38 goals allowed in 12 games and a troubling even‑strength record. The team has recalled Cole McWard and Dakota Mermis from the Marlies, while top prospect Ben Danford stays in the AHL to protect his development. General manager John Chayka has hinted he may trade for a “difference maker” if the injury list grows during the upcoming Western road trip.
Collin Murray-Boyles is off to a strong start for the Raptors. Can start lead to a breakout season?
The Edmonton Oilers host the Toronto Maple Leafs Saturday, Oct. 24 at 7 p.m. ET at Rogers Place. The Oilers sit atop the 2026‑27 season at 8‑1‑1, with Connor McDavid leading the league with 31 points (8 G, 23 A) and Leon Draisaitl bolstering a potent offense. Toronto arrives 6‑4‑2 after three straight wins, driven by Auston Matthews’ eight goals and 18 points, though it will miss John Tavares and Chris Tanev. The game streams on ESPN+ (ESPN Unlimited) and airs on the ESPN+ channel. Expect a star‑powered showdown between McDavid and Matthews.
Samson Folk talks about the Toronto Raptors.
The post The Raptors are undefeated – here’s what’s happening first appeared on Raptors Republic .
The Oilers host the Toronto Maple Leafs Saturday at 5 PM MT, promising a high‑octane showdown after back‑to‑back emotional wins over Minnesota and Carolina. Edmonton enters with a 46‑goal offense in 10 games (4.60 per game), driven by Connor McDavid’s 31 points, Leon Draisaitl, and Evan Bouchard, while Toronto sits 6‑4‑2 with 43 goals (3.58 per game). Key injuries loom: Ryan Nugent‑Hopkins returns, but Mattias Ekholm is out for a week. Power‑play dynamics could decide the game—Edmonton’s PP is 35.3% versus Toronto’s 97.4% PK, while Toronto’s PP sits at 28.6% against Edmonton’s 72.4% PK. The article previews tactics and health concerns ahead of the clash.
The post celebrates former Blue Jays first baseman/DH Chris Colabello’s 43rd birthday while recapping his brief MLB resurgence. Acquired from the Twins in 2015, Colabello burst onto the scene after an injury to Michael Saunders, hitting .368/.417/.568 in spring and finishing the season at .321/.367/.520 with 15 homers in 101 games, though his defensive value was limited (0.7 bWAR). He performed well in the 2015 ALDS (.375/.412/.688) but struggled in the ALCS and began 2016 in a slump before an 80‑game PED suspension halted his career. The article traces his post‑MLB journey through the minors, Italy, independent leagues, the WBC, and Mexico, noting his love for the game.
It was very important that the Raptors found a way to win despite inefficient shooting.
The Raptors limited Anthony Davis in a way they hadn’t been able to for quite some time.
Leafs face a team having a hot start to the season.
Jack Roslovic, now with the Toronto Maple Leafs on a two‑year, $4 million AAV deal, faces a revenge week against his former clubs. He posted a goal and three points vs. the Columbus Blue Jackets on Tuesday and tallied an assist against the New York Rangers Thursday. Tonight he meets the Edmonton Oilers, where he spent 69 games last season, scoring 21 goals and 36 points. Roslovic praises the Oilers’ culture and work ethic, especially admiring Connor McDavid’s impact, and notes his early success in Toronto with four goals and ten points in his first ten games alongside Auston Matthews.
Joe Davis, Fox’s lead play‑by‑play voice, admits he hesitated during his first World Series Game 7 call in the 2025 Dodgers‑Blue Jays thriller, where Miguel Rojas tied it in the ninth and Will Smith won it in the eleventh. In a recent interview with Bryan Curtis, Davis says he wants a do‑over, feeling the pressure made him “grip the wheel too tight.” With the 2026 Fall Classic already featuring a potential Game 7 between the Milwaukee Brewers and Tampa Bay Rays, Davis hopes to prove he’s back at his best.
Edmonton Oilers coach Mike Babcock downplays facing his former team, the Toronto Maple Leafs, and old assistant Jim Hiller. But the truth is, that overshadows the storyline of Connor McDavid and Auston Matthews going head-to-head.
Troy Stecher has become the Maple Leafs’ unexpected hero this season. Claimed off waivers from Edmonton in November 2025, the gritty defenseman logged over 20 minutes per game, including a 26:25 effort in a 6-2 win over Columbus. He sparked a dramatic game‑winner against the New York Rangers on Oct. 23, 2026, scoring with 32 seconds left to lift Toronto to a 5-4 victory. His relentless work ethic earned a June contract extension despite a coaching change, and fans applaud his blue‑collar passion that mirrors Toronto’s demanding fanbase. Stecher’s story showcases how hard‑nosed play can win over even the most critical Leafs supporters.
Toronto Raptors star Kawhi Leonard spoke Friday about the salary cap circumvention investigation that resulted in him incurring a hefty fine and ultimately getting traded from the Los Angeles Clippers this past offseason.
A week after Vancouver traded for Jacob Quillan and Brandon Buhr from Toronto, both prospects have debuted in the Canucks system. Quillan scored in each of his first two AHL games with Abbotsford, lining up with Ty Mueller and Bennett Schimek and earning special‑teams minutes and an overtime chance. The 23‑year‑old, a former Quinnipiac star who posted 46 points in 39 games last season, says he feels wanted after being moved on by the Maple Leafs’ new management and is eager to contribute with speed, physicality and a 200‑foot game. He’ll be back in action tonight as Abbotsford faces Calgary at 5 PM PT.
Ahead of the Oilers’ showdown with the Toronto Maple Leafs on Nov. 14, former Leafs coach Mike Babcock reflects on his 2015‑19 tenure. He jokes that "even the Beatles broke up" while recalling his work with Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner, John Tavares and William Nylander, admitting the team never delivered in the playoffs. Babcock also praises former assistant Jim Hiller, now the Leafs’ head coach, and emphasizes his focus on winning today with an Oilers squad that leads the NHL in points percentage behind Connor McDavid. The article previews the personal storyline behind the high‑stakes matchup.
The #CardCorner post spotlights Jim Gott’s 1988 Topps card and traces his rise from a 1977 fourth‑round draft pick to a dominant reliever for the Pittsburgh Pirates. After being claimed off waivers on Aug. 3, 1987, Gott secured his first of 47 saves that season, famously earning the broadcaster’s chant “Gott ’em!” He finished his 14‑year MLB career with a 56‑74 record and 91 saves for the Blue Jays, Giants, Pirates and Dodgers. The article also recounts his early years in California, multi‑sport high school success, early struggles with control in the minors, and the pivotal Rule 5 Draft selection by Toronto in 1981 that set the stage for his late‑80s success.
What premium assets do the Toronto Maple Leafs have to give up for an impact defenseman? The Nashville Predators have gotten calls on Brady Skjei.
What premium assets do the Toronto Maple Leafs have to give up for an impact defenseman? The Nashville Predators have gotten calls on Brady Skjei.
The Edmonton Oilers are facing off against the Toronto Maple Leafs on Saturday. Edmonton is facing some tough injury news ahead of that contest. The club is placing goaltender Devon Levi on injured reserve, the team announced Saturday. “Goaltender Matt Tomkins has been recalled from the (Bakersfield) Condors under emergency conditions,” the Oilers posted on […]
The post Oilers make disappointing Devon Levi injury move appeared first on ClutchPoints .
The Toronto Raptors snap to a 2-0 start for the first time since their 2019 championship season, beating the Washington Wizards 112-102 at Capital One Arena on Oct. 23. Scottie Barnes leads with a 28‑point, 14‑rebound double‑double, while RJ Barrett adds 23 points and Kawhi Leonard contributes 16. Despite the win, Toronto struggles with three‑point shooting (1‑of‑12 in the third) and early miscommunication, prompting foul trouble for Leonard, Quickley and Murray‑Boyles. A bench surge from Ja’Kobe Walter, Jamal Shead and Allen Graves fuels the lead, and the Raptors head to Minnesota for a Sunday night showdown.
The Toronto Maple Leafs have won three straight games, and that’s a welcome change for a team still trying to find its identity. Thursday’s 5-4 win over the New York…
The Oilers host the Maple Leafs on Oct. 24, bringing a stacked slate of storylines: Connor McDavid’s 31‑point 10‑game start versus Auston Matthews, Mike Babcock’s first clash with his former team and protégée Jim Hiller, and a pivotal power‑play showdown against Toronto’s league‑best penalty kill (37‑for‑38). Edmonton deals with injuries to goalie Devon Levi and defenseman Mattias Ekholm, while Tristan Jarry is slated to start and Shakir Mukhamadullin fills in on defense. Both clubs ride three‑game winning streaks, with the Oilers’ power play humming at 35% after recent 6‑for‑10 success. Coach Babcock hints at potential lineup tweaks ahead of the nationally‑watched game.