> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.pensionplanpuppets.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # From the Branches: Bracing ourselves for Game 3 - URL: https://www.pensionplanpuppets.com/from-the-branches-bracing-ourselves-for-game-3-maple-leafs-play-capitals-let-us-pray/ - Published: 2017-04-17T09:00:02.000Z - Updated: 2017-04-17T09:00:02.000Z - Description: THE BUDS ARE BACK IN TOWN, GUYS! - Author: Anne Boyd - Tags: From The Branches, #chorus, #Import 2023-04-05 11:01 Morning, PPP! It's the Monday after a holiday weekend, but who cares about that, because the [Maple Leafs](http://www.sbnation.com/nhl/teams/toronto-maple-leafs?ref=pensionplanpuppets.com) have a *home playoff game* tonight. Fresh off a win in 2OT that gave us all hope (dangerous, dangerous hope), the Leafs will play the [Capitals](http://www.sbnation.com/nhl/teams/washington-capitals?ref=pensionplanpuppets.com) in Toronto this evening. Hopefully, Gardiner and Rielly spent Easter Sunday recovering from 40 minutes of ice time apiece. We might even have [Nikita Zaitsev](http://www.sbnation.com/nhl/players/283139/nikita-zaitsev?ref=pensionplanpuppets.com) back, depending on his condition. Will home ice advantage help the Matthews line convert some of those great chances they've been getting? Will [Kasperi Kapanen](http://www.sbnation.com/nhl/players/246176/kasperi-kapanen?ref=pensionplanpuppets.com) be our hero two games in a row? Will any of us pass out from stress before the first intermission? These questions, and more, will be answered tonight. #### Maple Leafs News [Leafs to get relief with Zaitsev's possible return for Game 3 - NHL on CBC Sports - Hockey news, opinion, scores, stats, standings](http://www.cbc.ca/sports/hockey/nhl/nikita-zaitsev-toronto-maple-leafs-capitals-1.4072500?ref=pensionplanpuppets.com) Relief is on the way for a Toronto blue line that lost [Roman Polak](http://www.sbnation.com/nhl/players/55153/roman-polak?ref=pensionplanpuppets.com) due to injury and was quite taxed against the high-flying Capitals. Nikita Zaitsev is a good bet to make his series debut after sitting out the first two games with a suspected concussion. [Mirtle: How Kasperi Kapanen became the Maple Leafs’ unlikely playoff overtime hero – The Athletic](https://theathletic.com/53148/2017/04/16/mirtle-how-kasperi-kapanen-became-the-maple-leafs-unlikely-playoff-overtime-hero/?ref=pensionplanpuppets.com) WASHINGTON – As the game stretched past one overtime and deep into a second, the Maple Leafs' fourth line largely watched the drama unfold. [Maple Leafs fans go crazy for 'Dart Guy' - Sportsnet.ca](http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/maple-leafs-fans-go-crazy-mysterious-dart-guy/?ref=pensionplanpuppets.com) Kasperi Kapanen may have scored the double OT winner on Saturday night, giving the Maple Leafs their first post-season win in four years, but 'Dart Guy' was getting all the attention online. (Includes a surprise appearance from our very own Brigstew!) [2017 Stanley Cup playoffs - Secret to the Toronto Maple Leafs' success](http://www.espn.com/nhl/story/%5F/id/19172226/2017-stanley-cup-playoffs-secret-toronto-maple-leafs-success?ref=pensionplanpuppets.com) The Toronto Maple Leafs have given the Presidents' Trophy-winning Washington Capitals fits in both games of their first-round series. A few active coaches tells us how they're doing it. #### Other Hockey News [‘We can’t quit’: For Hamilton and the Calgary Flames, a chance to stage a comeback at home - The Globe and Mail](http://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/hockey/we-cant-quit-for-hamilton-and-the-calgary-flames-a-chance-to-stage-a-comeback-at-home/article34717506/?ref=pensionplanpuppets.com) Calgary is down 2-0 to the [Ducks](http://www.sbnation.com/nhl/teams/anaheim-ducks?ref=pensionplanpuppets.com), having lost 29 regular-season and playoff games in a row on Anaheim ice dating to the 2006 Western Conference quarter-finals. [With five Canadian teams in NHL playoffs, police prepare to keep fans in line - The Globe and Mail](http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/alberta/with-five-canadian-teams-in-nhl-playoffs-its-time-for-fans-toparty/article34714922/?ref=pensionplanpuppets.com) Police in five Canadian cities are braced, but so far this postseason things have been quiet – must be something to do with losing​​ [Here’s What Worked: Shutting Out The Blackhawks - On the Forecheck](http://www.ontheforecheck.com/2017/4/16/15318230/heres-what-worked-shutting-out-the-blackhawks?ref=pensionplanpuppets.com) The Preds made a clear statement in the first two games of this series. They will need to make an even bigger one in the next two. #### Last Night's Games The [Penguins](http://www.sbnation.com/nhl/teams/pittsburgh-penguins?ref=pensionplanpuppets.com) played the [Blue Jackets](http://www.sbnation.com/nhl/teams/columbus-blue-jackets?ref=pensionplanpuppets.com) last night, and won 5-4 in OT thanks to a [Jake Guentzel](http://www.sbnation.com/nhl/players/198365/jake-guentzel?ref=pensionplanpuppets.com) hat trick. The Penguins now lead their series 3-0. > Really nice time for a hat trick, [@jakenbake20](https://twitter.com/jakenbake20?ref=pensionplanpuppets.com). [#StanleyCup](https://twitter.com/hashtag/StanleyCup?src=hash&ref=pensionplanpuppets.com) [pic.twitter.com/ECndz7g12Z](https://t.co/ECndz7g12Z?ref=pensionplanpuppets.com) > > — NHL (@NHL) [April 17, 2017](https://twitter.com/NHL/status/853783511555330050?ref=pensionplanpuppets.com) Also, Zach Werenski's [face got destroyed](https://twitter.com/ZachWerenski/status/853788533672333313?ref=pensionplanpuppets.com). I'm not embedding it because it's gross, so click on the link at your own discretion. The [Blues](http://www.sbnation.com/nhl/teams/st-louis-blues?ref=pensionplanpuppets.com) beat the [Wild](http://www.sbnation.com/nhl/teams/minnesota-wild?ref=pensionplanpuppets.com) 3-1, and they too take a 3-0 series lead. [Jake Allen](http://www.sbnation.com/nhl/players/55161/jake-allen?ref=pensionplanpuppets.com) continues to look good, and the Wild are...well. Not looking good. > For the second straight game, [Jaden Schwartz](http://www.sbnation.com/nhl/players/111530/jaden-schwartz?ref=pensionplanpuppets.com) has himself a game-winner for the [@StLouisBlues](https://twitter.com/StLouisBlues?ref=pensionplanpuppets.com). [#StanleyCup](https://twitter.com/hashtag/StanleyCup?src=hash&ref=pensionplanpuppets.com) [pic.twitter.com/TAVzPG5NWq](https://t.co/TAVzPG5NWq?ref=pensionplanpuppets.com) > > — NHL (@NHL) [April 16, 2017](https://twitter.com/NHL/status/853732153850560512?ref=pensionplanpuppets.com) Out in San Jose, the [Oilers](http://www.sbnation.com/nhl/teams/edmonton-oilers?ref=pensionplanpuppets.com) won Game 3 against the [Sharks](http://www.sbnation.com/nhl/teams/san-jose-sharks?ref=pensionplanpuppets.com) 1-0\. The game's lone goal was an unassisted effort by [Zack Kassian](http://www.sbnation.com/nhl/players/71964/zack-kassian?ref=pensionplanpuppets.com), which is objectively hilarious. Who needs that McDavid guy, anyway? > Zack. Kassian. [#EDMvsSJS](https://twitter.com/hashtag/EDMvsSJS?src=hash&ref=pensionplanpuppets.com) [#StanleyCup](https://twitter.com/hashtag/StanleyCup?src=hash&ref=pensionplanpuppets.com) [pic.twitter.com/p72xaqT5Kq](https://t.co/p72xaqT5Kq?ref=pensionplanpuppets.com) > > — NHL (@NHL) [April 17, 2017](https://twitter.com/NHL/status/853827702331232257?ref=pensionplanpuppets.com) The Habs took a 2-1 lead in their series with the [Rangers](http://www.sbnation.com/nhl/teams/new-york-rangers?ref=pensionplanpuppets.com), beating them 3-1\. Alex Radulov did a nice thing to score the Habs' third goal: > One-handed WOW from [@RADUL22](https://twitter.com/RADUL22?ref=pensionplanpuppets.com). [#StanleyCup](https://twitter.com/hashtag/StanleyCup?src=hash&ref=pensionplanpuppets.com) [pic.twitter.com/eoI6fSEF52](https://t.co/eoI6fSEF52?ref=pensionplanpuppets.com) > > — NHL (@NHL) [April 17, 2017](https://twitter.com/NHL/status/853785916787314688?ref=pensionplanpuppets.com) Enjoy your Monday, all, and remember: BUDS ALL DAY.