The Leafs beat the Penguins 7-2 last night, giving the team a much needed break from all the negativity surrounding them and grabbing two more of those much needed standings points if they want to maintain any hope of getting into the playoffs this season.

I won't embed everyone of the seven goals here, you can find the highlight pack on YouTube, but Easton Cowan's goal was so good you have to see the video not the GIF, and it was setup by a masterful fakeout by William Nylander.

Dakota Joshua also had an eventful night after some extended time without any successful play.

He also did this, which is fun.

And the Captain is back.

The cherry on top of this sundae was this goal by Nick Robertson.

Here's the team post game.

Here's the heat map at 5-on-5 which is interesting. Pittsburgh had a good first period to this game, but then gradually fell apart towards the end, though by the middle of the third period it was obvious they weren't going to win and so they focused more on being angry at the Leafs for beating them in front of their home crowd.

But, yeah, it was pretty one-sided to the Leafs at the end.

In any case, all praise the HILDEBEAST!

Marlies

The Marlies finished their swing through North Carolina last night, splitting the two-game series against the Charlotte Checkers (Florida Panthers affiliates), losing 5-1 on Friday, and winning 5-3 on Saturday. Akhtyamov started in net but was pulled for Slava Peksa after four goals, and then Peksa started on Sunday and finished the game for a weekend total stopping 51 of 55 SOG.

There's two fun goals from Saturday to highlight, the first by Jacob Quillan.

And this trick play is hilarious.

The Marlies play the Senators in Belleville on Wednesday night. They will be back on the weekend to host the Grand Rapids Griffins who are as of right now the top team in the entire league.

Other News

Trade seasons begins.

Canucks active in trade market, but no move imminent
Sportsnet.caSportsnet Staff
Blackhawks allowing teams to speak to Laurent Brossoit
The Chicago Blackhawks appear ready to move on from Laurent Brossoit.
Sportsnet.caSportsnet Staff

Kyle Palmieri is out long term after tearing his ACL, though still getting an assist on the way off the ice.

Isles Day-to-Day: Palmieri Out 6-8 Months | New York Islanders
Kyle Palmieri will get surgery to repair an ACL tear in his left knee and will be out 6-8 months
UBSNew York Islanders PR

Have a fun end to the weekend. There's lots of snow forecast across Southern Ontario. If you want something to do indoors, the NHL has a bunch of matinee games today starting at 1:00 p.m..

If you want to know more about Dakota Joshua you should watch this.

From The Branches