The NHL has announced the location of this summer's draft.

You should still be able to smell the teenager miasma from the Combine still by the time the draft goes down.

First coach is out:

Blue Jackets fire head coach Dean Evason, hire Rick Bowness
The Blue Jackets fired head coach Dean Evason and assistant coach Steve McCarthy on Monday, and hired veteran bench boss Rick Bowness to take Evason’s place.
Sportsnet.caSportsnet Staff
Red Wings retire Fedorov’s No. 91 jersey; says leaving Detroit was a huge mistake
The Detroit Red Wings retired Sergei Fedorov’s No. 91 jersey, honoring the Russian great more than a decade after he was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame.
TSNThe Canadian Press

This is an effort to make a narrative about the timing of injuries:

- TSN
Bryan Hayes, Jamie McLennan and Jeff O’Neill discuss the current state of the Leafs’ goaltending situation with Anthony Stolarz returning to practice for the first time since November 11.
TSN

That said, this is going to be a process that will need to respect everyone. And if that means some conditioning stints, some short period of three goalies, whatever it takes. It's not a fight, it's a goal to make all three goalies the best they can be.

Not everything is a battle for dominance. Sometimes it's about working together.

About last night:

Nick Robertson took a puck off his leg or possibly a titch higher than jus the leg, and did not return to the game. He could not put any weight on his left leg at the time. We likely will not get word on his condition very quickly with this being a back-to-back.

Easton Cowan got things started with some help from Brent Burns:

Martin Necas says Mikko Who?

Brock Nelson got the go-ahead goal late, putting the lie to the idea that the Avs power play is always bad:

The right amount of McMann tied it up in the second.

After two it was a tie game, and who saw that coming?

The Leafs played a smart game for two periods, emphasizing what they can do to combat the Avs' better skill with the puck. The Avs held an overwhelming-seeming Corsi advantage over two periods, but a lot of shot blocking had the Shots on Goal and the Expected Goals a lot closer to even.

They failed on their second power play after a long delayed penalty call kept parts of both units on the ice, and the call had to be made – start with unit one or two. Craig Berube picked one, and they just never got it going. But John Tavares, now on unit two was as washed as the guys who stayed on the ice. But I think it was the wrong call.

But they played the hard game you need to play to stay with the Avalanche.

In the third period, Scott Laughton got into it with Martin Necas and created a four-on-four for his skilled teammates. They have those too, of course, but it was Auston Matthews who got the goal.

MacKinnon and Necas. Tie game again.

The Leafs made it through an Avs power play at the end of the period, and carried it to overtime.

Overtime was, to say the least, wild and full of thrills.

Seriously, that's the only explanation, the gods said, no Avs, you have had enough goof fortune.

And then William Nylander just was himself.

This was a game that really showed off how hard the defence can work. Morgan Rielly and Brandon Carlo were tough to play against, so were OEL and Jake McCabe.

Joe Woll was very good, the forwards were on the ball with Matias Maccelli and Bobby McMann standing out. There was no giving up from anyone tonight, and that's good enough for me. This game was a test they passed. And yes, I wrote that before the third period ended. The win is just a bonus.

Final score was, 4-3 Leafs, and it was easy to stay awake for.

Math time. Last time, I said the Leafs had a tough road trip coming, so I didn't want to raise the bar from 95 points one game after putting it that high. Well, they beat the Avs, so raise it I shall. The goal is now 98 points.

With 45 games played, they need to play at .608 for the rest of the season to get to 98 points. They are currently at .589 (and in a playoff spot).

See you very much later today for the preview.

From The Branches