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Toronto Maple Leafs: The NHL Resumes Tonight + Jack Campbell Back

By James Tanner|
MONTREAL, QC - APRIL 28: Goaltender Jack Campbell #36 of the Toronto Maple Leafs goes through his pre-period ritual prior to the start of the second period against the Montreal Canadiens at the Bell Centre on April 28, 2021 in Montreal, Canada. The Toronto Maple Leafs defeated the Montreal Canadiens 4-1. (Photo by Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images)
MONTREAL, QC - APRIL 28: Goaltender Jack Campbell #36 of the Toronto Maple Leafs goes through his pre-period ritual prior to the start of the second period against the Montreal Canadiens at the Bell Centre on April 28, 2021 in Montreal, Canada. The Toronto Maple Leafs defeated the Montreal Canadiens 4-1. (Photo by Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images)

The Toronto Maple Leafs have been off for almost three weeks and have six games postponed so far.

And although we’ll have to wait just a little longer for the Toronto Maple Leafs to get back in action (Saturday vs Ottawa) the NHL does resume tonight with several games.

The last game before the NHL shutdown for Christmas was December 21st when the Lightning beat the Knights 4-3.

All games from the 22nd through 27th were postponed.

The NHL Is Back

The NHL announced several days ago that it would resume it’s season on a game-by-game basis.

There were to be four games tonight, but one (Columbus vs Chicago) is postponed.

The Canadiens will play Tampa, Vegas will play LA and Arizona will play San Jose.  These aren’t great games, but at this point, who can complain? Even Arizona vs San Jose seems good right now!

This morning, the NHL announced that three more games were postponed this week, brining the total of games postponed to 70.  Of these games, only one has been played, and one re-scheduled.  The league still needs to figure out what to do with 68 missed games.

Tonight’s most interested game – at least to Leafs fans – is Montreal vs Tampa.  Montreal hasn’t played since December 16th, and have had their last four games postponed.

Tampa has 44 points to currently lead the NHL and the Atlantic Division.  A win tonight (probable, because Montreal is terrible) will put them four up on the Leafs, with the Leafs having a game in hand.

Toronto Maple Leafs

Yesterday the Leafs had John Tavares back at practice, along with Mitch Marner.  Today Sheldon Keefe and Jack Campbell were taken off the Covid Protocol and are now back with the team.

Here is a helpful update from the team to let us know what’s going on:

Now that isn’t exactly the best team I’ve ever seen, but surely it’s good enough to beat the Senators!

The Leafs have got back their (arguably) most important player in goalie Jack Campbell, and long as he’s good to go, the Leafs should have no trouble playing with a shorthanded roster for a bit if they have to.

There is no word yet on the team’s game against Carolina next Monday, but other than that, three of their next four games are against Canadian teams, so those, at least, should be fine.

Personally, I can’t wait to check out tonight’s action, as it has been way too long without a game. Don’t forget to set your lines in case you fell out of the habit over the last week or two!.

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