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The Toronto Maple Leafs reach the official halfway point of the 2010-11 season tonight with game 41 in Los Angeles against the Kings (10:30 p.m. on Leafs TV), with little for Leaf Nation to celebrate.
While the offence has come alive in back-to-back wins, the playoffs remain a pipedream with the team sitting 13 points out of eighth place in the Eastern Conference. It would be a major victory just to climb high enough in the standings to prevent the Boston Bruins from cashing in on the Phil Kessel trade with another top-five pick at the draft.
The time difference makes it a little early for much of a game preview, but we're betting Colby Armstrong is out with an eye injury that head coach Ron Wilson described as both "leaking" and "gross" yesterday. We also know it's Canadian Pride Night at the Staples Center.
Globe hockey columnist Eric Duhatschek is travelling with the team this week and will contribute to this space. We're also going to try our first Leafs beat chat on Wednesday at noon ET, with Mirtle jumping online live to take your questions on the first half of the regular season.
The links:
Colby Armstrong continues to be the most entertaining Maple Leaf off the ice, discussing his eye injury and fashionable sunglasses with reporters yesterday.
Eric Duhatschek on the Kings becoming cool again in Los Angeles.
Coach Ron Wilson confirms goalie James Reimer is headed back to the Marlies as soon as Jean-Seabstien Giguere is cleared to return.
Toronto Sun reporter Lance Hornby profiles one of our favourites, Kings winger Wayne Simmonds.
Michael Traikos of the National Post on Brain Burke's limited options.
AM640's Jonas Siegel says winger Clarke MacArthur wants to remain with the Maple Leafs beyond this season.
Know your enemy: Catch up on Kings at LA Kings Insider, Jewels From The Crown, Life in Hockeywood and Surly and Scribe's blog.