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‘Weren’t going to be denied’: Maple Leafs empty tank to defeat Canucks

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VANCOUVER — Sure, it required a date with the league’s 32nd-ranked team and 65 minutes plus a shootout, but the Toronto Maple Leafs‘ six-game losing streak has come to an end.

“We’re on a one-game winning streak, so we’ll think about that,” Max Domi said Saturday at Rogers Arena, where celebratory music once again blasts from the visitors’ quarters.

What could well have shaped up to be a one-anthem shame — a clash between the NHL’s worst team and its most disappointing — turned into a pretty fun night at the barn.

When it comes to rallying all the way into a playoff berth, the struggling Leafs may have better odds of dressing more Petterssons than the Canucks.

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But considering the state of these organizations, both positioned to be trading by deadline, Toronto’s annual 4 p.m. local in Vancouver was lively on and off the sheet.

The lottery-bound Canucks put forth an honest effort, the Leafs dug deep till the end of their 3-2 nailbiter, and every goal was rejoiced in by a crowd half-filled with Leafs supporters.

“It’s different, for sure, in Canada,” said Nicolas Roy, formerly of Vegas. “I feel like today, there was obviously a lot. In Winnipeg a couple weeks ago, there was a lot. 

“Not all the teams have this luxury. So, it’s fun to be part of it, for sure.”

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Fun isn’t a word heard around the Maple Leafs’ postgame availabilities much these days, and rediscovering that feeling required outshooting the Canucks 41-30 and goaltender Joseph Woll making a couple 10-bellers late.

Nothing comes easy, even the easy ones.

“It’s a good feeling in there right now, after losing six in a row. It’s tough,” coach Craig Berube said. “But they worked their way out of it tonight, in my opinion. Like, they weren’t gonna be denied.”

Despite losing minute-munching Morgan Rielly mid-game to an upper-body injury (the defenceman will undergo further evaluation Sunday), Toronto tilted the ice something fierce in the third period, outshooting the home side 18-5.

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Jake McCabe (27:40) and ex-Canuck Oliver Ekman-Larsson (28:10) picked up the load.

“We talked before going in there,” Berube said. “Look, it’s gotta be our best period of the year. It was pretty close. I mean, we had the puck the whole period. Couldn’t find the back of the net.”

And a steady bounce-back performance by Joseph Woll — including what he described as “a bit of a heart attack” instinctual toe stop on Conor Garland in OT — ended the goaltender’s personal career-worst five-game skid.

“Glad I saved it,” Woll said.

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All the Leafs’ smiles curled with relief.

“Yeah, we got it done,” chuckled Craig Berube, forehead stitches now removed. “It took a bit.”

A bit of time. A lot of effort.

“Emptied the tank tonight,” Domi said.

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So, just how badly did the Maple Leafs need this win?

“Well,” Matthews said, “I think I could’ve said that a couple games ago.”

• Nylander says his groin injury never had him worried about missing the Olympics.

“That experience is going to be incredible,” Nylander says. “Playing with Team Sweden and playing against the best players in the world at an Olympics is something that doesn’t happen too often. And it’ll be a first for me, so I’m going to be very excited for it.”

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Nylander, who tops all countrymen with 1.3 points per game, will be the face of Team Sweden.

“I’m fine with it, and I’m happy to be in that position for sure,” he says. And there’s only one shade of medal that’ll suffice.

“Going there for the mindset to be happy with the silver or bronze, I mean, why are you going there?”

• With Nylander returning, Easton Cowan was healthy scratched.

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The rookie hasn’t scored in nine games. He’s a dash-4 over that span, and Berube believes he was due a reset.

“He’s lost a bit of his swagger, and that’s a big part of his game. I’m not seeing that right now in his game. Maybe worried about making mistakes,” Berube said. 

As a London Knights alum, Cowan isn’t used to losing. Berube believes losing skids like the one that smacked Toronto in January have a greater effect on young players.

• Saturday signalled the one-year anniversary of the J.T. Miller trade.

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Since that headline-snatching deal, the Canucks have the NHL’s worst record (33-44-10). The Rangers own the fifth-worst (37-42-9). 

(P.S. Elias Pettersson did not register a shot Saturday. Either of them.)

• Toronto’s win snuffs out a run of eight consecutive home victories by the Canucks over the Leafs.

• Berube did something he’d never done in his history of coaching. He called a timeout in overtime before Auston Matthews took his penalty shot.

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Just so the man could catch his breath.

“He needed it,” Berube said.

“He could sense I was pretty gassed,” Matthews said. “I mean, I was out there for a couple minutes, and then that rush down took a lot of me.

Matthews tried to end the game by going high glove on a backhand deke, but goalie Nikita Tolopilo got a piece.

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The captain saw space glove side, though, so he went back to the well in the shootout.

“Luckily, I got that second opportunity,” Matthews said. “I didn’t want to make that mistake twice, so I just stuck to it again and found that opening there.”

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Deontay Wilder storms out of interview over Tyson Fury questions: ‘I’m not gonna talk about him!’

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Deontay Wilder stormed out of an interview on Wednesday after taking issue with a line of questioning about Tyson Fury, one of his biggest rivals, ahead of a press conference with upcoming opponent Derek Chisora.

On 4 April, Wilder will box Chisora in a heavyweight main event at London’s O2 Arena, in what is expected to be Chisora’s final fight as a professional.

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At 42, Britain’s Chisora is a seasoned veteran, while former world champion Wilder is similarly experienced at 40. But while Chisora has been enjoying a resurgence recently, winning his last three bouts, Wilder is in must-win territory after going 2-4 in his last six contests.

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The American, seen as arguably the most-devastating puncher of his generation, was on a frightening run of unanswered victories until 2018, when he secured a controversial draw with Fury. In 2020, Fury stopped Wilder to take the WBC title from the “Bronze Bomber”, before replicating that result in a third clash in 2021. Since then, Wilder has stopped Robert Helenius and Tyrrell Anthony Herndon but lost to Zhilei Zhang and Joseph Parker.

But his past with Fury cropped up again this week, when Wilder accused the Briton of having cheated during their rivalry. This was put to Wilder before Wednesday’s press conference with Chisora, as the American was questioned by TalkSport host Simon Jordan.

“I don’t want to talk about him,” Wilder told Jordan, who replied. “No, you’re going to.”

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“We’re here about Derek Chisora,” Wilder pushed back. “We’re not gonna talk about him [Fury] at all. I’m not gonna talk about him at all. Understand that.”

“No, fair enough,” Jordan said, in a bid to cool an intensifying atmosphere, with Wilder responding: “Alright then, so let’s move on. It’s all about Derek Chisora, that’s it. I’m back, baby! You all understand that? 4 April, it’s going down at the O2, you better be there or you’ll be a square.”

Deontay Wilder (right) takes on Britain's Derek Chisora on April 4th (Getty Images)

Deontay Wilder (right) takes on Britain’s Derek Chisora on April 4th (Getty Images)

“I understand that, I understand that,” said Jordan. “Fabulous. The only reason I mentioned it is because it’s part of the shtick that goes with you, and I missed you the first time around, when you came in here three years ago – when you were in your pomp four years ago, doing ‘Bomb Squad!’ and all that sort of stuff.

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“And I have always wanted to have a conversation with you, because you’ve made observations about Fury. I have my views on Fury, and you’ve called him a cheat.”

“The biggest in boxing!” Wilder exclaimed, before making accusations against Fury, who is due to emerge from his fifth retirement when he boxes Arslanbek Makhmudov on 11 April. Fury has always denied any accusations against him.

“But it leads me to a conclusion,” Jordan followed up. “I want to put something to you about you, and Fury just happens to be the hook for it. You talked about being cheated in that fight, you talked about water being spiked.”

“Facts,” said Wilder, before Jordan added: “You talked about your [ring walk] outfit being too heavy for you.”

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Deontay Wilder accused Tyson Fury of cheating during their trilogy fights between 2018-2021 (Getty Images)

Deontay Wilder accused Tyson Fury of cheating during their trilogy fights between 2018-2021 (Getty Images)

“I didn’t say that,” Wilder claimed. Jordan went on: “You talked about a long count [by the referee in the first fight with Fury].”

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After Wilder said “facts” once more, Jordan continued: “It sounds to me, given the character you are, that’s a little bit flaky. You lost those fights, and those fights were lost, and you saying someone like Fury cheated you in those fights is kind of disappointing to me.”

“Because I know the truth!” shouted Wilder. “I have the facts. Understand that […] Because when the documentary and everything starts to come out, I’m gonna show everything.” Earlier in the week, Wilder had similarly referenced a documentary he is apparently working on.

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“I’m not a Fury fan,” Jordan said, as Wilder stood up from his chair and walked towards the host, with security holding back the boxer.

“I don’t give a f*** about that!” Wilder shouted. “I don’t give a f*** about it! I said we didn’t want to bring him up in the first place. It ain’t got s*** to do with him!”

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Wilder’s last fight was his stoppage of Herndon in the seventh round in June, while Chisora’s was his decision win over Otto Wallin in February 2025.

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Chisora vs Wilder will mark each man’s 50th fight as a professional.

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3 mistakes Tony Khan must avoid on this week’s AEW Dynamite

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Tony Khan will present tonight’s episode of AEW Dynamite from Las Vegas this week. The show will take place at the Pearl Theater at Palms Casino Resort, and fans have high expectations for it. AEW has announced a stacked lineup of stars for the show, including some big-time matches featuring top AEW names.

As of now, Tony Khan has announced four big showdowns for the event. Hangman Page will take on Mark Davis in a singles clash. Apart from that, Andrade and Kenny Omega will also square off in a big matchup. Moreover, MJF will take on Brody King in an AEW World Title Eliminator Match. Additionally, Jack Perry and Ricochet will also clash over the AEW National Title. There are several other top stars like Kris Statlander and Jon Moxley expected to appear on the show.

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In this article, let’s take a look at 3 mistakes Tony Khan must avoid on this week’s AEW Dynamite:

#3. A clear decision for the Andrade and Kenny Omega match

Andrade will face Kenny Omega tonight on AEW Dynamite. It is a much-anticipated showdown between the two stars following El Idolo’s attack on The Cleaner on Dynamite’s 6th Anniversary last year. However, both stars are brimming with momentum as of late in the Jacksonville-based promotion. Besides, Andrade and Omega are top contenders for the AEW World Championship.

Therefore, Tony Khan can create a solid storyline involving the two stars down the line. However, a defeat to any one of them could destroy their momentum. Hence, instead of giving this match a clear closure, there should be a screwed ending for this showdown. It would help Khan to keep this feud open without affecting anyone’s credibility and momentum in the company.

#2. No follow-up on Megan Bayne & Penelope Ford’s title quest

Last week, on AEW Dynamite, Megan Bayne and Penelope Ford came down the aisle to give a staredown to the AEW Women’s World Champion Kris Statlander and the AEW World Women’s Tag Team Champions Willow Nightingale and Harley Cameron. That moment alone shone a massive spotlight on Bayne and Ford, sparking interest from a lot of fans in their work down the line.

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However, if Tony Khan did not give any follow-up to that intense staredown, it would make last week’s segment meaningless. Instead, the AEW President should book Bayne and Ford in some sort of confrontation with The Babes of Wrath and Kris Statlander. Besides, fans have been clamoring to see Megan chase the AEW Women’s World Title. Therefore, it sets up a golden opportunity for AEW to build Megan Bayne to the top.

#1. Another loss to Jack Perry on AEW Dynamite

Jack Perry will challenge the champion Ricochet for the AEW National Championship tonight on AEW Dynamite. It is a rematch between the two stars after their last title match on 31 December 2025, AEW Dynamite. Perry made his return to AEW last year following a prolonged hiatus. However, he has not achieved anything big since then in the company.

He has already faced a defeat against Ricochet on Dynamite, and another loss could heavily impact his credibility. Therefore, Tony Khan should crown Perry a new National Champion tonight. The Lightskin Kingpin has already managed to have a decent run with the title. The Scapegoat has the potential to heavily elevate the prestige of the championship down the line.