JENNIFER ROBERTS
One thing was made clear during the Toronto Maple Leafs - Philadelphia Flyers rematch last night: Leaf forward Darryl Boyce needs to wear a full cage from now on. His poor nose can't take any more abuse.
During a game last season the Toronto grinder managed to smack his face off the hole in the glass photographers use, resulting in a gnarly beak injury and a series of the most disgusting Twitter pics ever posted (You've been warned. They are gross). Last night his face was plastered into the end boards in Philly courtesy of a cheap hit from behind by established bully Jody Shelley. The repaired nose broken again, Boyce missed the balance of the second period for concussion testing but returned for the third.
It will be interesting to see how NHL disciplinarian Brendan Shanahan responds to the hit, which earned Shelley a five minute major for boarding and a game misconduct. Boyce was apparently in good spirits after the game, comparing himself to Leafs' assistant coach Tim Hunter, who owns perhaps the most famed proboscis in all of hockey.
The links:
Mirtle on Joffrey Lupul's recovery from back injury.
Toronto Star columnist Damien Cox suggests the Leafs could chase disgruntled Coyotes forward Kyle Turris.
Super handy: Jonathan Willis at theleafsnation.com gives you a roundup of where a number of major publications are picking the Leafs to finish this season.
Michael Traikos at The National Post on how the moms felt during the Kessel/Schenn brothers clash.
Toronto Sun columnist Steve Buffery thinks Ben Scrivens deserves a real shot at a job with the big club.
Puck Daddy examines the Shelley hit.