College of Sports Media Game of the Night:

With 17 games left in the season the Toronto Raptors are in the home stretch of their season and fighting for their playoff lives. Rewind back to the All Star break and Toronto was comfortably in fifth place looking to jump into the top four. Today the Raptors are in eighth and checking out their rear view to see who is coming from behind. Toronto has lost five straight and trail the fifth place Milwaukee Bucks by four games. The Charlotte Bobcats and Miami Heat are tied for sixth and seventh a game and a half ahead of Toronto. The Chicago Bulls are in ninth and in a worse tailspin then Toronto. Their losing skid has reached eight and counting. The New York Knicks are in tenth and nine games back of the Dinos, so there’s no chance they can catch them right?!? Which brings us to tonight – the Raptors are back home following a disastrous 0-4 game trip out West. The Atlanta Hawks are in town tonight and it’s fair to say they’ve owned the Raptors this season. In their last two meetings Atlanta has beat Toronto by an average of 26.5 points. The big difference for Atlanta this season is who they have coming off the bench. The addition of Jamal Crawford gives the team a scoring threat while their starters are resting. Crawford is averaging 17.6 points per game, over two points better then his career average. The good news for Toronto is that Atlanta played last night. In 15 games on the back end of a back-to-back the Hawks are 7-8. Toronto on the other hand is well rested. The last time they played was Sunday night in Portland, where they dropped a 109-89 decision to the Trailblazers. If the Raptors don’t get things going they’re either going to stay in eighth and deal with LeBron James in the first round of the playoffs or miss the postseason all together.

College of Sports Media Game of the Night:

Although the chances of making the playoffs for the Toronto Maple Leafs are slim to none, a win tonight equates provincial bragging rights until the next season. The Leafs are on the road tonight as they travel down the 401 to take on the Ottawa Senators. It’s the sixth and final meeting between these two rivals. Ottawa took the first two games and Toronto has answered back with three wins in a row. Before their loss to the New York Islanders on Sunday afternoon the Leafs put together a three-game winning streak. Since trading away several veterans the Leafs are the second youngest team in the league and have turned the last half of the season into a dress rehearsal for next season. Over it’s last four game games Toronto has scored 15 goals and the average age of the scorer is 24.1 years old. Most impressive has been the top-line of 22 year old Phil Kessel, 21 year old Tyler Bozak and the veteran of the group 23 year old Nikolai Kuleman. The trio has combined for eight goals and nine assists in their last four games. Ottawa returns home coming off a three game road trip to Western Canada. Things started off well with a 4-1 win over the Edmonton Oilers, but the good times ended there. Two nights later the Sens were blanked by the Calgary Flames 2-0 and then on Saturday night the Vancouver Canucks blasted them 5-1. Unlike their provincial rivals, Ottawa is in the middle of the playoff hunt. They’re fifth in the East with 79 points, three ahead of the sixth seeded Philadelphia Flyers and three points behind the division leading Buffalo Sabres. A win tonight for Ottawa would not only even its series with Toronto, but help towards its post season push.

College of Sports Media Game of the Night:

If the Detroit Red Wings played in the East they would be the sixth seed with their sights set on the Ottawa Senators – who are only one game ahead of them. Unfortunately for them, that is not the case. They play in the West where 78 points is only good enough for eighth and if things don’t go their way tonight they’ll be in ninth. The Red Wings are on the road tonight in Calgary to take on a Flames team that only trails them by a single point. The good news for Detroit is they’ve been able to string together back-to-back Ws and have won five of their last seven games. On Saturday night the Red Wings needed overtime to secure a 3-2 victory over the Buffalo Sabres. Special teams has been one of the reasons for Detroit’s recent success. The Red Wings have scored a power-play goal in nine straight games including Brian Rafalski’s OT winner in their last game. Calgary had won four in a row before losing 3-1 to the Vancouver Canucks on Saturday night. Included in that winning streak was a 4-2 win over the Red Wings in Detroit. So you can be sure the Red Wings are looking to return the favour tonight.

College of Sports Media Game of the Night:

Who would of thought that a game between the two hottest teams in the East would include one with the Carolina Hurricanes. Carolina has spent most of the season battling for the bottom of the conference with the Toronto Maple Leafs, but over their last ten game the Canes are 8-1-1 and only eight points out of a playoff spot. Carolina is at home tonight as they welcome the defending Stanley Cup Champion Pittsburgh Penguins into RBC Centre. Pittsburgh has won four straight games including a 2-1 win over the Boston Bruins on Sunday night. There’s been no one better for the Pens then their captain Sidney Crosby. The Kid has 10 points over his last six games and is tied for the league lead in goals with 44. This is the third meeting this season between these two clubs and the winner tonight holds the edge in the season series.

For anyone still interested in the Leafs, they’re at home tonight. Toronto got a big 4-3 overtime win over the Boston Bruins on Tuesday and tonight they welcome the Tampa Bay Lightning.

College of Sports Media Game of the Night:

All four teams jockeying for the final three playoff spots in the East were in action last night and this morning things are that much closer as the home stretch for the postseason kicks into over-drive. Currently in sixth place is the Toronto Raptors, but there is only a one and a half game difference between them and the ninth place Chicago Bulls. Toronto watched Kobe Bryant drain a last second shot to lead his LA Lakers to a 109-107 win over the Raptors. Chicago started the night in eighth, but they got pummeled 132-108 at the hands of the Utah Jazz. The seventh seeded Miami Heat were in action last night against the Charlotte Bobcats. The Bobcats got the 83-78 win and leap-frogged the Bulls into a tie with the Heat for seventh in the East. Confused – don’t be positions will continue changing up until the very last day of the season. Three of the four teams are back at it again tonight. Charlotte is in the City of Brotherly Love to battle the Philadelphia 76ers. Miami returns home as they welcome the LA Clippers to South Beach. Both these squads are dealing with a little change. Yesterday LA dropped coach Mike Dunleavy, while Miami is moving on without guard Rafer Alston. Alston dumped his team via text message. The Raptors continue there West coast swing as they’re in Sac-town to take on the Kings. Both teams have dropped seven of their last ten and are looking to end losing streaks. Back on February seventh these two went at it in the ACC with the Raps coming out with a 115-104 win. Chris Bosh had 36 points and Toronto had its third straight over Sacramento. Bosh will need to be just as good if the Raptors want to push the streak to four.

College of Sports Media Game of the Night:

There are only 21 games left in the Toronto Raptors’ season and at a time that his team should be gearing up for a post season run, the Raps are fighting for the playoff lives. Toronto sits in the sixth seed in the East with the seventh and eighth place teams trailing them by a game and a game and a half. The Raptors have lost five of their last six games andlong with their focus. Even the return of Chris Bosh to the line up on Sunday afternoon couldn’t get things going in the right direction. Bosh was held to 12 points and the Philadelphia 76ers schooled Toronto en route to a 114-101 victory. Toronto’s next four games are on the road – a place this team has struggled. This season the Raptors are 10-19 away from the ACC and this time they’re only playing Western Conference opponents. Toronto is 2-8 on the road against the West. Here’s even worse news – tonight they play the defending World Champion Los Angeles Lakers. You have to believe the Lakers have had this game on their minds since losing 106-105 to the Raptors back in TO on January 24th. Added to this is the fact that LA has lost three straight and Kobe Bryant hates losing. Bryant has done well against the Raptors in LA. Over the last five games, Bryant is averaging whopping 43.4 point per game. (I’m sure no one can forget the 81 he dropped on the Dino’s back on Jan. 22, 2006).

College of Sports Media Game of the Night:

The Washington Capitals look to win their fourteenth straight at home when they welcome the Dallas Stars to the Verizon Centre. The Caps made two big moves at the trade deadline last Wednesday and they’ve already begun to pay off. Washington traded to get Scott Walker from the Carolina Hurricanes and Eric Belanger from the Minnesota Wild. Walker scored twice in his Capitals’ debut, while Belanger added a little insurance on Saturday night as the Capitals beat the New York Rangers 2-0 on Saturday night. The addition of these character guys gives Washington a great core ready for the postseason. Washington has won four straight and is the number one team in the league with 96 points. The Capitals are 12 points up on the second best in the East and three points ahead of the West-leading San Jose Sharks. Dallas on the other hand are eleventh in the West and six points out of a play off spot. The Stars have lost three straight including a 6-3 drubbing at the hands on the Pittsburgh Penguins on Saturday afternoon. So Dallas had to deal with Sidney Crosby over the weekend and Monday kicks in with a game against Alexander Ovechkin. Alex the Great hasn’t scored in six straight games and is due for a break out game…be afraid Dallas….be very afraid.

In the Association there’s a big game going down tonight between a Western conference contender and an Eastern conference powerhouse. Tim Duncan and the San Antonio Spurs are in Cleveland to take on LeBron James and the Cavaliers. The Spurs are on a four game winning streak, sit in the seventh spot in the West and hope to take advantage on a Shaq-less Cavaliers team. King James got the night off on Saturday night resulting in a 92-85 loss to the Milwaukee Bucks. LBJ is well rested and ready to get his NBA-leading team back to it’s winning ways.

College of Sports Media Game of the Night:

In the first game back from the all star break, Toronto Raptor’s forward Chris Bosh went down with an ankle injury and missed the next six games. Over that time his team went 2-4 and are struggling. The Raptors are well rested and back home looking to snap a four game skid as they welcome the New York Knicks to the ACC tonight. The last time the Raps played was back on Tuesday when they were in Houston to take on the Rockets. The Rockets jumped out early and cruised to 116-92 victory. Guard Jose Calderon didn’t dress for the game, while Turkoglu injured his knee during the game and sat out the second half. Both Calderon and Turkoglu should be joining Bosh back in uniform. Although Bosh’s morning didn’t get off to a great start. He missed this morning’s practice with stomach cramps. This is a big game for Toronto as they only have 23 games left in the season and are in a fight to stay in fifth place in the East. They’re only a half game up on the sixth seeded Milwaukee Bucks, a game up on the Chicago Bulls in seventh and a game and half on the eighth place Miami Heat. The 12th place Knicks are coming off a big 128-104 win over the Detroit Pistons on Wednesday night. Forward Al Harrington had 26 points in the win and David Lee pulled down 18 boards. New York has gone 2-5 since acquiring Tracy McGrady and Eddie House at the NBA trade deadline. McGrady had 21 and House had 17 in their win over Detroit. The Raptors are looking for a repeat performance of the last time they played the Knicks. Bosh 27 points, pulled down 15 boards and Toronto won 106-104.

College of Sports Media Game of the Night:

If the hockey we saw during the Olympics was comparable to watching an Oscar winner, then this season’s version of the Toronto Maple Leafs is like a grade eight production. On Tuesday night, in their first game back, the Leafs were trounced by the Carolina Hurricanes 5-1. Let’s not take anything from Carolina – they’ve won nine of their last 11 games, but Toronto looked awful. For anyone who thought it had something to do with general manager or the coach, the Americans performance in the winter games prove those theories wrong. Over the trade deadline GM Brian Burke traded away Alex Ponikarovsky, Lee Stempniak and Marlies goalie Joey Macdonald in return for prospects and draft picks. This team will not be making the playoffs, but can it be good enough to stay out of the NHL basement? I know one team that hopes not. That team is the Boston Bruins and they will be hosting the Leafs tonight. Last season the Bruins were one of the leagues best. This season – not so much. In their first game back the Bruins were trounced 4-1 by the Montreal Canadians. They are the lowest scoring team in the league and are tied with the New York Rangers for the eighth spot in the East.

College of Sports Media Game of the Night:

For many NHL fans this day has been circled since the release of the 2010 schedule -  trade deadline day. This day is so big that there are people out there who use a sick day to keep track of all the action. Who goes, who stays and who is this year’s winners? Get all your update info here at torontosportsmedia.com.