Steven Stamkos makes his homecoming Thursday night as not only the hottest points producer in the NHL. He also arrives with the chance to become the first 50-goal scorer from the GTA in almost two decades.

Vincent Lecavalier, long a voice of reason in the NHL, was stunned to learn that Pittsburgh Matt Cooke has escaped without suspension for his vicious, blindside shoulder to the head of Boston’s Marc Savard.

Toronto Maple Leafs defencemen Dion Phaneuf and Garnet Exelby, both known for their physical play, say something had to be done about hits that target other players’ heads.

Yannick Weber scored 1:47 into overtime for Hamilton as the Bulldogs beat the Toronto Marlies 3-2 in American Hockey League play Tuesday night to tie a franchise record with their ninth straight win.

There was a great deal of sympathy for concussed Bruins centre Marc Savard emanating from the Maple Leafs, and a general feeling that head shots like the one Savard suffered Sunday in Pittsburgh ought to be eliminated from the game.

The Leafs have become a younger team, but the question remains how much different they are from that Jan. 31 roster that was ineffective and ultimately dismantled.