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A few days ago, Toronto head coach Mike Babcock argued that the pendulum has swung too far the other way and figured an imaginary memo had been circulated to referees not to call anything on Kadri, regardless of severity.

Kadri, who was also fined for a throat slash gesture against Calgary’s Mark Giordano on Feb. 9, will pay $4,000 if flagged again for diving this season. A $2,000 fine for Babcock would also kick in.

The league also announced Friday that Nail Yakupov of thye Oilers and Martin Hanzal of the Arizona Coyotes were each fined $2000 for diving. The money goes to the Players’ Emergency Assistance Fund.

Lance Hornby



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A regulation Toronto win against Detroit on Saturday, should the Wings not have won Friday night at home against the Wild, would put them in a huge hole as they try and get back into a wild card spot.

“I’d like them to get into the playoffs,” Babcock said Friday. “Why? Because I was there a long time (10 years) and I appreciate the people there. That doesn’t have any bearing on (Saturday). We’re playing hockey and trying to improve our group all the time.”

Missing the playoffs is driving the hyper-competitive Babcock nuts, but he knew there’d be some lean years when he signed on.

“If you’re a coach or a player at this time of year and you’re planning your off-season, it’s not very good. You don’t want to get used to doing that. If we do things well here we won’t be doing that a lot.”

This final Saturday home date of the year for the Leafs is one of five remaining games, at least three of which could have playoff standing implications. Philadelphia, one of the teams just ahead of Detroit, hosts the Leafs Thursday and that could also be huge in the Eastern Conference picture.