FREE LEAFS TICKETS! (It's Really Not That Exciting)

So if anyone made it down to the ACC last Wednesday for the press conference you'd have come away with a pair of Leafs/Sabres tickets for the first pre-season game of the year...

If you didn't go down don't worry. I've got you covered just go here and enter the draw for the tickets. They are giving away all the tickets for this game so might as well try. Why not? It will be a nice treat to see a young offensive team play together for the first time...yes I'm talking about Buffalo...

A New Season and A New Hope

So today I decided to apply to the Yardbarker Blog Network. I have not posted during the off season nor did I post in the second half of the 07-08 season while I was over in England but rumblings are happening and the season is fast approaching.

The NHL has released the 2008-09 schedule and there are a few exciting (not really) games to mention here...

We'll start with the biggies first. New Years day Chicago will host Detroit in the 2009 version of the "Outdoor Classic". I'm all about these outside games. it's really cool to see how the elements of the outdoors play a factor in the games (see shoot-out from last year) And the best part of it all is that it's going to be in Wrigley Field. Awesome. I've been to Wrigley a few times (baseball games) and it's is hands down the most beautiful stadium I have ever been in. Anyone who's got tickets for this is in for a treat.

Secondly, There will be 4 teams heading to the other side of the pond to start the season. Tampa and the Rangers will play in Prague on October 4th and 5th while The Eastern Conference Champion Penguins and The Joke of a Team from Ottawa will play on the same nights in Stockholm.

Montreal will be hosting the 2009 All-star game...Other than the possibility of an amazing opening ceremony that would be considered the NHL's equivalent of Tuesdays MLB's All-Star game (because of the possibilities of all the Hall of Famers) this will be boring...

Toronto will Open the season facing Detroit. There, now everyone that's been moaning about them never coming here can shut up. Honestly, why would you want the Leafs to play Detroit a bunch of times in a season? Did you see where they finished last year? did you see where we finished? c'mon...smarten up.

And finally...(I'm only picking my top 5 because I'm lazy) The Leafs and Habs Hall Of Fame Game on November 8th. Mats Sundin will score a hat-trick...For Montreal.

Just wait and see...

July 15th and I Decide To Post Again...Whatever...

So it's been the better part of 7 months since my last post. Just typing again gets me pissed off about The Leafs.

Anyways, thought I'd pass along this little e-mail that I received from Matt Stajan...(you're an idiot if you actually think Matt sent this): *click the image to read the letter*

What the hell is this bullshit? For the first time since I've been born The Leafs have been very open about the fact that they will be doing their best to re-build this year...Cliff got rid of some dead weight (Raycroft, Wellwood, Tucker...) and picked up some young potential (and I use the term "potential" lightly) But maybe this is one of those "Thank you everyone for coming...We're going to be shit this year so we're going to drop ticket prices by 5%. We'll still have the most expensive tickets in the league but now the douchebag that works on Bay St. that makes 45k a year and dresses like he's 6 figures will be able to buy some nice Platinum seats, play on his blackberry and miss the first 6 minutes of the 2nd and 3rd periods 2 times this year instead of just once"...YAY! there's more "Everyone here who took time off work today to come down here and show your on-going support for the Leafs, we thank you. And to show our thanks everyone here will get a FREE Leafs window decal and a hologram sticker. THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT!" then all the fat Italian men will cheer and clap and that will be it.

Part of me actually wants to go to this because it's going to be such a shit show but the better part of me knows that it's going to blow and there won't be a single woman in attendance.

...Someone let me know how this goes. Looks like another long year for the Blue and White.

Looks Like I'm Ready For Belak...

25

Try it and see for yourself...I'll be posting about the last 3 games tonight...until then...

Game 30: Ohh My God The Lightning Are Shit On The Road...

The Leafs played an incredibly boring game on Saturday that saw them come out on the losing end of a 2-1 score. I went to a Leafs / Bruins game last year and I'll have to admit that it was one of the most boring games I have ever seen (live or televised) Alex Auld held the bruins in line when the Leafs were pressuring late this time but the result was still the same...Toronto lost.

Last night was a different story as Tampa Bay came into the ACC. Tampa have the best home record in the east but lucky for the Leafs they also have the worst road record.

After a scoreless first period that was more boring than watching "Deal Or No Deal" with my grandma the blue and white came out with an explosive 2nd netting 4 goals. They added 2 more in the 3rd and easily went on to the 6-1 win. It was probably one of the more dominating performances the Leafs have had at home this year. The only shit news is that this was the last home game the leafs will have until late December (next 7 games are on the road)...

I'm still re-cooperating from last night's company Christmas party (or Holiday party for those losers who can't accept people celebrating Christmas) so I'm off to McDonalds to grab some McMuffins...the best medicine for a hang over...

So after a not-too-impressive lost to the Bruins on Saturday, the Leafs are looking to start a new streak....yes, you can bring the green hat snoop da loop.

Game 28: I'm Back and Apparently So Are The Leafs...

So after a disgusting losing streak that had Leafs Nation calling for the heads of anyone and everyone associated with MLSE the leafs have turned their game around completely and have now won 4 straight...but lets be real here...when they lost 4 everyone was pissed. Now they've won 4 and everyone thinks they're gonna make the playoffs but if you lose 4 then win 4 aren't you just at even after 8 games? It's going to take a lot more to get this team in the playoffs but at least we're heading in the right direction...baby steps...baby steps.

So Toronto beat the Rangers last night 6-2. What was more impressive was that they scored 6 times on 16 shots...Compare that with their win over Nashville that saw them score 3 times on 15 shots and you're starting to think that maybe all the leafs success is starting to come from the recent acquisition of their "Shooter Tutor" purchased from Toys R Us for $18...(all figures CAD)

Nik Antropov recorded his second career hat-trick (his first was 8 years ago vs. Florida)...This hat trick really pissed me off...and yes I'll tell you why...

Well the first goal was really nice. it was the result of hard work and going to the net...lucky for him Lundqvist let up a huge rebound and he was there to put it in...good for him...The next 2 are the ones I don't like. Let's pretend that it was Sundin who tipped Whites shot and not Antropov...

White shoots...Sundin tips...puck goes in...Sundin puts his arms up in celebration then points to White and says "Fuck Yeah!"...everyone hugs and there are a few ass grabs.

Now here is what happens when Nik scores:

White shoots...Antropov tips...puck goes in...Antropov looks at the ref and points at himself and says "I tipped it!"...

Antropov...take a cue from "good players" and don't tell the ref you scored when you tip in a goal. It's a team game. You're not in novice house league anymore. Just play...They'll get it right. They always do. The same thing happened on his 3rd goal when he tipped Kubina's shot...he looked right at the ref...really pisses me off...I digress...

So Toronto plays Boston on Saturday and try to extend their winning streak to 5. I'm not going to go looking through stats (mostly because I'm not a fucking dork) but I wouldn't be surprised if the last time they won 5 straight was pre-lockout...The leafs do have trouble with Boston and I wouldn't be surprised if Rask gets the start for them again...Auld is good but for Rask it's personal...I'll be sitting on the couch having a beer listening to Bob Cole fuck every one's name up and get calls wrong. And if I'm lucky enough I'll get to watch that stupid dyke Cassie Campbell make a fool of her self talking about shit no one cares about...I hate her.

CBC had a pretty cool feature about Hockey Bloggers its a pretty cool feature...for some reason they forgot to put me in there...I guess they have my old number or something. Must have been a production error on their end...maybe next time.

See you Saturday.

Games 22 & 23: This Is Really Starting To Suck...

Toronto blows...if they dont want to try and play then I don't want to try and write about them...fuck em.