Games 17 & 18: 2 Games In 2 Nights Starting To Catch Up To The Leafs...

Friday night Toronto was at home away from home against Buffalo at the HSBC arena (which for those of you who don't know is about a dong's length from the border). The arena was more than half full with Leafs fans and it was rockin'...I missed the first period because of my commute but I did listen to it on the radio...It sounded like Toronto was getting out played pretty bad and I found myself to not be in a hurry to get home and watch anymore...When I did turn on the t.v. I was pleasantly surprised with Toronto's play. They had great defensive end coverage and were containing Buffalo's speed to the outside for the final two periods. Raycroft looked great (for once) and managed to get the shutout (6th of his career if I heard correctly)...isn't there a guy in Columbus right now who already has 5 this year alone?...I digress...The boys looked great and managed to capitalize on a struggling Sabres team...thank god...

So with Raycroft doing amazingly well on Friday it would make sense to start him on Saturday vs. the red hot Rangers right?...well that's why you're not a millionaire GM...stupid...apparently it makes more sense to start the guy who got pulled in his last two starts vs. the guy who got a shutout the night before...I guess we're all the retarded ones and JFJ is the genius...

Really nice remembrance day/HHOF ceremony before the game...just though I'd throw that in...

The game was pretty exciting...although it was difficult to watch...I'm not sure if it was because of the wet burps induced by my butter chicken dinner or the fatigue that the Leafs were showing but it was awkward to watch...One thing that I noticed on Saturday that really pisses me off about the Leafs...(it's actually reason #4,302) is how they give up their own blue line when the other team is trying to enter...it's so frustrating to watch it drives me nuts...Next time you watch a Leafs game watch how the opposite team lines up on their blue line when the Leafs are trying to enter (usually 3 on the line with a 4th right behind them) the Leafs have no chance of breaking this wall and are always forced to dump and chase...then look at when the opposing team is trying to come into the leafs zone. the Leafs just allow them to waltz right in (much like Paris' vag) and set up shop for their offensive possession...Just baffels me that with the amount of problems they have in their zone they would try and correct something like letting the other team in their zone in the first place...whatever...

Avery was a pest...like he always is...he's good at it...do I hate him? you bet. Would I want him on my team? In a second...you see Avery is the kind of guy that Tucker wishes he was...and blake too if he wasnt so much like Wendell Borton ...Avery got in the face of Leafs players early and often and was also a bastard on the scoresheet setting up Shanny for the first goal and scoring the second himself (span of :45 seconds in the 2nd)...

The Leafs looked tired and New York was skating circles around them (mostly Jagr)...this guy has mad speed...and he's strong on the puck...Pony scored 2 twice late in the second to tie it at 2-2 but New York ended up winning in the shootout...so Toronto got 3 of 4 points this weekend...not bad but could be better...ohh wait it is better...Because Kubina is out with a bummed knee...whheeeeeeee!

So tomorrow (Tuesday) the Canadiens are in Toronto to face the Leafs and then the Buds are off to Boston for one before hosting the Sens again...where they will probably get embarassed again...then host the Bruins next Tuesday. These next 4 games could really help (or potentially destroy) the Leafs...It will be very interesting to see which team shows up to play...Wishful thinking would have the Leafs comming out of this 2-2 but it think it might be more like 1-3...we'll see...

Game 12: In The Big Apple to Pimp Slap The Rangers

So during the melee that was Saturday I managed to catch 2/3 of the hockey game (Toronto vs Rangers). I watched the first period which saw a very fast paced two way game. The Leafs had New York's top guys in check for the most part and created several opportunities for themselves...but came out with nothing.

The Second period was (from what I heard) pretty impressive. I was in the car and had the pleasure of listening to Mr. Joe Bowen, which is a million times better then the retarded triple entente that is "Hockey Night in Canada" (Bob Cole, Harry Neale and Cassy Campbell) Jagr scored first for the Rangers but the Leafs came right back strong. About 3 minutes after Jaromir scored Kubina riped a shot from the point that found it's way through Lundqvist to tie it up. Pohl and Antropov also scored to put the Leafs up 3-1 after 2.

Toronto fans know all about the two goal leads that seem to disappear. But Saturday was different. I don't know why...it just was. Maybe because Toskala was in net and continuously looking stronger every game. Maybe it was because McCabe is out with the groin injury (insert Bryan groin joke here) Or maybe it was because Tucker was out again with whatever injury he suffered when he ran into the boards like a child learning to stop on skates. What ever it was the Leafs recognized it and made sure it wouldn't happen again. They came out pretty strong and instead of letting the Rangers come to them they kept applying pressure and making sure New York never really got any chances. Kilger scored on an empty net (which was a result of good hustle and negating an icing call) and the Leafs left the big apple with 2 well deserved points...

So with a 2-0 road trip (with impressive play in both games) the leafs are now 2-2 on the road this season and 3-2-3 at home...which makes me ask Washington...Can we play at your place tonight? Toronto's looking good on the road and it might have
something to do with the hostile environment that is the ACC. But with the recent "team" play and productive efforts that have resulted in wins, the sheep in Toronto should finally welcome the blue and white with cheers instead of boo's...well the ones who follow hockey should. I can't speak for the suites that just show up with company tickets and think that Toskala could be rookie of the year...On the bright side...after tonight Toronto will be back on the road for 4...nice...

ohh Bryan, stay out for a bit...we're doing fine without you. Stralman was the only Leafs defenceman with a plus/minus in the red (-1)...Kubina, the second slowest defenceman on the team (next to McCabe) had a +3...no really...he did.