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 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...

Week 3 Pylon Goes To...Everyone! (Almost)

Well with the voting numbers in the hundreds (not really) I was surprised to see a 5-way tie for week 3 "pylon of the Week" so here they are as chosen by you...
McCabe, Stajan, Toskala, Gill and Kubina...which all but one (and you can guess) had me a little surprised...this group has an impressive +15 with 7 goals and 19 assists...but Take McCabe out and the line changes slightly...mostly in the +/-. +21 with 5 goals and 17 assists...so really who misses Bryan (other than Darcy Tucker)...Tucker had his PR to speak on behalf of him and she had the following to say:

LEAVE BRYAN ALONE!!!

Anyways, we'll see everyone in beautiful New Jersey tomorrow night...a few things to look forward to: 1) Bell's last game to serve in his suspension 2) McCabe is still out 3) Newly constructed Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey...Let's see some road wins (I'm not going to hold my breath though) And this weeks pylon voting has started so get your votes in...because unlike an American vote...these all get counted.

Game 13: Washington 7 vs Toronto Holy Shit You Suck...

Funny story...so yesterday I had Indian buffet for lunch and after work I had roughly 4 beers before the game...I got home took the dirtiest shit imaginable and guess what came out?...The Leafs defence...

Last night Toronto got romped 7-1 by the Capitals in a game that saw 5 Capital players score their first goals of the season and one Capital score his first career goal in the NHL (Toronto seems to be good at making those dreams come true for opposing players) and Alexander Ovechkin threw two in to add insult to injury. The Leafs have now allowed 51 goals this season...That's the most in the NHL for those of you who were wondering...

Wha Happen? Toronto put together 2 great games on the road last week and seemed to have gotten over the hurdle that is defence. But then they show back up at the ACC and it's like they took nothing away from the two road wins...I just don't understand.

"Hey Kubina, You're having enough problems playing defence as it is...let's not put too much on our plates and try to play forward too". Pavel Kubina was jumping into every single rush last night and he was getting caught deep in the offensive zone quite often. You piss me off Pavel...you have my pylon vote this week...I dont care if you scored in New York

Halloween costume of the evening goes to Andrew Raycroft for looking exactly like Vesa Toskala and sneaking in net to let in the first 4 goals of the game (it's the only way he's going to get any playing time) And runner up for second best costume goes to Vesa Toskala for looking (and playing) exactly Like Raycroft and letting in the final 3 goals...good job guys!

Thankfully for Leafs fans the Blue and White are on the road for the next 4 games. Hopefully they'll leave this play here at the ACC and pick up the play they had in Pittsburgh and New York again. If anyone is happy about Toronto's bed shitting extravaganza last night it would be Tucker and McCabe...I bet they were starting to get worried that they might of been healthy scratches when they got back...I'm relieved knowing that that wont happen (sarcasm). Toronto's next opponent is the Devils at their flashy new building "The Prudential Center" Hopefully New Jersey starts their back up against the Leafs and we start someone who can actually stop a puck...maybe I'm wishing for too much.

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.