It's either this or the Suns-Mavs, and who wants to do that for two teams that are a combined 1-8?
Something a little different, at least on this little sliver of real estate: an open thread off tonight’s Leafs at Boston game. Sure, you could go to your favourite message board and sling verbal bricks, but here's your chance to get some thrown back engage in civilized discourse about one of the burning issues of the day: How can the Leafs possibly survive without Brave Captain?
Actually I’ll be downstairs watching the game (7 pm start local time; 8:30 pm in Newfoundland) and I don't have wireless hookup, but will promise to come up between periods to check you out. All three of you.
Meantime, here’s some measures of what the Leafs will have to replace with Brave Captain out for a while (I’m going to keep banging this drum as long as y’all keep salivating, so beware):
20:53 minutes of ice time a night, including 5:24 on the PP and 2:07 on the second PK unit; 28 shifts a game.
The ability to turn goalies into cab drivers.
Darcy Tucker has scored 10 goals, eight of them on the power-play - and Sundin has assisted on six of those PPGs.
Big hits, big goals, even a penalty shot, a gold medal, an animal lover and a crusader.
A (yawn) great quote. Okay, a quote, then. Been around the block a few times.
According to my penalty stats (soon to be inflicted on you) he's tied for third on the Leafs for fouls committed against with six (Tucker has been fouled 13 times, Ponikarovsky eight, and Sundin's among a group with six).
I could throw more at ya, but it's almost quitting time. Until tonight, then, and let's meet in the comments (and try to keep any sharp objects out of reach).
Three might be an overestimate. ;-)
Posted by: Carla | November 09, 2006 at 05:45 PM
Yo CY. Spencer checking in from the couch.
---
I just turned the game on and Bang! Peca. Man, are the Leafs really this good? Okay, yeah, the Bruins are that bad (used to be my fave team...sigh). I liked Pat Quinn but man, Maurice is doing WAY more. And forget Sundin. Raycroft is their MVP.
Posted by: Spencer | November 09, 2006 at 07:42 PM
The Bruins aren't just awful. They're like subterranean bad. So the schedule ahead, with four games against these boneheads, looks forgiving.
two things: the guy in crowd yelling "wtf?" after the second goal.
ok, actually just one thing. sort of summed it up.
Posted by: cy | November 09, 2006 at 07:48 PM
Mats who?
Posted by: Carla | November 09, 2006 at 08:07 PM
Okay, let's just downgrade the Bruins to bad pee-wee team and all flip over to Cavs-Bulls game.
Posted by: Spencer | November 09, 2006 at 08:14 PM
I'm going to try to not get toooooo excited about this... I'd rather wait and see how they stand up sans Mats when they're playing somebody better than Boston.
So. If the Leafs score another three in the second period, who will the Bruins have in net in the third? My vote goes for the guy in the crowd who yelled "wtf?!"
Posted by: Carla | November 09, 2006 at 08:17 PM
Raycroft goes down and I go "Ewwww..." (I must not think bad thoughts, I must not think bad thoughts...)
Posted by: Carla | November 09, 2006 at 08:29 PM
Ponikarovsky misses a natural hattrick with 1:40 remaining in the second. When does this qualify as a "break-out" season? Or was that last year?
Posted by: theboss | November 09, 2006 at 08:41 PM
the defence, Sundin, Raycroft ... i believe it now qualifies as a "breakdown season", Boss.
not sure what they were on about on the braodcast. i've had a hamstring go on me, and it looked just like that, on that shot. Raycroft played a puck in the corner just before that and was moving fine.
Posted by: cy | November 09, 2006 at 08:44 PM
Remember when Hasek went down at the Olympics? Looked just like that. Groin. Bad.
Posted by: Spencer | November 09, 2006 at 08:47 PM
Lotsa folks (including me) were figuring that Raycroft would be the key player while Sundin was out. Mebbe it'll turn out to be Aubin, eh? He's done it before, after all... [crosses fingers]
Posted by: Carla | November 09, 2006 at 08:50 PM
apparently that's what it is. groin injury.
Posted by: cy | November 09, 2006 at 08:52 PM
Wide open net. Pony can't find the puck in his feet. [weeps]
Posted by: Carla | November 09, 2006 at 08:59 PM
Jeez. I'm glad that's over. :-o
I gotta go lie down with a cold washcloth on my forehead.
Posted by: Carla | November 09, 2006 at 09:31 PM
they should've had about eight or 10 goals tonight.
look on the bright side. only a month more of this and Sundin is back.
Posted by: cy | November 09, 2006 at 09:34 PM
With all the drama of the night, good to get the win, but why dont the leafs play hockey in the first period. If Boston gets nineteen shots, what's montreal gonna do
Posted by: Sean | November 10, 2006 at 06:02 AM