Game 1: Winning is winning

The Leafs are in first place! The Leafs are undefeated!

Just kidding, Ron Wilson. Please don't get angry.

Yes, it was just One Game. And, yes, in the grand scheme of 82 games, it does Not Mean Anything. But let's not forget, it took the Leafs nine tries last season to do what they did on opening night 2010: Win.

Was it a spectacular victory? No. Was it decisive? No. Was the game a work of art? No.

But as Vin Diesel says in The Fast and The Furious: "Winning is winning."

After so much build-up, after so much chatter about this rebuilt team, the Leafs started the game looking like toddlers on a sugar high. On the bench, they rocked back and forth, anxious to get on the ice. On the ice, they darted around, chasing the puck like a pack of hunting dogs.

The first goal is always important. But when the weight of a disastrous season is on your shoulders and high expectations are tethered to your neck, the first goal is as crucial as oxygen.

Tim Brent, who starred at training camp in the role of Cinderella, took care of this crucial business. At 6:42 of the first, he deflected a shot from Dion Phaneuf, who got the only official assist. (Give Colton Orr an unofficial assist for creating the turnover with a monstrous check that made Tomas Plekanec panic.)

As Phil Kessel goes, so shall the Leafs this season.

And Thursday night, Kessel was going at MACH-4. His puck control is astonishing, even when he's spinning like a top or moving backwards. And about two minutes after Brent triggered a mass exhale inside the ACC, Kessel gobbled up the puck at the blue line and rocketed toward the net with a clear mission.

He deked. The puck seemed to vanish for 2 steamboats. But then it slipped past Montreal goalie Carey Price, who may have accidentally swallowed pills that cause drowsiness to deal with a recent bout of the flu.

Anyway, it was 2-0 Leafs.

When Montreal's Dustin Boyd scored at 12:19, to cut the Leafs lead in half, you could feel anxiety creep into the building. But that was mostly in the stands, where Leaf fans are conditioned to watch games with grimacing smiles, always expecting the worst.

On the bench, it was calm and rather business-like.

The second period was an exercise in psychological exhaustion. The Leafs, having crashed from their sugar high, didn't create many chances or even moments of sustained pressure.

They did take three penalties, including one for too many men on the ice. Last year, statistically speaking, these three penalties would have translated into 1.4866 Montreal goals. But last night, the penalty killers were killing penalties instead of tickling them.

Early in the third, Clarke MacArthur gave the Leafs a 3-1 lead on a nifty move that seemed to surprise everybody, including Nikolai Kulemin and Mikhail Grabovski, who got the assists. After Montreal's Jeff Halpern scored less than a minute later, it was time for the overarching storyline: J.S. Giguere exorcises the ghost of Vesa Toskala.

Jiggy closed the door for the next 17 minutes. Then in the last minute, he slammed the door. Really loudly. Twice. And when the final buzzer sounded, when citizens inside Leafs Nation pumped their fists and high-fived each other, the score was 3-2.

So the Leafs awake this morning with their first win. More important, as they look ahead to Game 2 at home against Ottawa tomorrow, they can take comfort in a small but not insignificant development: They are ahead of where they were a year ago.

PHOTO: RICHARD LAUTENS/TORONTO STAR

Comments

[Ostrich Lover]

How awesome was Phil Kessel on that delayed PP?

[Geoff Read]

I just said this on Damien Cox's blog too, but I'll repeat it here: I thought Kaberle was the story of the game. He was the best player on the ice - he moved the puck with authority, he shot it regularly and with accuracy, he was solid in his own end, and he showed the kind of calm under pressure that you hope for from your veterans on the blue line. I think the way the organization has treated this guy has been shameful - publicly shopping him as though he's some kind of cancer the team needs to cut out, and, worse, stripping him of his A for no apparent reason - and he showed a lot of class and character to come out and play as well as he did despite what must be his wounded pride.

[steve]

Awesome Awesome feeling today!

so nice to get off to a good start!

[Vinay Menon]

@Ostrich Lover: The Pyatt penalty late in the third? Yeah, Kessel (and Kulemin) were pretty awesome. They had control for like 40 seconds when I checked the tape.
@Geoff Read: You might be right. He seemed genuinely touched by the thundering ovation he received during the introductions (as loud as what Kessel, Dion and Orr got). And then he went out played one of his best games in recent memory. At the end of the night, the Star's Paul Hunter and I were talking in the press box about Kaberle and marveling at his skating: power and grace. What a strange turn of events it would be if Kaberle became the story of the season.

[Anthony]

Have to agree Kaberle stood out several times last night, 1 specific play he beat a Montreal player to the side boards and faked a Slap shot causing the Hab to change direction (chase the puck), Kaberle then skates backwards hard along the blue line, turns forward looking like he is about to drive quick along opposite boards but drops a perfect droppass for Luke to wire... no goal but still impressive.

IF this team gets into the playoffs and the already high pressure becomes a pressure cooker Kaberle would be so valuable to this young roster... I don't understand why they took away his A, he really is an asset to the team. With that said... if they can flip him for a Jeff Carter I say pull the trigger.

[Pyramid Power]

Very choppy game and not the most beautiful hockey game I have ever seen, but we'll happily take the ugly win.

Kaberle was a nice surprise indeed, and he has a lot to play for including a better contract. I think he genuinely wants to stay in Toronto despite the shoddy treatment he has indeed received, and will have a great year for the blue and white.

Lot of tense Leafs last night. It certainly showed. But Tim Brent got the job done getting us a lead and that was critical. Amazes me how we get leads and give them up. Twice last night we took two goal leads and the Canadiens scored within two minutes to get back in the game. This was a constant theme last year. Thank goodness it did not cost us, and Giggy indeed slammed the door shut especially in the waning seconds against Gionta.

Funny to see the opening faceoff and how Phaneuf just towered over Gionta. Chuckled at that.

And The Don sure unloaded on the Leafs brass during the first intermission about the Kadri situation. I think The Don as in Cherry is not seeing this issue clearly though. Wilson & Co. trying to light a fire under Kadri not trying to denigrate him or make him feel like an underachieving disappointment. Sure their message got through and he will light it up with the Marlies.

Wretched PP that must be better tomorrow night against the Hens. I am sure it will be. A beautiful night and am basking in victory even now.

GO LEAFS GO!!!!

[Paul]

Good call Geoff Read, I agree. Burke and Wilson are already building a reputation of treating their players poorly in the press. It's too bad.

Agree with everything Don Cherry said on CC last night.

[Moe Green]

I agree Geoff Read. The removal of the "A" from Kaberle's sweater was the final straw. Why? To what possible end? To shame him into asking for a trade? I thought Burke was above this. I tell you, this smacks of a classless Wilson move. I think we should start a grass roots movement to restore the "A." Why don't one of the media outlets get on the bandwagon and start a resign Kaberle push. That outta piss management off! Who says that Komi and Beauchemin are better "A's" anyway? I do know that Wilson is the biggest A!

[red5]

I understand all the cameras and the press box are on the penalty bench side, so let me give you the low-down on the Kessel goal: Price made the save with is foot, and was keeping the puck out of the net, until he dragged it behind the line with his foot. The puck didn't "slip past" him, he pulled it into the net himself.

Price is Toskala 2.0

Otherwise, good result last night. Nerve-wracking and mostly entertaining game.

[Pyramid Power]

Kaberle a very very quiet guy. Not the rah rah type in the room. Is it possible he asked to not be an assistant captain this year, and completely focus on his job?

[TBot]

Pyramid Power: I agree completely. People seem to misunderstand what the C and A are there for and see them as a reward for performance (e.g. why did Vancouver ever think it appropriate to slap a C on a goalie?). Kaberl looked much more present last might than he has appeared in previous seasons.

[Yogi23]

I don't think Wilson is the type of guy to 'strip' people of their titles, he simply assigns the roles to people he thinks are best suited for the job. Don't get me wrong, I think Kaberle is brilliant and I don't want him to go, but just because he wore the 'A' in the past doesn't mean he's the best man for the job this year. It's all part of the culture change that's taking place this year - and if it allows him to play like he did last night then take all the letters off his jersey!

Also, Don is great - but was dead wrong on Kadri last night. Let the kid develop! I don't think Wilson and Burke were ripping him in the media so much as they were trying to get some perspective through to the media and their constant focus on Kadri.

[Pyramid Power]

@TBot "Kaberle looking much more present last night than he has appeared in previous seasons." Well put. Nice. And I too could not agree more. He looked like the Kabby that we all knew and loved before the Cam Janssen head shot that really took Kaberle off his game for awhile. Remember that devastating hit that caused Kaberle to miss a lot of the season a couple of years back, and Kabby got a concussion? Has never been the same since imo. He looked very good and made his 'presence' felt all night last night. Was very worried he would fold and not come to play this year. What a class act he is! Just hope and pray he plays like that all year long, and is not afraid to get a little physical in the defensive end. He was not good thru the second half of last year at all especially in our end of the ice.

Not happy to see both Komisarek and Versteeg out there for both goals against particularly Komisarek. Not good. Has to be better than that Mike. I think the Bozak line was on for both goals, I just happened to notice Versteeg on for both.

Just read the fantastic news that Giggy will be given the start Saturday night against the Hens. Excellent decision Leafs! If they had just gone to Gustavsson to get him some playing time it would be difficult to take this squad seriously.

Keep playing Giggy and let him get to top number one goalie form. Don't play Gus simply for the sake of getting him some work. We are in a fight to return to respectability or some semblance of it this year, and an excellent first step would be the playoffs.

On that note, Raleigh just took four points from Minnesota in Finland. Just won in a shootout over the Wild in Helsinki. Bummer. Cam Ward looked phenomenal. Congrats to ex-Leaf coach Paul Maurice and his 'Canes. Did a heckuva job over there, and sitting pretty atop the Eastern conference. lol Not for long though!

@Yogi23 Love The Don too, but yeah, he's off about Kadri. Don't know what has him all up in arms about that. Much ado about nothing Don! He also sure gave it to the Canadiens and Gauthier for unloading Halak to St Louis instead of Price. Ouch! When The Don speaks, people listen just like in that old ad. :)

GO LEAFS GO!