Showtime: Enter the warriors

This is it. Game 1. Leafs versus Habs. Showtime.

Hang on… what? They’re closing down parts of Yonge Street today? This new-look Leafs team is getting noticed down the 401?

Excellent.

Let the haters snicker and ridicule our devotion. Let the experts predict another season of no post-season play. Me, I haven't been this excited since Miroslav Frycer accidentally elbowed me in the back of the head outside the Eaton Centre.

I am drunk on hope and a blue-and-white pitcher full of this stuff. (Okay, and maybe a little bit of this.)

Five afternoon reads to get you through the next 6 hours:

1. Pension Plan Puppets offers a great look ahead at the 2010-2011 Toronto Maple Leafs.

2. Damien Cox says the Leafs are better, but may still not be playoff worthy. (If I were a bigger man, I would put this guy in a headlock. And then I'd run away really fast.)

3. ESPN interviews Kris Versteeg about life "in the hockey center of the universe."

4. Brian Burke gets high marks from Richard Peddie.

5. National Post asks 15 Burning Questions about the upcoming season.

 

If you are going to the game, expect travel delays, what with the aforementioned road closures and "Party In The Square." Festivities include a "free pregame tailgate party," a "Leafs Alumni Ball Hockey Game," free face painting and a live concert by the Arkells (scheduled 6 p.m. start).

No tickets to the game? You can try to get a seat inside Real Sports and watch all the action on the coolest indoor screen I’ve ever seen (I’m so excited, I’m now rhyming!). If not, there will also be an outdoor videoboard in Maple Leaf Square (15 York Street, outside Gate 5 of the ACC.)

Official start time for all of this is 4 p.m. and alumni on hand to include Gary Leeman, Pat Boutette, Jack Valiquette and Brad May.

I leave you with a live version of this song:

 

PHOTO: STEVE RUSSELL/TORONTO STAR

Comments

[Pyramid Power]

I am soon going to start getting drunk period let alone drunk on hope! Time to celebrate the start of a new season, and the Leafs getting it done this year as in coming out fast and furious and winning tonight in reg. time. Nothing less will do. Then blow the Miami Panthers out on Saturday night at home again.

A 2-0 start is very realistic and I would say almost necessary for this squad for both their confidence, and hopefully to get Leaf Nation, many many of whom are very jaded and cynical as they should be, fully behind this team that is headed in the right direction imo.

Would love to see how many other people on the blog think the Leafs will make the playoffs. I think they can, but many things have to take place for that to happen. Let us just hope. The audacity of hope. YES, WE CAN!

GO LEAFS GO!!!!! Hope the ACC crowd really brings it tonight with the noise, and we do not have a huge delay at the start of the game with a long ceremony. Just drop the puck and get the game going.

[johnnyk]

Shouldn't you win the cup before you have the parade/

[neon dion]

Best Dion and link vid out there: http://bit.ly/a8HXzZ

[David L]

If they already have parties for them even before they've taken their skate guards off ... not much incentive to actually do something on the ice!

[Pyramid Power]

@neondion Great stuff. Loved that little blurb. Was really hoping to see Elisha! Darn! lol Hope Phanoof sic really does a heckuva job for us as captain this year. Need a really big year from him, and I think he will be a great leader for Toronto for years to come.

Would like to see him start hitting the net a little more often with his bullets from the point though. Load up Dion and hit the flippin' net!

GO LEAFS GO!

[bubba]

Living on hope? More like self-delusion. The famous Leaf cry of "We'll get em next year" will likely be sung before Christmas. Oh well, such is life in the Leaf nation.

[Pyramid Power]

We got a lead and held the lead. Thank Giggy! Thank Tim Brent. Ziggy and Giggy were positive forces in this game.

Pretty ugly hockey game so to speak, but the result is all that matters. Winning ugly might be the Leaf way this year.

Put the euphoria of this one to bed quickly. Realize that we are 1-0 after starting last season 0-7-1, and get ready to trash Miami on Saturday night. PK looked good last night. Very encouraging, many encouraging signs.

Get leads and hold leads. It has to come full circle from last year. Get the lead and hold the lead Leafs!

GO LEAFS GO!