Game Day: When a Leaf becomes tabloid fodder

I stumbled out of bed this morning with a high fever and the shakes. I think the ups and downs of this season have compromised my immune system. Or I picked up a magical superbug in the comments section from Psychic Alecia.

At any rate, this is not the sort of thing I needed to read 10 minutes ago: According to the muckraking scoundrels at TMZ, "Mike Komisarek is on thin ice with the LAPD after the hockey player allegedly punched a woman in the face at an L.A. nightclub earlier this month."

Please God let there be a logical explanation.

Citing law enforcement sources, the report says a woman filed a police report after "Komisarek decided to lift her up in the air at a Hollywood nightclub... We're told the woman claims she demanded Komisarek put her down – but he refused – so she slapped him in the face. The woman claims Komisarek immediately set her down and then punched her in the face, causing her to bleed."

The team is investigating and had no comment.

Moving on.

In advance of tonight's visit by the suddenly offensively-challenged Washington Capitals, here's a great piece on Mikhail Grabovski's breakout season by my friend and colleague Paul Hunter.

My favourite quote: "The first 10 games I played with MacArthur, he didn't know me, I didn't know him. But after we played more games, he finds me on the ice and I score goals."

My impression of Grabbo at a drive-thru window: "You make Big Mac for my stomach and I full. Thank you."

We need more of this no-nonsense focus down the stretch.

Line-up changes for tonight: Fredrik Sjostrom and Mike Brown are back and Marcel Mueller has returned to the Marlies. Meanwhile, Colton Orr will be a game day decision after he face-planted into the ice Thursday during his scrap with Anaheim's mustachioed pugilist, George Parros.

I know the feeling, Colton.

PHOTO: NATHAN DENETTE/CANADIAN PRESS

Comments

[Robert]

Vinnie: Your column covers just about everything. What can one add? Other than to see our poor Colton face down on the ice after another needless fight. Tonight we have a shot at a Capitals team that has lost their drive - if we play the way we did last game, there should be two more points on the board. As for Komisarek I guess we all know the boys have to do something with all that spare time. I hope the rumour is untrue, for his sake, but, it is certainly not uncommon in this era of high paid athletes and the constant travel, to frequent the night clubs.

VM Replies: I have a good feeling about tonight's game, Robert. I'm hoping New York was rock bottom and up we go from here. Also, the first two games against Washington this season were really exciting.

[Ken Baumgartner]

Well, it is the latest most important game of the season tonight. Which team will show up?

I think I am going to start taking a different view of the rest of the season. My view is that it is the playoffs now. When the real playoffs start , either they have advanced to the next round or they just got eliminated from this round. No matter what, I get to enjoy some playoff hockey before everyone else. Tonight I will wear my rally hair hat and I will start to grow my playoff beard.

VM Replies: You see, now that's great strategy. I'm so using it. So tonight is, what, the first game in a best of 35 series?

[Account Deleted]

I always feel confident going against the Caps.Thanks for linking to that story.I just want to give that lady a huge hug.

VM Replies: That woman is beyond awesome. (Just to be clear, we're referring to the 98-year-old woman in a wheelchair who knits toques for the Leafs.)

[Alecia]

What now?!
I will not take any responsibility for any leaf fans getting sick! But Vinay, perhaps you could use a magical score-predicting puffer yourself?

I have a good feeling about tonight's game. As a matter of fact, I have a good feeling about the rest of the season.

I couldn't care less about the Komisarek story. First of all, it's not hockey related. Second, it's hard for me to believe any report that comes out of a night club (let alone LA) that results in filing a report against a rich hockey player. Third, its Komisarek, he was probably attempting to hit on the women and it went horribly wrong.

As for Grabovski, he is awesome. I feel bad for his language barrier sometimes but it doesn't stop him from doing a bunch of post-game interviews. Can the Leafs not hire him an English tutor? Him and Kulemin. Speaking of, I met Grabo last week and asked him, in Russian, to take a photo with him. It was nice to hear him talk without struggling. Needless to say, he is very nice.

By the way, Grabo currently has 20 goals and Kessel has 19, and Ovechkin only has 16 (the same amount as Kulemin). So why does that pompous jerk get so much attention?

Okay I will end my mambo jumbo mess of thoughts now. Sorry, I am still sick and slightly sleep deprived.

VM Replies: I'm going with 6-4 Leafs. Or 3-1 Leafs. Or 8-1 Washington. Sick and hedging, that's what I am.

[Alecia]

6-4 Sounds good Vinay. The Leafs will score a whole bunch of goals tonight. Maybe even 6-3, don't want to give the Caps too many. Games against the caps have always been high goal games though.

[Account Deleted]

Alecia brushed by a really good point.It has always irked me when the O.J. Simpson,Tiger Woods,etc. "news stories" are considered "sport stories".

VM Replies: Interesting point. In my addled state, I debated even putting up a gossipy post based on a TMZ report. But since this is a Leafs blog, I thought it should be mentioned.
If this was an error in judgment, my apologies.

[Account Deleted]

Yep.You are now the Harvey Levin of the blogosphere.

VM Replies: A dagger through my heart. Also, now what am I going to do with this Lindsay Lohan/Nikolai Kulemin tip I've been chasing down?

[Tom]

Wait. How come the woman who slapped Komisarek hasn't been charged? That's assault!

The man was just punching her in self-defense.

This society is so sexist these days, all those comments on the TMZ website, "what a d-bag" "jail that f**ker"

>:(

VM Replies: The comments on TMZ never fail to reduce my faith in humanity. Mind you, they're not as bad as the comments on YouTube.

[Alecia]

Colton has been moved to the Injured Reserve list and Rosehill has been called up in his place. I feel like this is quite an even replacement, no?

VM Replies: Against a team like Washington, one that doesn't dress an old-school enforcer, playing Rosehill probably makes more sense than playing Orr, even if Orr was healthy.
Rosehill can be an effective 4th-line guy on the forecheck provided he keeps his belligerence in check and doesn't start taking stupid penalties.

[waffles2010]

Well Leaf fans, is this good news or bad? Komisarek is finally getting the message about being more belligerent, not sure that a nightclub in L.A. was the right time or place. Unless the woman in question was Snooki, not cool.
So this is not a flattering picture of our Mr. Orr. There is a bright side, he probably won't play tonight, yes! I do hope he recovers by June so that he will have a nice summer. What exactly was the point of fighting Parros at that point in time?
Calling Vinay, Harvey Levin was a little low, Mike Walker is my vote. We do love our nicknames here at a Leaf Fan Blogs.
Why are we trying to predict the score? We need to spend these valuable predictions on the 6/49 numbers for tonight. Not sure which is easier to predict, but if one of us wins I suggest a big party at Real Sports at Maple Leaf square.

VM Replies: If I ever win millions, I'm taking all of you to a tropical island. We'll drink Mai Tai's out of hollowed-out coconuts. We'll watch The Passion Returns on a 100-foot screen on the beach under the stars. We'll eat lemon squares carved in the shape of Reimer's mask.
Then I'd quit The Star and search for a new mission in life.

[Alecia]

Vinay, if you win, how will you choose which of the commentators to bring on vacation?

VM Replies: Everybody is invited! (But we'll make fans of other teams sleep on the other side of the island.)

[waffles2010]

That sounds like a wonderful idea Vinay. Very generous of you. I would like to mention up front that I prefer Margaritas over Mai Tais. ; )

[Joe Scott]

If I could touch on the fourth line comment, I would sit Orr every game unless we were facing another knuckle dragger. I mean, honestly, what do we get out of Orr's 5-6 minutes a night? Maybe a dust-up, a dumb penalty, (usually,) and lots of menacing glares. I'm glad Mike Brown is back, but really, the 4th line should be Brown and Armstrong centered by Boyce or Hanson. That would be an amazing energy line, keep your heads up guys, Armstrong and Brown are on the wings.
As for the game tonight, we seem to have the Caps' number, so i'll throw my lot in and say 5-3 leafs, with an empty netter.
Cheers

VM Replies: Excellent. Everyone expects the Leafs to light it up tonight.

[Princess Mononoke]

Now, that Komisarek story has got to be a groundless accusation or a terrible misundestanding. Why?
Anyone who has watched the man play around his own net knows two things:
a) he never hits, and
b) he's lousy at making passes.

[TG77]

Nice one Princess! You could have ended that with a "bazinga" if you are a fan of Big Bang Theory.

Joe Scott - I like the idea of more of a crashing 4th line versus Orr being sent out to scrap the other teams designated fighter. I would like Rosehill, Brown, Hanson to be the 4th line. I think Armstrong is more offensively (i don't want to say gifted) but let's say has more offensive skills than a 4th line role and he and Versteeg seem to play well together plus he still hits no matter what line he plays on and wins puck battles.

My prediction is a 4-2 win with an empty-netter from Bozak to seal it.

[moe green]

Kudos Alecia to speaking to Grabovski in his native tongue. Europeans commonly speak several languages, not so much in NA. He always seemed like a nice guy. HE was so much maligned in Toronto but the guy always gave his all even when he wasn't producing big numbers. Incidentally, wasn't he accused of punching a woman in the face in Vancouver a few months ago? I'll lay odds it was the same woman.

Anyway, who hasn't tagged a woman in the face when they really deserved it? Sometimes they just won't LISTEN! All kidding and bad taste aside, an accusation does not mean it's true. Although I would imagine there were a bunch of witnesses. Still, innocent until proven guilty. Oh and Princess, I like your reasoning - there's no way Komisarek got the better of that brawlette.

[Simmer]

I'd say they are somewhat sports stories, because if anything comes of it, it does affect the on-ice game.

While everyone is throwing out predictions, how about a 3-2 Leafs?

[mikeo]

real great

colton eating ice chips after george hooks him
kommiserick alleged nto hit a women
grabo hitting a women

the burke divorce deposition

this team might be better off and more truculent playing hayleys gang

[hoofheartz]

VM: please clarify that the blog will live if you win the millions?

VM Replies: The blog will live. But it will be independent and have nothing to do with the Star. It may also be relocated to a foreign country, possibly one with a surplus of sweatshops and a shortage of labour laws.

[Account Deleted]

I know I'm treading on hallowed ground by not agreeing with Alecia but until his last over the top performance I have had no great problem with Orr.I could be wrong.

[Hockey Fan, therefore by Definition Not a Leaf Fan]

Playoff mode?

Wow, Laff fans are at it again, avoiding that little thing called reality.
Let's pull out that handy dandy calculator, again.

#8 and #9 teams in East both tracking for 90 points, as expected for last playoff spot.

So Laff's need 47 points out of a remaining 72 to hit 90: a .653 winning percentage.
How many teams in the East have played at that percentage so far this year? Just Philly. Tampa and Pittsburg are close to that. Do you seriously believe that your team is even remotely as capable as those 3 squads, and can play at the level over the next 36 games?

Just look forward to 2012-2013 season, when you will finally have your top 5 pick from June 2012 playing for you.

VM Replies: I've missed your sunshiny optimism.

[TG77]

Grabovski got into it with a guy from Langley (think Milton, Ontario or maybe Barrie I guess if you want an Ontario comparison). I don't think the full details will ever come out but the RCMP investigated and found no grounds to press charges so before the Leafs roster is mis-cast as a bunch of jerks who fight women in public places, let it be known Grabovski's issue was with a man at a bar here in Vancouver. Given what I have told you about the way Leafs fans are treated here, maybe it isn't a shock that a Leafs player was shi*-talked. I believe there might have been a Russia vs. Belarus slant to it. The "victim" pressed charges, none were laid. I will be the first to admit I wanted the Leafs to let Grabovski go so I will eat crow and just say how impressed I am with how much he has grown as a player; winning faceoffs, passing the puck etc. My buddy used to say there was the Berezin give and go - give me the puck, go to hell and Grabovski seemed to the heir (and hair) apparent to that philosophy in his first season. Quite a turn around.

[TG77]

On a side note, the Isles picked up Nabokov off of the waivers wire. He must be thrilled. Why does this matter to the Leafs? The Islanders are 6 points behind the Leafs and Nabokov (regular season anyway) is a solid veteran goalie to add to that team and secondly, the Wings really want a proven veteran goalie so maybe Jiggy's value goes up on the trade market. Given Detroit's a 4 hour drive and I think Toronto's health care options for Jiggy's youngster were a big draw so it would allow the family to stay here. If the Jiggy to the Wings trade were to happen, what do you think he is worth? A 2nd-rounder? Is there someone off the roster or in the farm system that the Leafs can realistically get for Jiggy? I also saw Forsberg is back practicing with the Avs so maybe the Leafs can get Killer back in uniform before the end of the season.

[Ken Baumgartner]

Since new year the leafs are 5-2-1, what is that? Oh yes a .714 winning percentage. So what you are say is if they keep that up they are going to make the playoffs and maybe finish 7th. Oh man that is good news thanks for clarifying. You see, in an earlier post at the beginning of the year I said they needed to play at an .800 clip and was I every doubtful it could happen, was I ever wrong. If you don't believe my doubts go back and read my posts. You are the man HFTBDNALF! Thanks to you I am a little more optimistic than I was 10 minutes ago.

Vinay, who cares if they lose 7-0 every 7th or 8th game? That is it I forgive them. If they keep playing the way they are, hockey fan (allegedly) says they are going to make the playoffs. HE SAID IT! I'm stoked.

[palbo]

TG77 - Jiggy to the wings will be a tough thing to pull off 'cause the wings are up against the cap - don't think there's enough room for whats left of Jiggy's salary. There might have to be some salary coming TO's way to make it work.

[Alecia]

I know this is off topic, but I have a question to propose.

Does anyone else think that MacArthur deserves to at least wear an A next season? Aside from having the most amount of points thus far, I find he is the only one who takes real responsibility in post-games interviews for bad games.
He never seems to sugarcoat the truth and say things like they "didn't have wheels" but actually uses words like "unacceptable" to hold his team accountable for games like the one on Wednesday. I find his no-excuses and no B.S. attitude the most refreshing out of all the guys' on the team.

He plays on the top line, has the most amount of points, doesn't B.S. anyone, contributes in every game and yet we have guys like Phaneuf, Beauchemin and Komisarek wearing the C and A's.

[TG77]

100% Alecia. Sparky deserves the "A" next year or even this year for that matter. I think since he is a free agent at the end of the year it won't happen but I love the fact he hates losing and suggests his own effort and the team's effort were not the way it should be and that he didn't sleep after the Rangers game disaster. He also shows random bursts of anger rather than engaging in a useless staged fight.

[Boo Who?]

I see the Habs fans are out in force today. Forever compelled to act like that bitter younger sibling that gets drunk at family gatherings and slurs acidly at you from across the dinner table about how everyone loved you more, even though they were "better at everything". We beat up on Anaheim a few days ago, so for sure you guys can do it. The fact that we did it first and will get the most attention for doing it is no cause for insecurity. Have a lovely day.

I hope Komisarek has been falsely accused, because there is absolutely nothing funny or justifiable about punching a woman, ever.

I'm with Ken Baumgartner - best of 35!!

And I say we just go ahead and slap the 'A' right on Supes' chest.

Hooray for the Leafs granny, feel better sick Leafs fans, see all you magnificent bastards on the island, and Go Leafs Go!

[Joe Scott]

Thanks for bringing down the party Tim B. Let's put away the calculators, and pull out the reading glasses, and you will see that we didn't say the Leafs are going to make the playoffs, we only said that from now to the end of the season is going to be our playoffs, try to pull out of the cellar and avoid Boston munching another lottery pick.
I'm all for comments being left on these boards, but they really should implement an IQ requirement....

VM Replies: I think you are referring to the comment by: Hockey Fan, therefore by Definition Not a Leaf Fan.
Tim B. is on our side! He's also the driver of our special van and has final word on all matters related to lemon squares.

[Alecia]

I know it's not in our record, but how great would it be if the Leafs shut out the Caps tonight?

VM Replies: Sigh. Mentioning a shutout or a hat-trick less than 3 hours before the puck drops is an automatic jinx. You probably just guaranteed 5 goals for the Caps in the first period alone.
I hope you're happy.

[Alecia]

*sigh* Alright, I will send Santa a quick email and hope he and the Easter Bunny can pull their powers together and quickly undo my jinx!

[Alecia]

One more thing.... We haven't been saying either hat trick or shut out at all this season and look how many of each we have had! Since its an established fact that the leafs don't follow any type of logic, perhaps "jinxing" them is the way to go?

VM Replies: What exactly is in that puffer of yours?

[Princess Mononoke]

Hey, what's with all the hostility about Habs fans?
I live in the GTA, I love this blog, and I enjoy the hockey discussions. Ergo, not a troll.
Is this really a boys-only, harcore Leafs-lifers only blog?

Look, I'm a Habs fan who blogs generally about hockey, the league, etc...and I comment here occasionally. No unpleasantness intended, at all!

(p.s.: Habs fans are all aflutter and happy today about Saku coming to town, and really not thinking about the Leafs or slurring acidly across anyone's table...sounds like you've had some rough family dinners though ;) )

VM Replies: You are always welcome here, Princess Mononoke! BTW, Boo is also female.

[Krakondack]

Judging by Komisarek's mental lapses so often on the ice, the team would be much better served if he were in bed alone, sleeping, rather than carousing around LA. We hear so often how hard it is on the body to play a full NHL schedule at maximum effort. It is not helped if the player is not taking maximum care of that body, including sufficient sleep (which is a lot more than for you and me). Not attending to this can make a player error-prone, giving away the puck in unbelievable ways.

[Boo Who?]

@Princess Mononoke - that wasn't directed at you at ALL. I am cool with fans of any team commenting here as long as they're respectful and don't insult my intelligence. We know you can't help but like us Leafies, because we're the most fun.

@Alecia - Shhhhhh. Go and rest dear. No more talking. We need you at your best. :)

[Boo Who?]

And this is totally off-topic, but I just have to say that 'Saku Koivu' is one of the coolest sounding names ever. Whenever I hear it, I just want to repeat it over and over, because it's fun to say. It would be awesome to have a cheer go up for him today.

So is it confirmed that Jiggy is starting in net for us tonight? Our games against the Caps tend to be close, so I'm looking forward to a decent tilt. Hopefully not shootout-close, because my nerves can't take those.

[Sensi-Bill]

Parros to Orr (in photo at top of blog):
.
"Ποιος είναι ο πατέρας σου;"

VM Replies: Don't know what this says. I just hope you don't get me fired.

[80s Leafs]

I believe that's a Latvian O'thodox phrase that Sensi-Bill just quoted there.

[Vinay Menon]

Who is in the broadcast booth tonight?

[TG77]

Not that I blame the CBC but no Leafs game out in Vancouver so relying on a crap internet feed. Nice hit their by Schenn on Ovi! I expect a Rosehill - King tilt this game too. I am glad Rosehill is up. He has 13 pts with the Marlies. 7 goals! This guy is a great underdog story and I would like him in the line-up over for the rest of the season.

VM Replies: His heart is definitely in the right place.

[Vinay Menon]

CP copy from today's Marlies game:

"James Reimer got the shutout and the Toronto Marlies stopped a two-game losing streak with a 4-0 win over the Peoria Rivermen 4-0 in American Hockey League action Saturday.

Reimer stopped all 28 shots he faced while Christian Hanson, Mike Zigomanis, Jerry D’Amigo and Marcus Mueller scored for Toronto.

Nazem Kadri had three assists while Matt Lashoff added a pair of helpers."

[Boo Who?]

@TG77 - If you're on Shaw, CH 79 has the Leafs game on.

@VM - I'm sticking around as long as I can, deliberately planned my day to include the first two periods.

Leafs look alive, but they do not look sharp. Nice to hear people making noise in the ACC for a change. Just need it to be when then finally Leafs score.

VM Replies: Yeah, the atmosphere tonight isn't obscure-art-museum-in-Florence-esque. Hopefully it lasts.

[Account Deleted]

Not a bad period and my lemon squares turned out perfectly.

[TG77]

nope, stuck with telus for now but thanks! time to tie it up early.

[Sensi-Bill]

@80s Leafs
According to my Translator app, "Ποιος είναι ο πατέρας σου;" is Greek for "Who's you're daddy?"
(g)

[TG77]

Bozak with two clear shorthanded breakaways this week, one which would have given them the win against the Flames. A) I am glad to see how well he and Colby kill penalties together but B) Some breakaway practice needed. The Caps have a 21 year old goalie in there I have never heard of. Get some traffic and get in this kid's kitchen.

VM Replies: He's their Reimer!

[Vinay Menon]

Love that Odyssey jingle.
This Holtby is starting to worry me. He's in a zone, a zone surrounded by good luck.

[Boo Who?]

Oh man, lots of quarters going in the 'Swear Jar' today!

[TG77]

I think the CBC needs to rethink the announcers. The Leafs games are covered by Hughson who is the ex-Canucks play-by-play man, Simpson (ex-Oiler) and Healy (total jackass who hates on the Leafs each chance he gets). I don't expect unabashed homerism a la Joe Bowen on a national broadcast but at least some level of enthusiasm towards the Leafs would be acceptable, or am i totally off on this? It seems so weird hearing Bob Cole getting excited for the Habs now. Dion is looking a heck of a lot better lately. Now we just need the tying goal before the end of the period.

VM Replies: Wasn't Hughson on Leafs telecasts in the 80s? Or am I thinking about someone else? Either way, I don't mind this crew. Simpson, in my opinion, is one of the better colour guys in this country now that Harry Neale is in Buffalo.

[moe green]

phaneuf has hit the net tonight, five times, there's some hope

let's win this! No, lets win this now.

VM Replies: Moe! You're late... Chinese food?

[moe green]

Another superstar performance in net - this time by "Holtby?" right. VM, has Kadri scored since he returned to the Marlies?

VM Replies: 2 goals, 5 assists in 6 games.

[Rooney]

The Leafs are playing well but sure hope someone can solve this kid. My money would be on Clarke the spark. I sure hope the jinx is not in!

[Alecia]

I hope we are prepping for a crazy (good) third period...

VM Replies: Speaking of the jinx, Rooney, look who rolled in...

[moe green]

no just another late night. will check in again soon. take it to the finish line leafs. get them there vinay and the gang for all of us! 4-1 leafs with an empty netter!

[moe green]

Gotsta gotsta win this one.

[Vinay Menon]

Oh no... Ovechkin 2, Leafs 0.

[moe green]

If I was the Leafs, I'd assign a guy to play close to OV. Ya think!

[moe green]

I can't stand the pain of watching this. gotta go. hurts too much. ooosh.

[moe green]

See then Leafs want to win this but for half the team a loss is okay too.

[moe green]

4-2 leafs with an empty netter.

[Vinay Menon]

Fourth line energy. Tim Brent. 2-1. Cue the comeback.

[Alecia]

Hmmm, seems like Leafs score when I roll in... no?

[TG77]

JAY ROSEHILL with the assist from his knees. Makes my night. Keep it up boys.

[moe green]

Keep on rollin' baby. leave and roll back in, I'm serious. Do it!

[moe green]

Wouldn't you rather have Rosehill up than Orr?

[moe green]

Would you bet money that the Caps will make the playoffs?

VM Replies: They're 7 points out of first place in the conference and 6 points in front of eighth. But I can't see how they would not make the playoffs.

[moe green]

awe.

[moe green]

awe... i... no chance for js? bs. awe.

VM Replies: I was just thinking that. A breakaway is always a 50 per cent chance.

[moe green]

this is the last chance for a playoff run right. so we win this. we have to. simple math again.

[TG77]

Back-breaker by a pretty sweet move by Hendrick. Take note young Bozak, that is a breakaway move. As for Moe's point about Rosehill. Wilson had him out there to energize the team right after the Caps 3rd goal. How often does Orr get ice in the 3rd outside of games that are out of reach? Come on Kessel, get us back in this. If the Grabo line is being called the 1st line and the Caps are matching up, shouldn't Phil be getting some more chances?

[moe green]

is the colour guy Millen? He's too... beige?

VM Replies: Simpson. I like his beigyness.

[moe green]

we should get us one of them really good goalies

[Vinay Menon]

@Moe: Your 4-1 prediction with an empty-netter was right.

[moe green]

Oh well guys... no more playoffs as a target. it's now just a race to give Boston as bad a pick as possible. This is officially the saddest night of the season for me. All I can say is remember the Calgary game. Oh yeah, and where is the help we were supposed to get? and where is that Reimer. Too late now.

[Alecia]

Well, sad we didn't get the 2 point but can't say this was a bad game by the Leafs.

Anyone else think that the game was stolen by the rookie goalie Holtby? A loss is a loss but I don't think that 4-1 is really not indicative of the game play tonight, unfortunately. Is there another matchup between these two teams this season?

VM Replies: April 5, third last game of season.

[Rooney]

Jinx hat trick. Carolina lost, Altanta lost in a SO, the chances are slipping away.

VM Replies: The points lost in Nov. and Dec. always come back to haunt you.

[moe green]

Yeah the Leafs played okay tonight. It was the rest of the season that they blew. I can't forgive them for the lackluster play so many nights. Tonight, they were okay. I really can't stomach the Coach and management of this team though. They just treat the fans with such disrespect. Oh and Leafs, watch Ovechkin for tips on how to win. It's called effort. A very poor season for a very disappointing team.

[moe green]

Would you guys agree that Giguere lets in at elast one soft one... maybe two. Am I being too hard on him.

VM Replies: I thought he played a good game, all things considered. Since he's returned, actually, he's played much better than before he was injured.
The Leafs had lots of chances when it was 1-0 and they came up short. Same old story.

[Account Deleted]

NO,NO,NO,NO,no,no.........sigh.

VM Replies: Peel the aluminum foil off that tray of lemon squares.

[moe green]

Yeah, true Vinay. I can't hang this one on Giguere. Still the visiting "super-goalie" was better. They have been almost every game this season.

VM Replies: A young, hot goalie in a zone... Why does that sound familiar?

[moe green]

It's been that way all season. Yes Giguere played a "good game" tonight. Too bad "what's his puss" played a great one. That's the problem. Jiggy had a workmanlike game. He wasn't the goat. We really can't give him more credit than that though can we? I wonder how many times Leaf goalies have been among the three stars this season. Reimer excluded of course.

What concerns me now is that it's unlikely we'll get a full effort by the team any more this season. They didn't give it when it mattered, why should we expect it now? I am afraid that they are going to collapse to the bottom now that the playoff chase is over. That I couldn't take.

Re the Lemon squares: Could we have something with peanut butter in it. Just to change it up once in a while. How about peanut butter brownies?

VM Replies: Brownies are not a bad idea. Though we may need an active ingredient.

[wcdixon]

Leafs played well but didn't score when they could have...going up against a hot young goalie didn't help. How many different ways can you WRITE that? Ugh.

VM Replies: I'm about to find out! And I'm hopped up on cold and flu medicine.

[Rooney]

@Moe, I agree with a lot of your views but I think if the playoffs are off the table, the team should let Giguere play out the year. Let's see if Goose can make Allaire's style work for him and gain some confidence back as the #2. I would hate for Reimer to go down the same road as Goose. The Marlies experience seems to be benefiting Reimer. I think Goose could have benefited from playing games in the AHL before jumping into the NHL.

I wait for BB to make some changes to at least make the rest of the season interesting for us fans. Somebody send tickets to Waffles for the next home game. Go Leafs Go.

[Sensi-Bill]

@tTG77
"I think the CBC needs to rethink the announcers. . . . I don't expect unabashed homerism a la Joe Bowen on a national broadcast but at least some level of enthusiasm towards the Leafs would be acceptable, or am i totally off on this?"
On a national broadcast, why do you need, or deserve, a pro-Leaf announcer?
I can see it, but still don't necessarily care for if, on a regional broadcast aimed at one's home market.
But on a supposedly national broadcast TO the whole (or almost whole) country, FOR the whole (or almost whole country?
There's already a Toronto-centric focus/bias to our so-called national media --- news, sports and entertainment --- that can range from minor irritant to outright aggravation for the rest of Canada.
I understand how being at the centre of such a huge concentration of population in this far-flung land can generate a sense of entitlement. But truly, while the fortuitous strength in numbers gives Toronto and environs tremendous clout, it's what's done with that clout that makes a city and it's people special --- or not.
Unfortunately it gives many, even some otherwise smart and responsible people, a sense of superiority --- even arrogance and undue sense of entitlement (present company excluded) --- based soley upon just happening to live where a lot of other people live.
Let's not forget that for all the millions who live in Southern Ontario, there are many more millions spread out from coast to coast to coast.
How long have WE had to put up with the homerism of Mr. Cole and Mr. Cherry?
How would you feel if every time your team happened to play the Leafs, at home or not, you had to listen to Mr. Cole gush over ever Leaf play, or even attempted play, while most of the time not even bothering to identify your players by name, or mangling the name or getting it wrong the few times per game he'd even bother to try?
I understand it can be hard to comprehend how insidious and annoying this can be having not been on the receiving end of such lack of respect simply by living at the self-proclaimed centre of the universe.
And NO, this is NOT, as so often alleged, an anti-Toronto rant. Just a request to occasionally stop and look at how it might feel to the rest of Canada, the too often slighted majority.
I'll climb down off my soapbox now. And I should point out that this is NOT aimed at TG77, or anyone else here, or any Torontonians in particular. I'm sure I'd be conditioned to feel much the same way if I lived in the same area. And the vast majority in the GTA don't have the arrogance that so irks others.
We're actually proud of our largest city, and its achievements, and its citizens. It's just the sense of entitlement and lack of respect for anything or anyone not Toronto-centric that SOMETIMES drives us CRAY-ZEEEE! (g)

VM Replies: Your brevity was brief (g). For the record, TG77 lives in Vancouver.

[Alecia]

Am I the only one who doesn't feel all that devastated over this loss tonight?
Maybe it's just my medication/illness that is keeping me incredibly subdued and lethargic....

I don't let the notion of making the playoffs creep up everytime the bastards win a game. Obviously there is nothing I would love to see more than snatching a playoff spot but my hope for the team has been to climb out of the bottom 5 and see how high up we can make it in the league standings. Considering we finished 29th last season, finishing out of the lottery would be an improvement. There is a lot for us Leaf fans to still cheer for. The leafs have come a long way from the beginning of the season and have started to develop chemistry and consistency and still have a long way to go. They need to treat the rest of the season as a "rebuilding" team would and continue to improve as they have since the loosing streak.

While the playoff race maybe over (who knows though, the Leafs will probably win the last 10 games in the season....) the season still has a long way to go and the team still has a lot of developing to do. If they continue to develop and improve at the rate they have been as of late, I will be a happy leafs fan and will be prepared to watch them make their way into the playoff next season.

And before anyone questions my "the team is improving" statement, here are some numbers to back up my claims. Leafs with 36 shots on net, Capitals with 31, Leafs with 55% of the faceoffs, and no goals allowed during PK. No we did not win and that sucks but at least we saw the boys put in a solid effort. To me, seeing improvements like this is what matters, cause it's these improving stats that are going to ensure our success as a cohesive team next season.

Just trying to look at the positives.....

[TG77]

No worries Sensi-Bill, I didn't take it personally. Good response actually but AT times your use of CAPS is a bit annoying (haha). I think it's more of an annoyance I have with living in a city that seems to hate Toronto and its inhabitants and it seems like Healy can't let an opportunity to slide to rip on the Leafs any chance he gets. I can see how to regions outside of Toronto would be annoyed if the announcers were huge TO fans and when Cole and Neale couldn't figure out the names of their players but when they couldn't figure out who the penalty was going against, I cringed. In most instances they didn't pronounce Leafs names either i.e. Ponikohovsky and Andropov.

I never thought of Toronto as the heart of the universe when I lived there (just a cool city with I think, generally good people) but I was made aware by people in BC that they have this view of Torontonians as being kind of ignorant to the rest of Canada. I don't have any friends from the GTA that think Toronto is the centre of Canada that I can think of but most of them have traveled a lot. When I talk to people from Toronto they gush over a trip to BC, remark how beautiful Vancouver is or talk about how much they love Halifax and so on. Trust me when I say this, Vancouverites also have a sense that they built the beautiful coastline and mountain views by hand themselves so I think everyone is naturally going to like where they are from. This even happened in New Jersey when I had friends who were certain kids growing up all over the world wanted to live in New Jersey. Yikes!

[Sensi-Bill]

God idea, Alecia.
Signed,
Temporarily (I hope) Cranki-Bill

[red5]

Just a few points. Until the empty net goal, the bastards didn't appear out of the game, and as someone pointed out, the score was not reflective of the game itself. It was an entertaining game, to say the least. But I'm with Alecia; let's take the positives.

Jumping into the commentator controversy, Bob Cole should have retired with MLG. He just has not been the same since his heart attack, and it feels like he is getting more senile every time I hear him. Hughson (who was doing games at TSN before the Canuck gig) has the best voice in the business today; I could listen to him read a menu. I am quite happy to have him on the Leaf broadcasts.

I was happy to see Rosehill back up. It makes much more sense to play him over Orr (since Rosehill can actually play).

@Sensi-Bill - your translation had me laughing out loud.

@Princess Monoke - You are not representative of the stereo-typical Habs' fan, and are welcome here.

Couple of random thoughts before bed. There was a selling t-shirts in the GO concourse on the way to the ACC claiming to have been the Waffle-slinger from the Atlanta game. Shameless.

Finally, Saku is the name of the Estonian beer carried by the LCBO. It's a nice, light lager.

[moe green]

I think my reaction was similar to most tonight. The loss ended any realistic playoff hopes but they played an okay game. Giguere played an okay game. Phaneuf played an okay game.

But maybe that's just it. Maybe that's what was so disappointing. That they played okay. I noticed OV playing like it was a playoff game, and while our Leafs played well, no one was gonna get badly bruised winning this one.

Again I think what stings the most is that this game I think meant far more to me than it did for most of the players. Yes this team was better than recent tilts against Calgary and Phoenix. No they didn't try hard enough. It's hard to talk about improvement in a team that just got humiliated by the Rangers 7-0 two games back. Improved? They were better tonight than against the Rangers I guess.

By the way, with all the praise for OV tonight I thought it important to note that his first goal probably shouldn't have counted, for his second he was left wide open and it barely trickled between Giguere's legs. A goal Holtby would likely have stopped. The hat-trick goal was into an empty net.

I was pretty unimpressed with the Caps tonight. They seem a very ordinary team. It looks to me like Ovechkin is saving it for the playoffs. The Leafs should have won it. I think they gave up on the playoffs several games back. I think it was when Reimer was sent down.

Me, I'm waiting for a this team to move forward. I can't say I've seen it yet. So far this season has been a flat line. I'm being as patient as I can.

[Greg]

Can't people see what a blessing this Komisarek thing might be? What the team should do now is tell him they're take care of everything... then find the absolute worst lawyer possible and hope for jail time. Might be the only way to get him out of the lineup AND get his salary off the books