Game 73: The Leafs turn into superheroes under a Supermoon

After the Leafs destroyed the Bruins, I went for a stroll in the glow of that damn Supermoon. Who knows, right? If this rare lunar phenomenon can influence the Leafs the way it did, maybe it can help answer a few questions.

For starters, what happened between the Florida debacle and this dazzling outing? I mean, it wasn't just the Good Leafs that showed up at the ACC.

It was the Super Leafs, led by players who weren't even in the line-up on opening night. These kids, the future, should've been wearing capes.

"Great game, eh?" said my neighbour, who appeared from nowhere and joined me on the sidewalk. "They're still alive."

"Yeah, the boys were flying tonight," I said, staring into the night sky and searching for answers. "It was a weird one, that's for sure."

The truth is, it was bizarre even before the puck dropped.

During the opening ceremony to honour Bill Barilko, Howie Meeker pumped Dion Phaneuf's hand like a Southern preacher and exclaimed: "Welcome to Toronto, big fella! It's a hell of a city."

Huh?

A few seconds later, as the Leafs were circling before the opening faceoff, Ron Wilson could be seen... smiling. I hit rewind on the PVR to make sure I was not hallucinating. Nope. His tongue was pressed between his teeth and he was grinning like Charlie Sheen at a Vegas brothel.

Then the game started and things really got weird.

Luke Schenn opened the scoring at 9:44 when the Supermoon transformed him into Bobby Orr. An end-to-end rush? What? Cutting around a defenceman and then wristing a shot that made Tim Thomas look as fragile as Tiny Tim?

"Wow," mouthed Schenn, right after scoring.

Even he was freaked out by the paranormal activity swirling around the ice.

Before the period was over, Nazem Kadri scored his first NHL goal. Kaberle was feted with a video montage set to U2's "Where The Streets Have No Name." People in the crowd were wearing wigs and dancing the funky chicken.

But the Supermoon was just getting started.

In the second, Joey Crabb scored at 7:49, for his third point of the game. Then 29 seconds later, Mike Brown powered past Kaberle and raced down the right side toward Thomas – Fu Manchu versus Regrettable Moustache.

The Fu Manchu went five-hole and the Regrettable Moustache was chased from the game as the Supermoon beamed emotional misery down upon the Boston bench.

Shawn Thornton looked like he was about to cry. Tyler Seguin, stoned twice by James Reimer earlier in the period, glanced around, as if in need of a teddy bear to snuggle.

Coach Claude Julien, usually so animated, now leaned against the glass, his left hand tucked into his pocket, his face imprinted with the tortured confusion of a man who had just accidentally dropped his car keys into a sewer grate.

Tuukka Rask – who could be cast as a young Rosie O'Donnell in a biopic given his eyes, face and temperament – fumbled with his equipment and was thrust into the firing line, as the Leafs continued to get weird bounces and odd odd-man rushes.

Rask made a huge save on Joffrey Lupul. Then he was beat on a long shot from Keith Aulie, which prompted him to toss his arms up toward the Supermoon and unwisely berate teammate Dennis Seidenberg the way a surly chef unloads on an underling.

With less than a minute to play in the period, the Supermoon even affected the chanting. As God is my witness, this is what I heard: "How do you eat a vegetable? RAW! RAW! RAW!"

When the third period started, Thomas – who never removed his helmet and cage while moping on the bench – was back in net but it didn't matter. No, by then, the Supermoon had decreed this game would end 5-2, with the Leafs celebrating and people spilling into the streets to howl at the sky and Don Cherry yammering on about Judge Judy's fly-swatter.

"It's not over until it's over," said Reimer, in his post-game interview.

Apparently not.

GAME PHOTOGRAPHY: STEVE RUSSELL/TORONTO STAR

Comments

[Pyramid Power]

This team simply refuses to perish. Outstanding stuff and very happy for Reimer, Kadri and the whole organization. Let's go West now and see if we can keep up the winning and pull off a miracle.

Missed this game unfortunately, but will be getting to the nhl.com highlights shortly for multiple viewings of the joy. Did Howie Meeker really say that to Phanoof? You have to be joking right Vinay?
I wonder if Howie told Dion his hockey stick is too long? lol Remember that? Used to go on about that ad nauseum during his HNIC days.

GO LEAFS GO!

VM Replies: No, I checked the tape carefully. That's what he said. Goodnight, PP. It's 3:30 a.m here and I'm going to sleep before the Supermoon steals my soul.

[Adam]

A weird game indeed. I didn't actually watch but your blog gives me an amusing account of what went down.

The supermoon was indeed in full swing. I was at a curling bonspiel tonight and while the 4 of us had very little curling experience, we finished with a 6-1 record and took 1st place. Strange things were happening on the ice tonight.

[Carol905]

OMG, I don't know how much more of this I can take!! Never know who's going to show up to play from day to day, and even when the game appears to be in the bag, that pain in my stomach persists and I'm waiting for the other shoe to drop. It was so much easier when I was a Wings fan during my formative years--they just kept on winning. But, to be honest, that got to be a bit boring--nothing ever appeared to be on the line. So, even if I`m wearing a path in the carpet as I pace, and I`ll soon be chewing Tums like candy, THIS IS SO MUCH FUN!!! Keep up the great job, boys. See you Tuesday.

[peduval]

Rask to me is a blue print for the monster,you can not blame the fellows in front of you that's a death sentence.

[peduval]

Sorry GOOD MORNING!!!

[Al]

Great game. I hate to be a downer, but I (like Cherry) was dissappointed Phaneuf didn't take off his visor and helmet when Horton did prior to the fight... was a cowardly move, not befitting of a captain.

I mean, I don't like getting punched in the face either, but there's a little thing called the "honour code", and sometimes it means you get a fat lip.

[Wandering Penguin]

As a bona fide lunatic I can honestly say: that was one hell of a moon last night.

[jt]

Yeah, I heard meeker say that and was a little confused.

Good game, nice to finally see Kadri get one, but I think Schenn's was the best of the night. Now all we need is a supermoon every night!

[Robert]

Super moon = Supermen?
Here is the conundrum -
How can the Leafs one night, look like a flock of discombobulated penquins skating in a mill pond on bob skates
And the next night become a herd of crazed stallions on Red Bull?
Luke Schenn the length of the ice to score?
A full moon and perhaps a phantom return through Howie Meeker of the ghosts of yesteryear?
This is an example of the potential that exists between the two clubs and has been there all year.
I still suspect a party after the Carolina win had some influenc on the Florida debacle.
Lastly, it looked to me like the Pacioretty hit has taken a lot out of Chara too.

[TPiddy]

Ah, there is no feeling quite like waking up the next morning after a big Leaf win! Wonder when Kadri is going to replace Bozak on that top line....

[leafland'r]

Vinay, there's nothing left for a commenter to write. You said it all and better than anyone could.
Yet, I'll stumble with a few thoughts. I've been corrected by the photo of Chara 'n Phaneuf. All the while I thought they were preparing for a rumble, but they were really sharing a good hockey joke. Even many in the crowd appreciated the humour.
Within the glimpse that CBC gave us of Kaberle's ovation it was nice to see the Leaf bench standing banging their sticks. Pleased to see the respect given.
I couldn't hear the crowd near the end of the game. I hope they broke into an appreciative chant to acknowledge Reimer's spectacular saves. Optimus Reim would be a mouthful and lack the rhythm. Did they call Reimer, Reimer, Reimer or Reimbo, Reimbo, Reimbo? Maybe Alecia could answer that one.

[oakville_girl]

Love the picture of Reimer in the moonlight. *smile*

Speaking of smiling. Did you notice that not only are Phaneuf and Chara smiling in the above picture, but the crowd behind them too?

Here's what I was singing last night... (WARNING: major 70's flashback)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4iiryJwvDtc&feature=related

[Sensi-Bill]

Supermoon also looked pretty darn impressive on the drive home from Scotiabank Place last night.
.
BTW, our convenient back-roads route that was once through (non-corn) fields for the first part of the return from the arena is now bordered by houses --- lots of new houses, with more on the way.
.
(We never did have available space to build downtown but what we lost in terms of a central location, we gained in easy access and hectares of parking space. As for jokes about the team playing in the (former city of) Kanata section of Ottawa, I don't recall people joking about the U.S. home of the Buffalo/Toronto Bills being in Orchard Park --- with acres of parking lots. Nor do I recall jokes about the Cowboys' new billion-dollar palace not being in downtown Dallas.)

[loyal he remains]

Howie Meeker? Golly, gee whiz! By cracky!
I need more of this weirdness.

[Phil]

Golly Gee Whiz! Was that Howie Meeker last night?

[enJoy hockey]

Very disappointing to go to commercial instead of seeing the Kaberle tribute. Shame on CBC.

In defense of Phaneuf, he was (very intelligently) trying not to fight that silly Horton, so I think he just thought, "OK, if you're gong to be a jerk, I'm keeping my helmet on." Or, more likely, he didn't think about that at all, because fighting wasn't really in his plans. It doesn't help the team to lose the captain (especially in his improved persona) for five minutes and he appears to recognize that.

Hoping the Western air has the same effect as the supermoon and jet lag makes them wired.

@VM: Your word pictures continue to awe me --as in the man who dropped his keys... :-) Perfect.

[Wandering Penguin]

@AL @ 9:30: There was absolutely no reason for Phaneuf to risk injury by taking off his helmet. He had absolutely no interest in taking part in that fight and he probably only did it to save Horton the embarrassment of a full-on striptease because the longer he declined the more of Horton's equipment seemed to be coming off.

I completely disagree with your assessment and (surprise, surprise) that of The Mouth That Roared. Horton is a dink who spent much of the game goading the Leafs on and off the ice. I think he should consider himself lucky that the Leafs' CAPTAIN merely contented himself with wrestling Horton to the ice and not really engaging him toe-to-toe. I would submit that this was Dion's plan all along, hence the retaining of the helmet. If not, that's ok with me too.

[leafland'r]

Meeker Meeker?
I was surprised at the reshaping of Howie Meeker's appearance. But, there was no surprise at hearing his energetic unique voice. It's still the same as yesteryear. On occasion in a lengthy momologue it could be a bit overwhelming then, but it was certainly pleasant to here again now.
He still has the enthusiasm.

[Alecia]

I DON'T HAVE ANYTHING ELSE TO SAY!!! AHHH! THIS TEAM IS DRIVING ME CRAZY!

I don't get it. I went to the Buffalo game last Saturday and left ecstatic and as excited as can be...then I went the game on Monday where I tried really hard not to poke my eyes out of frustration and anger...then we watched the Carolina game..and the panthers (I'm not even going to capitalize 'panthers'...that's how I feel about that). Then I went to the game last night... I feel like I am on heavy drugs and keep running out of doses or something.

I just don't know what to do or think anymore.

[Matt Taylor]

At this point in the season, I honestly just am going along for the ride. However this stuff turns out, the boys have at least made the last half of the season interesting (something they certainly haven't done in awhile). I may even watch the Rangers/Pens game on NBC to cheer for the Pens, since Buffalo felt the need to win last night unfortunately.

In another note, last nights game may have demonstrated that the Leafs now have 3 solid forward lines out of 4, and that last line simply needs a center.

[Judith Fitzgerald]

What a terrific blog you got going here, Mr V. M. 'Course, no true rouge, blanc et blue dame would actually claim she loves Reimer nor would she be caught tappin' her 'tips on the comp's 'site :) . . .

But, alright. Outtasite. Cannot believe your Kardiac Kids. Love 'em almost as much as The Chirpster Subban.

Heh, tell your co-scribe that any goal, by definition, is a "perfect" one. How unfair to Kadillac Kaddi to rain on his parade :(.

You got the magic happening. Hope it continues . . .

GO HABS GO!!1!™

[hoofheartz]

"Love 'em almost as much as the Chirpster Subban" Nuff said about another habs fan lurking amongst us.

[leafland'r]

A bit of Leaf history ( if it hasn't been mentioned already somewhere within the last 20 hours).
I remember thinking at the time years ago that the coincidence was odd.
Bill Barilko was lost in the summer of '51 after scoring the Stanley Cup winning goal. The Leafs didn't win the Stanley Cup aagin 'til 11 yaers later in '62.
The long sought site of Bill Barilko's plane crash was finally found shortly after in June of that year.

[Michael C. Nemirsky]

What a roller-coaster ride this team of glorious leaf bastards has taken us on! The moon even got involved in this wacky season of highs and lows. Once again, VM, your column has embraced the true feelings of leaf nation. Take an extended and deserved bow on this well written piece of journalism. This site has really made being a leaf fan a bonafide place to share our views and comments. Other than the few trolls who frequent this site to get our blood boiling with their ridiculous claims and opinions, I, for one am proud to be able to come here and be able to beat my chest as a loyal and true blue bleeding proud member of leaf nation. This column, I hope, should be a fixture year round. When the team needs to be criticized, you sir, will not hesitate to do so. When the praise is needed, it oozes with tremendous enthusiasm. Well done, very well done.

VM Replies: Thank you, Michael! I really do appreciate this comment and appreciate the many contributions you've made to our rollercoaster ride this season.
I will say this: It's March 20 and I'm twitching in anticipation of the week ahead. Whatever happens, it's been a long time since we've been treated to this much joy (and momentous heartache) with less than 10 games to play in a season.

[Charlee001]

Hey Vinay. Gotta say that this win is right up there with the Philly win that left me speechless. What got my tongue after that game was that I wasn't sure if the team was for real. It was too unbelievable. This win is easier to comprehend because of that one. Way to go team!

Congratulations to Nazem Kadri on your first goal.

Go Leafs Go!!!

VM Replies: Speechless is right. There have been a few times this season in which I've re-watched the entire game before writing because I didn't really trust my original notes.
Last night was one of those times.

[Tom]

THE MAN COMES AROUND

:D

VM Replies: There is a correlation between your appearances and the team's win record. If you hadn't joined that damn flight simulation class, I bet they'd already have a playoff spot locked up.

[moe green]

It's just not fair to toy with us like this anymore. I know you say it was a great game but I didn't see it that way. I saw it as a lucky win against a Bruins team that didn't seem to care that much after surrendering a couple of weak goals. I'm now waiting for whatever sub-standard effort will finally end this woeful campaign and put us fans out of our misery.

I can't pretend anymore. Once again these under-performing bums have left it in the hands of their rivals; but only IF we can manage to at least win every one of our last few games. Thanks for nothing again Leafs. Notice everyone's talking about Howie Meeker and Kaberle. The game last night, meh.

And let's not pretend the Leafs haven't finished exactly like this for five of the past six years. Double bah! Oh yeah, and if the Sabres, Rangers and Devils happen to lose today I'll be all excited again. I am such a idiot.

VM Replies: Oh, man. You're killing me.

[Geoff Read]

So the Bruins were losing and they decided to goon it up eh? What a surprise. It sounds to me like the only mistake Phaneuf made was in taking the bait at all. He should've just skated away. What is to be gained by your team captain and best defenseman fighting in a game his team is leading? Nothing.

On the Bruins... I've always respected Claude Julien as a coach. He's always seemed like a guy who gets the most out of his roster (and his firing from New Jersey a few years ago was one of the all-time weird moves from a GM who's made a few of them). But this year, watching the Bruins, I've lost all respect for him. Every time Boston's losing he sends his meatheads over the boards. Why, in hockey, do we allow this kind of nonsense? Why do fools like Don Cherry celebrate it as "trying to send a message"? Let's call it what it is: poor sportsmanship and thuggery.

How did the crowd greet Kaberle? How did he play?

[moe green]

I actually missed the last two periods of the game last night VM so I really didn't see the way we played. I did see the highlights and the goals looked a little "iffy."

It's just the disappointment of likely another missed playoff appearance that didn't have to be that's gotten me down. All because the effort, coaching expertise and urgency wasn't there. Well I can tell you it was sure there for me and a lot of fans.

I am smart enough to see the changes and great. It's the least we should expect. I am glad we are starting to turn things around in spite of questionable coaching. Finally a team that doesn't reek with futility and is actually building for the future. We'll likely have a good team at some point in the future. You can say that about nearly every single team in the league.

[moe green]

Rangers crushing Pittsburgh. The only hope that remains is the Sabres. Go anyone but Buffalo, Go!

@Geoff Read: Agreed. It's aways been "poor sportsmanship and thuggery." It has never belonged in the game. It is absent in the Olympics and all high level international play and no one misses it at all.

We played friendly games for years complete with solid hitting and never had a fight. Why? The hits were never attempts to injure people who were our friends. We played really hard but we simply wouldn't consider an act like that. That would have been a sign of poor sportsmanship.

[We BeLeaf]

Since Boston is a team that succeeds on shutting the top scoring lines down as they have all season, it really comes as no surprise when the Leafs 3rd and 4th lines took it to them. If someone can convince Schenn that he should 'exercise' his offensive prowess a little more, he would strike fear into every opposing D-man.

Glad to see Kabby back at the ACC, but more happy that the Leafs defeated the Bruins handily!

Cheers!

[pinot grigio]

@Robert
You wrote: "Lastly, it looked to me like the Pacioretty hit has taken a lot out of Chara too".
I am sure Pacioretty was badly hurt, I saw the video. Partly that was due to the interference by Chara and partly to an abject design fault, i.e. one of the barely padded stanchions. I am far less certain when it comes to the extent of P's injuries. I know just enough about medicine that a man who has cracked a vertebrae and suffers from a very heavy concussion is not even going to be allowed near a hockey game only about a month later. The effects of a heavy concussion on Crosby illustrate this and Crosby apparently did not incur damage to his spinal column.
On that basis, I have come to the conclusion that the damage done to P was significantly overstated by the Club de Hockey Canadien with not one but two objectives in mind. In the first place to make sure Chara would be suspended - and that did not work - and in the second place to thoroughly shake up the confidence of a key player on the Bruins. Boston is not just an opponent but possibly the first team Montreal will face in the play-offs. And let's face it, Montreal's record against the Bruins has not been a reason for unbridled joy this year. Robert's observation shows that the second objective appears to have been attained. It is a move reminiscent of Sam Pollock's ability to strategize.

[TimB]

Whatever,Moe.That Supermoon Extravaganza was worth all the cash I forked over to Centre Ice put together.VM I'm afraid the best I can do for sound is a quadraphonic synthesizer/amplifier I found at a yard sale.It will be ready for the road trip.Once again,stay on the shoulder Moe,we are highballin'.

[Geoff Read]

@Pinot,
I'm sure you're right. The whole Pacioretty thing was a hoax. Man has also not walked on the moon, the Holocaust didn't happen, Global Warming is a sham, and right now the government is listening to your thoughts (unless you've remembered to wear your tinfoil hat).

[Wandering Penguin]

@Geoff Read: yes, because that's exactly what Pinot said. Good grief. Perhaps you have a better explanation as to why a broken neck and "severe" concussion will allow you to play NHL-calibre hockey again a few weeks later, while taking a glancing blow to the chin has already kept the top player in hockey out for nearly 11 weeks now.

Methinks that unless the ice at the Bell Centre is unfrozen under Pacioretty's skates upon his return - if it truly is before the playoffs are over - then there is very likely something else afoot.

[moe green]

We need a big win by our Music City brethren in Nashville to make the Bruins win mean something. C'mon. I never thought I'd see the day when I would be saying this but: Go Preds, Go!

[hoofheartz]

Thank god for tinfoil hats!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dg3o-fL4GC0

[TheGo2Girl]

Oh these loveable basterds will surely be the end to my sanity. Howie Meeker was just so cute. Talking to Phaneuf and Kabby. "That's great jersey you're wearing" he said to Phaneuf.

Just wondering which is going to show up in the next game. If only they all showed up to ALL of the games. I keep thinking of all the missed chances; the games, the points, they gift wrapped and handed to other teams. I haven't given up but they have been a few points out of the name we must not speak for quite a while. What can a mere nine games do.

[moe green]

@Alecia: And me too. I just don't know what to expect anymore. A handy defeat of the mighty Bruins juxtaposed with a sorrowful and hope-dashing defeat at the hands of the woeful swamp-cats.

If we are gonna get this playoff-less run off our backs this season we are gonna have to develop the consistency we haven't had all season for this last few games. The real question is: Why would it come now?

I have a funny feeling though. A feeling that just maybe this team is ready to take the reigns and not depend on Wilson to bring them to the promised land. I have a fear that a few too many players on this team are ready for a little golfing after a painful season playing for a coach they just don't like or respect.

We'll soon see if this run is for real or just another fantasy. To get there Buffalo will have to lose at least five of there last eleven while we run the table. Today v Nashville would make an excellent start.

[pinot grigio]

I love my tinfoil hat. It gives me a sense of security and it's also a pretty deep purple color. I call it my thinking cap.

[TimB]

Good road trip tune,Hoof! And I can't figure out if Moe is with us or not.

VM Replies: Moe is with us! When I was a much younger man, I had a friend just like Moe who offered many legitimate reasons why a trip to, say, Montreal during the school year was a terrible idea.
In the end, he would always join us. And he would always be the first to order shots and dance on tables.
Knock it off, Moe! You're coming with us and that's the end of it.

[hoofheartz]

Moe just doesn't want to be jilted again by our blue and white lover. It's a defense mechanism. That'll be $300.00 dollars and see my receptionist to make your next appointment.

VM Replies: A DJ, a troll exterminator *and* a doctor. You're amazing, hoof.

[Geoff Read]

@conspiracy theorists,

There have been other players who've come back in similar time frames from broken vertebrae. It's a non-displaced fracture. Likewise, everyone reacts differently to concussions of varying degrees as we should all know by now. Some guys bounce back quickly, other guys, like Crosby, have a lot of difficulty recovering. Finally, just because Pacioretty seems to have recovered from his concussion now doesn't mean he won't relapse once he starts exerting himself again.

No, following the principle of Occam's Razor, the most likely explanation for Montreal's reaction to the Chara hit was that they were angry he wasn't suspended and they were horrified by a play that could have easily resulted in Pacioretty's death and wanted to make sure that the play at least produces some meaningful changes to prevent such an incident from occurring again. The fact that this was the reaction of many people who have nothing to do with the Montreal organization and are not fans of the team supports this conclusion. In fact, there's a column in today's Star that basically argues along these lines from Dave Perkins, who, the last time I checked, doesn't cash a paycheque from the Canadiens.

In short, jumping to the conclusion that it was all a "conspiracy" is ridiculous and frankly, anyone who forwards this argument can immediately be struck off the list of those who comment on this blog who deserve to be taken seriously. Pinot and Wandering Penguin - you've just "jumped the shark". http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MDthMGtZKa4

[Geoff Read]

@ Pinot,

"I love my tinfoil hat. It gives me a sense of security and it's also a pretty deep purple color. I call it my thinking cap."

Well at least you've got a sense of humour.

[Rooney]

Okay, I am in Buffalo, I figure that the Preds could use some Blue and White magic. Did you know they sing the Canadian anthem at the HSBC even though two U.S. teams are playing? Thought that was pretty cool! Go Preds Go!

VM Replies: Wow, now this is dedication.

[Rooney]

1 - 0 Preds!

[TimB]

Hoof.My wife said I have anger issues.I told her to get the heck out of my face before I start throwing furniture out onto the lawn.What do you think her problem is,anyway?

[Judith Fitzgerald]

Anyone who foolishly believes Max was faking ain't old enough to remember the night Gordie Howe got shot into the boards by Teeder Kennedy. How (er, sowwy, lousy pun), please to answer moi, how in the heck did Howe come to attend the game where he touched the mythic CUP in the winner's circle first time ever? He was still so fresh off his injury AFTER the PTB flew in his mom and sister because they thought Mr. Hockey was a goner (Google is your 1949-1950 friend), when his teammates tore off his hat, he recalled, ". . . But as I went out on the ice, my worst fears came to pass. Someone grabbed my hat and there I was with a big bald patch on my head. Oh, it was awful!" (No mention of his concussion, of medical staff keeping him awake for a trio of days so he didn't go into a coma by scraping the bottom of his feet, nothing about his ripped eye socket nor the collateral concussion damages). Was Blinky faking? My tinfoil hat's chrome-vanadium Canadian aluminium. Take your best shot :). Man, I hope you make (beleaf) it to the dance. My Grandpa will prolly rise from the dead to rub ice in the verbal wounds he inflicts. Calisse!

GO HABS GO!!1!™

[Rooney]

Yikes! 2 - 1 Sabres!

[Alecia]

Okay, why do I keep signing on here and seeing "GO HABS GO!!"?

Vinay, this is not good for our relationship.

VM Replies: I'm sorry. But what can I do? Maybe everybody else should tag comments "Go Leafs Go."

[Robert]

@Geoff: My comment was not to demean the Canadiens, nor the injury to Pacioretty. What I was saying is that watching Chara play, some of the steam has gone out of his game.
By that I mean, I think he is carrying some sorrow over the incident.
At no time did I mean to reflect on Max - who thankfully is supposedly coming back earlier than anticipated.
My guess is that Chara realizes the injury he can inflict on the ice, he is a big man, and perhaps he is being far more cautious than previously. And he could well be emotionally upset.

[Alecia]

TimB - pfffffft, women.

[hoofheartz]

Dammit Tim, I'm a fake psychiatrist not a magician.
Besides, she probably thinks the same of me.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bVhcB9ucmdg

[TimB]

Watched the game on MSG.What a comeback! Better one point than two.

VM Replies: As we learned in 2007, every point counts. That was a hell of a comeback by Nashville.

[Alecia]

Good thinking Vinay.

I think everyone might enjoy this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P6wqa5gPFcs

GO LEAFS GO!!!

VM Replies: Nice. And, hey, I have a song just for you:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8dGNDUdtNh8

[Pyramid Power]

Wow! What an astounding comeback by the Preds to win over the Sabres in OT. Down 3-1 with less than five minutes to go they tied it up late and almost won in reg. time. Just won 4-3 in OT so of course the Sabres get a point, but we will happily take that.
Looked like Buffalo had it in the bag. Preds announcers including ex-Flyer Terry Crisp sure thought so.
Good news.

VM Replies: Clear your damn teaching schedule this week.

[TimB]

To be honest we all think the same of you Hoof.

[TimB]

Nice clip Alecia.Does anyone here think we do not have our goalie?
And Alecia if this guy hurts your feelings,even a bit,just let us know.

[hoofheartz]

I know some Bruce Cockburn songs too VM. This one is for you TimB.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G1ppPWXL80g&feature=related

[Pyramid Power]

I surely will Vinay, I surely will.

Devils won. Bad news. Sabres lose in OT - somewhat good news. Well, check that, it is excellent news considering they had the game won and then a miracle happened. Man, Little Tits a.k.a. Sergei Kostitsyn almost won it in reg. time for Nashville. Wired one from the slot but Miller made an outstanding blocker save or it would have been a reg. time loss for Buffalo.

Montreal now putting the boots to the Wild 6-0 in Minny. We face Minny on Tuesday night. They are out of the playoffs.
Which Leafs team shows up that night?
We shall certainly see.

Did not see the game last night but reading thru the myriad of excellent comments here, and seeing that CBC did not make this a night to remember for Kaberle and cutting to commercial very disappointing and surprising.

Watching the highlights of last night's game you just feel, you see, again you just feel a different Leafs squad with Reimer in nets. A couple of saves he made particularly the breakaway save on Seguin had Hughson just gushing. I think Hughson was actually surprised Jimmy made that critical save.

And the Schenn goal making like Robert Orr. Luke's offensive skill set has never really been there, but nice to see when it does show itself.

Oh, rainy Monday morning over here. I too like other posters am facing the harsh reality of our uphill climb towards where we want to be this year. It ain't gonna be easy of course, we need to win out it would appear and get help.

Today was a good first step with help from the Preds, but oh look out for those Devils. Man, Jacques Lemaire can coach a little I guess. Wild. Has there ever been a run for the roses like this in NHL history? I doubt it. I know the Flyers started a season winning their first 30 games I believe years ago. But this run is just way way out there. I am happy for Kovalchuk and the entire New Jersey organization to have turned it around like they have, but not happy for our team of course as they may very well be our real enemies in what will hopefully be a dogfight to post-season nirvana.

[Pyramid Power]

Dazed over here. Man, thinking of this team over the year and the heartbreaking losses and OT histrionics just bewildering, befuddling and bedazzling. The amazing shocking wins. It's been a helluva run.

I can only hope for one thing now: that our last game of the year against Montreal at home will mean something. Like three or four years ago when we knocked Montreal out of the playoffs on the last night of the year winning 6-5, but sadly did not make the playoffs the next day as the Isles came up big in a shootout win. Remember listening to that game over here on AM640 in the middle of the night. Horrible memory.

BUT that win over Montreal was legendary. To KO our archrivals was just pure ecstasy. That will not happen this year, but to win the season series against them 4-2 and sneak into The Dance in such fashion is my Monday Morning Fantasy. Make it happen ye strange mystical hockey gods, make it happen. Please. We beseech you.

[Pyramid Power]

Lotta Canadiens fans here which of course I hate. But it was Boom Boom Geoffrion's grandson Blake who scored a hat trick for the Preds to help win it against Buffalo today. Good for him and Nashville.

Wish I could access the YouTube tunes being put up here. Can't. So much fun living in what is still essentially a police state, a totalitarian police state that I loathe for the most part. Knocked this poster right off this blog for a few months. Sigh.

Montreal now up 7 freakin 0 on the Wild. I hope this loss does not stir the Wild, wake them up or anything. Just stay dead ye wild. Lost in the wilderness of Minnesota.

We are coming up and we know what we have to do. First step is Tuesday. Next step is against a weak Denver team. But these weak teams have been our bugaboo all year long it would seem. Sorry for my rambling here.

Cheers to the Leafs and all the great citizens of Leaf Nation.

[Alecia]

@leafland'r - it was a "Reimer" chant that broke out at the end of the game.

@ Vinay, oh man, you're too much.

@TimB, hmm, good thing he is a Leafs fan and reads this blog, huh?

[palbo]

@PP - I too remember the Montreal game where we won 6-5. I was in Australia watching the stream on someone else's computer. When the Leafs won, I was so excited I almost threw the laptop onto the street from the porch I was on. The owner wasn't real impressed. Good memories.

[the evness]

@leafland'r

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JaeRrrtsCqU

the hockeys gods were smiling then, i think this blog may eventually lead them to smile again :)

[Rooney]

Okay, um, wow, that was a crazy game. That Predators goalie played lights out. Talking about prices, we found a pub post-game 50 cent wings and 2 for 1 - $3.00 Stella pints. GO LEAFS GO!

[Wandering Penguin]

Oh noes! I've become irrelevant to a Habs fan! (Home Alone expression inserted here.) However will I go on with my life?

Geoff, I don't really think at any point in any of my posts or IRL I have ever said Pacioretty was "faking" anything whatsoever. I also don't recall making a single comment about the "overreaction" of Habs fans. In point of fact, I have posted more than once that I think Chara gets away with murder and a lot of it is because he is so "tall". All I said was it also seemed suspicious to me that a "serious" concussion would take a shorter time to heal from than whatever Crosby suffered. Maybe he's a fast healer; maybe they'll bring him back too fast; maybe it wasn't as serious as was reported. Who knows? And I suppose it's not abnormal to return from a "broken neck" within a couple of months and have a doctor clear you for full contact skating at 40 miles an hour. Sure! Why not?

But whatever, think how you want to think. By all means make forays into "enemy" territory and casually mock the loyal fans of the local heroes and then wonder why you're 1) not taken seriously; or 2) under return fire.

I also happen to think that when someone references "jumping the shark" in this day and age it ironically symbolizes that their conversational or debating abilities have, you know.... jumped the shark. Carry on, Fonz! Fight the good fight!

[Wandering Penguin]

Oh, shoot. In my exuberance I forgot to add:

GO LEAFS GO!!!!

[Judith Fitzgerald]

B-b-b-but, I am cheering for your Make BeLeafs, I rally rally am :). I want to see some good news in Leaf Nation since my Grandpa so loved Johnnie Bower and Teeder and all doze kids when I was up-growin' and I jes' loved the Habs 'cause I am his granddaughter and he worked in one of the big banks down on Belinda Street in the '50s. Yeah. He was the janitor. Saturday Evenings in the Church of Hockey Night in Canada provided the glue sticking us together. Family time around the Bakelite radio and then, the little TV he saved a year to buy just in time for the playoffs, the best years of my youth (except playing goal in the road-hockey league out back in the alley on Church Street). Quebecois as they come! Grandpa was a HABS fan to begin; but, when Beliveau appeared on the scene with his bigger-than-life splash and panache, he thought dat showoff was a shame on his HABS BUT after The Rocket refused to shake hands one year he went over to the white 'n' (dark) blue side till the day he left us forever. His last words?

Go Leafs Go!!1!

I ain't the enemy; I'm deeply impressed with this true rebuild and think Reimer's the real deal. Goalies peak at age 25. I predict you will be sipping from the Lovin' Cup within two years. Natch, you'll have to get past us first :). Naw, Boys, I won't let that door slam my beautiful backside on the way out the door. I can see you don't want to see me no mo' and I can take a hit — er, hint — as good as the next gal. S'Long . . . Sayonara, G'Luck :). p.s. Them Preds did reel good, eh? Yay! Statistics are the leading cause of statistics and you CAN DO IT.

GO HABS GO!!1!™

VM Replies: I neglected to welcome you earlier in the day, Judith. You are always welcome here.

[hoofheartz]

WP, you forgot to add Go Anyone The Stinking habs Are Playing Go!!!!

[Wandering Penguin]

I did indeed, hoof. My bad and thanks!

[Wandering Penguin]

@ Judith - I sincerely hope you didn't misinterpret my previous comments as directed at you. I can assure you they were not!

[Judith Fitzgerald]

Good morning. Monday is the root of all evil. ViM knows all about that . . . Salut!

Heh, you need better protecters . . . Do I *look* like a kidder? Serially, you need to visit here:

http://zapatopi.net/afdb/

And, if you're a dawglover (not a catmaven), you will doubly appreciate this crucial 411.

Nah, WP, could see you havin' at it with somenone else suggesting something "afoot" with his own firmly in mouth. (Like LC says, Magic Is Afoot 'n' Gawd Is Alive.) Leafs, too. Joy, Fellas and Gallas, just revel while you can. Forget the competition, the past, and the future. Now Is WoW!

'Course, ain't saying that we won't whomp y'all come playoff time. C'mon, Leaf Nation! Big Vibes to The Big Guy what moved us from the sky last night. S'Alright to live in this magnificent sparklit moment from a lack-lustre team energised to the max and how.

Loved the Bobby Orr moment. Yeah, die-hard Canadienne; but, still think Orr gots no flies on him while TGO shall always rank Numero Two-oh mit moi. Just my deux.

Adieu and, erm, ah, pfft!

GO HABS GO!!1!™

p.s. I love this blog because, unlike t'other rag's blog, y'all ain't makin' each other the star of the sop-op; you talk hockey, not dull-trollery (not to mention pull ye ol' nitsnit id-fit eedjit ick-schtick tearing strips off Scot Loucks all the time . . . Enough about our globally dullicious dregma . . . we do gotz Carriere, eh? Ace stat-man non-pareil, K . . .
p.p.s. "Reimbo" is a blessed keeper of a 'nym . . . jes' Wish I'd hit upon it first is all :)

[hoofheartz]

Ms Judith, thanks for the 411 on the AFDB. TimB, new road trip, we gots to get us sum of them there AFDBs for the rest of the ALFBers.

VM Replies: I have a feeling Judith is going to be a very interesting late season addition to ALF B.

[Geoff Read]

@ Robert,

I didn't take your comment that way - but thanks for clarifying. I agree with you.

I see Montreal plays Buffalo this week.

[Pyramid Power]

@palbo That was awesome wasn't it? Raycroft did his very very best to blow that game, and it was the last game he ever played for Toronto I believe but to win was just beautiful. Great memories.

@J-Fitz Wow! For a Hags fan you're not so bad. I can deal with you, keep on bringin' the funny mademoiselle. J'adore lis tes postes amusant. Merci.

[gettingcozywithsarkozy]

A little late on posting as I saw only parts of the game. It was definitely a good one to remember. I had to blink twice and rub my eyes after seeing Schenn go end-to-end on his goal. VM: I think word is spreading about your blog as I see more and more hab fans congregating here. They can no longer deny what we Leaf fans already know: even though the habs may have a richer history than the Leafs, there's something about this Toronto franchise that just draws everyone in -- hate it, or love it, but you can't just stay idle, being a passive observer. Hockey revolves around the Leafs!!

[Alecia]

People, you are forgetting to tag yours posts....

GO LEAFS GO!!!

[Geoff Read]

So, Pyramid Power: are you going to be cheering for Montreal when they play the Sabres this time? If the Habs don't win it'll be a pretty significant nail in the Leafs' coffin. Can you overcome your pathological hatred of all things Canadien in the pursuit of the Leafs' interest?

And Vinay... the Hal Gill stick awaits you my friend. Reminiscing about childhood trips to Montreal, cheering the Habs on as they take on the Leafs' rivals... it's all becoming clear. Don't be ashamed. For some of us Ontarians, it just takes a little longer than others to come to grips with the hockey love that dare not speak its name. Overcome your fear of stigmatization, pull that Stephan Lebeau jersey out of the closet, and walk liberated of the burden of denying your true feelings.

VM Replies: You are relentless, Mr. Read. I will be cheering for the Habs this week. But it will feel unholy.

[Geoff Read]

@Vinay: "I will be cheering for the Habs this week. But it will feel unholy."

It feels good to be bad doesn't it?

VM Replies: No. This is not a good bad. It's just a bad bad. Very bad.

[enJoy hockey]

@VM: Are you exerting undue influence on your fellow Star scribes? Kelly had a good one this morning and even Cox was positive --or maybe that lunar pheno"menon" is persisting?

VM Replies: I have zero influence. Even my 4-year-old daughters do not listen to me. Must be the Supermoon.

[Raina]

I only watched the 1st, but did my ears deceive me, or were the fans at the ACC actively booing Chara whenever he touched the puck?

I thought I imagined it the first time, but it continued to happen several times, which I found really funny because I never noticed it before his "hockey play" that Leaf fans deemed clean, and have said over and over again that "only Hab fans do that sort of thing", and yet the Leaf fans looked up from their Blackberries, didn't leave their seats with 5 minutes left to sit in the leather seats at the back of the 100 level -- all just to boo Chara. Well played, Leaf fans. Well played.

Thanks for taking care of Boston -- the Habs will be sure to return the favour tomorrow night against Buffalo.

[gettingcozywithsarkozy]

Geoff: Chalk up another "one-day-hab-fan". Let's hope they can put away Buffalo tomorrow. However, as VM said, I will be disguisted with myself afterward.

[hoofheartz]

Is cheering for Buffalo not to win the same as cheering for the stinking habs to win? I think it's a small but viable distinction and it won't make me feel like throwing up in my mouth.

GO LEAFS GO!

[Geoff Read]

I have no predictions for tomorrow night's game. Buffalo should be the more motivated team, Montreal has lots of injuries... logic suggests Buffalo will win. But as Moe suggested the other day, one thing I admire about this current incarnation of les Glorieux is an undeniable resiliency - so I'd say it's about 50/50.

[ValleyRed]

Weirdest stat of the whole Supermoon evening: Brett Lebda was +3. That little talking-to he got from the Deadly Viper Assassination Squad and their flying tire irons must have opened his eyes a little bit. They even got RW smiling, so all I can say is carry on, Squaddies, carry on!

[hoofheartz]

Wish I still had my copies of Kill Bill. I feel a burning need to watch Uma Thurman kick some ass.

Go Leaf Go!

[A True Leafs Fan]

With the buffalo vs Montreal I my self will be cheering for buffalo. I know thats bad to say considering our playoff "hopes". I for one wish the worst for montreal and hope they get shutout 198324-0. just my opinion but there is no way in hell that I will cheer for the habs for anything other than losing.

[Raina]

True Geoff, but Price has something to prove, and he usually bounces back pretty spectacularly after a bad game. Plus he's going to want to go into Boston with a win under his belt. Buffalo couldn't get it down yesterday in front of home "crowd" (seriously, what was with the empty seats -- I've been to Buffalo on a Sunday outside of football season, it's not like there was anything else to do), so in front of the Bell Centre crowd will be even tougher.

[Geoff Read]

Good point Raina. Yes, Leafs' Nation's hopes ride on the shoulders of #31 for the Canadiens. Don't worry Leafs' fans: at least HE won't let you down.

Sorry - that was just too easy to pass up.

[Geoff Read]

Does anyone else hope to see Matt Cooke suspended for the rest of the season and the playoffs?

VM Replies: He is a repeat offender, remorseless and probably the dirtiest player in the game. The elbow last night says everything you need to know about Matt Cooke:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3lmn2B0TuF8

[Geoff Read]

@VM - he's an easy guy to dislike, that's for sure. I'd like to see him get a significant suspension and a warning that if does anything like that again he'll be bounced from the league, full stop.

[Raina]

I would have liked to see Mario intercep and suspend him for the remainder of the season even before the league said a word. Mario made a big deal about this very thing and thankfully McDonaugh wasn't hurt (at least, he's showing no symptoms) but that shouldn't be the only reason players get properly punished. Torts benches Avery when he does something stupid (which is just so often, it's sad). I can't see how Campbell's Wheel of Justice comes back with anything less than the 10 remaining Pens games plus 1st round of the playoffs (since the 10 games are pretty meaningless when they've practically clinched). It would be nice if they just tossed from the league after so many mulligans, but there aren't too many precidents for that.

VM Replies: Mario has inadvertently painted himself into a corner after his Isles' outburst. Now he'll have to shut his yap and take his punishment.
If the league was ever going to set a new precedent by turning someone's repeated idiocy into a meaningful deterrent and/or cautionary tale, Matt Cooke would be a great choice.

[Boo Who?]

Throw the book at Cooke! He is a grade A, first class tool.

@ ValleyRed - The DVAS still have a lot of work to do on the Lebda front, so let's not be too hasty in handing out praise. But now that Komi is coming back he's our top priority. We've convinced them to stop driving the 'P-Wagon' around town at least.

VM Replies: If that acronym had an "i" it would be perfect.

[hoofheartz]

Cooke should get the remainder of this season, all the playoffs and whatever it takes next season to add up to 20 or more games. Having said that, my guess is he'll get a very stern "don't do that again" from the supposed disciplinarian.

[Geoff Read]

I hate Matt Cooke. That said, to play devil's advocate, put yourself in his shoes. The only signals he's ever been given for his previous actions is that the NHL is either OK with what he's done (Marc Savard) or mildly disapproves of what he's done (Feb. suspension). So, in addition to blaming Cooke himself, I also hold the NHL accountable for his continued transgressions for its repeated failure to put a stop to them.

VM Replies: It's clear he isn't worried about getting punished. Or he's a sociopath. Either way, not good for the game.

[Raina]

10 games and first round of the playoffs. Either my wheel of justice matched with Colin's -- or he's a reader of your blog, VM! I guess they were just waiting for Cooke to do something stupid instead of making an example out of Marchand or Heatley last week. I wish we weren't likely to see another stupid attempt to injure soon, but sadly I doubt that very much.

VM Replies: You make a good point, Raina. The only way this suspension will mean something is if the next player to do something equally grotesque is given same/harsher penalty.

[Judith Fitzgerald]

Raina, ViM, et so forthia? Could not agree with you more on the discussion concluding this thread. Who better to take the ultimate hit than the gooniest of the goonsquadron? I'd turf the idjit from the league. Period. He could take Avery with him; but, that's just my other dream-come-true. Sociopathetics. Goodbye has "good" in it. Neither of them does.

[Judith Fitzgerald]

Now the Cooke departs Hell's Kitchen-on-Blades, I return to the game. Tentatively. Not yet enough to invest in a TV (and anti-Sour-GripeSpray); but . . . Been on a one-dame crusade to give no credence to GoonAid Gang, GAG, for short. Finesse is da bes' . . . Yay!

I like it here where I read all year; and, I am NOT a HAG; GAH 'n' FIE on yer I + I; but, YOU are still my treasured Make-BeLeaf fans 'n' friends even if you don't know it and even if I don't yakk much; but, I made you a wee prezzie, a collage-prezzie tribute to your good taste in bad vibes slowly diminishing in this game we all love, n'est-ce pas?

http://www.judithfitzgerald.ca/OneChairShortOfADeckOnTheTitanic.jpg

We take no responsibility for any team's perceived rep; some individuals jes' born to exceptionalise the rule. Never rioted in MPQ in my life. God lait, though :) . . .

In the stop-start grand-scam of YouBoob things, you can see the Second Law of ThermoDynamics in action when SkullDigger Cooke meets the "glass"; imagine the impact on McDonagh :(.

Thank you for understanding the best hockey blogs boast civilised human beans to form a friendly yet abso-deffo unholy alliance. Lard knows alla us hockeyists gots blind spots and live thoughts, praise be. Feels good here, in a Hab / Hab-Not sorta habit-forming kinda way, eh? K . . .

And, thank you for generally making me feel welcomed or, in other words, remember someday you incorriged moi :). See you after tonight's stunner if I get my work done. Hope y'all do, too.

Buffalo Schmuffalo. Do we look worried? You got Reimbo. We got The Fuel-Injector Carburator Gator, Mr. Priceless. Let us pray . . .

GO HABS GO!!1!™

p.s. "Pheno/menon?" Swooooon . . . Great punishment worthy of a shout-out . . . ViM? Tell your four-year-old daughter not to mess with the pheno/menon . . . C if that works!

VM Replies: I shall see if that works, Judith. Thanks for the tip.

[Judith Fitzgerald]

@ hoofheartz

Pas de prob. I bring only le meilleur to les conversations ici, least I can do, given perennial VS (er, Visitor Status since Bell Centre rings mine own). Those beanies the only ones worth crafting and owning.

Made one for both my first and second dogs. First was a Mongrel Shep named Mc The McNif/E while I got a grrl next, name of Lu (short for Dawgter Herbertha Marsha McLuhan). This spring, hope to complete the circle with Han. Both Mc 'n' Lu loved their beanies . . . NOT! S'Okay. Both humoured moi, their eccentric gawdess of all good cheesy treats, etc. etc. [*beam*]

GO HABS GO!!1!™