Game Day: Get busy living or get busy dying
When asked about tonight's showdown with Buffalo, coach Ron Wilson said: "We haven't talked about it being life and death."
Excuse me?
Someone, please, talk about it. Hurry. At the very least, this game is life and a coma. It's life and critical injuries. Life and blunt force trauma to the hopes and dreams of Leafs Nation.
There are 14 games remaining in the season. The Leafs trail the Sabres and Rangers by six points. Mr. Wilson, sir, it is time to embrace the clichés of your chosen profession:
Do or die. Between a rock and a hard place. Now or never. There is no tomorrow. Behind the eight ball. Gut-check time. Backs against the wall. Everybody better give 110 per cent.
The Leafs did not practice yesterday, a wise decision given the creeping fatigue we've witnessed over the past three games. Wilson said he wanted his players to "think" about things.
Let's hope this thinking included: Why can't we win on Saturdays?
Heading into The Most Important Game Of The Season™, Toronto has dropped seven straight Saturday night games. Even in the mid-80s, when I cheered for Frycer and Ihnacak while wearing a pastel Miami Vice T-shirt and writing high school love letters to wooo girls, I can't recall this much weekend misery.
If this continues, Hockey Night in Canada should consider playing a different Elton John song during the intro for Leaf games. Forget about "Saturday Night's All Right (For Fighting)" and maybe give us a few bars from "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road," "I Guess That's Why They Call It The Blues," "Sad Songs (Say So Much)," "Candle In The Wind," or "Don't Let The Sun Go Down On Me."
Speaking of which, I was up most of the night again with a sick child. Incidentally, in the predawn hours, a 4-year-old with the stomach flu has symptoms eerily identical to a child who is possessed by Satan.
But in between applying cold towels to a feverish forehead and changing bed sheets and running for my life, there was plenty of time to think about this stretch of Saturday night futility, which now includes losses to Calgary (January 15), Washington (January 22), Buffalo (February 5), Montreal (February 12), Ottawa (February 19), Pittsburgh (February 26) and Chicago (March 5).
Despite mostly even territorial play during these seven games – cumulative shot totals were 233 for opponents, 232 for the Leafs – the magnificent bastards were outscored 27-12.
These seven games included two shutouts against and two shootout losses. The Leafs also managed to score only one first period goal in these seven games and the struggling power play was downright anemic, operating at 3 for 31, or 9.7 per cent.
You know what else is weird? Saturday nights are the worst day of the week for individual performances this season.
The team's Top 4 scorers are generating their lowest points-per-game numbers on Saturdays: Mikhail Grabovski (.44), Clarke MacArthur (.56), Phil Kessel (.50) and Nikolai Kulemin (.44).
The defencemen, meanwhile, have a worse plus/minus on Saturdays than any other day of the week: Dion Phaneuf (-3), Luke Schenn (-2), Carl Gunnarsson (-4), Brett Lebda (-4) and Keith Aulie (-4). (The only exception to this rule is Mike Komisarek. His worst plus-minus, -5, falls on Mondays.)
Here's another statistical oddity I discovered at 3 a.m.
Saturday nights are the only day of the week in which James Reimer has a save percentage under .900 (.889). It's also his worst day of the week with respect to goals against average (3.56).
What does all of this mean? I have no idea. But here are 10 things for the Leafs to think about before tonight:
1. We should really score the first goal.
2. Here's a crazy idea: Why don't we score the first goal in the first period?
3. We should cover our men in the defensive zone and not just look at them with vague indifference, like they're handing out religious pamphlets at the airport.
4. Just to mix things up, why don't we try using a breakout play that doesn't make our fans break out the vodka?
5. We should get some traffic in front of Ryan Miller.
6. Why don't we bang in a rebound or use something other than Grabovski's face to deflect a shot tonight?
7. Before clearing the puck up the middle, let's ask ourselves a simple question: "Would Stevie Wonder be comfortable making this play?"
8. On the power play, let's pretend our feet are nestled comfortably inside skates and not entombed inside blocks of cement. In short: Let's move our feet!
9. We should spread out a little to make it, a) more difficult for Buffalo defenders and, b) to avoid bumping into each other like Keystone Kops.
10. Instead of waiting until it's too late, let's start the game with desperation and intensity.
Ron Wilson may not believe this is a life or death situation. But to quote Tim Robbins from The Shawshank Redemption: "I guess it comes down to a simple choice, really. Get busy living or get busy dying."
Pundiji: As you know I try to align the stars - except we have a problem.
The recent devastating hit in Montreal between Chara and Pacoretty, or the earth quake in Japan, not sure which, has caused the alignment of the earths rotation to drift 25 centimetres.
Given the circumference of the earth, the ever moving stars, and the Air Canada Centre which seems to drift from time to time, we are doing our darnedest to get things aligned for tonights slug fest. (er, hockey game)
I suppose I will leave the Sabre rattling to the rest of you, and perhaps the Leaf forecheck, while I try to keep thing in line tonight, which will include holding a glass of Merlot in my other hand.
If I can accomplish miracles, why can't our Leafs.
GO you frisky colts GO!
VM Replies: Robert! It's always good karma when you are the first to comment on a game day.
Posted by: Robert | 03/12/2011 at 02:59 PM
Oh VM - you make my day, you really do. Shawshank Redemption is one of my favourite movies ever, one of the few I will unabashedly cry at whenever I watch it. I am honoured that 'woooo girl' has made it (however temporarily) into your lexicon. And I will take it as a positive omen that one of those Elton John songs you listed is a former chosen victory song of mine. I think our boys have come up against a very powerful witch/warlock that is ruining their Saturday nights. But we can't blame Charlie Sheen for everything here. I will try some reversing spells and see if that helps.
I hope the sick princess is better soon. I have decided I must get busy living (after the game of course) so will be venturing out later on, even though I can't really walk. May God have taken my legs from me so that the Leafs' legs may flourish.
VM Replies: Ms. Boo! Take it easy. We need you healthy for the next three weeks.
Posted by: Boo Who? | 03/12/2011 at 03:43 PM
I'm getting better! Just need decent food and to stretch a bit. Been laid up longer than a woooo girl after a Stanley Cup parade, ifyouknowhatimean.
VM Replies: Sadly, I do not know what you mean.
Posted by: Boo Who? | 03/12/2011 at 03:56 PM
at least we don't have to hear Ol' man Cole tonight cuz he's doing the afternoon game.... if that's any sign.
VM, I pray you don't come down with the 'bug' especially if we do get into 'crunch-time'... we won't be able to get through it without YOU at 110%. Vodka and Lemon on the rocks may be necessary, for medicinal purposes of course!
VM Replies: Medicinal purposes. Yes. Thank you. This is what I'm now calling it.
Posted by: tml67 | 03/12/2011 at 04:07 PM
"Saturday night (losses)...what does this mean?"
It means a large number of players from Canada and particularily Ontario come to the Toronto hockey stage with added motivation. It's here that they often get pumped to put on a show for friends and family in the stands. In the ACC they can take a bow in hockey theatre. This is where they often put on their greatest performance.
The Leafs on Saturday nights are up against squads with added gusto.
VM Replies: Good point. Although two of those seven losses were on the road.
Anyway, tonight is the night. They beat Buffalo at the HSBC last time, killing a rather large back monkey.
Posted by: leafland'r | 03/12/2011 at 04:16 PM
Hoof. I just entered the question and cut and pasted the result.I was sure some self proclaimed hockey genius could take some time out from looking up literary quotes on Wikipedia to decipher it for us.
Posted by: TimB | 03/12/2011 at 04:21 PM
Shawshank and keystone cops, I love it! Kinda reminds me of how my day is going. After cleaning house, laundry and groceries I got bored and decided to play detective. I went to the old in and out store and purchased a case to work on for the day in anticipation for the big game tonight. On the list of things to think of I couldnt agree more, hopefully the leafies are doing some deep thinking in preparation for tonight.
Posted by: Simmer | 03/12/2011 at 04:21 PM
Aulie said, "Every game is a playoff game now."
He is not quite accurate. It can be considered a playoff game, but this one could be the last one. It's more like a sudden death elimination game. Lose it and the rest of the season will be just waiting out the balance of the schedule like the Pittsburgh Pirates in baseball.
Posted by: leafland'r | 03/12/2011 at 04:23 PM
TimB, too many paint fumes today. What was the question?
Posted by: hoofheartz | 03/12/2011 at 04:43 PM
Hoof,we could be in the same boat.I still haven't recovered from cleaning up a spilled can of PVC glue the other day.Put up some sound waves and let's start the pregame.
Posted by: TimB | 03/12/2011 at 04:58 PM
When asked if an upcoming game was "a matter of life and death", legendary Liverpool FC manager Bill Shankly said, "Oh no, its much more important."
VM Replies: Awesome.
Posted by: johnnyk | 03/12/2011 at 05:04 PM
Okay. Until hoof and TG77 get in the DJ booth, I'm going to throw a song out here for the pregame. Since I referenced the 80s and since tonight is all about the heat of the moment...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NfFjb3B9RRw
Posted by: Vinay Menon | 03/12/2011 at 05:13 PM
Aptly titled 1st song when describing tonights game for the Leafs.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aUW_8cWG7YA
Something I 1st heard this past summer. Not sure how old it is.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sghv7aS6gPc
And of course something classic rockish
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K2nRiGoq9XU
At the end of the day if the Leafs don't win tonight
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NcbAibPA2yY
Posted by: hoofheartz | 03/12/2011 at 05:18 PM
Could this be the night that Philthy acutally throws a body check to ignite the rest of the Leafs or will his first forecheck result in a turn away once he gets within 7 feet of the man with the puck?
Could this be the night when no one blindly throws the puck up the middle of the ice resulting in a Sabre scoring chance/goal.
Could this be the night the Leafs actually clear their own zone rather than to just inside their own blue line which then utimately turns into a Sabre scoring chance/goal?
Am I preparing myself for the worst because thats what I've become so used too?
Posted by: hoofheartz | 03/12/2011 at 05:28 PM
Hi VM... sorry to read flu invaded your kid. As a dad of three, I dreaded whatever virulent strain it was that skated around the house with abject vengeance.
Slight correction: Morgan Freeman first (then second) coined 'get busy...' line in Shawshank. Robbins repeated back to him, later in the movie.
Oh! Hockey tonight. Hmm... almost forgot. I am totally stress free about this, not watching it really works... when you have dual allegiances.
In the end... Sabres/Leafs will get in. So, everybody chill!
VM Replies: Hmm. I thought Robbins says it first in the prison. Then Morgan repeats it after getting released, contemplating suicide and carving his message in the ceiling. (Followed in voiceover by: "That's goddamn right.")
But it's all a blur now so maybe I'm relying upon a false memory (similar, perhaps, to memories of Frycer).
Dual allegiances?
Posted by: maxwelledison | 03/12/2011 at 05:37 PM
@hoofheartz - you have just recited the Leaf mantra for the year!
Could you please post the remedy for this comedy of errors, and tweet R.W.
Good dressing room reading.
But, you are right, lately it is what we have come to expect.
But, not tonight.
We shall overcome!
Posted by: Robert | 03/12/2011 at 05:47 PM
If tonight of all nights they can't muster the effort and play some rough, tough, beat 'em in the alleys AND on the scoreboard hockey, then that pretty much sums it up for the season, no?
VM Replies: I think so. Also, your comment could be the lyrics to an Asia song.
Posted by: 80s Leafs | 03/12/2011 at 05:48 PM
Spit out my coffee ;laughing hard twice already. Vinay's reply to Boo about not experiencing the joy of whoooo girls after a Cup, and the Liverpool soccer manager quote. Outstanding. Love it.
Great stuff as always Vinay. Not too much else to say here except to toss out some horrifying numbers about the Sabres: Buffalo has won 13 of its past 15 against the Leafs and nine of the last ten games at the ACC,
Leafs are 0 for 39 on the PP in their past 11 games against the Sabres and 1 for 27 in their past six games overall.
Miller is 12-2 in his past 14 starts against Toronto with a 1.57 GAA and 8-1 in his last nine in Toronto. On the bright side he did lose his last home start against Toronto and his last start at the ACC.
Ex-Leaf Brad Boyes scored the OT winner in Boston for a 4-3 win on Thursday night. Sabres are 4-1-1 on their current road trip and this game concludes it.
Thomas Vanek is the Sabres leading scorer with 57 while Mac leads us with 51 Kessel has one more goal than the Sabres leading goal scorer Drew Stafford - 27-26.
Hope Jimmy does not have an early case of the yips has he has had recently in nets. Seems to take a while to get in his groove. Hopefully no brain burp penalties and my worst fear of all of course: we badly outplay and outshoot a Sabres team who just wants to get home but Miller steals the show. Sabres and Saturdays have been so very cruel and brutish to us this year. Let it not happen tonight. Gotta win this in reg. time.
Please ye hockey gods: do NOT make it Miller Time tonight at the ACC.
GO LEAFS GO!
VM Replies: So nice to have PP in the booth again. Just like the early days.
What feed are you watching? Let's get that out of the way before the puck drops...
Posted by: Pyramid Power | 03/12/2011 at 05:51 PM
Ultimately the team is still a work in progress but I absolutely CANNOT stomach another game with zero effort given. If the Leafs come out flat tonight then Wrong Wilson (name courtesy of Wandering Penguin) deserves a good swift boot right in the tallywacker.
Posted by: hoofheartz | 03/12/2011 at 06:04 PM
I guess my confidence is somewhere between Robert and Hoof.Is there a bit of a cloud over the blog?
VM Replies: No clouds!
Posted by: TimB | 03/12/2011 at 06:16 PM
Okay Vin... now you have me wondering if I'm orbiting.
Best recollection is Freeman/Andy first sitting on stone steps up high. Freeman was talking about cons 'in here' have a choice. Then- with a slinky eye move to Andy- he deadpanned the quote.
You are 100% correct about Freeman in Whitmore's room.
Throughout Shawsahnk, Freeman was the mentor. Andy, the quick study- then later, mentor too. And to the others.
Anyway, whomever really said it first is irrelevant. They both used it. But, the point here is what YOU did with the quote. Fantastic actually!
Maybe I'll have a lemon square, or two... made with vodka.
BTW Vinay, Dual means: Leafs fan for 50-some years after I learned to skate, then actually read! Am citizen of Buffalo, and at one point- Sabres season tix holder for over a decade. My only regret in sports life (apart from pointless Bills), is I never got to see Leafs at Maple Leaf Garden.
But I tried several times, which was fun too!
VM Replies: Ah, now I understand the dual allegiances. So no matter what happens tonight, you've already won.
Now that is some luck, as Andy might say.
Posted by: maxwelledison | 03/12/2011 at 06:18 PM
Great to be back Vinay, BUT if we lose tonight we will be 0-2 since I was allowed back on here by The Power and out of the playoffs for all intents and purposes. I certainly won't be feeling too good about my karmic impact on this hockey club if we somehow blow this game.
Buddhist statue out now, joss sticks have been lit, Leafs sweater with no names because all Leafs are legends in my mind donned and ready to roll with www.atdhenet.tv That should work, but Saturday nights are often cruel for streams. Am thinking of cancelling my day's work. I may have to if we lose, and just go on a Bukowksian Bender to end all benders.
Other streams for those who need assistance. www.veetle.com www.channelsurf.eu www.vodkasports.com (I am very partial to that last one) www.myp2p.eu I should be able to roll with atdhenet.tv though as should most people in the Western hemisphere. Works very well in general over there, choppy over here for cryptic cyber reasons unknown to me beyond distance.
Posted by: Pyramid Power | 03/12/2011 at 06:21 PM
Sorry. Meant to write Bukowskian-like bender as in Charles.
I believe 7:30 a.m. is a good time to start my drinking day isn't it? Yes, I do. Wife still sleeping, grabs bottle of Korean soju and starts quaffing.
Cheers to all!
GO LEAFS GO! GO LEAFS GO! GO LEAFS GO! GO LEAFS GO!
Positive energy everyone. We will win! We must win! The hockey gods have decreed it. Let this blog WILL these magnificent bastards to VICTORY!
GO LEAFS GO! GO LEAFS GO! GO LEAFS GO! GO LEAFS GO! GO LEAFS GO! GO LEAFS GO! GO LEAFS GO! GO LEAFS GO!
Posted by: Pyramid Power | 03/12/2011 at 06:28 PM
I just heard that Ron and Don are performing Anne of Green Gables tonight.
VM Replies: Oh, man. If there's another sketch of any kind, there will be a cloud hanging over this blog.
Posted by: TimB | 03/12/2011 at 06:30 PM
GO LEAFS GO! GO LEAFS GO! GO LEAFS GO! GO LEAFS GO! GO LEAFS GO! GO LEAFS GO! GO LEAFS GO! GO LEAFS GO!GO LEAFS GO!
Posted by: TimB | 03/12/2011 at 06:39 PM
Korean Soju . "The Breakfast of Champions"
Posted by: TimB | 03/12/2011 at 06:47 PM
I am sure The Don is going to pay FULL attention to the Chara hit, and perhaps some attention to the Komisarek hit. I am betting he devotes the entire CC segment to Chara though. And will see nothing wrong with the hit.
Hope the Molson's and the staff at the Bell Centre have learned and put up foam on their posts or stanchions or whatever you wanna call them. Leafs have six inches of foam on theirs. Ooohhhhhhhh. Ugh. That sounded like something out of 'Californication', Hank Moody and Charlie Runkle etc..... Yikes!
Posted by: Pyramid Power | 03/12/2011 at 06:52 PM
Who are the Leafs honouring tonight, past players who almost came to Toronto by way of trade but instead opted to collect an old age pension cheque?
Posted by: hoofheartz | 03/12/2011 at 07:00 PM
Breakfast of Champions indeed TimB indeed although I don't think my wife will be seeing me as a champ when she tumbles on outta bed soon enough to my utter chagrin.
Waiting for games so hard to do. Fave moment of Shawshank was when the warden discovered Andy had escaped, and ripped off the poster of Marilyn Monroe in Andy's cell. The look was to die for man.
One of my fave films of all-time and the fact it was loosely based on facts made it all the better. It was loosely based on facts right? Korean soju getting to me already.
Posted by: Pyramid Power | 03/12/2011 at 07:00 PM
Ladies and Gentlemen, game time. Hopefully if all goes well I'll be back at the 1st intermission to vent and/or gloat.
Posted by: hoofheartz | 03/12/2011 at 07:01 PM
Good luck tonight Leafs fans.
From the previous thread...
@ Alecia - no one knew it was you until you blew your cover!
@ Princess - no, I am not a Montrealer, though I love the city and try to get there a few times each year. There is some hope I might score front row seats to a game later this month....
Posted by: Geoff Read | 03/12/2011 at 07:02 PM
Mmmmm, soju. I love soju.
Let's DO this. GO LEAFS GO!!
Posted by: Boo Who? | 03/12/2011 at 07:07 PM
@VM, good call on the Asia song lyrics. That record (yes, the vinyl) is somewhere in the collection from the 80s at my mom's house.
Hopefully, unlike Heat of the Moment when they "found themselves in '82," the Leafs don't revert back to that season's team tonight...
Posted by: 80s Leafs | 03/12/2011 at 07:12 PM
Great job on the anthems. Great intro by Friedman and the gang.
GO LEAFS GO! GO LEAFS GO! GO LEAFS GO! Early goals will be happily accepted - by Toronto.
Posted by: Pyramid Power | 03/12/2011 at 07:17 PM
Saw Phil Kessel pseudo-mouthing the words to Oh Canada. Huge sign. Game's in the bag!
Posted by: moe green | 03/12/2011 at 07:17 PM
Lebda does NOT clear the puck. Komisarek does NOT clear his man. Goal.
Get rid of those two pukes Burkie. They make me freakin' SICK! SICK!
Unfreakinbelievable.
Posted by: Pyramid Power | 03/12/2011 at 07:22 PM
Great job screening your own goalie Komisarek you freakin' piece of human rubbish.
Am still furious. We are paying this piece of trash $4.5 MILL a year for two or three MORE years. Bury him in Ricoh Burkie! And he has a NTC! JFC!
Wow! What a bum!
Posted by: Pyramid Power | 03/12/2011 at 07:24 PM
Lebda and Komisarek paired together. Tim Brent on the PP blueline. Awful. Just awful.
Beam in Captain Kirk Muller as coach Burkie. Horrible pass by Kessel, should have shot. Blew that PP chance. We look flat and wretched so far.
So much for positive energy. Dammit!
Posted by: Pyramid Power | 03/12/2011 at 07:28 PM
came out flat and now in the hole, legs look a litle better sinc the goal and 2 chances on the PP caused by guys in front, need more though, saw Grabo watching 2 loose pucks that he had a chance at if he skated, what is he waiting for?
Posted by: Simmer | 03/12/2011 at 07:29 PM
We so richly deserve a Pegula, Balsillie or anyone willing to open their wallets and commit their souls to a winning organization.
Happy for Sabres fans getting a decent owner, nay, not a decent owner but a committed passionate owner. Good for them. They deserve it.
Posted by: Pyramid Power | 03/12/2011 at 07:32 PM
I am not a professional hockey coach, but shouldn't we have some sort of practiced system in our own end?
Posted by: moe green | 03/12/2011 at 07:32 PM
Flatter than a freakin' pancake or, hmmmmmmmmm, stepped on waffle to start this. Glad the HNIC crew not sugaring this in any way. Normally loathe Hughson but he is calling this game properly. We look like steaming dog feces so far.
Posted by: Pyramid Power | 03/12/2011 at 07:35 PM
Just try, for Gawd's sake. Earn your money!
Posted by: johnnyk | 03/12/2011 at 07:36 PM
Everybody chillax! All is not yet lost! This is all just a ruse to lull the Sabres into a false sense of security.
BTW, Healy is reading your blog Vinay. He just noted that we've lost 7 straight Saturday games. HEY HEALY - YOU SUCK! WHY DON'T YOU #(*&#*( A BIG #*(&^#$!& AND CHOKE ON A @(*&#@*!???
Posted by: Boo Who? | 03/12/2011 at 07:37 PM
Annnnnd Supes just scored. WoooooooOOOOoooooo!!! *sways drunkenly*
Posted by: Boo Who? | 03/12/2011 at 07:38 PM
Merely looking at 23 and 8 - Lebda and Komisarek makes me want to projectile vomit. Seeing them play makes me want to commit seppuku!
Get it going guys!
YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES!
MACARTHUR! 20TH OF THE YEAR. AWESOME!
GO LEAFS GO GO LEAFS GO GO LEAFS GO GO LEAFS GO!
GREAT JOB BY GRABBO!
Posted by: Pyramid Power | 03/12/2011 at 07:38 PM
Lebda and Komisarek inexplicably getting LOTS of ice time. Another near miss with those two clowns on the ice.
Get it together you two dirtbags!
VM Replies: Isn't it like 8:43 a.m. in Shanghai right now? So early to be this worked up... is your wife barricaded in another room with cotton swabs in her ears?
Posted by: Pyramid Power | 03/12/2011 at 07:41 PM
Watch the Leaf players without the puck on the PP. They are standing still. Especially in front of th net. You gotta keep shifting on the D. Be shifty Leafs.
Posted by: moe green | 03/12/2011 at 07:44 PM
Yeah, I get the feeling Healy loathes the Leafs for various reasons Boo. He is bitter towards the organization for reasons I have heard about but am not sure about.
One would think so eh Moe? One would think so!
Posted by: Pyramid Power | 03/12/2011 at 07:46 PM
dump, chase, forecheck and cycle would be effective against this 2 dman holding the line for buf
Posted by: Simmer | 03/12/2011 at 07:50 PM
Nice hits by Rosey and Phanoof. Keep hitting guys.
And play harder! Not seeing the energy I would like at all.
Posted by: Pyramid Power | 03/12/2011 at 07:50 PM
No worries! I'm liking Phaneuf tonight.1-0 Jackets. I sneak over to Fox Sports Carolina once and awhile.What the hell is that logo on the Hurricanes jersey???
Posted by: TimB | 03/12/2011 at 07:55 PM
Evening all.
I have to say I really enjoyed the opening tonight - The Lowest of the Low are a personal fave of mine and it was nice to hear them. I might have chosen a different song, though - like "Bleed a Little While Tonight", for example.
Seeing Kessel mouthing "O Canada" was a shocker. I'm still in a bit of denial that I actually saw it. May have to check the tapes later.
But then the game started and it was time to snap back to reality. Stan Lebda and Ollie Komisarek are paired together AGAIN tonight. Of COURSE their first shift opened the scoring for the Sabres. I think this is the worst pairing since Aki Berg and Jyrki Lumme. Ok, that's not fair. These guys are way worse. I used to think Wrong Wilson was just a bad coach but now I am starting to seriously doubt whether he should be allowed to possess a driver's licence. Here's a thought: the Leafs are currently carrying three goalies for reasons known only to them.
I think it may be time to see if the Monster can play a little D.
Posted by: Wandering Penguin | 03/12/2011 at 07:58 PM
@ PP - Healy just really grinds my gears. I am beginning to think he might be the powerful warlock that has cursed our Saturday outings.
I am not impressed. You would be well advised to quit this practice immediately, sir. Otherwise, it's yo azz.
Posted by: Boo Who? | 03/12/2011 at 07:58 PM
Kessel was absolutely singing along to our anthem. I know this because it's not often he makes my ice-cold heart melt. (Still recovering from the shock of feeling kindly toward someone.)
Posted by: Boo Who? | 03/12/2011 at 08:10 PM
Berg and Lumme. Nice WPenguin, nice.
Yeah, Healy infuriates me all too often too Boo. Ridiculous. He hates the Leafs and speculation was that he was pissed off about not getting a job around the time JFJ was running us into the ground. More to it than that but I forget and I know not if that chatter was substantiated in any way. I THINK he applied for some kind of admin job around that time, but didn't get the job. Would have to check.
The Don telling it like it is to Canadiens fans and hockey fans. Brutal montage but needed to be shown so poontang Habs fans can shut the freak up. Raising such a ruckus, makes one really lose any respect one ever had for the Canadiens faithful and their poobahs.
Wife blissfully crashed Vinay. I take it all out on this blog silently. Except for furiously pounding fingers on my keyboard. Worked up? Oh yeah! This IS the season tonight or.....this morning.
GO LEAFS GO!
Posted by: Pyramid Power | 03/12/2011 at 08:11 PM
Kool just missing. Jimmy with a big slapshot breakaway save on Vanek.
Time to get positive here again.
Let's get one lads!
GO LEAFS GO!
Posted by: Pyramid Power | 03/12/2011 at 08:22 PM
Holy crap!! I was just about to rip on poor Bozie and then he redeemed himself!
VM Replies: I know. I went from a facepalm to a, "Whaaa?" in record time.
Posted by: Boo Who? | 03/12/2011 at 08:30 PM
GOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAAAAALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL!
BOZAK! MISSED ON THE BREAKAWAY BUT MADE UP FOR IT. WHAT A PASS BY PHANOOF TO SPRING HIM FOR THE MISSED BREAKAWAY.
BEAUTIFUL. POUR IT ON NOW GUYS.
GO LEAFS GO! GO LEAFS GO! GO LEAFS GO!
Posted by: Pyramid Power | 03/12/2011 at 08:32 PM
"Feeling kindly" towards someone is not a sign of weakness Boo. Acting on that feeling is.
Posted by: moe green | 03/12/2011 at 08:33 PM
Ooooooh yeah Healy...you like that huh? You like it when Buffalo scores? Because I can hear you practically frothing at the mouth as you describe the perfection of their play. SHUT UP.
Posted by: Boo Who? | 03/12/2011 at 08:36 PM
How did Lupul miss that?
Posted by: moe green | 03/12/2011 at 08:48 PM
A Kessel or Lupul sighting before the end of this period would be nice.
Posted by: Pyramid Power | 03/12/2011 at 08:49 PM
Ah Schenn, the perfect screen! Seems to me Hossa used him as a screen last time.
Common, folks. We can do much better.
Posted by: Robert | 03/12/2011 at 08:52 PM
Kessel spotted at the very end of the period. Almost sneak one in.
Scoring four goals on Ryan Miller and winning this game? Think I will drink harder beginning........now.
Posted by: Pyramid Power | 03/12/2011 at 08:53 PM
I can't explain it but I am not looking forward to the third. I mean of course we can win this but this team is missing a direction. They seem so haphazard in their approach. Like they don't know what they should be doing. I do not have confidence in this team anymore. The defense is weak. Goaltending as average - which is a huge upgrade. Forwards look lost particularly on the PP. Forwards play hardish more or less most of the time. Brent on the PP? Really? Juggling lines for a few periods for no real reason. I dunno. Go lea...
Posted by: moe green | 03/12/2011 at 08:54 PM
Wow. You can really get an understanding of how truly horrid Wrong Wilson is as a coach when someone as mindblowingly stupid as Glenn Healy can point out a bad, bad decision he has just made and everyone else on the CBC crew has absolutely no rebuttal - they just sat there in stunned silence.
In other news, to paraphrase Casey Stengel: "Can't anyone here ref this game?" Now, I have never in my life been known to be friendly towards the zebras, but I have to say I have never seen NHL officiating in such a sorry state of affairs as it is right now. In my opinion, the worst officating of any major professional league, hands down. Leafs are full merit for being behind in this game, but that doesn't make it right for the refs to get in for free.
Posted by: Wandering Penguin | 03/12/2011 at 08:54 PM
C'mon the B Jackets are doing it for us.
GO LEAFS GO! GO LEAFS GO! GO LEAFS GO!
Posted by: TimB | 03/12/2011 at 08:55 PM
OTPP is selling their shares? God help us all if Robbers gets it. We'll never see a 'free' Leafs game again.
Posted by: Boo Who? | 03/12/2011 at 08:57 PM
@Wandering Penguin: I agree about the officiating. I have been saying the same for eyars. It is regularly deciding games. Something has to change.
Posted by: moe green | 03/12/2011 at 09:01 PM
Couldn't agree more, moe. I think I've already made it clear how much I dislike Wrong Wilson as a "coach", but there's more afoot here. For one thing, how can you spend the better part of THREE seasons "building from the net out" and be left with Stan Lebda and Oliver Komisarek as your 5th and 6th D in a "playoff run"? How is possible, when we got a 7th-rounder for Mitchell, that there was NOBODY available at the deadline for any money or picks that we could have picked up to move ahead of Lebda?
"Direction" indeed.
Posted by: Wandering Penguin | 03/12/2011 at 09:02 PM
@ moe - It always makes me sad to hear MacArthur talk about the 'systems' Buffalo has in place, with a wistful gleam in his eye. Notice he never talks about the 'systems' the Leafs have, and he knows both teams.
Posted by: Boo Who? | 03/12/2011 at 09:05 PM
A 5-3 win for the Leafs (including an empty netter) is what is floating around in my head. I know it's overly optimistic and highly unlikely but they have to break this bad streaks of saturday nights at the ACC so why the hell not tonight.
Maybe it will not be called the ACC for so long if the execs at Air Canada follow through on their threat to pull sponsorship. They can't pull league-wide sponsorship and not pull their names from the ACC if they truly are doing this for the 'right' reasons.
Someone mentioned the poor reffing and in a weird way, the missed call on the brent high stick actually helped cause the leafs scored on the shift. But they missed the guy dry humping Lupul's stick right in front of the one ref and call the Grabo (deserved) high stick a few seconds later.
Alright Leafs Fans, gather around, hands in and "LEAFS" on 3. Let's tie it up in the first 2 minutes.
Posted by: TG77 | 03/12/2011 at 09:07 PM
I have the Hives cued up here for late in the third period if necessary. I really hope I can put them away for a little longer. But just in case...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TqkJ30Kh7ZM
Weird how much that video looks like a bunch of Grabbos running around the feet of a couple of Tyler Myerses.
Posted by: Wandering Penguin | 03/12/2011 at 09:08 PM
40% more hits since the lockout? Wow! GM's and the league have a lot of work to do to improve player safety.
I've always liked the idea of bigger European ice surfaces, but as the panel on HNIC just noted, that isn't going to happen anytime soon.
"Haphazard play....". Yup Moe, perfect description. There is no cohesion happening at all. Nothing, not even on the PP. I too abhor the thought of watching this third. I feel nothing but sad and bad regarding our chances to pull this one out.
That said:
GO LEAFS GO!
Posted by: Pyramid Power | 03/12/2011 at 09:08 PM
I want Wilson's head, Burke's attention and Ted Nolan's phone number!
Posted by: Simmer | 03/12/2011 at 09:10 PM
Kessel has to be more creative than that to be dangerous.
Posted by: moe green | 03/12/2011 at 09:11 PM
That was all Grabovski!
Posted by: moe green | 03/12/2011 at 09:13 PM
Phaneuf is much better at passing and setting up plays than he is at shooting. Look at him getting his 'Kaberle' on! You go, Dion!!
Posted by: Boo Who? | 03/12/2011 at 09:15 PM
Forwards need to be hitting the blue line at full speed on the dump in. Why don't they see this?
Posted by: moe green | 03/12/2011 at 09:15 PM
GOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAALLLLLLLLL!
Beautiful passes by Phaneuf and Gunner to set up Grabbo for his 27th. Your turn Philthy! Grabbo is now tied with you for the team lead in goals scored. Go get one. Make us proud.
GO LEAFS GO! GO LEAFS GO! GO LEAFS GO!
Shut the door Jimmy.
VM Replies: I know you're on a slight delay over there on the other side of the world. Count to five and then watch your prediction come true.
Posted by: Pyramid Power | 03/12/2011 at 09:16 PM
Have I mentioned how good I feel about this team. Like a well-oiled machine.
Posted by: moe green | 03/12/2011 at 09:18 PM
GOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAL!
YES YES YES YES YES YES!
PHILTHY DOES US PROUD INDEED!
LEAFS FANS RIGHT INTO IT NOW. AWESOME!
GO LEAFS GO! GO LEAFS GO! GO LEAFS GO!
Posted by: Pyramid Power | 03/12/2011 at 09:19 PM
Oh boy...deja vu is back. What does this mean?? Glitch in the Matrix! Seal the deal boys!!
Posted by: Boo Who? | 03/12/2011 at 09:20 PM
It occurs to me that if Phil Kessel could EVER learn to go TO the net instead of past it all the time he would easily score 60 goals a year. On the shift before his goal, he waved feebly at a cross-crease pass from Bozak because he was turning away from the net. On the very next shift, as he was shooting, Lupul ground to a halt right beside the far post looking for a tip, a tap-in or a juicy rebound. I think that may well have hit him on the way in, too.
Hell of a shot, though.
Posted by: Wandering Penguin | 03/12/2011 at 09:21 PM
Nice call PP! Now let's put this one away!
Posted by: moe green | 03/12/2011 at 09:22 PM
lol Great stuff Vinay, Moe and TG77 and of course Boo.
Close this out in reg. time please guys. Off to the PP we go. Nasty high stick by Myers on Lupul.
We look to you now Kool or anyone to make TG's prediction come true. I am indeed on a delayed feed so I say we score an empty netter, Phanoof, and win this 5-3.
GO LEAFS GO!
Posted by: Pyramid Power | 03/12/2011 at 09:25 PM
GREAT save by Jimmy! Phew!
Jackets still winning 2-1 late over Maurice and the Hurricanes. Hold on Ricky Nash and Columbus!
Hold on Toronto! Please!
Posted by: Pyramid Power | 03/12/2011 at 09:29 PM
Hurricanes lose 3-2 final in reg. time. Excellent.
The amazing Devils won in OT over the Isles. Guess that Lemaire guy can coach a little eh?
Banking on the Sharks taking care of the Rangers in reg. time tonight at The Tank.
Now let's take care of our business and get 'er done in reg. time.
Hold on you magnificent bastards, hold on. Do it Jimmy, do it.
LEAFS!
Posted by: Pyramid Power | 03/12/2011 at 09:36 PM
OH MY FREAKIN' LORD!!! CAN WE DO IT???????
Posted by: tml67 | 03/12/2011 at 09:39 PM
This game has made me so dizzy.
Posted by: Vinay Menon | 03/12/2011 at 09:40 PM
Woooooooooo! Woooooooooooooooooooooo!
VM Replies: Your faith was resolute, from the pregame to the final buzzer.
Posted by: TimB | 03/12/2011 at 09:41 PM
Okay, not very manly I know but I actually shed a tear.
Posted by: moe green | 03/12/2011 at 09:42 PM
WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!
Posted by: Boo Who? | 03/12/2011 at 09:42 PM
Awwww Moesy-woesy. Man tears are always welcome at sporting events.
Posted by: Boo Who? | 03/12/2011 at 09:44 PM
Sweet sweet sweet victory. Awesome! Reimer with 39 saves. Beautiful. Thought I would have a coronary when Lupul missed the empty net.
Great win. We live to fight another day. Go Sharks Go, beat the Rangers in reg. time!
Posted by: Pyramid Power | 03/12/2011 at 09:44 PM
Easy there Boo, we need you in game-shape for next game... no wild night tonight, okay???
Posted by: tml67 | 03/12/2011 at 09:45 PM
Man,that was draining!
VM Replies: Not a word of a lie: I am curled up on the floor.
Posted by: TimB | 03/12/2011 at 09:45 PM
Goodnight my darling Leafers. Hope lives on!!
BTW we owe our lucky charm Alecia a big thank you, because she was at this game. Thank you for being awesome Alecia dear.
VM Replies: Goodnight, Ms. Boo. Get better. Rest up for Monday.
Posted by: Boo Who? | 03/12/2011 at 09:46 PM
I hope my dog gets as fat as a hog eating up the lemon squares.
Posted by: TimB | 03/12/2011 at 09:46 PM