NHL Season is here!!!!

[rick@garage16.ca]

YUP!!! Today is day 1 of the NHL season


Any Hockey fans here?

Who will be watching todays Leafs vs Habs game?

[BoostieMonster]

Bruins bruins bruins!!!!!!!! Cup champs!!!

[rick@garage16.ca]

Bruins bruins bruins!!!!!!!! Cup champs!!!

Did you mean FLAMES? :flaming:flaming:flaming

[Zoom Zoom Boy]

Huge Hockey fan here. I'll definintely be watching the Buds and Habs tonight. Should be a great game.

[Zoom Zoom Boy]

A couple of vids to get pumped up.

My favorite Leaf and 2nd favorite player of all time. Man, wouldn't it be nice to have him in his prime playing for the Leafs now under Burkie's leadership...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_7XgYSoK1go

Next, the best player of all time. Period.
Some people now, are in awe of some of the moves Ovechkin, Crosby, Malkin etc. al, make in a few games each season. This player made those types of moves in almost every game he played, several times over.

I am luckily old enough to have been able to see him at the tail end of his career and even on one leg and then playing for Chicago, he was still miles better than any other player in the league on the few occasions he could play through the pain. I have also met the man on two occasions and he is shy, humble and classy beyond reproach. Your star shone brightly Bobby, but simply not long enough.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MSDw3tMa7ec

[STeeLy]

Definitely be catching a few games! I have NHL CI.. oh boy that'll be fun!

[thanu31]

Im not confident with Toskala,
I hope The monster will take over soon.

[Karen Lee-McNair]

if anyone is selling tickets, please PM me

[RBoy8]

Can't wait! WOOOOO!

I have a lab that ends at 6 today though so I probably won't make it home for at least half of 1st period! :flaming but oh well.

GO LEAFS GO! I wish the Monster was starting today.

[Zoom Zoom Boy]

So, a silly question for Mr. Gainey... Did you even watch your band of uninspired midgets play the Boston Bruins in last years first round? You lost badly in 4 straight games because your team was too small, too one dimensional and essentially got man-handled and pushed around the ice all night long. It was a truly pathetic display to watch.

Did you watch the Stanley Cup final by chance Mr. Gainey? Pittsburgh did much the same thing to the Wings, that Boston did to your team and the Wings are certainly not the same calibre as the Habs and I don't mean that in a kind way...

Bob, unless you have a calibre of team like the Red Wings, who BTW, still are a much bigger, meaner and far more talented team than yours, you don't win in the playoff's. End of story.

The Leafs may not beat the Habs tonight and they may not even make the playoffs this year, but the direction they are taking at least makes sense. This is how you build a team properly Mr. Gainey. I mean damn, even the old Hab dynasties were tough to play against and could beat you with skill and/or pummel you into the ground.

To think I used to respect Bob Gainey a lot, even if he was a Hab. And by the way Bob, nice choice of coach in Jacques Martin. If ever there was a less appropriate coach to play the style of hockey you want, you certainly picked him in the emotionless and insipid Jacques Martin. It is going to be a long tough year in Habland.


HABS OPT FOR SKILL, SPEED
TheStar.com | Hockey | Gainey, Martin question Leafs' physical approach

Gainey, Martin question Leafs' physical approach


Damien Cox power rankings Off-season moves Eastern Conference preview Western Conference preview Damien Cox blog Oct 01, 2009 04:30 AM
Mark Zwolinski
Sports Reporter

The Leafs' makeover under GM Brian Burke may trumpet toughness as its main selling point for now, but that tact is questionable in the new, free-flowing NHL, believes Canadiens GM Bob Gainey.

"It's a little out of character as to where the NHL is going," Gainey said Wednesday as he addressed a host of issues while his club packed up from a three-day retreat in the Caledon Hills and headed for the season opener with the Leafs in Toronto on Thursday night.

Gainey was responding to questions about the intimidation factor in Leafland and not trying to ignite a war of words with the Habs' long-standing rivals, but he clearly differs in opinion on the Leafs' approach.

Gainey said the Canadiens' style will adhere to new head coach Jacques Martin's philosophy, which is based on puck possession, speed, creativity and unison between all five skaters on the ice.

"We'll be trying to maximize our strength, we'll be trying to maximize our mental toughness and our physical toughness," said Gainey. "We've got six games with (Toronto) and they will be important. (Toronto) will do what they have to do to win games."

Martin echoed Gainey's thoughts on Toronto's belligerent attitude, but wondered if the degree of nastiness the Leafs displayed in the pre-season would continue once games begin to count.

"They have a new (defence) and a physical presence there, but you look at the first three lines, they don't have any fighters there," Martin said. "Every team has to be physical, and some are more physical than others.

"But you look at Detroit and Pittsburgh ... they went to the Cup final (on skill, not fighting). That's the goal, to win the prize."

While the Canadiens have undergone an extensive makeover, and perhaps because of that, Gainey and Martin said the storied franchise will start the season captainless for the first time in its history.

Three players will share "alternate" status, defenceman Hal Gill and forward Brian Gionta, and all-star defenceman Andrei Markov.

"I think it's a great decision, there's so many new faces here and we need time to get to know everyone and get used to each other," said Gionta.

"We're a young team as far as coming together, we have a long way to go as far as finding out leadership roles," said ex-Leaf Gill. "We have a lot of leaders in our room and to pick one at this time would be a disservice to the team."

In other developments, Gainey said Sergei Kostitsyn had been suspended after the disgruntled forward refused to report to the AHL's Hamilton Bulldogs. Kostitsyn was told to leave the team Monday night after management encountered problems with his conditioning and attitude during camp, and reports surfaced about off-ice behavioural issues.

"He'd like to be moved to another team, but that isn't something that is imminent," said Gainey.

[emcdonnell]

Hockey= Happy

[cwp_sedan]

Go Leafs Go!

:)

[Go_Habs_Go]

Wow, some real venom against Gainey and the Habs!! :chuckle

You gotta admit, Leafs didn't exactly add size with Kessel/Grabovski either. Don't those players resemble Cammaleri and Gionta in size? Younger yes, but not necessarily tougher or more skilled. I like the additions the Habs made with Moen, Mara and Gill, I think they will add the necessary toughness that may be lacking on the front line. Despite that, I do have some reservations as to how the smaller players will fare over an 80 game season. Time will tell if it was the right move or not...

The real story for the Habs will be in nets, I'm anxious to see how Price responds after last season. Interesting that this may be the main storyline for the Leafs too. What will happen with Toskala? Will the 'monster' step up and take over?

Let the games begin! :)

[SirWanker]

Why are some russian/belarussian(sp) players such whiney malcontents aka DIVAS.????

Example #1 : SERGEI KOSTITSYN - suspended by the Habs after refusing to report the AHL. ( http://tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=293177 )

Example #2: Ilya Zubov - requesting for a trade after being demoted to the AHL (http://tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=293244)

[Go_Habs_Go]

Why are some russian/belarussian(sp) players such whiney malcontents aka DIVAS.????

Example #1 : SERGEI KOSTITSYN - suspended by the Habs after refusing to report the AHL. ( http://tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=293177 )

Example #2: Ilya Zubov - requesting for a trade after being demoted to the AHL (http://tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=293244)

It's strange how there is such a range in attitude, you have players like Ovechkin, Malkin, Markov, Datsyuk, etc that are pure superstars in both skill, class and attitude, then you get some real stinkers like Sergei Kostitsyn or Yashin with piss-poor attitudes.

Mind you, you can find similar examples in North American players (i.e. Dany Heatley and Sean Avery to name a few!).

[RedRaptor]

Why do some of you think the Monster should be starting the season after playing three periods in NHL exhibition games?

Insane.

[RBoy8]

Why do some of you think the Monster should be starting the season after playing three periods in NHL exhibition games?

Insane.
Because we're tired of seeing Tosks letting in goals all the time. lol

[Zoom Zoom Boy]

Wow, some real venom against Gainey and the Habs!! :chuckle

You gotta admit, Leafs didn't exactly add size with Kessel/Grabovski either. Don't those players resemble Cammaleri and Gionta in size? Younger yes, but not necessarily tougher or more skilled. I like the additions the Habs made with Moen, Mara and Gill, I think they will add the necessary toughness that may be lacking on the front line. Despite that, I do have some reservations as to how the smaller players will fare over an 80 game season. Time will tell if it was the right move or not...

The real story for the Habs will be in nets, I'm anxious to see how Price responds after last season. Interesting that this may be the main storyline for the Leafs too. What will happen with Toskala? Will the 'monster' step up and take over?

Let the games begin! :)

Gainey speaking out about the Leafs and how Burke is building his team really irritated me. He should be more concerned about his own team. It was also very un-Gaineyesque to do so. Same with the way he rebuilt the team and handled the firing of Carbonneau and some others. Maybe the stress is getting to him, but I always admired Gainey, kind of like I admire Jean Bealiveau for being such a class act. Of late, Gainey has been proving himself otherwise. It is weird... I also think hiring Jacques Martin was ludicrous. Has Gainey not seen this guy coach the teams in Ottawa and Florida??

As for Grabovski and Kessel, they are two skill players and sure, they're not big guys, but they're not Gionta sized either. :chuckle Besides, Grabsovski at least, has a lot of heart and jam for a little guy. I'll give him credit for it. Kessel I can forgive if he regularly pops in 40 to 50 goals a season.

Besides, having a few small skill players on your team is fine if the core and nucleus of the team isn't all essentially like that. The rest of the Leaf team is rather large and getting bigger, faster and more skilled. Their defence core is simply nasty. This in turn will give a lot more room to players like Kessel and Grabovski.

By comparison, both of the 2 top lines for the Habs are highly skilled, no doubt, but way too small and lack any discernable physicality. Gomez, Gionta, Cammalerri, A. Kotstitsyn, Plekanec and Matt D'Agostini are never going to strike much worry and fear into the hearts of their opponents...unless they are always on the powerplay. Only one player listed is 6ft tall and 200lbs and that is D'Agostini. This isn't 1955 anymore when the average size of players was like 5 ft. 9".

Here is a question. You are going into a playoff battle. Would you prefer a top line of Gomez, Gionta and Cammaleri or would you prefer a top line of Ryan Getzlaf, Corey Perry and Bobby Ryan? Who do you think is tougher to play defence against? Unfortunately, the Leafs don't have a line like the latter, yet...but I'm sure you see the point I'm trying to make.

The Habs may well do okay in the regular season as they seem to be built for that type of less intense hockey, but this team has zero chance of going anywhere once the real hockey starts in spring. Zero. I will eat my MS3 if they make the playoffs and manage to make it out of the 1st round. :chuckle

P.S.- You haven't seen enough of Hal Gill yet. Never has one so big, played so small. He is not a physically imposing or tough defenceman. He has great reach, is good on the penalty kill, but plays a meek game for a guy his size. Chara he is not. Think a slightly meaner and much slower skating Cory Cross. Nuff said.


Why do some of you think the Monster should be starting the season after playing three periods in NHL exhibition games?

Insane.

Cause Leaf fans are passionately silly sometimes (just like Hab fans) and always pick their hero or goat of the week. I agree, this guy hasn't proven anything yet, but, he does look like a good one so far. :) Toskala deserves to start.


Because we're tired of seeing Tosks letting in goals all the time. lol

C'mon...give Tosks this season to prove himself. If he falters, than he deserves all the jeers Leaf Nation will throw down on him. Keep in mind this guy was very good for a very bad team when the Leafs first traded for him and last year he was badly injured and trying to play through it. He was sensational and stealing them wins for the 10 or 12 games prior to the Leafs shutting him down.

This year, he has no excuse whatsoever. He has a top tier defence in front of him and he is healthy and also has competition pushing him along. If he doesn't do well, I will be very surprised. In any case, let's not run him out of town just yet on the first bad goal or game.


Fark, can't wait for 7pm.

Beer in the fridge, check.
Leafs jersey and Leaf pants. Check.
Leaf hat. Check.
Leafs on HD. Check.
Wife out of the house. Check.
Habs suck. Check.

All ready to go. :)

[emcdonnell]

I'm glad that there is someone breathing down Toskala's neck. On the other hand Monster has'nt proven that he is an NHL caliber goalie yet. He has only seen pre season ice time and has yet to play a full game. Hopefully a beefed up blue line will help give the goalies some breathing room this year. It would be nice to be in the play offs again.

[Go_Habs_Go]

some good points ZZB.

I was definitely surprised to see Gainey comment on the Leafs but he's taken so much heat for his changes this summer I guess he felt compelled to defend what he did as compared to other GM's (i.e. Burke). Can't say more than that as I didn't see the interview where Gainey's comments were taken from. Was he asked directly about it or did he just bring it up on his own?

In any case, Burke has never shied away from talking about other GM's, remember his feud with Kevin Lowe when the Oilers signed Penner! It was ON between those two LOL! I hope this doesn't start a Burke-Gainey feud now! I certainly have no problems with how Burke is building his team, the question is will he be able to get the talent and skill players to complement the toughness. Adding Kessel is a start but he also gave up some draft choices, so he may have to go through free agency in order to get those players in the near future. That's not always easy in today's market (i.e. ridiculous long term contracts).

I can see your points about Gill but I don't see Gill as a top 4 for Montreal. He's a 5-6-7 guy who will sometimes rotate with Ryan O'byrne. Hopefully he will stick up for his teammates when he has too. And speaking of overhyped defenceman, don't forget that Komisarek got absolutely humiliated by Milan Lucic last year and was not even close to being the same player after that. He should bounce back this year but the expectations may be higher than what he can deliver...

I would still take him back on my team though! :)

Good luck to your leafs this season and may the best team win tonite!

[jaimie08mazda3]

GO LEAFS GO... THEY WILL WIN SORRY GO HABS GO YOU WILL LOOOOOOOOOSE and you will cry and i will win.. plus the leafs pre-season record was incredible... best theyve done in a lonng time for pre season. im excited!

[Zoom Zoom Boy]

GHG,

Not sure if Gainey brought it up on his own or not. Obviously he was interviewed and felt compelled to say what he did. Who knows the scenario I suppose.

Yah, Burke can make you cringe at times with his boisterous personality, but that is him and you will always know where you stand. Gainey has always been a very 'close to the chest' kind of guy. Never really one for speaking out about anything like this. If anything, he just gave the Leafs team a whole lotta motivation going into tonight's game...

With the trade for Kessel, Burke's logic is that he has V. Stalberg, Bozak, Hanson and what appears to be a very impressive Kadri close to being ready, or ready now, to play at the NHL level. He gave up nothing to get these players and believes they will be part of the foundation moving forward. Therefore, the price was steep to get a guy (Kessel) that Burke thinks will be an elite scorer. Time will tell on that one and the price was indeed steep...Anything less than consistent 40+ goal seasons are going to be talked about a lot in the Toronto media and their fans...

Dude, I don't know too many players that weren't humiliated by Lucic last year and I know even fewer that won't be in the future. Will be fun to see Komisarek and Lucic go at it this year. I don't envy anyone going up against Lucic. That guy is pure cro magnon.

Good luck tonight. Honest. Okay, maybe not so much... :chuckle

[jaimie08mazda3]

i already PM'd him what i thought ;)

[Go_Habs_Go]

Dude, I don't know too many players that weren't humiliated by Lucic last year and I know even fewer that won't be in the future. Will be fun to see Komisarek and Lucic go at it this year. I don't envy anyone going up against Lucic. That guy is pure cro magnon.


AHAHAHAH that made me laugh out loud!! That's a good point though. Think Lucic will make Team Canada for the Olympics? Might be the x-factor the team needs.




Good luck tonight. Honest. Okay, maybe not so much... :chuckle

LOL! Thanks ZZB! Hey, my best friend is a leafs fan (originally from Missasauga but moved to Montreal years ago) so I've learned to mellow out over the leafs and respect Montreal's sworn enemy. Best rivalry in sports! :)

[jaimie08mazda3]

in the end... habs lose leafs win!

[Go_Habs_Go]

in the end... habs lose leafs win!

only on NHL2K10 on PS3... :chuckle

[Zoom Zoom Boy]

AHAHAHAH that made me laugh out loud!! That's a good point though. Think Lucic will make Team Canada for the Olympics? Might be the x-factor the team needs.



LOL! Thanks ZZB! Hey, my best friend is a leafs fan (originally from Missasauga but moved to Montreal years ago) so I've learned to mellow out over the leafs and respect Montreal's sworn enemy. Best rivalry in sports! :)

I doubt Lucic will make it. Maybe they take him as an extra forward and/or to match up against the U.S. Now, if he starts the season on pace to score 30-40 goals, then yah, I think he has a better than average chance. This is a very deep team when there is talk that Thornton and LeCavlier may not even make the cut.. Some of my good friends are Hab fans too. Also, half of the team that reports to me at work, is actually located in our Montreal office, so there is always a bit of good natured back and forth. Absolutely the best rivalry. Have fun tonight.

[thanu31]

Dam leafs are pathetic....im tired of watching them -_-
at least it was fun last year when they would fight back.
And i dont know why they got rid of Domonic Moore...

[RBoy8]

And i dont know why they got rid of Domonic Moore...
He wanted too much money.

I sure as hell hope they play MacDonald against the Avs. I'm tired of seeing Toskala let in soft goals. It always kills the momentum the Leafs have.

[thanu31]

yea i forgot about that, but still... he was a good hard player

im interstd to see whats going to happen when they lose to the avs

[laksman91]

good to see last year's rebuilding phase was successful for the leafs.

[cwp_sedan]

WOO HOO! 5-2 right now for the LEAFS! Win #1 is in our sights!

[Zoom Zoom Boy]

WOO HOO! 5-2 right now for the LEAFS! Win #1 is in our sights!

6-2. Hagman with the hat-trick.

[She_Prime]

Yay Leafs! There's hope for you yet :)

[cwp_sedan]

6-2. Hagman with the hat-trick.

Just saw it!! :headbang


Yay Leafs! There's hope for you yet :)

:winner

[Thrizzl3]

leafs are meh..not in my good books right now..

[cwp_sedan]

leafs are meh..not in my good books right now..

But it's a win. We have to start somewhere! :chuckle

[Thrizzl3]

ya but 1-7-1..what kind of record is that..?

[thanu31]

lol dont worry tthey will come back slowly

Didnt anahiem go thru a bad start similar to this last year, and ended up in playoffs?

[kjb86]

lol dont worry tthey will come back slowly

Didnt anahiem go thru a bad start similar to this last year, and ended up in playoffs?

as did those penguins, and came back

it's a slow process people

[Thrizzl3]

the leafs aint going no where except the bottom of the league lol

[She_Prime]

Ouch Phil! Ouch indeed!

[BiG-ED]

only way to go is up
win #1 = first step
now lets get/keep players healthy

[cwp_sedan]

the leafs aint going no where except the bottom of the league lol

Phil, this isn't a threat, but if you don't watch your mouth...it will become a threat! :chuckle

[RBoy8]

Gustavsson really is a monster. :)

[yearoftherat]

Well I will give you Toronto fans credit...as much as they suck, you def are a bunch of die hard fans..

[jaimie08mazda3]

Phil, this isn't a threat, but if you don't watch your mouth...it will become a threat! :chuckle
+1!!!! just wait till i come home phil. JUUUUUUUST WAIT

Well I will give you Toronto fans credit...as much as they suck, you def are a bunch of die hard fans..

Hey ive always been a diehard leaf fan and i will always... good job boys 6-3 niiice lets get er going now... 20 wins in a row?:winner STANLEY CUP HERE WE COME

[kjb86]

Leafs responded exceptionally well last night considering the adversity they are facing. Especially in the third period when the Leafs are very well known to blow leads.

They looked like the team finally from training camp, minus all the young lads.

If Gustavsson stays healthy and keeps a starter position, and when Kessle comes back and if he ignites, the Leafs will do fine and be a decent competitor.

Though they have had difficulties early on this season, they've also faced a few very competitive teams that are right at the top of the league, and in all fairness, the Leafs aren't THAT skilled to dominate those teams (NYR x 2, Penguins, the surprising Avalanche, Capitals)... That's 5 games right there, while the rest were close games but lost due to weak goaltending.

Now that they got that win in the books, they can start really building from here on in.

[Go_Habs_Go]

Congrats on the win Leaf fans, well deserved, especially after the game in Vancouver.

Looking forward to Habs-Leafs on Saturday the 31st.

Komisarek...oh man will he ever get it from us. :chuckle

:pop

[Zoom Zoom Boy]

Not that any of this matters in the actual standings, but the Leafs truly have not been anywhere near as bad as their record indicates. Their goaltending however, has been fairly atrocious up until yesterday and they have lost some games they should have won, mainly because the other teams goalie made the difference. Yes, a win is still a win and a loss is still a loss, but if you've been watching every game, you could break it down as follows:

Montreal vs. Toronto. Leafs lose 4-3 in overtime. Leafs are by far the better team and outplayed and outshot Montreal throughout most of the game. Carey Price makes the difference in this one. Leafs should have won this game.

Toronto vs. Washington. They lose 6-4 and deserve it.

Ottawa vs. Toronto. Leafs lose 2-1 and are again the better team and control most of the play. Pascal LeClaire steals the show and is 1st star of the game. Leafs should have won this game or at least taken a point away.

Pittsburgh vs. Toronto Leafs lose 5-2 and are completely outclassed by the Penguins. They deserve to have lost.

Toronto vs. NYR Leafs lose 7-2. Game and score was very close at 3-2going into the 3rd period. Leafs run into penalty trouble and it gets ugly. They deserve to have lost.

Colorado vs. Toronto Leafs lose 4-1. Pretty even game. More bad goaltending from the Leafs cost them. Could have gone either way. You win some of these games and you lose some during the season. The Leafs are fragile mentally and so, they lost this one.

NYR vs. Toronto Leafs lose 4-1. They played terrible. Probably the worst and most uninspired game of the season. Team looks dejected and lacking confidence. They deserve to lose.

Toronto vs. Vancouver Leafs lose 3-1. Leafs by far the better team for all but a bad 10 minute stretch in the 2nd period. Leafs control play, but just can't beat Luongo again. Leafs should have won this game, or at least taken a point away from it.

Toronto vs. Anaheim Leafs finally win 6-3. They dominate most of the game and get a really good goaltending performance of the season from 'The Monster' who is now back from a groin injury. They deserved to win this one and finally did.

So, the Leafs record is 0-7-1 now. However, it could just as easily be 4-5-0 if you take the optimistic view, or 3-5-1 or 2-5-2. Still nothing that is going to make the playoff's, but a lot more indicative as to how the team has really played. They're not as bad as everyone believes, nor are they as good as many hope, but they'll be better than they've shown and will miss the playoff's again this year. I've said before that I really believe this year was about building the base of the team from the net and defence out and that Burke's next job throughout this year and the free agency period is to add the offensive elements up front that the team desperately requires. Kessel was just the start. I still love the plan and the direction this team is going.

[kjb86]

^^^
+11111111111111111111111111111111111

but no, in Toronto, and the way "fans" follow the "media", a Leafs loss and everyone hates the team, especially Burke. Then they win and they fall in love with Burke lol.

The man has a plan. He has this job for the right reasons. You can't build a team over night or one season in today's NHL. It's a process.

The Leafs have lacked any toughness whatsoever. Yet, Burke finally adds some toughness this season to at least defend themselves when they lose and get pushed around but then everyone gets their damn panties in a knot and freaks out, bashing his plan and wanting upfront scoring RIGHT AWAY and saying he's the worst thing that happened in Leafs history. We have a salary cap. The NHL is leaning towards longer term contracts which doesn't leave many elite snipers/power forwards readily available. Rebuilding is a slow process, not to mention trying to change the culture of the team.

[Zoom Zoom Boy]

To all Leaf fans and even to those that hate the Leafs. Basically, any hockey fan and maybe those with just a passing interest, I really recommend a new book by Al Strachan (the guy on HNIC that has a face for radio and that only a mother could love), entitled, "Why the Leafs Suck...and How They Can Be Fixed".

Strachan has been covering the Leafs since the Ballard era and is well connected in the tight knit hockey world. The book examines the general mismanagement of the Leafs and the various management regimes, Ballard, Stavro, current day al, since they last won the cup in 1967 (their 4th cup win in the 60's).

It is an excellent read and filled with first hand anecdotes and insight that you won't normally find in any newspaper coverage. The politics behind the scenes of the Leafs throughout the years and the general bizareness of certain situations is an enthralling read. It is well written, articulate and funny and also includes a large section of management profiles (including Burke) and statistical breakdowns for each team from 1967 to current day. I haven't really been able to put it down.

Costco's was selling it at $13.95 at last check. Regular price is CDN$22.99.

Get the book. Or, just continue watching porn on the internet instead.

[Iceman_F1]

Ottawa vs. Toronto. Leafs lose 2-1 and are again the better team and control most of the play. Pascal LeClaire steals the show and is 1st star of the game. Leafs should have won this game or at least taken a point away.

The other thing to point out in this game wasn't just the fact that LeClaire stole the show...but the fact that 'The Monster' played very well in that game only letting in those 2 goals. The fact that one of those goals was the penalty shot which is always hard to defend against, specially for a new goalie to the NHL who might not know the players tendencies...but there was also that borderline high-stick goal where it looked like it was knocked by a high-stick in mid-air to knock it in. Either of those could have gone the other way to make it a better game for the leafs. The fact that there was no real "easy" goal let in like some Toskala had let in in the past showed me hope for the Leafs goal tending situation.

Hopefully I can actually watch tomorrows game and see some good play that I apparently missed last night :bang

[Iceman_F1]

To all Leaf fans and even to those that hate the Leafs. Basically, any hockey fan and maybe those with just a passing interest, I really recommend a new book by Al Strachan (the guy on HNIC that has a face for radio and that only a mother could love), entitled, "Why the Leafs Suck...and How They Can Be Fixed".

Strachan has been covering the Leafs since the Ballard era and is well connected in the tight knit hockey world. The book examines the general mismanagement of the Leafs and the various management regimes, Ballard, Stavro, current day al, since they last won the cup in 1967 (their 4th cup win in the 60's).

It is an excellent read and filled with first hand anecdotes and insight that you won't normally find in any newspaper coverage. The politics behind the scenes of the Leafs throughout the years and the general bizareness of certain situations is an enthralling read. It is well written, articulate and funny and also includes a large section of management profiles (including Burke) and statistical breakdowns for each team from 1967 to current day. I haven't really been able to put it down.

Costco's was selling it at $13.95 at last check. Regular price is CDN$22.99.

Get the book. Or, just continue watching porn on the internet instead.

I think I'll do just that :chuckle

Seriously though, sounds like an interesting read. Might have to check it out.

[Zoom Zoom Boy]

The other thing to point out in this game wasn't just the fact that LeClaire stole the show...but the fact that 'The Monster' played very well in that game only letting in those 2 goals. The fact that one of those goals was the penalty shot which is always hard to defend against, specially for a new goalie to the NHL who might not know the players tendencies...but there was also that borderline high-stick goal where it looked like it was knocked by a high-stick in mid-air to knock it in. Either of those could have gone the other way to make it a better game for the leafs. The fact that there was no real "easy" goal let in like some Toskala had let in in the past showed me hope for the Leafs goal tending situation.

Hopefully I can actually watch tomorrows game and see some good play that I apparently missed last night :bang

True enough. 'The Monster' played really well in that game too. It is still way too early to tell, but in watching this kid, I think he is the real deal. This kid is exceptionally quick and follows the play very well. His lateral movement is top notch and I love how he doesn't give up on any puck ever. He reminds me of Tim Thomas in that latter regard. If I'm Burke, I watch how this kid plays and if he continues to impress, he should be making it a priority to get him under contract for a few more years quickly, before his pricepoint increases significantly. Right now, he's on a one year deal that expires the end of this season.

[kjb86]

To all Leaf fans and even to those that hate the Leafs. Basically, any hockey fan and maybe those with just a passing interest, I really recommend a new book by Al Strachan (the guy on HNIC that has a face for radio and that only a mother could love), entitled, "Why the Leafs Suck...and How They Can Be Fixed".

Strachan has been covering the Leafs since the Ballard era and is well connected in the tight knit hockey world. The book examines the general mismanagement of the Leafs and the various management regimes, Ballard, Stavro, current day al, since they last won the cup in 1967 (their 4th cup win in the 60's).

It is an excellent read and filled with first hand anecdotes and insight that you won't normally find in any newspaper coverage. The politics behind the scenes of the Leafs throughout the years and the general bizareness of certain situations is an enthralling read. It is well written, articulate and funny and also includes a large section of management profiles (including Burke) and statistical breakdowns for each team from 1967 to current day. I haven't really been able to put it down.

Costco's was selling it at $13.95 at last check. Regular price is CDN$22.99.

Get the book. Or, just continue watching porn on the internet instead.

Thanks for the tip.. I think i'll give it a go as well

[Go_Habs_Go]

On most nights, the difference between winning and losing in the NHL is a very small margin. A hot goalie, a bad penalty, a matter of inches and the game is won or lost.

We are in the age of parity where it is very difficult for a franchise to be dominant for long periods of time. Detroit has had an excellent run but it looks like they might be slipping (though it's way to early to say so for certain).

It looks like Pittsburgh is well positioned to be the next team to 'dominate' the league much like Detroit has done for the last decade or so.

But after the Pens, it's pretty much wide open this season. And in the end, it only matters what you do in the playoffs. Look at the San Jose Sharks. Great team for the last 5 or 6 years but they can't put it together in the playoffs. On the other hand, you have a team like Carolina that won the cup a few years back, had a great run last year but sucked for the years in between. I think all fans would take a cup and then have years of horrible play rather than consistent regular season greatness that takes you nowhere.

[WLS ZMZM]

Well the leafs broke the goose egg in the wins column... although I'm thinking the ref must have been a personal friend of burke cause some of those calls are hideous..... and on a more important note the habs are still hot and Camillari looking like hes getting used to wearing the bleu blanc et rouge!!

[mazdaskit]

http://sneezl.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/03/leafs-suck.jpg

:chuckle lol

[cwp_sedan]

http://sneezl.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/03/leafs-suck.jpg

:chuckle lol

:banhim

[mazdaskit]

Heey i loved the leafs for years but so far this is the wrooooost season yet lol

[b.rabbit]

Well the leafs broke the goose egg in the wins column... although I'm thinking the ref must have been a personal friend of burke cause some of those calls are hideous..... and on a more important note the habs are still hot and Camillari looking like hes getting used to wearing the bleu blanc et rouge!!

Who's going to be the starter in Montreal after the season's done? Halak or Price?

Will Gainey move Price to get another playmaker/scorer, or a defenceman? Or will he move Halak because he's hot right now?

[WLS ZMZM]

good question.... truthfully Halak will be gone.... because gainey will stick it out with Price..... more importantly is when will Missaien be coming up from peterborough... bring forth teh true monster!!! Right now goaltending is their biggest issue... but who knows Price may get hot shortly just needs to gain his confidence back