Leafs looked good in 4-1 loss

The Maple Leafs played a fairly good physical game for the most part, dominated in in the shots on goal department, and had some decent goal tending. They fell short in the face off department winning 44% of them over the Flyers. Their season average is about the same which in hindsight is pretty good post Sundin. That was going to be a major concern coming into the season and they have actually done ok in the face off circle.

The Buds, after this 4-1 loss have lost three in a row and 4 of five. If they lose Tuesday against Nashville, there will be all kinds of speculation about the diection the team is headed, whether there should be some changes just for the sake of changes, and whether or not Wiolson is the right man for the job.

I would like to remind Leafs fans, that the Buds ARE in fact heading in the right direction. I have never been a Wilson fan, and the changes will come, but, be patient. The Toronto Maple Leafs are not supposed to be a winning team for at least two years, and more likely 4-5.

The trouble with that statement is that it is highly speculatuive. It is easy to be patient when you know that your patience will be rewarded. But as history dictates, it usually isn't, so we want to see the winning now. Well, like I said, they simply aren't supposed to win, no one expects them to.

Toronto loses 6-2 to the Habs

In what was a spirited affair, the Canadiens simply proved to be the better team tonight. Helped greatly by the goal tending of back-up goalie Jaraslav Halak, who stopped 30 of the Leafs 32 shots. The Habs beat the Leafs handily at home by a final of 6-2.

Brad May highlighted his Toronto debut by pairing of with Montreal defenseman Francis Bullion about halfway through the second 2 seconds after Jamal Mayers got into it with Tom Kostopoulos( Kostopoulos should have gotten an extra minor for being such a punching bag ).

It will be interesting to see whether or not Grabovski will face a suspension after he shoved a linesmen and kicked his helmet after the linesman fell on top of Grabovski after a melee at 18:07 of the third period.




There is a rumor going round that Kaberle is disgruntled and has all but asked for a trade. To the point that he was quoted as saying that if he wasn't wanted any more, then maybe he would be willing to talk trade. I would be all for a trade involving Kaberle, he simply isn't flourishing under the new system which in un-fortunate because until this year he has pretty much been the best defencman on the team for a number of years. I'm thinking Kaberle and Toskala to the Senators for Spezza and a first round pick in 2010.


The Leafs next action comes Saturday in Phili, and as always you can hear all the action, right here, on Bench Brawl!