Coyote Ugly

Sorry – I thought of the title in the first period, and couldn’t get it outta my head. Anyway, someone must have changed the Leafs’ calendars to October, because most of the things they did tonight were staples of their winless streak that opened this season.

Vesa Toskala gave up a couple of cheesy goals, the Leafs defensemen made poor passes in their own zone all night, and we saw very little of the physical play that has been crucial to the recent success. Throw in some questionable officiating and a tip in goal from Paul Bissonnette?? (previous to tonight’s game, the enforcer had only one assist and 78 penalty minutes in 31 NHL games) and you get what we saw tonight.

Petr Prucha started things off for the Coyotes with two goals, giving them a 2-0 lead early in the second period. Legendary sniper Jamal Mayers cut the lead to 1 when he beat Ilya Bryzgalov with a quick shot on a breakaway. Phoenix caught a couple of timely breaks during the rest of the period, however, and the Leafs never really stood a chance. Vernon Fiddler knocked a loose puck through Toskala’s legs, followed by Bissonnette’s first career goal with a tipped shot that Toskala never really saw. The real backbreaker came on a questionable goal that trickled in after ricocheting off Ian White’s skate. On video review, it appeared that Toskala may have gloved the puck before it fully crossed the line, but the cross eyed zebra in the corner ruled it a goal and there was not enough evidence to overturn the call.

Toronto looked like they caught a bit of a spark from Phil Kessel’s five-hole snipe in the last minute of the period, but were unable to complete the comeback in the 3rd. Alexei Ponikarovsky got his 12th goal of the year midway through the period, but all hopes of a comeback were dashed when Radim Vrbata buried an empty netter in the final minute.

Although the loss ended the Leafs’ four game home winning streak, they can’t let it derail what has been an impressive month of December so far. Toronto’s six wins in December lead all Eastern Conference teams, and they have a heavy stretch of important games right around the corner. After two beatings in Boston, the Leafs will look to get some revenge back at the ACC, as they host the Bruins on Saturday, in between games with the division-leading Buffalo Sabres. If Toronto has any ideas about making the playoffs, division wins are a huge step in the right direction.

Three games and counting on the Luke Schenn watch: the sophomore defenseman has sat out the last three games as a healthy scratch, but why?? I’m personally a big fan of Schenn, but more on that tomorrow. Go Leafs!