Leafs lose another in OT – Pens tonight

Just a quick one today, as I’m off to see the New England Patriots play Jacksonville from endzone seats courtesy of my girlfriend.  My coverage will probably be light over the next few days, until around New Year’s Day, since I’ll be doing a lot of traveling and such.

Couple quick thoughts on last game:

First, I thought Don Cherry said it best in the first intermission yesterday when he pointed out why the Leafs have such a track record of falling behind 1-0 or 2-0 so often.  Anyone watching the game can see they play tentative and scared, and then when they’re down, they break out and start playing the way they should play from the start.  Starting a game scared to lose it is one of the quickest ways to lose it, so Ron Wilson needs to find a way to change his team’s mindset at the start of these games.  Start playing to win and not to lose.

Second, how many games are we going to lose in overtime this year? The Leafs now have 9 losses in extra time this season, more than anyone except the Lightning (9) and Dallas Stars (11).  Interestingly enough, Toronto lost in overtime to both of those teams.

The Leafs currently lead the league in shots per game, averaging nearly 34 per game so far.  They need to improve the quality of their shots, however, because not every goalie that they face can have the game of his life when they play the Leafs, but that’s the way it’s looked. They more than doubled the Habs’ in shots last night (49-23), and still came up short.

Crosby and the Pens in town tonight, along with one of the hottest goalies in the league, Marc-Andre Fleury.  Pitt’s only lost 2 games all month, and Fleury has been absolutely lights out.  Crosby and Malkin are both playing great at the moment – Geno’s coming off of a hat trick against Ottawa before the break.  Toronto’s star power on the other hand, has faded during recent play, as Kessel has now been held pointless in five games.

Team Canada tied a team record with a 16-0 waxing of the Latvians.  Before you judge the Canucks for running up the score, remember that goal differential is a tiebreaker, unfortunately.  Kadri finished with two goals and 12 penalty minutes, after getting a 10 minute misconduct on top of a minor penalty for a charge to the head.  Don’t even get me started on this new “no-hits-to-the-head” nonsense.  I got my first concussion when I was 9, ’cause I came around the net with my head down at a tryout.  Guess what? I didn’t skate with my head down after that.  Stop watering the game down for all these soft Europeans – I don’t know how ol’ Grapes hasn’t blown his top about this already.  The rest of the opening action was lopsided as well – USA down Slovakia, 7-3; Russia over Austria, 6-2; the Swedes put a sharp dose of reality into the Czechs, who have been talked about as one of the up and coming teams this year, with a 10-1 rout. Canada’s got the day off today, and they face off with the Finns on Monday.  Leafs prospect Jerry D’Amigo notched a 3rd period goal for the US.

That’s all for now.  Hopefully I’ll be able to get some stuff up at the start of next week, but if not, have a safe and Happy New Years.  Go Leafs!