tonytalkssports My Take on Sports, particularly the Yankees, Maple Leafs and Browns

Hockey Night In Canada: Leafs-Canadiens

For the last 44 years on Saturday nights, unless I have something to do that I can't get out of, I'm usually in front of my television set watching the Toronto Maple Leafs on Hockey Night In Canada. As a child, I can remember being extremely upset when on the rare occasion the Leafs were not playing on Saturday night or were on the road and the Montreal Canadiens were on Hockey Night instead. As a Leaf fan in the late 60's and 70's it was tough having to deal with Montreal Canadien fans. The Canadiens always seemed to win. They won multiple championships during that time period, while the closest the Leafs came was reaching the semi-finals in th 1977-78 season only to lose to the Canadiens. Then of course, Punch Imlach came onto the scene and the rest was history.

While for me, HNIC on Saturday night is always a must, when the Leafs play the Canadiens it is always extra special. I'll never forget a game back during the 1967-68 season when the Leafs were at the Forum and playing against a much talented Montreal team. The Leafs played hard and were about to walk away with a well deserved one point as a result of a tie. (this was before a five minute overtime and the ridiculous shoot out). There were 3 seconds remaining and there was a faceoff deep inside the Toronto zone. I was quite pleased at that point. But my happiness soon changed to sadness as the Montreal center won the draw and the puck went back to the point where Canadiens defenseman Jacques Laperierre fired a slap shot that beat Leaf netminder Bruce Gamble and the Canadiens would come away with a 3-2 win. I was devastated. To this day when I hear Jacques Laperierre's name I bristle with anger.

Tonight these two ancient rivals meet again at the Air Canada Centre. The Canadiens are coming off last night's heartbreaking 5-4 shoot out loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins after blowing a 4-2 lead going into the third period. The Leafs last game was Thursday night's 4-1 win over the Minnesota Wild. This is a huge game for the Leafs as they are one point behind the Florida Panthers for the 8th and final playoff spot in the East and only 3 points behind the New Jersey Devils for 7th. On the flip side they are only 2 points ahead of 10th place Winnipeg, who hosts the aforementioned Panthers Saturday night. Because of the rivalry you know this will be a tough one. The Canadiens have saved Carey Price for tonight's game. The Leafs will be going once again with Jonas Gustavsson. Records mean nothing when the Leafs and Canadiens meet but this is a game that the Leafs should win. They are the better team. Just like the Canadiens were in that game during the 67-68 season when Jacques Laperierre scored with less than three seconds left.

The puck drops at the ACC at 7:05.