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

It’s Not The Same Old, Same Old

After reading an article online have your ever read the comments that readers submit?  After Toronto's 4-3 win over the Buffalo Sabres on Tuesday it was really interesting to see what people were thinking.  While certainly there were many who acknowledged the team's improvement and hope for the future, there is still a large contingent who claim this is another "same old, same old" meaningless Leaf late season run and Brian Burke and Ron Wilson are bums.  In fact, in an online poll on the Toronto Star website, 49% say this year's Leafs' season is promising for the future while 43% say its the same old, same old.

Quite frankly, saying that this surge by the Leafs is similar to others in seasons past is a bunch of garbage.  In an earlier post, I identified the player turnover and the fact that this year's team is much younger than past Leaf teams who made the late season surge.  But there is more to consider which I believe further points to the position that the building blocks have been put in place for a playoff run next year.

If this year was the "same old, same old", the Leafs would have folded Tuesday night after the Sabres tied the game 3-3.  In fact, the way the Leafs started the game was really encouraging as they definitely came to play with a sense of urgency.  During this run, the Leafs have also defeated the Sabres the last three times they played.  As the well-known blogger, Mike-In-Buffalo stated: "this marks the end of the domination and the beginning of a rivalry".  I think he's right.

Not quitting has been a hallmark of this Leaf team because during this run, how many times did the Leafs allow the first goal?  Wasn't it 10 games in a row?  Somehow the Leafs were able to win the majority of those games.  One thing to say about this group, they don't quit.

Think about that brutal 2 game road trip they had playing at Buffalo and at Boston in February, two houses of horror for the Leafs.  These two games were after losing in overtime to New Jersey and a listless Saturday night performance at Montreal where they were shutout.

The Leafs came back to defeat Boston 4-3 on February 15th and went to Buffalo the next day and beat the Sabres 2-1.  The Leafs of Toskala, Raycroft, Allison, Blake and Hagman would never have pulled that off.  There was also the brutal 6-2 loss to Tampa at home in March which was then followed by a big 3-1 win over Carolina on the road.  After being embarassed by Florida the next night, the Leafs came back home and on a Saturday night dominated the Boston Bruins 5-2.  If you think this is "same old, same old" you are crazy.  The old Leafs would have folded their tents and went home.

As I've said after the Red Wing loss, the Leafs are not going to make the playoffs this year.  But you have to admire the way they have played.  You have to see that this is a different Leaf team.  You have to see that this organization finally has some good young players and prospects to build with for the future.  Isn't it funny how we are not hearing about losing a lottery pick this year???

This run will help the Leafs young players in the future.  They have been given a taste of a playoff run.  They have acknowledged they don't want to be in this position again.  They want to be battling for a higher seeding.  The future is promising.  The summer will be huge.

Leafs are at Boston tonight with the puck drop at 7pm.