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

Leafs Win 5-4, It’s Getting To Be Fun Again.

It's funny how a 5-4 Leafs win against their long time rival, the Montreal Canadiens, can get me pumped up.  But the truth is that watching this team continue to grow and gain confidence, while moving up in the standings, is what has me quite hopeful and convinced that the Leafs are moving in the right direction.

Phil Kessel, the kid who some in the Toronto media love to dump on, continued his hot scoring hand by netting two goals and two assists.  Kessel's first goal was a bullet that Alex Auld had no chance on as Joffrey Lupul did a great job providing traffic in front of Auld.  Tyler Bozak was the beneficiary of the two Kessel assists as he scored the game winner in the third period.  But what may have been more important was the play he made on Andrei Kostitsyn minutes before his second goal while the Canadiens were on the power play.  With Kostitsyn streaking toward the net, Bozak did enough to tie the Canadien winger up to prevent a sure goal.

Brett Lebda, not necessarily one of my favorites, had his strongest game as a Leaf as he scored a goal, was an offensive presence and played solidly in his own end.  Despite giving up two power play goals, I thought the penalty killing unit did a very good job particularly in killing a couple of third period penalties.

The Leafs play after the Canadiens made it 5-4 was very impressive.  With about 2:27 left in the game, the Leafs put the clamps down as the Canadiens were unable to enter the Leafs zone and could not get Carey Price out of the net, who replaced Auld midway in the third period.  Colby Armstrong was unreal holding the puck inside the Canadiens zone.  They couldn't move him off the puck.  Joey Crabb and Freddie Sjostrom assisted in clamping down on the Canadiens.

Despite giving up 4 goals, James Reimer was solid and came up with some big saves, particularly in the third period.  He had little chance on the two power play goals scored by the Canadiens.  It's evident that this kid provides confidence and a calmness in the nets which the team seems to feed off  of.

Questions abound as to what the Leafs should do with 4 days until the trade deadline.  It would seem unlikely that they would move anyone from the current roster, though its reported that the Leafs have received many inquiries on Clarke MacArthur.  With this team continuing to grow together and climbing within 4 points of a playoff spot, I would be satisfied if we just sat back and watched this team continue to grow.  Suddenly, it's fun again to be a Leaf fan and I have to tell you: I Love It!!

The Leafs are back in action Saturday against the Penguins at the ACC.  It's time for a win on Saturday night!!!