Pop goes the weasel

Hey Peeps and anyone else checking in. A special "Hey" goes out to Hazel Mae if she is checking in from Arizona.

Residents of Toronto are in their second day of emergency status - today it is a snow day, the last time those "Canadians" saw snow like this, the city was shut down for days. Yesterday though, residents from Scarborough to Mississauga (and everywhere in between) were awaken from their slumber with a loud boom in the wee hours of the morning.

The Department of National Defence (DND) answered thousands of calls for worried Torontonians about a sonic boom that shook the foundation of their houses and apartment buildings. DND had no answer for the incident - denying that they were doing any testing in the area. The mystery was solved by daylight when members of Leaf Nation opened the morning edition of the Toronto Star - the quickly and correctly attributed the "sonic boom", or "pop" sound, as the result of Star "columnist" Damien "I don't hate the Maple Leafs" Cox managing to finally (and likely quite painfully) extricating his rather bulbous head from his over constricted rectum.

For weeks, even months, the media in Toronto has been fixated on the need to trade Maple Leafs Captain Mats Sundin for a boatload of prospects to begin the rebuilding that is needed. The have waxed on, obsessively at times, about how the only way out of this mess is to trade the Leafs only asset - Mats. To read the nonsense coming from Toronto - the panacea to all that ails the franchise is getting rid of their best player in order to tank the season and get a lottery pick in the 2008 draft.

Most of Leaf Nation vehemently disagrees with yours truly, who has maintained that the way out of this mess is to find takers for the likes of Darcy Tucker, Bryan McCabe and others (that's YOU Pavel Kubina). Yes, last week, I reluctantly wrote that Tomas Kaberle MAY have to be included in a deal to get rid of one of the overpaid guys.

Back to Damien's extrication - Cox finally wrote an opinion piece about other options available to Toronto should Sundin not want to go. Suddenly, Damien realized that teams looking to position themselves in the playoffs - and who cannot, or are not willing, to part with a package of prospects for Sundin - may want to look at lesser lights that the Leafs might be willing to part with for very little in return. All together now - "ADDITION BY SUBTRACTION". Bryan McCabe's ridiculous contract might seem a bit more palatable now that his salary goes down over the next three years (while his $5.75 million cap hit remains); Darcy Tucker's grit (where has it been?) may be rekindled by the likes of Mike Keenan in Calgary; who knows, maybe the Thrashers have an interest in Jason Blake if they want to deal Marian Hossa before the playoffs; Hal Gill isn't a bad option for a team wanting an experienced sixth D.

My only issue now is - what does this all mean? Is Damien Cox somehow getting a little smarter? Or the is the fact that he has come to see things my way an indication of me getting progressively dumber? Don't answer that please.

THE NIGHT THAT WAS IN THE NHL
Carolina continues to be a nightmare for the Buds. Another night where Nik Antropov is sitting in the box in overtime watching the Hurricanes score the game winner. For the second straight game in Carolina, Antropov is sent to the box on a questionable penalty call - prompting him to throw his stick in the direction of the referees, resulting in a double game misconduct and an automatic three game suspension.

It was a fitting ending to a game that devolved into a calamity - with a Maple Leafs goal getting called back on replay, while a questionable Carolina goal is allowed. The officiating in the game was so poor that it prompt an outburst from Maple Leafs coach Paul Maurice who will certainly be fined for his troubles.

Before you look for it - tomorrow's headlines in Toronto will be about how the game against the Tards is "do or die"; never mind the fact that the Leafs are only four points out of a playoff spot.

The Bruins were visiting yesterday and capitalized on some early mistakes by the Tards to grab a 3-0 first period lead and bore the Tards into submission en route to a 4-1 win. The best thing about last night's game where the post game comments by Tards bench boss, John Paddock, who ripped his team yet again. The chaos in that organization is something to behold.


THURSDAY'S THREE STARS
Washington Capitals superstar Alex Ovechkin scored his fourth goal of the night in overtime to give the Caps a 5-4 win over the Habs.

Boston Bruins G Tim "All-Star" Thomas made 30 saves in a win over the SenaTards.

Toronto Maple Leafs Coach Paul Maurice finally does what every coach in the league is afraid to do - rip in to the officials for yet another awful night.


FRIDAY THREE PLAY
Another 2-1 night leaves the total for the week at + $100. Tonight's suggestions:

Buffalo over Atlanta - the Thrashers won't have Kovalchuk in the lineup tonight - take a guess at how good their chances are to win without him? Lay $150 on the Sabres - $140.

Dallas over Edmonton - the Stars haven't lost in Edmonton in three years, don't expect them to start tonight. Lay $100 on Dallas - $140.

Detroit over Colorado - the Avs have been better of late, but they are badly banged up and don't have enough to compete with Detroit. Lay $100 on the Wings - $300.

That's it for today gang - thanks for taking the time to check in. Have a great one peeps.

Hazel, here's hoping things are groovy in your world - weather wise, they must be.

I'm Out.