Turnabout fair play

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

The Toronto Maple Leafs beat the poster boys for the new NHL last by a count of 4-2. The Montreal Canadiens are the "experts" sexy pick these days - they are THE perfect "new NHL" team. The Habs' recipe for success includes mixing great team speed with an overall lack of toughness, grit and balance (read DIVING). What the "experts" don't like to talk about is that the Habs are one of the worst teams in the league 5 on 5 - ok, bottom third. The Habs are a paper tiger - the numbers are good, the stats look impressive - be tough, physical and agressive with them and you can beat them.

The game plan for this edition of the Habs, especially at home in front of their douchebag fans, is to go into a game like it is a figure skating competition. The way things go in Montreal, as they have always gone, is that the drunken douchebags in the stands spend most of the first period screaming like maniacs every time one of the Russian pussies are touched, or heaven forbid, even hit. This winds up with officials, either because they are intimidated or what to hear the approval of 22,000 Frenchmen (last night it was closer to 15,000 - Leaf Nation represents in Montreal) chanting for them, start making questionable calls. Montreal usually ends up with 5 or 6 power play opportunities, score a couple of goals and call it a night.

Last night was no different as the douchebags were loud and howling for penalties all night and their beloved Habs were pulling "Savardian spinaramas" (only Canadian readers will get that) looking for penalties every time they were hit (Andrei Markov looked like Elvis Stojko out there turning to the ref all night). In the end - Montreal couldn't capitalize on 5 power play opportunities and went down by a count of 4-2.

The beauty of last night's game is that the Leafs won they way the Habs have all year - great goaltending from Vesa Toskala, two power play goals, and an empty netter.

Darcy Tucker scored two goals to lead the good guys to a win - despite the media's mocking of the win last night, we'll take it.

Running late today, so cutting it short. Back later with more including tonight's Three Play. Thanks for taking the time to check in. Have a great one peeps.

Hazel, here's hoping things are groovy in your world.

I'm Out