Link: Buffalo News - Sabres keep Leafs in slumber.
Shhhh... indeed. Not even Derek Roy's first career hat trick could wake the Leafs up top the fact that they stink. After a performance on Wednesday vs. Atlanta that all of us Sabres-faithful were glad wasn't televised the boys came back with a game that highlighted the huge difference between these two clubs. At times this looked like some of the earlier drubbings that Ottawa laid down on us.
Leafs fans were touting the skills of GM John Ferguson before the season with the pick-ups (like winos off the curb apparently) of Jeff O'Neill, Eric Lindros and Jason Allison. Last night the 3 of them had a combined 4 shots on goal and a collective -4.
And, honestly if it weren't for the cheap shot Lindros through late in the 2nd period, I would have completely forgotten any of them had donned Leafs sweaters.
How frustrating must it be for Mats Sundin? Just 5 days after playing in one of the greatest hockey games in the past 24 months, he is subjected to the disinterested and selfish play of a bunch of has-beens and knock-around jackasses like Tie Domi, Bryan McCabe and the 3 Amigos.
Well, enough gloating... though I have to admit encouraging the boys to get a 6th goal in the final minute and not take their foot off the Leafs' throat. How much sweeter it was than I would have hoped for then that Derek Roy completed the Hat Trick he so richly deserved.
The Roy-Afinogenov-Vanek line was unbelievable last night, having apparently buried the hatchet from the Atlanta game. Vanek's goal was the direct result of he and Max looking for each other on the entry and executing a perfect give and go to spring Max behind the net so that he could feed Campbell at the point for the bomb that Vanek tipped in. Perfect use of linemates and execution. A beautiful goal.
With the exception of the miscue defensively on Ponikarovsky's goal and a short stretch in the 2nd period where the Buds were the more aggressive team, the Boys in the AGH sweaters played a nigh-perfect game. Campbell and Fitzpatrick are still a nightmare on defense and McCabe's goal was the direct result of Quinn getting the Sundin line out against that pair of d-men.
So, up tonight are the improving B's, who we've owned so far this year. But, this is a better team thanks to the Joe Thornton trade. 4 points out of a playoff spot we've got 5 more games against this season.
No letting up now, I say, play hard and catch Ottawa for the division title. I want no part of the Rangers in the first round of the playoffs because of two words... Henrik Lundqvist. The rest of the Rags doesn't scare me that much, Ruff always seems to scheme a game for Jagr well. Also, in our meetings this year it looked to me that we were the faster team with better corner men. The wild card is always goaltending and Lundqvist was the reason that Mats Sundin ans happy on Sunday morning and Teppo Numinnen was not. Of course, if we do meet them in the playoffs having Timmah! score the series clincher by beating the Kaspar-fish 1 on 1 would be poetic justice. :)
Ta,
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