Oh god, I knew using Vesa Toskala for the Montreal game would come back to haunt Ron Wilson. Look, Toskala didn't play half bad, but he sucks at shootouts which he proved again Saturday freezing up on a pair of top shelfers by a pair of elfers. AND that first goal doesn't go in if Jonas Gustavsson, or anyone taller than 6 feet for that matter was in the Leafs' net. Anyway...
It ain't easy being a supporter of the Maple Leafs. The dichotomy facing the fandom of Leafsnation is enough to drive anyone of them, us, you, over the bloody edge. Like the WTF are we supposed to think of this team? Yes, they've played incredibly hard. Yes, they've shown no quit. Yes, they can be exciting to watch. Hey, these full efforts are great, respectable, admirable, BUT a full result never follows. Honestly, what are we left with with the final whistle blows? Not exactly nothing, but it often feels like it.
Pro sports are about the results. If you want to applaud 'effort' go sit in the stands at an elementary school track meet (try not to get arrested). If you want to celebrate excellence, a winner, a champion...well, the Leafs aren't the best ones to follow, still you'd expect your favorite professional team to be all about the result. I guess we should credit this "professional" team for trying to get what we, they, an entire nation covet, BUT it's painfully obvious: it's not good enough. Never has been. Never will be. Or at least not until positive, winning changes are made to this group of losers (I mean that in the most literal of ways).
The reaper of defeat will not stop haunting the embattled Buds until they've stood up to him. Until they've told him to shove his late breakdown up his ass. That's done by taking care of business at the other end of the ice...with that finisher I've also been going on about. Is that finisher Phil Kessel? Perhaps. Are the Leafs a only a finisher away from conquering their demons? Doubt it, but we'll soon find out. "The finisher" is expected to make his debut in Boo and White Tuesday against Tampa. While I'm almost certain the lack of result will be the same, same as always it'll result in me watching, waiting, wondering if this time things might turn out different? I've become as predictable as the team I support. Hey, I guess I'm just in it to win it? Okay, not exactly.
Leafs stars at Montreal:
1 Tomas Kaberle
- point machine, fattening up for a deadline feast
2 Mikhail Grabovski
- love his aggressiveness, would love more goals
3 Alexei Ponikarovsky
- i dunno, i really don't
Rest in Peace Harry Gauss. You've fought the battle, you deserve it. God bless, my friend.
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