It's already interesting

Four games in and the Leafs are already set to embark on what could be considered their most important stretch of the season. As they learned a year ago every game is worthy of excellence, every point sacred. What's encouraging, these Leafs look and feel different from the disorganized group that essentially flushed the season down the toilet with that pathethic six week period from mid-October through November. But are these Leafs really different this time? Over the next week and a bit they'll get the chance to separate themselves from that gloomy history while moving towards what many hope can be an exciting, even pleasantly surprising future. It'll continue Wednesday with the Jets, a team with twice the potential haunt, aiming to double up on the agony another ex-Leaf brought upon his former club the game before. -- Can the Leafs stave off envitable disappointment? If the odds are against it, I'll take that bet. Like the Leafs, I've lost enough. Shit, we're both due to hit... and stick sometime.