It’s another night, and another overtime loss. A hard-fought effort where the Leafs perhaps deserved a better fate. A night where perhaps the final goal of the night shouldn’t have counted. A night where, perhaps we got a true glimpse of what the future may in fact hold for the Toronto Maple Leafs.
I know, it’s getting a little redundant to sit here and speak about the positives after a losing game. But hey, it’s not my fault. Tell the Leafs to close one of these games out and we can all talk about something else.
The Leafs now have a five-game point streak going, where they have collected six of a possible 10 points, the latest coming last night on an overtime loss at the hands of the Tampa Bay Lightning.
Lightning forward Ryan Malone scored a somewhat disputed goal to end the contest.
But it wasn’t all bad news for Toronto.
As in the case with all of the games following a scheduling gap that gave them one full week off, the Leafs have been a better team, and tonight was no different.
Just quickly, it was also good news for those in attendance at Boston Pizza on Yonge Street watching the game. They were hoping so much for a Leafs win that if the Buds lost, they would give out a free pizza to those in in the restaurant. Looks like they gave out around 100 pies.
Not only were the Leafs arguably the better team, but they also had one player in particular who dominated tonight every time he was on the ice (well, almost every time).
He skated hard, flying past (most) opponents. He had great opportunities to score but couldn’t buy a goal. He showed a ton of heart by pulling himself off the mat after this crunch by Matthias Ohlund.
He represents a big chunk of the Maple Leafs future going forward. And if tonight was any indication of what Leafs Nation has to look forward to, he will be welcomed with open arms.
His name is Phil Kessel.
Playing in his first game since being acquired by the Leafs from Boston for three quality draft choices this past September, Kessel looked as fast and dangerous as ever.
He attempted 19 shots, 10 found their way to the net.
He played with a sort of confidence that we haven’t seen from a Leafs player since...well, since big No. 13 left a few seasons ago.
He didn’t score. There’s no denying he wasn’t found anywhere on the scoresheet. But no one with an unbiased opinion could say that the guy didn’t deserve to be.
It was early. It was only one game. But it looks like Phil Kessel will be a hungry sniper for us every night, trying to prove he was worth the contract and draft picks that were moved to acquire him.
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