Monday Morning Musing With Me...The Big "E"

Welcome to Monday Morning Musings With Me...The Big "E." A look back at the last seven days in Leafs Land along with highlights from around the NHL.

First up, I made a statement at the beginning of last week, by saying that the Leafs are "A Small Winning Streak Away From The Playoffs." I'd like to recant my earlier statement.

The Toronto Maple Leafs followed up my prediction with a 4-3 loss in Atlanta, a 3-2 overtime loss in Tampa Bay, and finally (and mercifully), a 2-0 loss to the Panthers in Florida.

While the Leafs are still only 11 points out of the playoffs, it's easy to see that any light at the end of the tunnel is fading fast. Even for the most die-hard and optimistic of us.

On the bright side, though, Leafs' prospect Nazem Kadri had a big weekend for the London Knights of the OHL, potting 10 points in three games including three goals to bring his total to 24 goals and 32 assists in 36 games so far this season!

Elsewhere Around the League

The seemingly-ageless Rob Blake and the San Jose Sharks are enjoying a five-game winning streak, a trend not lost on the Capitals or Senators, who are each enjoying a six-game winning streak.

The Flyers and Penguins rivalry is alive and well. The two teams played a hard fought game last night, in which the Penguins were the eventual winners by a score of 2-1.   The game itself, featured 23 penalties, including no less than seven roughing penalties, with a fight, and a couple of elbows thrown in for good measure!

The Boston Bruins aren't having a very good time of things lately. Having lost five in a row and seven of their last 10, Bruins fans are starting to join Leafs Nation en masse!

The Colorado Avalanche currently sit sixth in the NHL and first in the Northwest with 66 points. Having also won six in a row and, though they are faring well on their own, it's interesting that one of the teams with the most room under the cap is one of the only teams that I haven't heard was in the hunt for Kovalchuk.

The Calgary Flames, who currently find themselves tied for eighth in the Western Conference with the not-so-surprising Detroit Red Wings, are in a downward spiral having lost five in a row and eight of their last 10.

The next couple of weeks will prove to be very interesting, as some teams start to jockey for final playoff positions. Most teams will likely make some moves before the Olympic Roster freeze because of the tight window of opportunity between the end of that freeze and the trade deadline.

Some of the obvious names to watch will be Kovalcuck and Stajan, but don't be surprised to hear the likes of Ponikarovsky, Hagman, Marleau, Liles, and Jay Bouwmeester get some print as well!