Toronto Maple Leafs' Cramped Schedule

Leafs Open Season With Tilt
Against Hated Habs

Written By: Mark “The Hard Hitter” Ritter

The Toronto Maple Leafs 2009/2010 regular season schedule was released Wednesday, it’s a cramped schedule, one in which the Leafs will play back to back games a stunning 13 times! Here are the key Home games to look forward to.

The Leafs open their regular season on October 1st at home against the Montreal Canadiens. The game will mark the first time Mike Komisarek gets a chance to nail a few of his old teammates against the boards, something he’s likely to relish.

Five days later the hated and seemingly new-look Ottawa Senators come to the ACC for what should be a memorable contest. October 10th marks the first time Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and the rest of the Stanley Cup champion Pittsburgh Penguins will visit. October will also see the Leafs close out the month with 5 road games in 7 nights, Starting in Vancouver and ending in Montreal. Who the heck came up with that schedule?

November 3rd, Leaf fans get a chance to watch a couple of up and coming stars in Steven Stamkos and Victor Hedman as the Leafs host the financially troubled Tampa Bay Lightening. Question is, will Vincent Lecavalier still be on the roster?

A younger version of the Detroit Red Wings visit the ACC on November 7th, the high-flying Chicago Blackhawks visit on Friday November 13th, Alexander Ovechkin and the Washington Capitals will battle the Leafs on November 21st and John Tavares makes his ACC debut on November 23rd as a member of the New York Islanders. Finally, the Leafs close out November with a matchup against the hated Buffalo Sabres on the 30th. “Boo-Buffalo!!!”

December will be tiring for the Leafs as they play 16 games in thirty nights, 9 of which will be on the road. Notable home games include dates between the Boston Bruins, Senators, Phoenix/??? Coyotes, and the upstart Los Angeles Kings, which should mark the first time Brothers Brayden and Luke Schenn go head to head in NHL uniforms.

The New year will see the Leafs play 15 games in 30 nights. Key Home dates include matchups against the Penguins (9th), Philadelphia Flyers (14th) and ending with a game against Roberto Luongo and the Vancouver Canucks on January 30th- Don’t hurt Robbie Lou, we’ll need him for the Olympics...

February will be interrupted by the Olympics, but not before the Leafs play 5 games in 12 nights, including a visit from Martin Brodeur (another Olympic hopeful) and the New Jersey Devils, followed by a visit from “Jumbo” Joe Thornton and the hard-luck San Jose Sharks.

Fresh off the Olympics, the Leafs will have a very hectic March. The Leafs play 16 games in 30 nights, 9 of which will be at Home. Some key visits include the Edmonton Oilers on the 13th, another tilt against the Habs on the 20th and a visit from Ilya Kovalchuk and the Atlanta Thrashers on the 30th.

April marks the end of the regular season. The Leafs will play a total of five games, hosting the Sabres, Bruins and Flyers to start the month and ending with tilts against the New York Rangers and, you guessed it, the Montreal Canadiens. Wouldn’t it be sweet if the last game of the season had playoff implications?

There you have it, a rather cramped 2009/2010 regular season for your beloved Maple Leafs. It will be a tough go, but with a little luck, and the addition of a legitimate number one centre, the Leafs just might surprise us all. Good luck Leafs, judging by this schedule you are going to need a lot of young legs and some oxygen!

Until next time,

Peace!