Leafs Harpooned By Penguins: Play Like a Bunch of “Turkey's”

Written By: Mark “The Hard Hitter” Ritter

To be fair, outside of a few overzealous fans, friends, and family, nobody really thought the Toronto Maple Leafs were going to beat the Pittsburgh Penguins last night.

That said, you thought at least one or two of the Leafs' players would have bothered to show up, clearly, with a 5-2 loss to show for their “efforts” they didn’t.

Leafs' head coach, Ron Wilson, and general manager, Brian Burke, have stated countless times that the Leafs were going to be tougher to play against this season, but last night’s attempt to reenact the Broad Street Bullies was comical!

Sure, it’s great if the Leafs want to try and show some moxie by instigating the odd tilt, but last night was re-cock-u-lous! Seemingly trying to outdo each other, Jamal Mayers, Jay Rosehill, and Colton Orr all dropped the gloves last night.

Not one of those fights were warranted, not one of them resulted in a lift for the now 0-3-1 Leafs, it was a “crap show”, and an embarrassment. There is a big difference in a team wanting to be “tough” and a “tough team”, right now, the Leafs are just plain playing stupid.

Outside of the fights, the Leafs continued to play an undisciplined style of hockey as the Penguins scored three power play goals. The Leafs' penalty kill looked awful, allowing the Pens' Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin to do as they pleased. Crosby scored two goals on the PP, both set up by Malkin.

As for the Leafs' goaltending, Vesa Toskala made 28 saves, but he looked very tentative and, from all accounts, his fragile confidence seems to be shot right now. Wilson has stated that he intends to start Toskala in three straight games, but with Toskala playing so poorly right now he may want to re-think that strategy.

Continuing to start Toskala may help him to gain some confidence back but, if you ask me, I’d be more apt to hit the Dollar Store and buy a beach ball, and shoot at him with that. Maybe after he stops a couple of those shots, then you could consider giving him a start, until then, sit him down already!

For his part, Wilson said of the Leafs effort, or lack-thereof, "There are a lot of things we have to do better.” Unfortunately for Wilson and his crew of underachievers, there will be little time to practice. The Leafs travel to New York to take on the Rangers Monday, followed by a game against the surging Colorado Avalanche at home.

It’s still early, but the Leafs are now sitting in last place in the NHL, and with very little to cheer about thus far, you have to wonder just how patient Burke is going to be with the current lineup. Could Nazim Kadri get re-called?

One thing is for sure, the Leafs need to find something, anything, positive and build on it, right now, in the words of Canadian comedian Russel Peters, “This is noooooooooo gooooooood!!!!!!!!”

Until next time,

Peace!