Leafs go from Red Faced to Seeing Red

 

Justin Dahan (HV)

 

The Leafs went from being red faced to seeing red the next day. They lost to Buffalo on Friday the 23rd, they led that game 4-1 but after a third period collapse they lost 5-4. On Saturday the 24th the very next day the Leafs came back with new found intensity and beat the Sabres by the same score they once led by the previous day, 4-1. “We came back strong like we usually do” said Alex Steen after the game.

This game wasn’t an ordinary game; it had huge implications on the Eastern Conference playoff race. The Leafs are one of the teams chasing that final playoff spot. The problem is every time they win all the other teams win as well. “There’s nothing we can do to control what other teams do.” Said Leafs forward Darcy Tucker about the success of their rivals in the quest for the final playoff spot.

Its crunch time right now for the Leafs and forward Matt Stajan knows it, “There are no more excuses we let one go yesterday ( Buffalo ) and we let one go last Friday ( Washington ). We can’t have any more let downs.”

The Leafs right now are playing with playoff intensity and the expectations may not be high from some fans or media members but the Leafs have placed high hopes on themselves. “I believe we have a really good hockey club” said Darcy Tucker “I really feel we have a good enough team to make the playoffs”

Leafs goaltender Andrew Raycroft complimented his penalty killers, “(Penalty) Killers have been doing a great job” he said. “We kill a lot of big penalties”

“I’ve played 40 straight games or it feels like it anyway” Raycroft said jokingly, although he meant it as a joke there has to be some aspect of truth to it. Right now Raycroft is playing what is probably the best hockey of his career or at least the best hockey since his Calder Trophy winning season in Boston .

The games are only going to get tougher for the Leafs with every team they are chasing is currently winning but Andrew Raycroft is quick to say, “Everybody else has tough games to.” But the Leafs are also aware that their destiny remains in their own hands since they will be playing the teams they are chasing. “Now it comes down to beating who is around us” Raycroft said.

Nobody could possibly know who will be in the playoffs at the end of the regular season but watching is half the fun. So for now we can just sit back relax and prepare for some great hockey.

 

 

Photo: Tomas Kaberle © Guy Argenzio (HV)