2013: The NHL season that almost wasn't

Well, I wouldn't drop 'em with you. Except at The Goose where I have friends.

 

Nazem Kadri has a trick against the Isles after two. Leafs up 4-2

The guy's third goal was Datsyuk/Crosby worthy.

Here it is:

His time in the AHL was well spent

 

....and I would have none, including my lovely and very tolerant wife!

Nice goal by Kadri, is he finally getting it?

I will throw in a shout out to my boy Jay McClement, a very nice free agent pick up by the Leafs.

 

He's getting it big time. His defensive play is solid and I think we can thank Dallas Eakins for that.

Your guy McClement is an integral part of the team. Guy is a workhorse and never takes a shift off.

Reimer let in the first shot and has been solid since.

 

Not sure what the sentiments are for Brian Burke on this board but it should be pointed out that essentially, this is his team: he said at his exit press conference that he believed he would be proven right on Reimer and so far, he has. His van Reimsdyk deal has worked out well. He wanted "tenacity, testosterone, etc." and the Leafs are playing that way. Even firing Wilson when he did last year has proven a good move...he said at the time that it was essentially to give Carlyle a head start and a familiarity with players before training camp -- a training camp that, as we know now, never happened. So it put him ahead of guys like Oates and Hartley, who had to install systems on a compressed time frame and have been playing catch up ever since. Malign Burke if you like -- personally, I like his candor and his honesty -- but his fingerprints are all over a Leaf team that finally looks like it might be turning a corner.

 

Burke's biggest mistake was not firing his friend Wilson sooner. Reimer looks like the real deal and JVR has turned into a great addition. Will go to the tough places.

Carlyle has taken this team and turned it into a group that won't be pushed around any more and a team that looks like they'll all stand up for each other. If you run Reimer or Scrivens now, you will pay for it.

Burke may be a blowhard at times but I've always thought he was a good GM and I like his honesty.

And his support for the LGBT community, not just in hockey, but in Toronto, has been courageous.

 

DiPietro allows five goals on 12 shots in first start since going down to Bridgeport. I'm guessing DiPietro just needs to stop whining about being demoted.

http://espn.go.com/new-york/nhl/story/_/id/9006929/rick-dipietro-new-york-islanders-roughed-1st-start-demotion-ahl

 

Helluva game tonight between Pens and Montreal.

Habs down 4-2 in the second, score with about two minutes left to go in the period and then tie it up with .7 seconds.

Third period should be a doozy.

Cannot remember the last time Leafs didn't play on Saturday night.

Don Cherry was his usual crazy old man self on Coach's Corner.

EDIT. Final score: Pens 7-6 in OT

Crazy game.

 

Is Sunday the day when the Blackhawks finally lose in regulation? Playing Detroit at Joe Louis Arena (12:30 ET, NBC).

 

No. 2-1 win in SO.

 

Somebody call my name? ;D