Well, It Wasn't What We Hoped For...

As I watched the Leafs game last night, there was good feeling in my body that the Boys had a chance. The Canadiens were down by 2 goals with little time left in regulation and the Leafs were tied 2-2 with a feisty, yet beatable, Islanders team. I think it was only a minute or so after that, when Jason Blake skated around the Leafs' offensive zone like he was an extra attacker and then fired a shot just at the top of the circle, that put the Islanders up by one. That goal also showed how poor the Leafs defensive was playing and also that the Islanders had done their homework on Raycroft (a high shot on the glove side is his weaknesses). After that point in the game, the Leafs were simply playing out of desperation. You could see that the Leafs bench was beat and that there was no chance of them scoring the tying-up goal. This loss now puts the Leafs fate out their own hands and the playoff equation is now simple for the Leafs - they must win tomorrow night. The rest is out of their control. Below are some articles on last nights game.

Fate out of Leafs' hands - Toronto Sun
Leafs down to last chance - MapleLeafs.com
Leafs downed, but not out - Sportsnet
Leafs fall, as Islanders keep hope alive - TSN
Isles hand on to slim playoff hopes, down Leafs - ESPN
Leafs down to last chance - Toronto Star
Islanders condemn Leafs to last chance saloon - Globe & Mail
Leafs on the clock - Toronto Sun

Leafs Remain In The Hunt

Last night the Leafs beat the Flyers in overtime 3-2 with a howitzer from Bryan McCabe. Overall, the Leafs looked good last night, especially Raycroft, who had to come up big after his performance in New York on the weekend. As I posted yesterday, I was hoping for a Rangers win, however the Islanders won 3-2 in the shootout. This is still a good scenario for the Leafs, as now the Rangers will be playing Montreal tough on Thursday night to secure their playoff position and the Leafs will face an Islanders team who may attempt to rest the game on the shoulders of their new goaltender Wade Dubielewicz, who played on his head last night. Don't get me wrong, the Thursday night contest will be a tough one for the Leafs, but given the recent track record of the Islanders since the injury to DiPeitro (1-3), this game should result in a Leafs W.

Here are some links about last nights contest:

Toronto remains one spot out of eighth in the East with OT win - ESPN
McCabe's OT goal keeps Leafs in hunt - TSN
Leaf playoff hopes alive - Sportsnet
A gigantic sigh of re-Leaf - The Toronto Star
Leafs keep pace with playoff pack - The Globe & Mail
Leafs keep hopes alive - National Post
McCabe keeps Leafs in hunt - The Toronto Sun