[Open Thread] Leafs v. Sabres

by PPP on Apr 1, 2008 2:46 PM EDT in Game Day Open Threads

I am strongly suspicious of Andrew Raycroft getting the start tonight. While some fans would like to think that it might signal the beginning of a trio of starts for the former Calder Trophy winner I have an altogether different angle on things.

Toronto's last two games come against the senators and the Canadiens. Wins in those two games could help knock the senators out of the playoffs and keep Montreal from winning the conference. I'd like to think that Paul Maurice is giving Toskala a break to ensure that he is at his spoiling best for those two games. Is it short-sighted to want wins in those games? Is it ever. Will I enjoy them if they come to pass? You bet.

Here's a candidate for quote of the week:

"I don't have a crystal ball, nor do I make executive decisions around here," said Raycroft. "I just show up and enjoy my last five, six days of the season and go from there."

I am not sure that you need a crystal ball to know that it's Raycroft's five or six last days as a Leaf. Dear Andy, delusional to the end.

In other dispiriting news, Mats is out tonight and Kyle Wellwood needs another surgery on his groin. Pardon me while I pick up my jaw from the floor. Another surgery to repair something that should have been fixed months before it was actually operated on which in itself turned out to be far too late? Colour me shocked.

Anyway, put your SPG guesses in the comments and discuss whether a Sundin retirement will change how you view the man.

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Comments

congrats

on the record month, PPP. every month seems to be setting a new bar, and that's fantastic. i've been on the site for a few months now, and enjoy the daily posts and daily discussion with my fellow leafs fans.

as for raycroft, god, he is such a bum. god. he makes me sick.

poor wellwood. i seriously hope we bring him back next year, man. he's too young for us to let him walk.

as for mats, he's NOT played his final game in a leafs uniform. he will be back.

by eyebleaf on Apr 1, 2008 2:56 PM EDT reply actions

Thanks

It's fun tracking the site stats and seeing where the visits come from. The commenting and diary-writing helps a lot and the upcoming changes (tease) will make it a lot easier for everyone to interact.

Welly is breaking my heart. League minimum for one year.

by PPP on Apr 1, 2008 3:35 PM EDT up reply actions

Lose Diary?

Dear Diary:
McCabe sucks! Maurice not quite as much, but he's a close runner up. I saw a sock today! I was terrified.

by leosc on Apr 1, 2008 6:29 PM EDT up reply actions

socks

it was Stajan who kicked the sock, not Welly:
http://sports.yahoo.com/nhl/recap?gi...

by loser domi on Apr 1, 2008 6:36 PM EDT up reply actions

Matt is tougher than Welly

At least Stajan kicked the sock, with all the inherent risk and danger.

by leosc on Apr 2, 2008 8:45 PM EDT up reply actions

Welly

the sock Stajan kicked was tougher than him. He probably ran screaming from the room when he saw the air the sock got of Stajan's foot.

by jaredolondon on Apr 3, 2008 1:35 PM EDT up reply actions

Felicitaciones!

by leosc on Apr 1, 2008 6:32 PM EDT up reply actions

wellwood

I have a sneaking suspicion that whoever worked on Wellwood (and Carlo) learned everything they know from this instructional video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WFkgb...

by loser domi on Apr 1, 2008 2:57 PM EDT reply actions

Nice

Weird Al seems to be more qualified than the Leafs' current staff.

by PPP on Apr 1, 2008 3:35 PM EDT up reply actions

qualifications

well, he does have the chainsaw. And he seems better than this guy

by loser domi on Apr 1, 2008 3:48 PM EDT up reply actions

SPG--why the hell not edition

one word: STAJANFEST!!

by loser domi on Apr 1, 2008 3:00 PM EDT reply actions

SPG

S: Blake
P: McCabe
G: Andrew Raycroft on himself

by Chemmy on Apr 1, 2008 3:15 PM EDT reply actions

HAHAHHAHHAHAHAHH

beauty on the goal

by eyebleaf on Apr 1, 2008 3:18 PM EDT up reply actions

rayroft scores!

Would that even count? I mean, The officials didn't count the fabulous Bryan McCabe's own goal against Buffalo--are the rules different for goalies?

by loser domi on Apr 1, 2008 3:27 PM EDT up reply actions

Awkward Goalies

In my youth I played on a pretty good team with an atrocious goalie. Once he went to make a blocker save on a fluttering puck and somehow managed to flick the puck over his shoulder and into the net.

Somehow I can picture Raycroft doing that tonight.

by PPP on Apr 1, 2008 3:36 PM EDT up reply actions

tonight

I was conflicted. I want to watch Pedro Martinez pitch for the Mets but the Leafs only have three games left so I really should watch.

Thanks Raycroft, now I can watch Pedro in peace.

by Chemmy on Apr 1, 2008 3:39 PM EDT up reply actions

Mets

When my sister went to NYC for school rule # 1 was cheer for the Mets.

Fuck the Yankees.

by PPP on Apr 1, 2008 4:23 PM EDT up reply actions

Mats is out?

Wow, I didn't know Maurice was reading my blog.

Down Goes Brown - Because it's technically possible that things may get better before we all die. http://www.downgoesbrown.com/

by Down Goes Brown on Apr 1, 2008 3:45 PM EDT reply actions

hm

We need to chip in and get you some Zoloft.

by Chemmy on Apr 1, 2008 3:56 PM EDT up reply actions

hahaha

Maybe it means that he will be back this year and he wants to get healthy for the World Championships and then he'll be ready for next year.

Maybe.

by PPP on Apr 1, 2008 4:21 PM EDT up reply actions

SPG

S - Steen
P - McCabe
G - Kaberle (because if I keep guessing Kabs, one day I'll eventually be right and then I'll feel smart).

As for Raycroft starting tonight, may I please encourage one of the other Leafs to steal Andrew's jock before game time? Remember, if this bum coulda stopped a beach ball in the early going, you guys would be getting ready for the playoffs now.

And please, please, pleaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaase oh hockey gods, please let Ottawa go Mets-a-riffic, complete the choke and crap out of the playoffs entirely.

by jrwendelman on Apr 1, 2008 4:11 PM EDT reply actions

senators

And please, please, pleaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaase oh hockey gods, please let Ottawa go Mets-a-riffic, complete the choke and crap out of the playoffs entirely.

It would be an interesting end to a season in which some quick-shooters tried to compare them to the 1976-77 Habs and 1992-1993 Leafs as the greatest team ever.

by PPP on Apr 1, 2008 4:22 PM EDT up reply actions

ENT SPG

Shot - Blake
Penalty - McCabe
Goal - Shutout

by Evening News Team on Apr 1, 2008 5:22 PM EDT reply actions

Sundin

will be back for sure for 1-2 more. As usual, it is just toronto MSM spitting out articles to meet a quota.

If he retires I will curse the poor management of the Maple Leafs that was too inept to build a championship team around the greatest player in our history and one of the greatest to play the game. Renberg, Modin, Hoglund, Berezin, Blake, Antropov and Ponikarovsky (useless, don't kid yourself) is a rundown of the wingers he had to play with. With the possible exception of Modin, who this same management got rid of for high pitched whistle, all were useless with Sundin and most are and will be out of the NHL without him.

Stajan goal
Blake shot
Kubina penalty

by penaltyshotsca on Apr 1, 2008 5:45 PM EDT reply actions

Peddie's team vs Ballard's

Peddie was adamant on HNIC that we haven't currently returned to the low levels seen when Glorious Harold ruled the roost. In that he is right. While Ballard's teams were just as bad for losing, there wasn't a player on any of his teams that couldn't kick the crap out of our entire roster and in that I include Borje.

by penaltyshotsca on Apr 1, 2008 5:48 PM EDT reply actions