My wife and I have a funny relationship. I'm eternally the one that sheds the 'realistic light' on everything we do, while she's constantly optimistic and idealistic; she sees the 'inherent good' in everyone, while I'm always on the lookout so that we're not being scammed or taken advantage of.
Not sure how that relates to hockey blogging? I can explain that.
When it comes to sports, I'm always the optimist. Sometimes, though rarely, I can be easily defeated and come across as 'Mr. Black Mood' when my team isn't working well. This season, I've tried really hard to support my team in each respective sport and to do so without the defeatist attitude. It's been tough, let me tell you.
The Toronto Maple Leafs are showing signs of wear and tear that are typical this time of the year when you're not in a playoff position. Often, teams that are desperate to get into a better position or to win their division will cast a glance at their remaining schedule or find themselves scoreboard watching. Playing against teams currently in playoff positions is not as favourable as playing teams who are in the bottom three in the conference. The Leafs are playing far more teams who are in a solid position, and can't expect too many 'gimmes.'
They've played some bad games lately, most recently a total stinker in Toronto against Tampa. Reimer looked ordinary, something we haven't seen from the kid yet, and Toronto's defense looked as if they'd forgotten that it was a 7PM start.
The Leafs now need to get 10 wins from their final 12 games, and hope that they get a little bit of help along the way. Thus far, they haven't got it, with one saving grace (read: exception) being a nice 3-2 win against Buffalo on Saturday night.
In a recent interview, Gary Roberts mentioned that the Leafs would often win those big Saturday night games and then come out on Monday and lay down a massive egg. In that sense, it's happening again. What makes Saturday night games more important than the Monday nighters? Realistically, we can't say that the two games they played had any more significance than the other. A loss is a loss, and at this point it's losses that count for more than wins because any more than two losses and their playoff flames are officially extinguished.
In other Leafs news, Matt Lashoff looks to be making his first start with the senior club after being signed from Tampa in the off-season. Likewise, a 3 year deal was signed with Jake Gardiner, whom we acquired in the Lupul-for-Beauchemin deal. He's at the University of Wisconsin right now, putting up huge points for defenseman (40 points in 41GP). Burke will have him report directly to the Marlies and he'll play the rest of the season there, including the playoffs which will give him a great taste of what the big club can offer. With the Leafs not likely to make the playoffs, the Marlies look to get a few more people at their games for those who are starved for playoff hockey.
Anyway, that's about all the news that is relevant to the Toronto Maple Leafs. I'd like to see an improved effort in Carolina, but I understand that two teams of the same calibre are going to be in an all out battle. Toronto can only hope to win and then get some help.
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