Leaving BlogSpot

I have officially given up on blogging on blogspot. I have now transferred my blog home to xanga. So check me out from now on at http://www.xanga.com/home.aspx?user=sportswizard

The Leafs is not that bad

ok...i've had it! i've spent the the last 30 minutes reading articles with pure leafs bashing. from their defensive zone coverage to their lack of offence. i must admitt, the leafs offence haven't played to the standard expected from a team with so many quality players, and their defence could be doing a better job, but the truth is that everything is not as bad as it seems. the leafs might've been outshot 46-28, but how many of those shots have been legitimate scoring chances? the leafs defence have done a great job making sure eddie belfour see the shots all the way, clearing the traffic from the shooting lane, and keeping the shooters outside in the perimeter. most of the shots that was fired at eddie were either from the point with no traffic, or weak shots from the outside. the real chances the sens generate from those 46 shots could be counted on two hands. people also saw the leafs running around in their own zone, at time having trouble clearing the zone, and seeing ottawa continue to dump it in deep and send a two-man forecheck, with a third man waiting at the blue line. yes, the leafs did have trouble clearing the zone, often having pressure in their own for over a minute before it is cleared, but most of the time occured with the puck along the boards, with 2-4 players trying to dig it out, not effectively creating legitimate scoring chances. i really think people need to give the leafs defence more credit than they are getting right now. look at their penalty killing, the sens have had trouble generating any sustainable pressure on their powerplay this series. the leafs defence have shut-down one of the top powerplay team in the regular season. now i know, there is always room for improvement, but things are not as bad as they seem. but then again, the could be worse.

ok fine, i was wrong. the leafs lost game 6 n now the sens are coming back to this side of the 401 for the final battle. game 7, leafs 3-1.

Battle of Ontario

sitting here in front of my computer during the second intermission of game 6 between the Leafs and Sens, i began pondering if the series is living up to the hype generated by the media. the leafs haven't played particularly well this entire series, being out-shot, out-chanced, and pretty much out-played by the sens the entire series thus far, and somehow the sens have been shut-out three times by the leafs. with the leafs up 1-0 at this point of the game, i see this game going two ways. either the sens forces a game 7, or the leafs win in 6 and have just defeated an already defeated opponent. if the leafs win, it will all be about beating up a team they have defeated 3 of the last four years, it will be no big deal because........(fill in the blank) should ottawa come back, tie the series and force it go game 7, where the team live up to alfie's promise, it will simply be a team getting what they deserve for out-playing their opponent for the entire series. don't mistaken what i'm saying here, both teams have played good hockey, old fashion end-to-end rushes, not the boring trap that we have seen from the devils in recent years. i just feel that regardless the outcome of this series, media and fans alike will somehow pick out the negative of this series. while many predicted the winner of the series to go on to represent the east in the stanley cup finals, watching all but one game thus far caused me to think twice about these predictions. the leafs haven't played a solid game for the full 60 minutes so far, at times struggling to get the puck out of their own zone, while the high-powered sens offence have been blanked 3 times so far. it makes me wonder if they can survive into the finals. with either the flyers or the bolts waiting to play the winner of this series, it certainly will not get any easier for the winner of this series. the bolts have proven themselves to be a force with their 5 game victory over the isles, while the flyers have showed their goltending problems are behind them with esche stepping up to defeat the devils. either the bolts speed game or the flyers physical game will be next for either the leafs or the sens, and whoever they face, the ontario teams must step up their game to the next level. the leafs must be more agressive on the forecheck, maintain good pressure in the opponent's zone, and most of all get the puck out of their zone. if the sens somehow defeat all the odds against them and defeat the leafs (high unlikely), they must take the offence to the next level, for a team to get shut-out three time in a series (i predict the final leafs win will also be a shut-out) when their offence was #1 in the league in the regular season is inexcusable. bondra has been held pointless, and he must step up his play. the entire sens offence must step up.

ok, third period starting, so my prediction, leafs 2-0 in game 6...montreal will beat boston (yes, i know i predicted boston to win in 6, but the way montreal is playing lately, i changed my mind) 4-2 on monday.
leafs will play flyers next round
and finally, flames and canucks, what a game that was, too bad one of these teams have to go out. it was one of the most entertaining games i've seen for awhile. end-to-end rushes, heavy checks, just great hockey. for those who missed it, you missed out on a great game. flames will win 3-1 on monday.

wow...laser quest was fun...great to see everyone again...

so anyways, here is my little short thing on the leafs/sens again. yeah, the leafs won 2-0 tonight, and now they're leading 2-1 in the series, but i still worry about their chances further into the playoffs. let's see, where should i start. first, with the age of alot of leafs players, plus the punishment they've been receiving so far in the series against the sens, i worry some of their bodies will start going down later on in the playoffs. second, they have been relying too much on eddie. once again the sens got over 30 shots in one game, outshootiing the leafs, and outchancing the leafs. the leafs defence haven't been solid in front of him, they haven't been clearing the zone against the sens forecheck. they've had trouble winning the battles along the boards, giving sens point shots after point shots on eddie. sooner or later they will find a way to get a puck by him. let see, the faceoffs. ok, i don't know if this will be problem for them this playoff, but it was hard to sit there and watch the leafs centres lose faceoffs in their own end and thus giving the sens clean shots at the net. what else is there...hmm...oh...the leafs have had trouble generating offence on the ottawa defence, they have had trouble sustaining constant pressure on the sens defence by forechecking and keeping the puck deep in the ottawa zone. it seems as though once the puck enters the sens end, it comes right now. i think thats all for the negative, i think i'm gonna at least say some good things about the leafs. its great to see eddie once again standing on his head, stopping everything that the sens are throwing at him. also great to see mats finally scoring a goal. it must've been frustrating stepping on the ice each shift and having a 6-5 guy as your shadow, but he's the superstar, and he will be expected to deliver despite the circumstances that he's facing. and finally...my prediction still remains the same. leafs in 6