After having gone so many games in which they either won in overtime/shootout, or lost in overtime/shootout, the Toronto Maple Leafs have been thinking nothing but the playoffs.
They probably still are thinking about the playoffs, however a 60-minute reality check hit them all in the head when the Chicago Blackhawks played them Saturday night in Toronto.
Before the game was 1:30 old, Chicago's Marian Hossa already had the Blackhawks up by 1-0. Minutes later it was 2-0 and by the end of the third period, it was 3-0 Chicago.
To their credit, and sometimes you really have to give it to them, they fought back. Like a Junior hockey game anywhere in the country, the game isn't quite done until it's done. Usually the Maple Leafs have proved to be possibly the lone exception to that 'rule' but not on Saturday they didn't show any signs of wilting. In fact they made a pretty good game of it, coming back a pair and keeping the 'Hawks off the scoresheet after they got their fifth.
The big highlight of the week had to have been two nights earlier when they took down the Philadelphia Flyers in Philadelphia. Should Toronto make this year's playoffs, it is likely they would either get a first round match up with these same Flyers or the Boston Bruins.
For three weeks the Maple Leafs have lived in the NHL's fast lane, rubbed shoulders with big-shot contenders, won key games, excited fans and had Lady Luck at their table. Hopefully it will last. Certainly Saturday's visit from the Stanley Cup champion Chicago Blackhawks exposed at least one major crack that must be filled if this playoff push is to hold until April. Toronto had no signs of any kind of defence. Two bad giveaways in their own end saw the 'Hawks capitalize within seconds. That put them up 2-0.
Two weeks or so ago all the talk was about how Toronto had no shot in you-know-what of qualifying for the post season. They have always been the team that never could win when it counted. Now, they seem to have gotten something back. The loss to the 'Hawks was only their second regulation loss going back close to a month. They have been playing well. A month ago, this same 'Hawks team likely would have killed them and made it look really easy.
As of our press time in Yorkton, the Leafs had a crucial game last night in Long Island, against the team they've won against twice since the 1st of February. However if they start the game by giving up the puck in their own end twice in 10 minutes, it'll be over quickly. Leaf captain Dion Phaneuf put it best when asked what it's like at this time, every season when there are 4-5 teams all in contention, not all of them will make it, then you've got the top 4-5 teams in the conference and you are looking for those teams to help you.
"It's always that way down the stretch, it seems there are teams who never lose," Phaneuf said Monday at the MasterCard Centre. "But two weeks ago, we said we can only control things we can control and not worry about what everyone else is doing."
Phaneuf's Leafs currently sit five point back of the 'new' eighth-place team, Buffalo (last week it was Carolina) and could cut the deficit to three points with a win last night on the Island. Results of the Leafs/Islanders weren't available at press time. Breathing down Toronto's neck was Atlanta and New Jersey.Toronto's conference menu includes the Sabres and Hurricanes in the next week or so.
If there's anything you'd like to see covered by Game 7, please forward your suggestions to the YTW sportsdesk by phone (306) 782-2465, fax (306) 786-1898 or email me at jeff@yorkton this week.com
