- JIMI-JAMES

Sorry. I was playing last night and wasn't able to join in during the game.

I appreciate that. I realized that these games are much more fun on the winning side. But this rivalry is awesome. Been doing this for 43 years (well 40 or so) and it is always a blast regardless of outcome. We got this one, you guys got the last two, and the next one will be even more important.
- hscesq

The habs where due a win against the leafs...It's not losing to the Habs that fans should be upset about it's the poor effort from the team..

RC should bench Kessel tonight for that effort last night...It's not acceptable for ya best player to fail to show up like he did last night..

Last nights game was a stinker, I thought the Brown penalty should have been two but whatever, these things happen throughout the season.

Hopefully there's no leafs fans in here screaming about the sky falling. It was one loss. Pick yourself up, and move on. In a season you're going to have at least a couple of those types of games...unless you're Chicago apparently. You don't lose if your Chicago.
- Scruffton

I smell a patriots scenario

I think the Habs have locked up a playoff spot already. This one was HUGE for you guys.

A third loss to the Leafs would have worked its way into the players heads. Beating them now brings things back to normal, i.e. you never really know which team is going to win when MTL plays Toronto.

I would love to see the head to head over the last 20 years... it has to be really close.
- Aetherial

Can't think like that if you're the Habs.

I appreciate that. I realized that these games are much more fun on the winning side. But this rivalry is awesome. Been doing this for 43 years (well 40 or so) and it is always a blast regardless of outcome. We got this one, you guys got the last two, and the next one will be even more important.
- hscesq

It's hard for me to be upset when I was expecting the leafs to be in 13th at this point in the season.

This season so far has actually been pretty decent for me so I can't complain. The leafs are getting unexpected good play from a number of players, Kadri is finally blossoming into the top six forward we were hoping he could become, the goalies are playing decent (although I'm happy Reimer is back, Scrivens handles the puck like a live grenade....so many rebounds).

The habs where due a win against the leafs...It's not losing to the Habs that fans should be upset about it's the poor effort from the team..

RC should bench Kessel tonight for that effort last night...It's not acceptable for ya best player to fail to show up like he did last night..
- Fruitcakenipple

You are absolutely correct. There was very little effort on the Leafs part. Honestly, I barely noticed Kessel at all. He really was non-existent. Kadri was involved, as was Komorov and maybe Grabo to some extent. But other than Scrivens, nobody really showed up all in.

This is a big weekend coming up with Pitt and Boston back to back. But they have certainly been entertaining either way. I don't expect first in the east or even first in the division. But on most nights they have been fun to watch.
- hscesq

There is a smiliarity between the Leafs and Habs this season in that both teams look very different than last year. I think it comes down to coaching.

Look at Ottawa, no one can tell me they have the talent to compete as well as they do especially with the horrible injury luck... even healthy though, they play better than they should.

I used to think coaching as not so important. I am changing my mind

It's hard for me to be upset when I was expecting the leafs to be in 13th at this point in the season.

This season so far has actually been pretty decent for me so I can't complain. The leafs are getting unexpected good play from a number of players, Kadri is finally blossoming into the top six forward we were hoping he could become, the goalies are playing decent (although I'm happy Reimer is back, Scrivens handles the puck like a live grenade....so many rebounds).
- Scruffton

Same for us Habs fans. Don't forget (like you ever would) who was dead last in the conference last season.

It's hard for me to be upset when I was expecting the leafs to be in 13th at this point in the season.

This season so far has actually been pretty decent for me so I can't complain. The leafs are getting unexpected good play from a number of players, Kadri is finally blossoming into the top six forward we were hoping he could become, the goalies are playing decent (although I'm happy Reimer is back, Scrivens handles the puck like a live grenade....so many rebounds).
- Scruffton

They could be in 13th in a hurry if they continue to play like they did last night.....

There is a smiliarity between the Leafs and Habs this season in that both teams look very different than last year. I think it comes down to coaching.

Look at Ottawa, no one can tell me they have the talent to compete as well as they do especially with the horrible injury luck... even healthy though, they play better than they should.

I used to think coaching as not so important. I am changing my mind
- Aetherial

Can't argue with you there. Though sometimes it's not the coaching ability, but the coach losing his players. Let's face it - Wilson didn't forget how to coach, and neither did Martin. Their tenures had just run their courses.

You are absolutely correct. There was very little effort on the Leafs part. Honestly, I barely noticed Kessel at all. He really was non-existent. Kadri was involved, as was Komorov and maybe Grabo to some extent. But other than Scrivens, nobody really showed up all in.
- hscesq

Kadri has been the one player this season who almost always shows up to compete, I've been impressed. Frattin was playing like that too, unfortunately he went down but he should be back in the lineup soon, and there's no denying that Kadri line looks MUCH better with Frattin on it than Colton Orr.

That'll be a huge spark for the leafs. And then a little bit later we get Loops back into the mix and all of a sudden we have a decent top 9.

Can't think like that if you're the Habs.
- hscesq

I honestly think it would have to be a pretty monumental collapse to fall out of the playoffs for the Habs. They have not shown that collapse in them. They get demolished by the Leafs and they pull together and go 7-0-2 ...

Yeah, I think it is a pretty good bet that they will make the playoffs.

It is especially tough to gain ground this year with no inter-conference play.

Kadri has been the one player this season who almost always shows up to compete, I've been impressed. Frattin was playing like that too, unfortunately he went down but he should be back in the lineup soon, and there's no denying that Kadri line looks MUCH better with Frattin on it than Colton Orr.

That'll be a huge spark for the leafs. And then a little bit later we get Loops back into the mix and all of a sudden we have a decent top 9.
- Scruffton

I agree about Kadri. He's a different player this year. And let's face it - who wouldn't look better with Frattin than Orr?

I honestly think it would have to be a pretty monumental collapse to fall out of the playoffs for the Habs. They have not shown that collapse in them. They get demolished by the Leafs and they pull together and go 7-0-2 ...

Yeah, I think it is a pretty good bet that they will make the playoffs.

It is especially tough to gain ground this year with no inter-conference play.
- Aetherial

It's very easy to LOSE ground however.

The habs where due a win against the leafs...It's not losing to the Habs that fans should be upset about it's the poor effort from the team..

RC should bench Kessel tonight for that effort last night...It's not acceptable for ya best player to fail to show up like he did last night..
- Fruitcakenipple

Well I don't think Leafs fans enjoy losing to the Habs any more than vice versa. That is the way it should be.

This was very predictable though. The history between these two has just been way too consistently competitive. The Habs were absolutely due to win this one.

The habs where due a win against the leafs...It's not losing to the Habs that fans should be upset about it's the poor effort from the team..

RC should bench Kessel tonight for that effort last night...It's not acceptable for ya best player to fail to show up like he did last night..
- Fruitcakenipple

Kessel didn't have a good game. I still have a bigger beef with Bozak. 3 years playing on the top line, and I've yet to see one game where he carried the line, while the other two were having off nights. Bottom line, he wins face offs, and nothing else. We sooooooo desperately need a upgrade on the first line center.

Can't argue with you there. Though sometimes it's not the coaching ability, but the coach losing his players. Let's face it - Wilson didn't forget how to coach, and neither did Martin. Their tenures had just run their courses.
- hscesq

I have never understood that. I believe it. I just don't get it.

The best example is HitchRichard. Everywhere he goes, he wins. He even got Columbus into the playoffs! ... then, he always wears out his welcome after a few years.

Aaron Portzline ‏@Aportzline

Dispatch: Add #CBJ C Derick Brassard to the club's lengthy injury list; top three centers, top two defensemen are ou


No doubt about it now......... CBJ have a lock on MacKinnon.


Poor kid

It's very easy to LOSE ground however.
- hscesq

naw, they don't have that kinda collapse in them.

They could be in 13th in a hurry if they continue to play like they did last night.....
- Fruitcakenipple

Meh. All teams are going to have bad games like last night throughout the season. As long as the leafs continue to have more good games than bad games, I'm not going to panic.

naw, they don't have that kinda collapse in them.
- Aetherial

Injuries lead to collapses. Bourque and Diaz are both concussed. That was Kaberle's first game in a long time, and it reminds us of why.

Injuries lead to collapses. Bourque and Diaz are both concussed. That was Kaberle's first game in a long time, and it reminds us of why.
- hscesq

Ottawa disagrees with you

Ottawa disagrees with you
- faceto27

Ottawa is running solely on the power of PM's mustache.

Kessel didn't have a good game. I still have a bigger beef with Bozak. 3 years playing on the top line, and I've yet to see one game where he carried the line, while the other two were having off nights. Bottom line, he wins face offs, and nothing else. We sooooooo desperately need a upgrade on the first line center.
- faceto27

Thats where a guy like O'rielly comes in...He might not be a true #1 but he would most certainly be an upgrade over Bozak...


The leafs not gonna get a true/proven #1 via trade or FA so i guess it's gonna have to be at the draft...Good luck..

Years with no wingers to play with Sundin and not's it's looking like years with no center to play with Kessel..

Same for us Habs fans. Don't forget (like you ever would) who was dead last in the conference last season.
- hscesq