Hockey games just don't turn out fairly all that often.
In a year when the Coyotes have often been rewarded with points in games they should be losing by multiple goals, it is obviously fitting that they lose one of the best games they've played by three goals.
The Coyotes attempted 84 shots to the Leafs 58, but were undone by the brilliant work of Fred Andersen.
The Coyotes probably deserved a better result, but that's life.
Matthews didn't disappoint. While overall he didn't have his best game, he picked up an assists and during one stretch in the second period had about 4 scoring chances in a row. Somehow he was only credited with three shots on the night, but I think he has 5.
Either way, pretty good game. Doan scored his 400th goal.....
When the Leafs playing the Coyotes is that two things really contrast for me.
One is skating. The Leafs are just so fast. I don't think any team in the league can outskate them. Gardiner, Rielly, Matthews, Kadri, Brown, Komorov, Nylander, Marner....it's incredible how fast they are. While the Coyotes seem stuck in top six/bottom six 90's/00 strategy, the Leafs have offensive players up and down their entire lineup (even Soshnikov on the 4th line looks like a future 20 goal guy) and they skate you into the ground.
The second thing is that Babcock plays his rookies. There were nine rookies dressed for the Leafs last night and they played on every line and every pairing except the bottom D pairing.
He never made any of them "prove" it on the fourth line. He just put them where they can succeed and look out, they're one of the best teams in the NHL. They have nine rookies. NINE.
I've always said if you just gave a bunch of 18 and 19 year olds a chance, you could fill out the rest of your lineup with big money players and become dominant. Looks like the Leafs - whose best chance at a Cup will be within the next 2.5 years while all their best players are dirt cheap - think the same thing.
Coyotes could too......but they need to lose the old school hang-ups.
That's it for me until after Christmas. Hope you all have a great holiday and thanks for reading and calling me an idiot every day. This is a great gig and I really appreciate everyone who comes by.
I don't know if Santa will give it to you, but I do know that X will!