Tonight the Leafs take on the Coyotes at the Jobing.com arena in Phoenix.
The Leafs are currently on a four game winning streak and the Coyotes have put up back to back wins. While the teams currently sit tied with 55 points each, the Leafs have an extra two wins.
While both teams are looking at making the playoffs through the wildcard system and neither is really a true Cup contender this year, the game prommises to be exciting as collectively, the two teams have some of the more exciting young players in the NHL.
For Coyotes fans, this is a great chance to get a first hand look at Phil Kessel and James Van Riemsdyk. For Leafs fans, its a chance to witness the joy that is Oliver Ekman-Larsson.
The Leafs will be without David Clarkson, who signed a crazy big contract this past summer as a UFA. While Toronto fans have lamented the signing as an overpayment for an underperformer, it says here that you shouldn't get too caught in small sample sizes and give the guy a break - he has after all suffered through two suspensions and multiple injuries. Sure, he probably makes too much money, but he's a good player and I think eventually Toronto fans will grow to love him as they tend to embrace the Tuckers, Domis and Roberts style players up there.
Just an outsiders perspective and maybe a Leaf fan could comment on this: but why do you sign a guy to that contract and complain he can't live up to it and yet they play him on the third line, behind Mason Raymond and don't seem to utilize his big body in front of the net on the powerplay?
--- Tonight's starting goalies should be Smith and Bernier, though I can't confirm that totally right now.
Sorry for the brevity, gotta go!
More after the game tonight,
Thanks for reading.