Rollercoaster Ride for Leafs Fans

What a weekend with, finally, a not unexpected result. The Leafs did not qualify for the Stanley Cup playoffs. It was an emotional rollercoaster like no other to come to that conclusion though. First, Hockey Night in Canada featuring the Leafs-Canadiens in a single elimination game. The Leafs must win in regulation time or the Canadiens advance, end of story.

The Leafs start off on the right foot, pelting Habs goalie Cristobal Huet with 23 shots in the 1st period and build a 3-1 lead a little over a minute into the 2nd. Then the Michael Ryder show takes off with some help from Leafs goalie Andrew Raycroft.

Don Cherry defended Raycroft on the first Ryder goal, coming up the boards on Raycroft’s right and screened by Pavel Kubina. I don’t buy it. While he may have been partially screened, Raycroft still had time to pick up that puck on its way to the net. It flicked off his glove and in. It was a weak one, and the collective Leafs psyche crumbled before our eyes as they allowed 2 more Ryder goals, pulled Raycroft for Jean-Sebastien Aubin, gave up a power play goal and were suddenly, stuningly, behind 5-3.

All looked lost at this point, but Carlo Colaiacovo – I like this kid – brought them within 1 late in the 2nd. Montreal got in some penalty trouble early in the 3rd, and the Leafs capitalized for 2 goals and a 6-5 lead. Maybe the Habs should have pulled Huet? At any rate, the Leafs had us on the edge of our seats to the bitter end, having just reminded us (as if we needed reminding) a period ago that holding a lead is not their forté.

This time they managed the task. Final score: Leafs 6, Canadiens 5. The Canadiens are eliminated and the Leafs now hold the final playoff spot.

Oh wait a minute. The New York Islanders to no ones surprise defeated the Philadelphia Flyers 4-2 Saturday afternoon. They play Sunday afternoon against the New Jersey Devils. A win for the Isles in that game, and they vault over the Leafs for the final playoff spot. It is sit and wait and hope for the best time for the Leafs.

And why should the Devils care about this game? They shouldn’t. For the 30% of Canadians who responded to TSN’s poll, “should the Devils feel obligated to start Martin Brodeur in this game”, you are truly delusional. Don’t forget the fact the Leafs played the Islanders just a few nights prior and had their chance to eliminate them right then and there. They failed miserably.

On to the game recap. I’ll keep it brief. Isles build a 2-0 lead and are cruising. No way they lose this game. The Devils just don’t care. Then, John Madden pots a goal at the 15:47 mark of the 3rd. Interesting. Then the unthinkable. The final seconds are ticking down, and the Isles fail to clear the puck. I don’t want to throw around the blame unjustly but I believe it was Brendan Witt. The Devils hack away at it and finally Madden, again, knocks his own rebound back toward the goal and in with under 1 second on the clock. Wow. Heartbreaking for the Isles. They look absolutely dejected on the bench. A miracle for the Leafs!

That was short-lived. The game went to a shootout, and this is when Leafs fans really got to groan about Martin Brodeur not being between the pipes for the Devils. Stand in Scott Clemmensen looked outmatched allowing the first two past him. For the Isles, 3rd stringer Wade Dubielewicz looked like a seasoned vet with his effective poke check stopping shots 2 and 3. Isles win. They face the Sabres. Leafs are out.

Does this mean the end of GM John Ferguson? Is that a “Hell Ya!” I hear from Leafs Nation? My brother thinks so. My friends think so. Honestly, I’m not sure. And more importantly, I’m not sure it matters much. Ownership doesn’t really care about wins and losses, just the appearance of trying. The fans keep coming no matter what the product on the ice looks like. Do you know anyone who dropped $1,000+ for Leafs-Habs tickets on Saturday? Some people did, and thats proof enough of my prior statement. Blind loyalty – got to love it.

Mind you, Maple Leafs Sports and Entertainment does throw the money around on player contracts. They just need someone who can spend that money a lot more wisely than Ferguson. But is MLSE motivated enough, passionate enough like true hockey fans, to say, “we’ve seen enough” and hand Ferguson his walking papers? Unfortunately the answer is, probably not.