Last nights game between the Maple Leafs and the NY Rangers was an exciting affair to say the least. More positives for Leaf fans to rejoice in. Clarke MacArthur gets his 5th goal on the season to tie the game, and start a 3 goals in 6 minutes thrashing that included Mike Komisarek's first goal as a Leaf, as well as a beauty goal by Kessel from a nifty Bozak pass.
The second period was a thing of beauty. Not only did the Leafs make the Rangers look silly, it was also the first game the leafs didn't score first, but that all changed in that wonderful second period. A good sign that this team will not fold up shop when things are not going their way. In fact it seemed to motivate them.
Things were going swell until mid-way through the third, when perpetual asshole Sean Avery slashed Mike Komisarek, not once, but twice in the leg well behind the play. There was a ref facing the incident as it happened, yet all this goof got was a 2 minute minor. Are you fucking kidding me? That should have been an automatic game misconduct and a suspension.
But no, just as I predicted last night, there was no further discipline from the NHL. How the hell does this ass clown get involved in two major incidents in less than a week and not have the NHL do anything about it? It is a fucking joke. Didn't Montreal forward Mike Cammalleri get a one game suspension for doing almost the exact same thing in a pre-season game?
The NHL had no problem handing out one of their new head shot penalties on a clean shoulder on shoulder hit, that fit none of the criteria of the new head shot rule, yet Avery gets away with it. Typical NHL head office incompetence. They must be too bust trying to keep hockey in the desert. More on that story in a future post.
After serving his measly 2 minute minor, a 5 on 3 power play that the Leafs failed hard to do anything with
( SHOOT THE FUCKING PUCK!), Avery manages to set up the tying goal. The leafs were clearly riled up over the whole thing, and seemed to have lost focus. But I also noticed some bullshit officiating going in that period that made things worse. Like when Komisarek gave Avery a little bump behind the net, of course Avery plays it up like some soccer player, and the penalty goes to the Leafs for cross-checking. It seems the refs were too worried about protecting the guilty and not actually doing the right thing in the first place.
By the end of the third period the Buds seemed to have re-gained their focus and looked sharp once again.
An exciting OT climaxed with a sweet game winning goal by Kessel (his 4th on the season).
Last year, being down a goal, and/or allowing a team to tie a game would have in either situation resulted in a loss most nights, no longer seems to be the case. I also believe that when the first loss happens, unlike in past years, it will a motivating experience rather than a nasty morale slide. At the rate they are going I would not be surprised if they go in to win the North East Division.
So what about Avery? Well the Leafs play the Rangers two more times this month, the next meeting being on Thursday. I am sure justice will be served on way or another. I would gladly take a suspension to personally deal with that guy. And I bet the player that does finally cross the line with Avery would receive many anonymous gift baskets from players and coaches around the league, hell, I bet the biggest gift basket would be from Rangers bench boss John Torttorella.
** MILESTONES**
Clarke MacArthur became the fist Leaf in History to score a goal in their first 4 games as a Maple Leaf. Not too shabby for a guy that nobody wanted a few months ago.
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