enough is ENOUGH!

Ok, I am going to vent my spleen a little bit. I have never seen such ATROCIOUS hockey in my life as I witnessed last night by my team, the Toronto Maple Laughs. They looked like a friggin' peewee team out there against the Senators, a team I obviously loathe. My only consolation is that Daniel Alfredsson (whom I detest) managed only one shot on goal and had no points. I will admit that the Sens are a better team than the Leafs: faster, more skilled, more experienced, and, in general, more disciplined. That does not mean that almost every game has to be a ROUT for Ottawa. Though there are a few players not pulling their weight (Kaberle, especially, though I love the guy) I want to suggest two quick remedies for the Leafs in order to start to turn the ship around:

1. Bench Brian McCabe: What the heck was Ferguson thinking signing this chump to a 5-year $28.75 million contract? Those are Nicholas Lidstrom/Scott Stevens numbers, not Brian "Defensive Error" McCabe numbers because, though he can be great SOMETIMES, he is inconsistent, makes boneheaded decisions with the puck, takes stupid penalties, and is really a power play specialist. His play 5-on-5 scares the crap out of me! Separate him from Tomas Kaberle if you won't bench him and see what happens...

2. Get rid of Wade Belak!!! For heaven's sake, HOW DID THIS GUY EVEN MAKE THE NHL?? It's like watching Aki Berg all over again except Belak likes to shoot his mouth off to the press, calling Sens players Chris Neil and Brian McGrattan 'idiots'. In my opinion, Mr. Belak should take a look in the mirror because, as my friend Paul says, he is a "useless sack of hammers". He is already -3 this year and last year was a whopping -13!! I don't care how many injuries there are in Leafs defensive corps, put young Jay Harrison on the ice and get Belak up in the press box before he makes any more mistakes--watching him last night in that loss was PAINFUL! Easily one of the worst players in NHL history!

I must say, know matter how I feel about the Sens, they are a great team and fun to watch. Jason Spezza is going to be,if he isn't already, a star (rivals Kyle Wellwood's playmaking skills) and the combination of him and Dany Heatley is inspiring to watch as a hockey fan, even if they are combining to kick the crap out my team. I would consider myself a Spezza fan (much like Joe Sakic, but I hate Colorado), but I will NEVER, EVER, say the same about Daniel Alfredsson--EVER! There is only room in my heart for one Swedish hockey star and his name is Mats Sundin, my captain (tears spring to my eyes, I begin to weep openly...).

I also want to make it clear to anyone who is still with me after this enraged rant: Don't blame Andrew Raycroft's goaltending for ANYTHING. If it hadn't been for him last night the score could easily have been 15-2 rather than 7-2. He has been great and it is the Leafs defensive zone coverage and lack of grit/desire that are to blame. Get the defence up to snuff and Raycroft will backstop them into the playoffs--that's my prediction. And yes, for anyone who is curious I do think that Tucker should not have picked that fight with Patrick Eaves, but since I am a Christian, I am extending him grace and continuing to love him--end of story.

I PRAY that tomorrow night in Montreal will be different...