YO-YO ROLLER COASTER SEASON CONTINUES
One step forward, one step back. No matter how impressive the
first is, nor how pitiful the second, one never seems to gain
much ground. With the Maple Leafs this season, every time it
seems they are firing on all cylinders, they throw out a real
stinker that reminds many of the bad old days. Hard to figure
for the team that has been in a dead hunt for first place, not
just in their conference, not just division, but overall for the
first time in my entire lifetime.
What is difficult for leaf fans to grasp is that each time they
return to the days of the 80's when there was nothing to cheer
about, a quick glance at the standings still says all is okay.
How can this be? How can a team that is supposed to be fighting
tooth and nail for a playoff spot be in the lead or near it as we
approach the quarter pole? It just doesn't make sense.
There have been flashes of brilliance and, well, umm, flashes of
not so brilliance, yet they continue to rebound. One night they
get completely outplayed in Buffalo and lose 4-1, not more than
20 hours later they are celebrating a hard fought 2-1 win over
that same Buffalo team. This effort is continued two nights
later against Calgary, and again another victory.
What is strange is that the Leafs are not excelling in anything
but the standings. Yes, they are playing harder (but not every
night). Yes, they are skating faster, or should we say using
more of their speed. But their power play is awful, as is their
penalty killing. Statistically speaking, the duo of Cujo and the
Cat have but together one of the league's worst records. They
trail in almost all categories... except winning. Go figure.
As long as they keep winning the pressure will not be so hot
around the Gardens. This team must continue to do the little
things correct and try to improve on the larger things. The next
couple of weeks are going to be both a serious test for the team
on the ice and off. They are playing a ton of games in a short
amount of time, which is difficult in two ways.
One, there is little time for practice. If they get in a tail
spin, there's not much the coaches can do to work out of it.
Second, and perhaps more importantly, are injuries. With a rapid
succession of games and travel the body does tend to suffer
fatigue. This could be a problem with far reaching effect well
beyond the next couple of weeks. Should Sundin, Joseph (or Cat
for that matter) or Cote (who has been a tremendous addition)
join Karpovtsev (who was just starting to impress) and suffer a
major injury, the yo-yo roller coaster will be heading down and
not coming up. Further, the heat would certainly be turned up on
Smith to make a deal to help the club, perhaps before he is
ready.
Speaking of trades, there is nothing to report on the Felix
front. They had hoped to deal with Chicago and that went south.
Smith and company had better hope the team's good fortunes
continue. A long slide will certainly get the media smelling
blood and the calling for help via a Felix deal will come fast
and furious.
Stay tuned and buckle up. It ain't over yet.
