Leafus Patheticus

I was lucky enough to be invited to the Toronto Maple Leaf game tonight.

While it was an enjoyable time, there was nothing enjoyable about the version of the blue and white that took the ice at Air Canada Centre this evening.

The Leafs were blown out 7-1 by the Washington Capitals and star left-winger, Alexander Ovechkin, who led the Caps with a strong, two-goal performance.

Awful goaltending from both Vesa Toskala and Andrew Raycroft, non-existent defence and total disorganization on the ice were but the high points of the Leaf game.

This is a badly comprised, inadequately-coached team.

As I have said elsewhere, let the firings begin.

UPDATE: October 30, 2007

Howard Berger at Hockey Buzz makes the point that blowouts like last night's have not been altogether unusual for the Leafs over the last two years. He lists the following home ice debacles:

• 8-0 loss to Ottawa, Oct. 29, 2005
• 5-1 loss to Boston, Nov. 23, 2005
• 8-4 loss to Buffalo, Jan. 26, 2006
• 6-2 loss to Ottawa, Oct. 24, 2006
• 5-2 loss to Atlanta, Dec. 5, 2006
• 7-3 loss to Florida, Dec. 19, 2006
• 6-1 loss to Vancouver, Jan. 13, 2007
• 6-1 loss to Buffalo, Feb. 27, 2007
• 7-1 loss to Carolina, Oct. 9, 2007
• 6-4 loss to Chicago, Oct. 20, 2007
• 7-1 loss to Washington, Oct. 29, 2007

- Garry J. Wise, Toronto

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