FTB: Your Mathematical Mind

Welcome to Tuesday, December 16, an interesting date in history.

Arthur C. Clarke celebrates his 90th today.

If Beethoven were still alive, he would turn 238 (and be desperately clawing at the inside of his casket). It's also Jane Austen's birthday, she'd be 233. (I feel about 233 years old when Mrs. MF37 fires up the multi-DVD set of Pride and Prejudice, although it must be said that Colin Firth can really work a sweater).

Also on this date in history, the Boston tea party took place as American colonists boarded British ships and dumped more than 300 chests of tea overboard to protest tea taxes. To keep this hockey relevant, please hit up the comments and submit your design for a Bruins third jersey featuring a tea-bagging bear to commemorate this historic event (be very careful if you're going to hit google up for inspiration on this one).

Ok. Enough history and lame jokes.

Can you tell it's quiet out there in the land of hockey? Seriously. No games since Friday's win in Buffalo; a moratorium on player transactions until the New Year; Leafs GM speculation done, coaching solidified...I'm worried if things don't pick up I'll have to read the local sports pages or talk about potential destinations for Mats Sundin. Ugh.

Even though there seems to be paucity of compelling items in Leaf land, there' is some really great content out there on the blogs just waiting for an insightful comment, a joke or a note of thanks from readers like you.

• Alec Brownscombe has an early look at tonight's Leafs-Devils match-up.
• Devils' Blog Fire and Ice claims Clemmensen is 4-2-1 with a jaw dropping 1.89 goals-against average and .943 save percentage all-time against the Leafs. No word on how many of those shots were fired directly into his chest by Jason Blake.
• In a true Barilkosphere joint production, your lovely and talented guest host and the mathematical mind of Chemmy teamed up to examine shoot-out stats.
• Blogging machine Toronto Sports Media has posts on Sundin's next steps and a really great read about the Chicago Blackhawks.
• Former Leaf Andrew Raycroft stopped 34 shots (yes, in a single game) in a 3-2 Avalanche win over the Red Wings. That strange sound you hear is eyebleaf slamming the door behind him as he heads off on holidays..
• Speaking of former Leafs, General Borschevsky has circled a few important dates on the calendar.
• Mirtle looks at the NHL's most improved players. Matt Stajan cracks the line-up and so does Kyle "Beefcake" Wellwood.
• Pat Quinn (friend of PPP) has made the final cuts for the World Junior Tournament and sadly, Brayden Schenn, bother of Luke, didn't make the team. The good news is, Leafs prospect Chris DiDomenico made it. The official roster can be found here.
• Another Leaf prospect, Jimmy Hayes, has made Team USA  (in a shout-out to 2003 and web 1.0, Team USA released their roster in a word document that you have to download to access). No word if this is the same Jimmy Hayes of a sweet looking steakhouse on the south shore of Long Island. I couldn't find any info on Leafs prospect Jerome Flaake qualifying for team Germany - hit us up in the comments if you have news.
• Steve at Hockey Analysis has his take on the Leafs and World Juniors here.
• I'm wondering which contributor in Chatty Cathy put Mike Ulmer up to this one. He files a blog entry at the Leafs official site claiming "White Proving Worth at Both Ends"
• And even though it's 12 days old, newest Leaf Jaime Sifers' first (and only) blog entry is really worth the read.
• Did you think that Moose had finally had his comeuppance and been shot in South Central for wearing the wrong colours? Well, turns out he's just screening Greener's calls. At least he came back for the podcast./

To the comments!