Maple Leafs 1 Dirty Cheaters 2

It was flashback Monday as CuJo stymied the senators for most of the game

The 2-1 loss to the senators is the kind that I think most Leaf fans can live with this season (and maybe next year's as well). The Leafs outplayed the senators for the majority of the game, another rookie got some experience, and a team below them in the standings unwittingly moved towards them. The "Stanley Cup Contender" ottawa senators were frequently pinned in their own zone by the Leafs' speed and tenacity and only managed to get two flukey shots past the 41 year old Martin Gerber. Bruce "Malkin to the Kings" Garrioch might want to thank Ron Wilson for starting Joseph because now he gets to write about the PLAYOFFS!!!1 since Gerber would have likely shut out the senators.

The highlight of the game wasn't that Alfredsson received deafening boos or that the senators' defence couldn't hang with the Leafs' mix of kids and AHLers but Martin Gerber giving Ronnie Wilson some insider information:

Wilson: Gerber you’re sitting tonight unless you tell me something amazing.
Gerber: Spezza uses illegal sticks.
Wilson: You’re sitting anyways.When Giggles realized that the jig was up on the illegal stick he tried to break it by stepping on the blade before going to the bench to try to switch it up but the referee was too quick (shocking) for him. What do senators fans think? Keep in mind all of the whining they have done throughout their history about everything from government support to the refs not calling enough penalties on the Leafs during the playoffs. Apparently they condone cheating:

Who the hell calls someone on an illegal stick challenge? I'm not going to criticize Ron Wilson for doing so on Spezza too much, I guess, because he was right and it gave his team a chance to tie the game late, but really. Come on. A game between two teams that has absolutely no bearing on any playoff race? Whatever, man, if it helps you sleep at night. I think, for the record, the penalty was because the minimum stick-blade width is 2", and Spezza's looked pretty thin near the tip.

- PeterR, Silver Seven Sens

Of course, this is the same fanbase that defends a hit from behind and holds it up as proof that their captain isn't a gutless puke. Oh yeah, and they worship at the altar of Chris "No thanks, I'll pass" Neil. I bet they think that Dany Heatley was unfortunate to have to do any community service.

Update: Adam Gretz found video of Giggles the cheater

Unfortunately, despite pulling Curtis Joseph the Leafs were unable to capitalise on the 6-on-4 so the senators pushed the Leafs' record in the last 10 to 7-2-1. They also cut down the gap in the standings to three points with only one game in hand. Stupid sens.

Things I Liked

1. The Rookie Lap - Phil Oreskovic got the same treatment as Tim Stapleton did earlier in the year and it never gets old. I can't imagine the joy that those guys feel making that first lap on their own. He actually played a pretty solid game.
2. Nikolai Kulemin - His defensive instincts have always been strong but I think that his game has gotten stronger over the last few weeks. He could still stand to be a bit more confident on the attack but defensively he is usually in the right position.
3. Curtis Joseph - This marks back-to-back strong games for Old Yeller. Too bad the Leafs only play the senators once more this season.
4. Jeff Hamilton - I figured out why Burke picked up Hamilton: he went to Yale. He needed to replace his lost Ivy Leaguer. He again looked good as he used his speed to pressure the puck and he picked up an assist on White's goal.
5. The Crowd - Despite the senators working to get these games moved away from Saturday nights the Leafs fan brought the noise and drowned out the sens fans that are still on the bandwagon. From the deafening booing to the louder chants they created an atmosphere that seemed misplace for a game between two bottom dwellers.

Things I Did Not Like

1. Two lucky goals - Daniel Alfredsson's goal was a knuckle puck fluke shot and Curtis Joseph had Heatley's deflection covered until Stajan's flamingoing foot tipped it past him. Who says the bounces don't go the Leafs' way?
2. A Monday Night Game - I know ottawa sucks but I like going there for hockey games. Please schedule more Saturday night games.
3. Mikhail Grabovski - While he is strong on the puck and the Leafs' most creative player he needs to learn to harness it. Making Giggles-like passes at the blue line can open up a team but it can also hurt your own team. Also, remember that you can't go end-to-end every shift.
4. Stopping the play because the ref is hurt - When a team is piling on the pressure on an opponent I think it's okay to ignore a referee that's laying in the corner until a natural stoppage in play.
5. Ian White and bouncing pucks - This is two games in a row where he can't handle a bouncing puck and it leads to a goal. How about using your feet or your hands champ?

The Leafs are back in action against another Tavares Cup challenger as they host the New York Islanders. Tune in tomorrow night. Same tanking team, same tanking channel.