Hi. Last time I signed up to do the Leafs game recap it was the night that Garret Sparks gave up six to the Jets. Not that I think I'm jinxing the Leafs or anything, but it sure is weird that I keep drawing the short straw for games like this.

The game can really be summarized in a few short sentences and a graph, so I'll do that. The Leafs had a great first period and started the second strong, but when Brent Burns pushed past Dion Phaneuf to score as if he was a paper cutout, the Leafs lost a bit of energy.

Then, when they thought to themselves, "Hey, now it's time to rally with this powerplay!" at around 8 minutes into the 2nd, Matt Nieto and Tommy Wingels cut through changing Leafs D to fly down on Bernier 2-on-0, and scored shorthanded. Then the Leafs stopped trying. I mean, they gave up. This is "pokes with stick" territory right here:

The 1st is really the only period with nice Leafs hockey.

Here is an actual depiction of the goals for the 2nd and 3rd periods:

Something something Phaneuf fought Wingels:

Now when is Acha scheduled to write the next game recap?

Notes:

* Jonathan Bernier ended the night saving 24 of 31 shots, for a SV% of .774.

* Morgan Rielly was one of two players who looked the best on the ice, with two shot attempts and no goals scored against during his team-high 23:18 minutes of shifts.

* PA Parenteau had a team-high 7 shot attempts, but was on the ice for three of the goals scored against.

* Jake Gardiner completely failed to cover Joe Pavelski for that third Sharks goal. Bad, exhausted Gardiner.

* Dumb broadcast statistic: "By this time last year, the Leafs had five more wins than they do this year." OK, so what should we do with this statistic? Hire a better coach than Mike Babcock?

* "Storm's dying down." "How can you tell?" "Not as many sharks flying around."

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