This is a new feature where we're going to quote local papers, opposition papers, and opposition bloggers on the previous night's game. As always, give us your feedback in the comments.
From SBNation's own Die By The Blade:
The power play looked good all night and would have had five or six power play goals if not for the stellar play of goalie Justin Pogge.
I have to agree with D.O. here, the biggest story last night was Pogge making the crystal clear statement that he wants to play in the NHL.
More after the jump!
The Star had this:
The folks who showed up to see the Leafs beat the Sabres 7-4 seemed thrilled to be occupying real estate they probably otherwise could not afford. The closest-to-the-ice platinums, whose padded cushions match the austere suit-and-tied wardrobes of their typical business-class inhabitants, had perhaps never seen so many fun lovers in team colours. So the atmosphere was more boisterous than the usual business meeting in progress.
This is a little sad. With a young team and a loud building behind them, the Leafs came out breathing fire last night. One has to wonder if kicking out most of the lower bowl and making those seats available to actual fans wouldn't help the on ice product.
The Star also had this to say:
One play in particular speaks volumes for this new philosophy. A re-invigorated Jason Blake – who picked up a goal and an assist and played the part of forechecking pest – was killing a penalty in the second period.
Blake looked like a competent hockey player last night, anyone who watched must have been as mystified as I was.
Jeff Finger, the free-agent defenceman few had heard of, led the team with four blocked shots.
"That's what matters in this game," said Finger. "You do the simple things right, you're going to win."
That's a good start for a guy who's going to come under a lot of scrutiny. If Finger plays physical and blocks shots, he'll earn a lot of fans in Ontario.
Winger Ryan Hollweg stirred things up, leading the team with five hits and throwing in a fight for good measure.
I still think Hollweg is a liability, he has a tendency to throw hits that are pretty close to being from behind, but last night he flattened Peters, got Ondrus beaten up by Kaleta, and then got Peters tossed from the game. Hollweg lived up to being an annoying player on the ice, I just hope he keeps his hits clean.
Jiri Tlusty, Matt Stajan and Boyd Devereaux also scored for the Leafs, who, on the downside, allowed three power-play goals and took too many undisciplined penalties.
Our PK still sucks. Hopefully Jamal Mayers, who was brought in pretty much entirely to be a veteran presence and run the PK, helps things out and the Leafs get more comfortable in a new system.
Finally, here's what the Buffalo News had to say about the Leafs last night:
But the Leafs beat Miller three times on 11 shots and solved prospect Jhonas Enroth three times on 13 shots and added an empty-net goal with 17 seconds left.
They sure did.
Tallinder made the Sabres’ first mistake of the exhibition season midway through the first period. He was skating out of his zone and dropped a pass that went to the Leafs’ Dominic Moore. The forward beat Ryan Miller with a high shot to tie the game at 1-1.
Dominic Moore, your Pension Plan Puppets 1st star for last night.