Wednesday, May 15, 2013
The Greatest loss since Gretzky High Sticks Gilmour.
The Toronto Maple Leafs loss to the Boston Bruins in game seven of the first round of the 2013 season is greatest loss to this franchise since the infamous game where Wayne Gretzky highsticked Doug Gilmour 20 years ago.
The Leafs fought back from a 3-1 series deficit to bring it to a decisive Game 7. Back to Boston. A city scarred by terrorism only days before the series began. Where on opening night the hockey fans of Boston sang a stirring rendition of the Star Spangled Banner that became the rallying cry for the city and for the nation.
Somehow, the Leafs managed to survive elimination in games 5 and 6. Suddenly there were more BeLeafers than Beliebers everywhere you looked.
Somehow, the Leafs managed to survive elimination in games 5 and 6. Suddenly there were more BeLeafers than Beliebers everywhere you looked.
Game 7. The greatest phrase in sports. The ultimate in sports.
The Bruins hammered our boys early. They got the first goal. Then we pushed back hard. And fierce. We began to dominate with speed and strength. Skill and ferocity. Zdeno Chara whose hulking stature make all other players in the NHL keep a safe distance instead make him this night a highly visible and lumbering target.
It was a far cry from the days when Chara would terrorize the Leafs like a scene out of a black and white horror movie. (Boris Karloff who played Frankenstein was 5' 11, Chara is 6' 9" without skates). Remember when he had Mike Komisarek by the jersey and threw him around like a dog with a rabbit in it's mouth. It could have been much worse, but that may have only been because Chara had been fed adequately earlier in the day.
This was a whole other team. Does any one remember the last time Chara got rolled around on the ice as much as he was in this hockey series. The Leafs went after him with both lone wolf and pack mentality.
In that game 7 it was all over by early in the third. The Leafs were swooping over the boards with great vengeance and furious anger. Hungry for one more piece. It was a climax to a incredible series filled with high drama, strength, skill, beauty and bone crushing violence. The physical toll taken on the Bruins was apparent on the scoreboard and on their faces. It was all over.
Then the Leafs started coasting. Started playing keep away with the puck in their own end and during offensive ice possessions. The Leafs were now going to protect their lead and count the minutes leading into the next series.
"How do we face up to Washington or The Rangers. Rangers are big. And fast. I know Ovy is Ovy. But if Nash gets rolling he will be a fricking train. I will wish it was Lucic. How much time left on the clock. How many more shifts for me I wonder? I wonder if I could ever meet someone as hot as Elisha Cuthbert....HEADSSUP!!!"
There is this thing in sports that says it is bad sportsmanship to pile onto your opponent when they are clearly beaten. Running up the score is considered very much in bad taste. I cannot tell you if this was a factor but for some reason. The Toronto Maple Leafs decided not to keep pounding and scoring and taking every piece of flesh from your enemy until THEY surrender or until the clock runs out. They let the broken bear breath and breath and breath and have life. And we couldn't turn it back on and we know that.
I had this DejaVu. I had a dream a few years back where a very young Maple Leafs team, one that was destined for greatness was making a surprising run in the playoffs. The talent was off the charts and just as victory lay before them they gave it all away as rookies do by giving the other team the smallest sniff of hope. The sure victory was gone but the young team had learned a valuable lesson.
Just before the Bruin's second goal, the DejaVu hit. I acknowledged that it was happening and said nothing as it unfolded before me.
So this Leafs team suffers the greatest loss since the Gretzky's high stick on Gilmour 20 years ago. It is the most frustrating loss because all the boys know. They've all seen it from both sides of the shift. Never let up.
These are the playoffs. They will never forget.
Here's a roll call.
Kessel. Workhorse with Pegasus speed. The man works tirelessly and with complete humility. A beast in sheep's clothing.
Reimer continued to do what he does. Make miracles happen. Reimer. Reimaster Jay. The Reim Minister of Canada. Reimer, the One Timer Denier.
Jake Gardiner was a revelation. The best young offensive defenseman that I can remember with the Leafs.
Kadri continued to shine. He didn't score as much but he was always there.
Grabbo was some kind of rag doll terminator with crazy skills and imagination. That over the top try. Mama, Please?
Lupul. Heart, hunger and heat.
Phaneuf. Leadership by leading.
JVR and JML. Lights out.
Franson. The Champ.
Matty and Kooly and Clarky and Bozy and Gunny and Joey and Jay and all the boyz.
It was a far cry from the days when Chara would terrorize the Leafs like a scene out of a black and white horror movie. (Boris Karloff who played Frankenstein was 5' 11, Chara is 6' 9" without skates). Remember when he had Mike Komisarek by the jersey and threw him around like a dog with a rabbit in it's mouth. It could have been much worse, but that may have only been because Chara had been fed adequately earlier in the day.
This was a whole other team. Does any one remember the last time Chara got rolled around on the ice as much as he was in this hockey series. The Leafs went after him with both lone wolf and pack mentality.
In that game 7 it was all over by early in the third. The Leafs were swooping over the boards with great vengeance and furious anger. Hungry for one more piece. It was a climax to a incredible series filled with high drama, strength, skill, beauty and bone crushing violence. The physical toll taken on the Bruins was apparent on the scoreboard and on their faces. It was all over.
Then the Leafs started coasting. Started playing keep away with the puck in their own end and during offensive ice possessions. The Leafs were now going to protect their lead and count the minutes leading into the next series.
"How do we face up to Washington or The Rangers. Rangers are big. And fast. I know Ovy is Ovy. But if Nash gets rolling he will be a fricking train. I will wish it was Lucic. How much time left on the clock. How many more shifts for me I wonder? I wonder if I could ever meet someone as hot as Elisha Cuthbert....HEADSSUP!!!"
There is this thing in sports that says it is bad sportsmanship to pile onto your opponent when they are clearly beaten. Running up the score is considered very much in bad taste. I cannot tell you if this was a factor but for some reason. The Toronto Maple Leafs decided not to keep pounding and scoring and taking every piece of flesh from your enemy until THEY surrender or until the clock runs out. They let the broken bear breath and breath and breath and have life. And we couldn't turn it back on and we know that.
I had this DejaVu. I had a dream a few years back where a very young Maple Leafs team, one that was destined for greatness was making a surprising run in the playoffs. The talent was off the charts and just as victory lay before them they gave it all away as rookies do by giving the other team the smallest sniff of hope. The sure victory was gone but the young team had learned a valuable lesson.
Just before the Bruin's second goal, the DejaVu hit. I acknowledged that it was happening and said nothing as it unfolded before me.
So this Leafs team suffers the greatest loss since the Gretzky's high stick on Gilmour 20 years ago. It is the most frustrating loss because all the boys know. They've all seen it from both sides of the shift. Never let up.
These are the playoffs. They will never forget.
Here's a roll call.
Kessel. Workhorse with Pegasus speed. The man works tirelessly and with complete humility. A beast in sheep's clothing.
Reimer continued to do what he does. Make miracles happen. Reimer. Reimaster Jay. The Reim Minister of Canada. Reimer, the One Timer Denier.
Jake Gardiner was a revelation. The best young offensive defenseman that I can remember with the Leafs.
Kadri continued to shine. He didn't score as much but he was always there.
Grabbo was some kind of rag doll terminator with crazy skills and imagination. That over the top try. Mama, Please?
Lupul. Heart, hunger and heat.
Phaneuf. Leadership by leading.
JVR and JML. Lights out.
Franson. The Champ.
Matty and Kooly and Clarky and Bozy and Gunny and Joey and Jay and all the boyz.
The past was the past
and now we're done with that
we got our own demons
to confront
our own wilderness
when we stand as one
we will stand among
This was our first great comeback
and our last great collapse
all rolled into one
This is the fire
that forges champions
and now we're done with that
we got our own demons
to confront
our own wilderness
when we stand as one
we will stand among
This was our first great comeback
and our last great collapse
all rolled into one
This is the fire
that forges champions
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