There is such a thing as being WAY too good for your own good, if you know what I mean. Within the first one or two minutes of the game, I knew, I absolutely knew that the Leafs were going to lose tonight. And how.
*SIGH* That was SO sad. They weren't playing nearly as well as they were on Sunday. Or at least, that's the way it seemed to my admittedly inexperienced eye. I mean, they were all over the place. They just couldn't get the puck out of their zone, and when they had it in the 'Canes' zone, they couldn't keep it in. Ick. It was just such a messy game.
Maybe my greenness is showing, but it sure seemed like they were missing passes and loose pucks left right and centre. Not to mention, the 'Canes just seemed so much faster. There were times when I could've sworn that the Leafs would get an icing call against Carolina, but somehow a player would manage to get right up there. The reverse was NOT true. Seemed like everytime there could've been a race to the puck, the Leafs were left eating the 'Canes' dust.
Then there was the fact that Don Cherry was commenting on the Leafs' problem with line changes and then, OT, what happens? Line changes and the 'Canes get a goal--the goal. Maybe I have too much faith in Cherry, but it seemed like he had the problem pegged.
Still, my disappointment with the game aside, I'm now thinking that Roberts is pretty darn awesome. He was right up there in the 'Canes' zone during penalties, killing penalities. Not to mention he just seemed to always be there, rushing up to get in the 'Canes way, or to catch or make a pass in a scoring attempt. Dang. Wonder if this means I'll need two jerseys? One Cujo and one Roberts? =P Yeah, I wish I had that much money.
Irbe is also looking pretty darn frigid. (Frigid as in cool, not...heck, how else could I mean it?!) Not only did he make a lot of good saves, he also looked to be pretty helpful in preventing the Leafs from getting the puck. It'd head off to the side, with a Leaf in hot pursuit, I'd think that we'd get it, but then Irbe'd be there, batting the darn thing away! Frustrating for a Leaf fan, but pretty impressive to someone who never really thought of a goalie as doing much more than blocking shots. And he did that amazingly well too. Not the saves were all that spectacular, but the way he managed to hold onto the puck and crush any hopes of rebounds was really neat. I think that was mentioned during the game's commentary sometime, too.
I still think Cujo rocks though. He was just taking a punding around the end of the third. Like when he kind of dove for that shot that went wide and had to get right back up (and then back down) to make a really close stick save? That was totally sugoi! I just recently remembered another reason why I admire Cujo so much. After the Olympics, his attitude towards his lack of game time just had to make me respect him. I mean, he was supposed to play the first two games, but then he didn't even get a chance to make up for his first not so great game. Yet, he had nothing but good things to say about Brodeur, at least in public, and that just shows character. Then again, I haven't really seen an interview with a hockey player in this playoff, yet, who's given me anything but a good impression. They've all shown such good sportsmanship, sense, and well, PR skills by not getting cocky and by giving the other team, and their own teammates credit. Maybe this is just typical of NHL hockey, I don't know, but I still find it very striking. Kind of makes me wonder whether I'm too cynical--believing the worst in everyone and thus expecting trashtalking, arrogance, and cockiness--or not cynical enough--believing that the sentiments are sincere and not just good PR skills. Who knows.
Anyway, after this game, I've decided that I definitely have to stay home and watch the game on Thursday. I feel kind of bad about not helping to stuff goody bags for AN, and for missing my chance to meet the AoD forum people, but I simply CAN NOT miss this game! I need to see for myself whether or not the Leafs will redeem themselves in the fourth game. *sigh* So far I've been 3 for 3 in my predictions, so let's hope that I'll "feel" that the Leafs will win on Thursday, or that my intuition will finally fail me. Gah. Can not believe how much it sucks to be right. XP
