Dubey

1986 Steve Smith scored in his own net to cost the Oilers a game 7 and a probable Stanley Cup

The same year Bill Buckner missed a routine ground ball to cost the Boston Red Sox a world series.

The game last night we will probably talk about for decades..But there really isnt a way to describe what happened...For close to 5 games of the series the Leafs were the better team. For most of the game last night , we were the better team. The whole last 10 minutes is a blur..I dont even think I saw OT..Yes i was staring at the TV, but dont really remember what happened..I knew we lost the game before then.

Sure its only a sporting event, sure there are more things to worry about life..But when you put so much energy into something, when you and your family and friends come together in enjoyment in a team like we did...There are no words to describe what I am feeling this morning..I am physically ill..shocked..sad..

There were a LOT of people in Toronto that got behind the team, but they werent the real crazy emotional fans like myself and few others...Sure it was sad for them, but a few minutes after it happened they moved on..They went back to attacking Phaneuf, Carlyle and the jokes they made all year...For a few fans like myself, today is a devastating day..

I know its a huge accomplishment what we did..I know it was a succesful year...If Kadri and Kessel dont score the goals to put us up 4-1, am I feeling like this today..Probably not...If Frattin just buried the breakaway before the collapse, am I feeling like this? Probably not.

Should I be mad at the refs for blowing blatant calls? Should I start a conspiracy theory that they are against us? Are we cursed? Are we never destined to win a Stanley Cup?

These are stupid questions that i dont need to answer..All I need now is time to comprehend what happened, and why it happened...The biggest collapse in a game 7 ever, it had to happen to us...We were so close, we were so happy..We were booking plans for Thursday Game 1...Did we jinx them? No...

They say what doesnt kill you makes you stronger..Are the Leafs a stronger team today because of this? Maybe..Can we come back next year and with a few tweaks challenge for the Stanley Cup, probably...

All i know is unlike others this morning..I am still a diehard Leafs fan, supporter..I still love the Leafs and I congratulate and thank them for a great year and the joy that you brought us.

We will move on from this.....

GO LEAFS GO

Roses are red violets are blue
Whats happening this evening is fairly new
Game 7 from Boston its do or die
One of these two good teams will say bye bye

Our goalie is James Reimer, we met his sexy wife
He has shown he is great, he is full of life
Kessel, Dion, Grabo you will be the stars tonight
None of you are afraid of Chara and his massive height

I am so nervous and excited and can hardly wait
For 7 pm to come and we learn our fate
No matter what happens I will always bleed blue
Kessel and company we will THANK YOU

GO LEAFS GO

Roses are red violets are blue
Game five is tonight, I am pleading to you.
Lets go to Boston and keep this thing alive
We need to bring this home, not end it in five

Leafs nation is proud , regardless of whatever result
Even though Leafs Nation hasnt met Stanley as an adult
Kessel, Phaneuf and Kadri please play the game robust
No matter what happens In Reimer we trust

2013 was a short and sweet year
You brought us joy, while drinking my beer
I am proud to say I am a huge Maple Leafs fan
I love the Leafs I am Serge Bogosyan

GO LEAFS GO

Duchene, Carter, Thornton, Gagner

A bodycheck is supposed to be a defensive move intended to separate your opponent from the puck. Somewhere along the line it became more of an offensive move designed to hurt your opponent. In fact, we have Glenn Healey speaking on national tv about how players should be trying to hurt their opponent with their hits. And both Serge and Dan are under the impression that every bodycheck is intended to injure. Are we in the twilight zone?

Let's blame Diaz for the awful pass. Let's blame Eller for having his head down. Let's brush it off by saying we're only talking about it because Eller got hurt on the play. Let's not talk about how Gryba saw an opportunity to hurt an opponent and took advantage of it. That's deemed acceptable because he didn't break any rules.

I enjoy physical hockey. I like a good bodycheck, but there has to be a point when common sense takes over. There is such a thing as overkill.

I'm not grasping this point of principle contact concept. What happens if the hips, torso and head are contacted at the same time? Are they all the principle point of contact?





Eller was unconscious before he hit the ice. Gryba hit Eller's head, torso and hips at the same time. A vulnerable player was hit in the head and knocked out and subsequently fell face-first onto the ice. Glenn Healey approves. Paul MacLean thinks, "It was a hockey play that ended up going bad for Lars Eller. [If I'm Therrien] I'm really mad at player 61 whoever he is." Hmmm...where did MacLean think this play was going to end up for Lars Eller?

And it's true we're only talking about this because of the injury, but that doesn't justify the hit. There are many that feel this was a "good hockey hit" and won't even consider a differing opinion so you can imagine what a waste of time it would be to talk about the countless other similar plays where there was no resulting injury.

I could go on about car-crash mentality and the profitability of controversy and how the NHL doesn't really care if they eliminate concussions from the game and how the Ottawa Sun front page is a perfect example of the mentality of far too many people, but the only people who will listen are those who already agree.

The players are bigger, stronger and faster than they were years ago. They wear equipment that has crossed the protection/weapon line. And probably the most disturbing thing is the mentality that you should be trying to hurt your opponent when you hit him.

Someone is going to be killed on the ice in an NHL game at some point in the near future. Cue the media frenzy, the debates, the TSN panel discussions, the press releases, the increase in ratings, the profits, the ceremonial puck drops, the limited edition jerseys with the memorial patches on the shoulder, the call for rule changes, the investigations, the calls to 911, the jokes, the tears...

Then we'll wait for apathy to return and everything will be ok again.