Watching the collapse against the Islanders on Thursday was painful. All those goals high on the glove hand. You could just hear Ted Nolan telling his players where to shoot before the game.So it all comes down to the drama of a frozen Easter weekend.
The Leafs have to win tonight in regulation and the Islanders have to drop their remaining game against the Devils tomorrow, and Marty Brodeur might sit that one out. The Islanders beat the Flyers this afternoon to move ahead of the Leafs.
Here are some more predictions:
- Habs score high glove on Raycroft and Harry Neale says Raycroft “didn’t have a chance”
- Neale/Cole says the next goal is important
- Cole can’t remember a Canadien player’s name
- Sundin scores to tie Sittler’s record
So when the collapse is completed and the death bell rings, the fingerpointing will start. First, it’ll start with the 1 or 2 games we should’ve won but didn’t in the final weeks. Well that’ll be easy. Then it’ll turn towards the players that disappeared off the radar when the going got tough.
Sundin who turned invisible in the last month. McCabe and his bogus contract.
Then it’ll zero in on the top shelf.
Ferguson, and his unwillingness to pull the trigger on a decent trade, dishing off Sundin for bona fide help now and in the future.
And we in Leaf Nation, the paltry ice minions that bleed blue, well, we’ll scrub the parade plans and redraw the route for next year.
Oh sure, there’s a slight chance we’ll squeak past the Habs and the Isles will falter. A very good chance actually. But where would that lead us? Down the path to temptation. Temptation to think this team is good enough. Temptation to think that Sundin is a true $6 million leader. Temptation to think McCabe is Norris material and our D is the stuff of legend.
Or would it be better that we lose tonight and put Ferguson’s head on the chopping block, cut Sundin loose, trim the dead wood, and regroup.
You decide.
I’m still looking for a sword to fall on.
