What The Fuck Is A Winning Streak?

Apparently the Leafs are capable of winning back to back games. It only took the team 12 games to do prove it. The Leafs beat the New York Rangers 4-1 last night on the strength of a Pavel Kubina game winning goal.

The Leafs had a two-goal lead in the third period that they held onto. It's kinda pathetic that not blowing a two-goal lead is something that needs to be mentioned, but anyone watching the Leafs thusfar will understand. The Leafs have had as much trouble with good leads as Shelley Levene.

(EDIT* If that reference is a little esoteric for you - as some of you have complained - you really need to deal with it. Shelley Levene is one of the all-time great film characters...I can't throw the ball and catch it too. I've even added a link to imdb for y'all!)

Vesa Toskala seems to have cemented his #1 status after an early-season platoon with Andrew Raycroft. Last night was Toskala's 3rd in a row. I am starting to sound like Toskala's agent, but he looked great again last night - allowing only 1 goal on 33 shots - and kept the team in the game after New York's goal. It'll be interesting to see who Paul Maurice goes with next.

Random Game Notes:
- It was another 2 point night for Kubina, who also led the team with a +3 rating. He's been earning his contract since given top-pairing status.

- I hate to bring it up, but the team hasn't looked any worse without their top-paid player and supposed top defenseman. Bryan McCabe missed his second straight game last night and the team hasn't lost since he left. Paul Maurice has made a few adjustments in McCabe's absence, including switching his defensive pairing, moving Kubina up to the #1 powerplay unit, and playing Tomas Kaberle less and Hal Gill more. Some of his moves seem counter intuitive, but they've been working.

- Fucking Damien Cox. Is there a more negative guy in the world? This guy would talk shit about a pretty sunset. He's now ragging on Leafs fans for being excited about Jiri Tlusty. What do you expect, Damien? This team hasn't had a top-level prospect to look forward to since Tomas Kaberle. Damien: take a vacation, have some sex, snort some blow off a 12 year old's ass crack - whatever it is that you do to snap out of a bad mood - and come back to us when you're able to say something (anything!) positive. You're wrecking my buzz.

More good news is on the way for the Leafs, as the team hosts the mediocre Washington Capitals on Monday, likely sans star Alexander Semin and powerplay quarterback Tom Poti.

Post Script: Only 3 more games before Mark Bell is eligible to play.