Life Is Good

Yeah, the team hasn't played all that well thusfar, and they've been especially bad at home, but nothing in life can be wrong when the team beats fucking Montreal...in Montreal.

The Leafs beating Montreal last night on national television was boss. Flat-out boss.

So, yeah, the Leafs beat the Canadiens 3-2 on the strength of a Matt Stajan goal. Actually, the more accurate description is, 'thanks to a Cristobal Huet mistake'. The goal was total horseshit, and Huet really should have stopped the shot, especially considering Stajan was at the end of a very long shift. Stajan's shot must have confused Huet, as he looked at it like it was a dismantled carburetor. For all the bragging I hear coming out of Montreal about their goaltending, it looked fantastically sub-par last night.

Random Game Notes:
- In fairness to the Habs, the officials let a lot go last night, so the call on Andrei Markov in the final minute was extremely weak. Considering what they had been calling previous to that, Markov should not have been given a penalty.

- The more I watch Nik Antropov toil on a line with Chag Kilger and Boyd Devereaux, the more I think he must feel like a drunk clown entertaining a couple of autistic 12 year olds. Nik is a skilled player that should be playing with skill. Kilger and Devereaux, on the other hand - drafted 4th and 6th overall respectively - are the veritable poster children for unfulfilled potential. Did you see Kilger miss that open net last night? There is no fucking excuse for that!

- I was struck by something that was said in the pre-game last night: that Kyle Wellwood will not be in the lineup. I took it as a positive - when him not playing is noteworthy, you know he is pretty well game-ready. He and Mark Bell are both supposed to make their season debuts on Tuesday night against the Ottawa Senators. Sexy time!

- The broadcast team last night was Bob Cole and...Greg Millen. CBC said there would be a changing of the guard this year, but did they pick a Saturday night Leafs/Habs game to start Harry Neale's gradual exile? For shame.

The New Hockey Night In Canada Needs To Make A Few Lifestyle Changes
A direct quote from Ron McLean during the intro last night: "Now up on Hockey Night In Canada: Nickelback!" Jesus Christ, Ron - I'd rather have heard you say "Next up on Hockey Night In Canada: Rosie O'Donnell's latest pap smear...in HD!". There is no fucking place for Nickelback on HNIC. To be more accurate - there is no place anywhere in life for Nickelback, as life is too fucking short to ever listen to Nickelback. I can't tell you how much I fucking cringe when I hear Nickelback's bullshit faux-angst ridden redneck cover of Elton John's Saturday Night's Alright For Fighting. It is nothing more than CBC's very transparent attempt to hit a target demographic. Funny thing is, they're trying to hit my demographic, and it's only making me less apt to watch HNIC.

The Canadian John Madden
Don Cherry - opinionated, outdated, and unapologetic - made a great comment last night about Saku Koivu during Coach's Corner. Guy Bertrand, a traitor (AKA separatist) douchebag, called out Saku for not speaking French when addressing fans. Grapes put him in place, arguing that Saku has overcome cancer and a career-threatening eye injury to be able to continue to lead - and inspire - the team; that Saku already had to learn English when joining the NHL; and that Bertrand was insecure and pathetic for making that comment. I won't say this often, but thank fuck for Don Cherry. He did it right last night.