BREAK UP THE LEAFS !

The New York Islanders started this NHL season with a decided disadvantage.  Their long awaited brand new arena on Long Island was near completion but was not ready for guests until November.  They had to start on the road, and then an 11 straight losing streak after the grand opening at Belmont Park didn’t help a bit.  A fairly respectable 35-30-9 record leaves them out of the playoff running – in fact, with a loss tonight, they will be officially eliminated.

Leafs Nation came to expect another opportunity for Auston Mathews to get to 60 goals.  No such luck – Mathews had to sit out due to an undisclosed “minor” injury from the night before.  The Leafs still have a 4 point cushion over Tampa Bay for the race toward the second seed and home ice advantage in the first round of the playoffs.  Both clubs have 7 games remaining.  “Soup” Campbell got the start.

As is his want, Toronto Coach Sheldon Keefe, loves to experiment.  With Mathews out, he took the opportunity to overhaul his forward lines.  Tavares with Marner and Mickaev, Kerfoot centering Engvall and Nylander, Kampf with Bunting and Blackwell and then Spezza with Simmons and Abruzzo.  You’d think complete chaos, disruption of the norm – but it was OK – you never know what’s going to happen in the playoffs.  Anthony Beauvillier opened things up with a PP goal off the side wall and then Mitchell Marner roofed the tying goal from Bunting and the suddenly hot Mark Giordano.

 The Islanders got of to a rather lucky start in the second with a garbage “own goal” to go up at the :32 second mark.  The now attention getting Pierre Engvall scored his 8^th in last 10 games to tie things up from Kerfoot (50^th point) and Holl.  The concern about the 0 for 17 Leafs PP was put to rest when Nylander popped his career high 31st off a nice Tavares feed.

This is what the third period taught this reporter a) the Islanders never quit, b) Soup Campbell is solid  (29 saves) and has achieved proof that he is a number goalie in this league and c) Zedano Chara is a gem.

HOPPER NOTES:  Final score Leafs 3 Islanders 2 BTW…tough year for Islanders Nation having already lost Clarke Gillies, Jean Potvin and now Mike Bossy, RIP…with all the line shuffles, the Leafs showed good depth and flexibility…now that the Islanders are officially eliminated, if I was Tom Renney of Hockey Canada I would be jetting toward Barry Trotz to beg him to coach Team Canada at the Men’s World Championships…he could bring along his trusted Matt Barzal, Josh Bailey, Adam Pelech, Ryan Pulock and Noah Dobson as the team’s anchor…guys (I hate) but would  love to have on my team:  Zedano Chara…

CHEERS everyone !