Fugly loss in Atlanta

It was a game of “here we go again”s. Multiple goal lead. Breakdown in team cohesion. Missed assignments. Just barely hanging on. Giving up the farm. The blame game is easy to play on this one – blame button not required. Just close your eyes and throw a dart. Throw 10. Throw 23. You can’t miss.

Ian White’s missed assignment let Rich Peverley skate in on Toskala for the OT winner less than 90 seconds short of a shootout finale. Three of the 4 goals Atlanta needed to bury the Leafs last night were either scored by or set up by Ilya Kovalchuk. Down 3 – 0, Kovalchuk hit the gas and never looked back – and it was an effort the Leafs just couldn’t cope with. When you let the leagues craftiest, deadliest sniper have full sway inside a 20 foot perimeter of your net, well, expect bad things to happen for you and good things to happen for him. Two goals and an assist.

Leafs buried.

The Leafs seem to switch back to their old third period stylings last night. This year they’ve been outshooting and outscoring their opponents in the third period big time. Last night they got just 3 shots on the goal for the whole third period. Oh, shades of 2007-08. 2006-07. Looks like the boys are running out of gas with close to 40 games left. Not a good sign.

GO LEAFS GO!!!!