New Kids light it up

Edmonton got torched last night in Toronto, and for the most part it was a decent game of shinny all things considered. That is, considering the respective basement dwellers of the east and west conferences squared off with nothing to gain or lose but momentum towards an early golfing season.

That Edmonton managed to light up Toronto 4 times and looked like they wanted back into a game they were losing by 4 goals at one point is somewhat scary for our fragile goaltending situation. I think Edmonton – and Toronto – are better teams than the standings indicate. But someone has to be in the basement.

Tyler Bozak, Phil Kessel and Nikolai Kulemin seem to me conjealing as a line. They looked slick last night, racking up 8 points, with Bozak potting a goal and 3 assists. Kessel scored twice – something he  hasn’t done in a while. Signing Bozak looks like an act of genious now that he’s panning out. He’s playing great, and if he can manage to elevate his game as well as his size and strength for next year, the sting of not having a 2011 1st round draft pick pay need less ointment.

Kulemin continues to impress. Man this kid is fast once he gets the wheels going. He can really open things up in the middle when he breaks down the wing in top flight, usually drawing both defencemen and one back checker to the boards. If speed is the key to the future, Kulemin has a role to play here, as does Bozak.

Kessel? He just needs to score and keep scoring. What a wicked shot, a lightning release that’s really hard to stop, traffic or not in front of th goaltender. Pure sniper this kid. Love the trade, still.

So what’s in store after, as the 29th team, playing the 30th team in a 30 team league? Playing the 28th team in the league in their own rink today. That’s what.

GO LEAFS GO!!!