Tag Archives: First Period

Toronto Maple Leafs

Leafs Lose Game One In Boston

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The first playoff game for the Maple Leafs in nine years ended on a sour note as
Boston defeated Toronto by a score of 4-1.

After James van Reimsdyk opened the scoring for the Leafs early in the first period,
but it was all Boston after that as they dominated nearly the entire game.   Boston
outshot Toronto 40-20.

As a Leaf fan I found this game difficult to watch but I will point out some positives
that hopefully the Leafs can build on use to make this a competitive series.  I
liked the way James Reimer played, he only gave up one real questionable goal to
Johnny Boychuk, though it was a bullet of a slap shot.  If it wasn’t for Reimer’s
efforts in net this game could have been a blowout.  Also, I didn’t think the Leafs
were too over-matched physically by the Big Bad Bruins.

I’m looking forward to game two on Saturday night.  It was tough to lose game one
but Leaf fans like myself are just happy the boys are finally back in the playoffs after
nine long years of misery.   The future is still bright for the blue and white.

Buffalo Sabres

First Sabres post of the season!

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Alright, I’ll admit it.  As a lifelong San Francisco 49ers fan, I’ve been a little distracted from these opening couple of weeks of the NHL season.  It doesn’t help that after going 2-0-0 to start the season, the Sabres slid to 2-3-1.  The heartbreaking loss with 1.5 seconds left in overtime against Toronto the other night hasn’t exactly had me clamoring to tune in to Sabres broadcasts either.  In fact, I was content to ignore the fact they were playing tonight until my wife handed me the remote.

I tuned in during the first period, scoreless in Boston.  I left the room during intermission to get ready for work, and took my time getting back.  It was 1-1 by time I started watching again.  Brad Marchand scored two quick goals to put the Bruins up 3-1 by the time I had to leave for work.  I was ready to count Buffalo out and ignore the rest of the game, but by time I got on my first bus, it was 3-3 at the end of the second.  I plugged my $100 Bose headphones into my $5 Sentry AM/FM radio, tuned to WGR55 AM, just in time for the start of the second intermission.

As the third period began, David Krejci scored 1:45 in, and once again it seemed like my Sabres were doomed.  However, less than a minute later, Alexander Sulzer scored his first goal of the season to tie it right back up.  Great saves by Ryan Miller, a goal from Cody Hodgson, a goal for Thomas Vanek (earning him a hat trick for the evening, and answering my longtime question of “What are the Sabres paying this guy for?”), and an empty netter by Captain Jason Pominville later, and the Sabres have snapped their winless streak, and emphatically silenced the TD Garden in Boston with a 7-4 victory.

Am I ready to believe that the team will start winning consistently and moving up the standings just yet?  No, but rest assured I won’t be ignoring the fact that they’re playing the Canadiens this Saturday afternoon.