I guess it was just a strange night all around: Daniel Briere tried to start a fight in Philadelphia, now-Celtics star Kevin Garnett was accused of tanking his last season in Minnesota by T-wolves owner Glen Taylor, and Vesa Toskala let in a goal from 197.5 feet away.
Yup, you read that correctly: Rob Davison, a defenseman for the New York Islanders scored—with a goalie in the net—from his own goal line, shorthanded no less.
You could blame it on the fact that the puck was bouncing all night (prompting Joe Bowen to wonder if the game should be played with a tennis ball just so that they could follow the play), you could say that things like this are bound to happen over the course of a season—that this isn't the first, or the last time a play like this will happen.
Me? I just blame it on karma. Hell, the entire game had a karmic feel about it.
If you look up the word karma, it's defined as "bringing inevitable results—good or bad—unto oneself", and when you think about it, this game showcased exactly what the Leafs have been displaying post-lockout.
For the past three seasons, fans have endured peaks and valleys brought on by a team that can't decide how high—or how low—in the standings it wants to go. Leafs Nation has been forced to grab on for dear life to this team that may as well be featured at Canada's Wonderland or Six Flags Darien Lake as a seasonal ride.
The literal "cross-ice" goal gave the Leafs a taste of what they've been showcasing the past few years—something that's oh so tantalizing, yet devastating. Something that shouldn't happen for their own good (*cough* the late-season playoff runs of the past three seasons), and eventually kills them (having to settle for a mid-1st round draft pick).
The question is, did they get the message?
The Philadelphia Flyers certainly did as they won their game against the Atlanta Thrashers to keep their hold on the 8th spot in the East.
The Leafs however? Let's just say you better grab some q-tips because they aren't listening.
Even in the face of a disallowed goal by Darcy Tucker (on a goaltender interference call that had me less than convinced) as well as the fact they were without their top two scoreres (Mats Sundin and Nik Antropov) the Leafs pulled it off.
Not only did they give themselves the gift of false hope on this night, but until Friday night Leafs Nation will continue to strut as the playoffs appear to be squarely in the Buds headlights.
Besides, what's a six point deficit?
But while seemingly playing their way into the playoff race, the Leafs have dropped from 2nd to 7th in the Surge for Stamkos, and if they keep it up? There's a very strong chance that this team could finish out of the playoffs and out of the top-ten in the draft for the third straight year.
Screw good things, everything seems to come in threes.
But in regards to the playoff runs; you can call them luck or fate, getting hot at the right time, or you can even call them false hope—but what we can all agree on though, is that at least the Leafs are dependable.Whether that's a good or bad thing however is up to you.
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