The bizarro Maple Leafs: A Toronto Maple Leafs team that out-works, out-skates, out-shoots, and, in the last couple of games, out-scores its opponent.
Imagine that.
They did it again last night, a
3-2 triumph over those sad sisters from Ottawa.
And props out to my man crush Alex Ponikarovsky for the game winning goal last night. Hate him all you want, it doesn't matter. He's a rudey, and the smart hockey folks (i.e. me) know it.
Over the week that was, the Leafs took five out of a possible six points against Anaheim, Boston and Ottawa, and they did it by outworking their opponents. They didn't rely on superb goaltending, or perfect special teams, and they didn't get lucky. They simply worked harder than their opposition.
The boys battled back from
two two-goal deficits, and even held on to two (2!) third period leads.
On most nights, Ron Wilson's squad will be the second-most talented team on the ice. But, eight games into the season, one thing is becoming clear: this team will not be defeated due to lack of effort. Wilson's boys will not go down without a fight.
Bizarro, indeed. Are you scared? A little? Yeah, me too. But in Wilson I trust.