New look Leafs

The Leafs are looking more and more like their former selves. I know its only 2 wins but that's brings them to having 1 more point in the standings than they did at this time last year. Also these 2 wins are in the first 2 games in the current block of 5 games than Babcock likes to evaluate the team on. So far so good. The team still isn't performing at the level that we would like them to be at, but 2 wins is 2 wins. The team is playing better defensively, that is without question. The only question that i have is, are they playing good defence, or does it just look better because they were playing so poorly? Either way i see improvement and that is a good thing. From top to bottom pairings the guys on the blue line are improved from the last 5 games that is for sure. 

Freddy has looked solid the past few games, not just the 2 wins. There was a scary moment in the game against the Wild where his arm got twisted around the post. He continued the game and said afterwords that it could have been a lot worse and but he has no discomfort from it. I think a lot of Leaf fans give Freddy a hard time, there have been some questionable shots that he would like to have back. But more often than not he makes saves that keep the team within striking distance. Even the fans that give Freddy a hard time would cringe at the thought of him being injured for any length of time. Having any of the other goaltenders in the system step in would be a severe drop off in talent. No offence to the other guys, but Freddy is by far the top dog in our system, and starting goaltenders are not easy to come by.

I know the last 2 wins were not against top notch teams. The next 2 games are the ones to watch out for. I don't believe that Boston is the team they were of years gone by, they are on the downswing. That does not mean they are to be taken lightly. The team still has talent and 4 points against any division rival is very important, even if the team isn't expected to be in the playoff run. It's still early but the Bruins will most likely be on the outside looking in come playoff time.

So let's see if the Leafs can get at least 2 more wins out of these next 3 games. The back to back with Boston will be a good challenge, any back to back is. Then the Leafs get another crack at the Devils. But one team at a time. So let's hope the boys in blue get some rest and settle in for a long weekend and skate like the wind.

#standwitness