Yup, there I said it (and quite possibly jinxed our season in the process).

I've been trying to hold out on joining the bandwagon for years now, but I've watched every single one of their games, and by god, they actually seem like legitimate "winners" this year. It's gotten to the point where I actually confidently feel like every game is winnable! So this is what it feels like to be one of those douchebag Canuck fans

In all seriousness, if I had to pinpoint the difference between this team and all the previous disappointing teams, I'd narrow it down to a few things:

1) Raw talent. They actually have decent, offensively gifted guys who have the raw talent to bury opportunities. I'm talking primarily about JVR, but Kadri has done very well, and guys like Frattin, and even Bozak are burying the chances. Once Lupul's back, I'd dare say the Leafs have an above-average top 6 offensively.

2) Pugnacity. Testosterone. Truculence and Belligerence. Burke was onto something... it just never happened during his time. These Leafs are leading the league in fights, PIMs (without being short-handed), and even finger bites. They are definitely difficult, agitating and annoying to play against. It's not just about the stats and cannibalism though, these guys actually play for one another and back each other up. The prior teams just had individual tough guys, but the mentality and sense of all-for-one was always missing.

3) Speed. They are young, fast and are just out-hustling many of the older teams. Just ask the Sabres who are probably sitting in their locker room right now getting cozy with their asthma inhalers.

****... I hate to say it... I *really* hate to say it, but I smell playoffs.

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2013 Bay Street CBS Playoff Cash Pool - $100 buyin
12 Teams, Points Only (G/A = 1, DG = 2, W = 2, SO = 1)

The Motherpuckers (5 NYR, 2 PIT, 3 VAN)
Forwards: Neal / Iginla / Nash / Richards / Stepan / Roy / Higgins
Defense: Del Zotto / Garrison
Goalies: Lundqvist

I agree with you 100% and it pains me to say that the Wings are now the ones who I assume will be blowing the one, two or three goal lead on a nightly basis.

__________________

12 team H2H Keeper
G,A,PP,PIM,SOG
W,GAA,SV%,SO
C:Giroux,Zberg,Marleau,Kadri
LW:Ovi,Neal,Pach,Benn
RW:Perry,MSL,Wheeler
D:Yandle,Subban,Edler,OEL
G: Lundqvist,Miller,MAF

12 Team H2H
R,2b,3b,HR,RBI,AVG,SB,BB,K,E
W,L,SV,HLD,K,ERA,WHIP
C:Santana
1B:Blanks
2B:Kipnis
3B:Zimmer
SS:Rutledge
LF:Cespeds
CF:McCutch
RF:Pence
Util:Profar
SP:Cain,Moore,Latos,Kennedy,Ryu,Medlen,Cole
RP:Bailey,Rivera,Jansen,Gregerson,Axford
DL:Anderson, Pineda,Tulo

Agreed - the hustle/effort is the big difference IMO. That, and guys seem to be playing somewhat responsibly (offensively and defensively), even Phaneuf - not winding up with the 9 iron from anywhere.

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14 team roto(3C,3RW,3LW,5D,2G,5B,1IR-82 max games)
Cats-G,A,+/-,PPP,PIM,SOG,HITS,FOW,BLKS,W,SV%,GAA,SAVES

C-Toews,B. Richards,Hanzal
RW-Voracek,Stewart,Versteeg
LW-Benn(C),Clowe(RW),Pacioretty
D-Pietrangelo,Doughty,Burns,Ehrhoff,Gonchar
G-Rask,Lindback
B-Emery,Havlat,Coburn,Atkinson,Fiddler

7 team roto(3C,3RW,3LW,4D,1U,2G,4B,3IR-86 max games)
Cats-G,A,P,+/-,PIM,PPP,SHP,GWG,W,SV%,GAA,SO

C-Crosby,E.Staal,Pavelski(RW)
RW-Iginla,Clowe(LW),Wheeler
LW?E.Kane,Pacioretty,Semin(RW)
D?Letang,AP,Subban,Shatty
U-Getz
G-Rask,Ward
B?Kipper,Voracek,Moulson,Burns

The biggest difference, and the only mistake Burke made is/was coaching.

Agreed... how many 'fire Wilson' comments graced these forums?

The terrible special teams and zone play all screamed 'coaching' and dammit if it doesn't look like we were right.

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Okay, so maybe nobody likes a cynic, but everybody f**king hates those perky optimists!

... and anyway, I make a damn good cynic.

I'm just impressed that they aren't bad.

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Dig my Cage Match articles? Follow my blog! The Laws of Sport

Also on Twitter @SteveLaidlaw

You and everyone live at the arenas lol... it was so brutal I actually felt sorry for the guy whenever I went to games.

__________________
2013 Bay Street CBS Playoff Cash Pool - $100 buyin
12 Teams, Points Only (G/A = 1, DG = 2, W = 2, SO = 1)

The Motherpuckers (5 NYR, 2 PIT, 3 VAN)
Forwards: Neal / Iginla / Nash / Richards / Stepan / Roy / Higgins
Defense: Del Zotto / Garrison
Goalies: Lundqvist

The Mike Brown or the Chris Brown?

Everybody hop on the Colton Orr train!!

Just imagine if their 2nd line starts scoring more.

__________________

12 team H2H Keeper
G,A,PP,PIM,SOG
W,GAA,SV%,SO
C:Giroux,Zberg,Marleau,Kadri
LW:Ovi,Neal,Pach,Benn
RW:Perry,MSL,Wheeler
D:Yandle,Subban,Edler,OEL
G: Lundqvist,Miller,MAF

12 Team H2H
R,2b,3b,HR,RBI,AVG,SB,BB,K,E
W,L,SV,HLD,K,ERA,WHIP
C:Santana
1B:Blanks
2B:Kipnis
3B:Zimmer
SS:Rutledge
LF:Cespeds
CF:McCutch
RF:Pence
Util:Profar
SP:Cain,Moore,Latos,Kennedy,Ryu,Medlen,Cole
RP:Bailey,Rivera,Jansen,Gregerson,Axford
DL:Anderson, Pineda,Tulo

Lol same. But lets be honest...put them up against Pittsburgh or Philly or a bunch of other teams in the playoffs and theyre screwed. Still....it's nice to not be heart broken this far into a season! :P
Yeah if that second line can get going I'd be REALLY impressed. They may want to throw Lupul on it when he gets back. JVR and Kessel are working well at the moment

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14 team, keep 20. H2H points
C Perez 1B Butler 2B Cano SS Tulo 3B Longoria OF Choo, J. Upton, Quentin UTIL Sandoval
SP- Hamels, Wainwright, Harvey, Zimmerman
RP- Medlen, Murjica
BN- Gallardo, Sanchez, Konerko Stanton(DL), Henderson
Minors- Dahl, Springer, Lindor, R. Montero

12 team H2H, keeper
C Mcann
1B Fielder
2B Gyorko
SS Andrus
3B Wright
OF Bautista, Jennings, Brown
SP Shields, Wainy, Greinke, Wilson, Liriano
RP Soriano, Mujica
Bench - Harper(DL), Utley(DL), Granderson(DL), Revere, Straily, Garza, Reed, Bell
Minors d'Arnaud, Myers, Walker