Unlucky 7

Looks like my Leafs are taking it on the chin right now. Another miserable outcome, 8-4 to Buffalo last night, in a game where they didn't play as badly as the score indicated. A couple of unlucky bounces off players, a blown call by the refs and an empty net goal pretty much made the difference in this one.

I was especially unhappy about the call early in the 3rd with the game 5-4 Buffalo, Sabres with a 2-man advantage. A melee ensues in front of the net, in which Buffalo took a penalty to offer the Leafs some hope. The point man skated in front and took part, which AUTOMATICALLY means that the faceoff comes outside the blue line. This is an iron clad rule, and it is hard to see how it can be missed. But it was. Seconds later, Buffalo wins the faceoff and scores what proved to be a backbreaking goal and went on to win. It was an artificial turning point in an otherwise exciting game.