Behold the Leafs new third-jerseys for next year. Veteran goaltender Curtis Joseph has not yet been fitted.

 

 

Cats at Leafs, 7:30 pm, FSN-FL (no HD)

Panthers: 17-16-6  40P, 3rd in SE    Maple Leafs: 16-17-6 38P, 4th in NE

All-time: 25-12-7 (TOR)

Game 1 of 4 (last game in TO: 8-0 Cats (2/5/08) 

 

The Cats arrive with a chorus of trumpets and singing children, heralding the long-awaited return of former Leaf Bryan McCabe. The game itself, however,  is evidently a non-story.

McCabe's situation has been covered ad nauseum, so we'll not rehash it here. The player he was traded for, Mike Van Ryn - a true fan-favorite and consummate team-guy if ever there was one - is out due to injury. Shawn Matthias has been kicked back to the Amerks, opening up a spot for Nick Tarnasky, who will play tonight. David booth has 8 points in his last five games. Former Cat Nick Hagman has 0 points in the past three. Did you know: the Panthers have 12 players on the roster who were first round selections in the entry draft.

Toronto currently holds a goal differential of -19 (119GF to 138GA) after 39 GP, with 38 points on the year. Florida enters the evening with a differential of minus-7 (104GF to 111GA) after 39 games with 40 points.

The Leafs are 5-5-0 in their past ten, gaining 10 of a possible 20 points. The Cats are 3-4-3 in the same stretch, grabbing 9 of 20. And that is being kind, minus the Montreal deal.

 

 Good thing he's not from Winnipeg, Hartford, or - gulp - Kansas City.

 

BATTERED AND BRUISED

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 Murphy is firmly ensconced in Rochester, and no further moves are anticipated.

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Calder-candidate Schenn is rumored to be returning tonight from a month-long absence. Van Ryn's first match against his former club will have to wait for another day.

 

AT THE ENDS

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 Having started the past two contests, "backup" Craig Anderson will sit this one out in favor of Vokoun, who whitewashed the Leafs last February.

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 Though technically over .500, Toskala has been struggling of late, since starting the year hot. Joseph is purely stopgap.

 

 DIVISIONALLY SPEAKING

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No Southeast club played last night, so obviously there's little to update. Tonight, though, tells a different tale.

Philadelphia visits the Verizon Center, and the first-place Capitals may have their hands full on this one. Oh, who am I kidding. The Caps ain't losing anytime soon.

The Devils travel to Raleigh for a stint against the second-place Hurricanes. This could be the Fascinating Game of the Night.

Atlanta's Thrashers invade the Igloo Mellon Center. Scratch the above game: this is the one to watch. The Pens rolled over at MSG on Monday, losing 4-0 to the Rangahs. Is anyone in the league on a shorter leash than Pittsburgh coach Michel Therrien? I thought he'd be history after the Cats ripped his club on home ice Sunday. As of 11 pm Monday, with yet another embarrassing defeat behind him, he remains employed. The Pensblog continues utilizing the Elmo-from-a-noose graphic. Tough days indeed.

Keep an eye on: Carolina. As always, they are the team to beat, Florida-wise.

 

 A tad off-topic, but I'm considering making timely monthly payments again if it will only rid the planet of these media-created, MTV-inspired, Gen-Y losers. I weep for the future.

 

 Then there's this guy: he's 49 and playing in a rock band. Newsflash: Keith Richards is like a catatonic 70 and playing in a rock band, and he's never dreamt of fitness equipment. I'm 37 and writing a hockey blog. Bowflex isn't gonna change that for me. Fine.

 

 From the same outfit who gave us "Bald Rock Star from D-list Band", we have Bryan Alvarez. Ready to jump out of a blimp on this one too. Hey Bry: You only look progressively more anti-heterosexual when overdoing it with the "wife gives me that wink" thing. Not that there's anything wrong with it.

 

Not to fear, Klee Irwin is just a channel away at 4 am, ready to cleanse your colon with the finest in mystery "pharmaceuticals" with very few details. Even better is that mafia kingpin doing the "interview". This guy really creeps me out. Would you purchase digestion-enhancing drugs from him? With those fingers?

 

LITTER BOX LINERS

• Miami Herald: homecoming for McCabe, Blog: live from TO
• Sun-Sentinel: McCabe not bitter 
• Toronto Globe & Mail: McCabe revived/game notes
• Toronto Sun: boost for Leafs
• Toronto Star: love him or hate him, tale of the tape
• AP via NHL.com: game preview
• AccuScore via Sporting News
• Panthers website
• Maple Leafs website (and no, I don't know why there's a nuclear liver floating in the background)

FROM THE BLOGOSPHERE

• Cat Scratch (FLA)
• Panthers on the Prowl (FLA)
• Pension Plan Puppets (TOR)  an SBNation blog
• Battle of Ontario (TOR, OTW)
• Wonderful World of Loser Domi (TOR)