[Strutz]

We've had a decent start to the season IMO.

I have much more optimism than I have the last couple of years.

[N_Fiddledog]

Me too but I worry that might jinx them.

[Strutz]

N_Fiddledog N_Fiddledog:

This 3 game road trip the Canucks have going into California and starting tonight has me worried.

We should take all 3. If we choke I'm going to get deja vu and lose my hope of at least making the playoffs this year - even as a wild card.

If we succeed I'm going to dare to dream that maybe we have a team this year.

Well they 2-0-1 on the trip. Not too bad at all...

[N_Fiddledog]

I feel better.

Was a little worried after Anaheim but 5 out 6 and two 4 point wins against teams in their division on a 3 game California road trip. 'That'll do pig." And they didn't choke against teams they were supposed to beat. That's an improvement.

This next game against St. Louis on Tuesday will tell a different tale. The blues are a good team coming back into their own out of a four game win streak. And they have something to prove against the Canucks. Our guys beat them back when the Blues were still getting their game together.

I'll be happy if the 'Nucks can stay close and make a game of it this time. Hang in there guys.

We're still battling with Edmonton for best in the division and best in the country bragging rights but we have some softer games coming up after the Blues.

[Hyack]

It's halfway through the 1st period and the Canucks have Chicago right where they want them....leading 1-0 and full of confidence.....

[Hyack]

Hmmmmmmm......something didn't go quite the way it was supposed to.....

Oh well there's always tonight in Winterpeg.....

[Strutz]

Too bad for the OT loss tonight but it was cool to see the old retro uniforms being worn for the game.

[xerxes]

Yeah it was great to see them again. I still like them more than the current blue home jerseys.

[N_Fiddledog]

It's unanimous then.

For now...

[Strutz]

I still have my white jersey with the skate logo and 20th Anniversary patch.

Watching the game last night with those old jerseys I kept waiting to hear that McLean made a save and Linden scores! Lol.

[N_Fiddledog]

What's coming up looks tough.

I think it's a 6 game road trip and 5 out of the 6 teams we meet have beaten us at least once this season. Ouch.

We need to at least break 500 and our stars have to remain unbreakable (no injuries) to make making the playoffs remain a credible goal.

On the other hand...if we sweep I'm planning the parade route.

[xerxes]

And Surrey will start planning the riot.

[N_Fiddledog]

Maple Leafs fire head coach Mike Babcock amid 6-game losing streak

$1:

The Toronto Maple Leafs have fired head coach Mike Babcock and replaced him with Sheldon Keefe.

Babcock had a record of 9-10-4 in 2019-20 for the struggling Leafs, who are 0-5-1 in their last six games, including five straight losses in regulation.

"Today, we made the decision to relieve Mike Babcock of his coaching duties and named Sheldon Keefe our new head coach," Maple Leafs president Brendan Shanahan said in a statement. "Over parts of the last five seasons, Mike has played an integral role in changing the direction of our franchise.

"Mike's commitment and tireless work ethic has put our organization in a better place and we are extremely grateful and appreciative of the foundation he has helped us build here. At this time, we collectively felt that it was best to make a change to Sheldon Keefe."

Hired as part of Toronto's massive rebuild in the spring of 2015, the 56-year-old Babcock went 173-133-45 in his four-plus seasons with Toronto.

Babcock said in a statement to TSN's Pierre LeBrun he was appreciative of his time in Toronto.

"I thought we did an amazing job taking a franchise from where it was to where we had 100-point seasons, we set franchise records if I'm not mistaken, got into the playoffs. I'm disappointed," said Babcock in the statement posted to Twitter.

Babcock also thanked the players he worked with during his tenure with the Leafs.

"Morgan Rielly has been here the whole time. I can't thank him enough. And all the players I got an opportunity to coach. It's been fantastic and I wish them nothing but success."

https://www.cbc.ca/sports/hockey/nhl/nh ... -1.5367018

[llama66]

Wasn't shocked. Babs had lost the dressing room, and really... it's easier to fire the coach; then to fire the team. But now, Dubas has to win or Shanny will show HIM the door too.

I think the leafs need some size and (to quote Burke...) truculence.

[Strutz]

He'll land a head coaching job with the next team that fires their head coach when their team hits a down slide.