what a game!

[DanielNegreanu 141]

Sure the Leafs lost in the shootout, but how exciting was that? It's a wonder it took the league this many years to realize that to make the regular season more exciting for the fans the shootout gets everyone on their feet. The Leafs looked ok, but frankly they were playing a better team. Without Sundin, they looked worse, especially on the power play. I have Antropov in my pool, but my goodness... the dud didn't look all that good. Anyway, time to watch Colorade Edmonton now as I need Sakic to get a point for my pool team. I was actually supposed to be in Edmonton for that game but couldn't make it. Oh well... I'll definitely be hitting a lot of games this year, the product is soooo much better!

[sinc 0]

It has been an exciting day of hockey! I have the super sports pack, so I get all the games .The leafs got lucky that the original Ottawa goal wasn't counted! I was happy though, because it was alot of fun to see the first shootout!My Habs looked awesome, the leafs choked even with a huge break in the no-goal, and I'm +300 tonight..... could it get any better ..... i think not 8)

[hockeyeh 0]

oh ya that last 5 minutes of the game was so freaking exciting.. especially when lindros scored the go-ahead goal late only to have alfreddson ruin his homecoming, in regards to the product i liked it and i like the new rule where if u ice the puck you can not make a line change.I really didnt see any of the new rules that were deprivental to the look and feel of the game, all the new rules appear to be for the better.

[Bthoven 0]

The NJ vs Pit game was very exciting as well even though the score was one sided. Brodeur was out of his mind in the first period! (and luckily he is on my roster lol)On a side note, I don't understand why OLN didn't lead with this game instead of NYR vs Philly. I understand they are bigger tv markets, but now can you not show the first NHL game for the player the league is touting as the next Gretzky/Lemiuex? I don't remember for sure, but I would bet ESPN or TNT showed Lebron's first game...Lee

[Dubey 1,035]

I am going to have to respectfully disagree with you Daniel.I thought the Leafs looked great tonight, throughly outplaying Ottawa, particularly in the second.While the leafs stars looked strong, with good games from Allison, O'neal, Kaberle, Mccabe, and especially Lindros, the Senators, as a group, looked sluggish and out of sync, with the exception of Havlat, and Alfredson.If Sundin was in the game, I think we would have pulled it off.On the bright side, it doesn't sound like Mats' injury is all that serious, and he should be in the lineup for saturday night's game against the Habs.

[kent2233 0]

being an Ottawa fan I was really happy with the outcome, the not counted goal was very frusturating and the diving penalty nobody could figure out (I watched the game whith a bunch of leaf fans so it's wasn't me just being an Ottawa fan and the announcers called it a clear hook)I have to agree that Ottawa looked horrible, they showed some life in the first but just weren't connecting in the second period at all. Game was defiantely really exciting and the shootout was pretty cool, as long as they keep the shootout out of the playoffs I will be happy.

[Dubey 1,035]

the diving penalty nobody could figure out .

I am not certain about this, but I believe the hook was called before the senator player fell. Tucker hooked him up twice, slowing his progress up the ice, then, as they both started skating, tucker only had one hand on his stick, and his stick got caught underneath the senator player's arm, he squeezed the stick under his arm, holding it there, and basically pulled himself to the ice, tucker just held onto his own stick.

[UglyJimStudly 0]

Sure the Leafs lost in the shootout, but how exciting was that?

It was a novelty, but didn't change my opinion that shootouts are a stupid way to decide a game.

The Leafs looked ok, but frankly they were playing a better team.

You must have watched a different game than me. In the game I watched, the Leafs outplayed and outworked the Senators for the vast majority of the game, with only brilliant play by Hasek keeping Ottawa close enough to come back. That game could easily have been a blowout in the second period.

I have Antropov in my pool, but my goodness... the dud didn't look all that good.

Antropov has always been inconsistent, and the Leafs keep hanging on to him in hopes that he'll find his groove. I wouldn't be too upset to see him traded.

[Ottawa_Biatch 288]

Leafs Lost. I cry

[kent2233 0]

Leafs Lost. I cry

lol

[mrdannyg 274]

leafs did play well, especially against a more talented senators team. we couldn't believe the smolinski goal didn't count. as for the diving penalty, it was clearly a hook by tucker (no surprise there) but the player definitely dove, as he took a big tumble and tucker had only one hand on his stick.the shootout is dumb. i'm sorry to be so dogmatic, but it is. the game was a great, exciting affair, with the refs kindly holding onto their whistles late and most rule changes not having too much of an effect (although i think no changing after icings hurts the game). and then how are all the players rewarded after working their butts off for 65 minutes? a couple guys take breakaways and its over. how anticlimatic. i think they should play a 20-minute sudden death period, 4-4. i bet goals are scored well over half the time.and the shootout doesn't solve the biggest problem, which is that in a game like ottawa toronto, the teams combined for 3 points, which is simply unfair - rewarding teams for playing regulation ties.daniel

[mrdannyg 274]

oh, and antropov has the scoring touch of helen keller.great great game by lindros, and encouraging play by o'neill, allison and colaiacovo too.

[Catamo 0]

Im a HomeTeam Van Fan... But Ottawas my number two favourite team. I watched both games tonight.First, The Ottawa game... Loved it. Right when Ottawa dropped Bochenski, the game was over. 2 Quick goals late in the third by Alfreddson and his brand new line mates.. Spezza and Heatly. Shootout was great too... Alffy barely looked like he tried on his shot. Lindros made a beauty of a hit, and a nice goal.Second, Vancouver.. Where Naslund Made 2 amazing goals on the break out. Cloutier looked like a shutout game.. But unfortunately that didnt happen. It never really looked like a close game, until the end.. But The better team won :)Canada did pretty good, leaving with 4-1-1... Calgary lost to Minni.. Never saw that game but i got Kipru in some of my pools.. He better not keep that up.Also, Luongo got a shutout. A favourite of mine since 0304... Step aside brodeur, Hes going to be starting for team Canada this year.

[DanielNegreanu 141]

I don't know that you guys disagreed with me really, I never said that Ottawa outplayed the Leafs at all. What I said was that the Sens are a better team. The fact that the Sens looked sluggish only strengthens my point. What might have happened if they didn't look sluggish? They have lots of fire power and when they ARE on they'd be big favorites against the Leafs, despite the grit and heart they showed tonight.

[Dubey 1,035]

BUT, I think the senators looked sluggish because the leafs kept them off their game with a solid attack and strong defense

[MarionSauce 0]

BUT, I think the senators looked sluggish because the leafs kept them off their game with a solid attack and strong defense

Strong defense..? :shock:

[Governator 54]

The game was intense!!!!However, if this game is a sign of what's to come for the leafs... then their defense might as well just hang up their skates. They must've coughed up the puck 5 times last night.

[Fenxis 99]

New favorite rule so far would have to be the no line change when icing the puck for the offending team -it keeps the pace of the game zooming along.

[UglyJimStudly 0]

I don't know that you guys disagreed with me really, I never said that Ottawa outplayed the Leafs at all. What I said was that the Sens are a better team.

And even that isn't necessarily a lock. Judging from the way the opening night games went, the teams that will be successful will have a mobile defence and the ability to roll out at least three lines with some kind of scoring threat. The Senators defence spent a lot of time doing pylon impressions, and up front they had only one effective line - they were behind all night against a team that lost its best player early, after all. Maybe they'll develop into a decent team, but if I were a Senators fan right now I'd be a bit worried, it's clear the Senators are having trouble making the transition from their old trap-heavy style to a more mobile game.

[Fenxis 99]

... but if I were a Senators fan right now I'd be a bit worried, it's clear the Senators are having trouble making the transition from their old trap-heavy style to a more mobile game.

Playing versus Toronto isn't a typical game at all. While the Sens didn't look as good as they should out on the ice they still pulled off a win with almost double the penaties.

[digitalmonkey 929]

And even that isn't necessarily a lock. Judging from the way the opening night games went, the teams that will be successful will have a mobile defence and the ability to roll out at least three lines with some kind of scoring threat. The Senators defence spent a lot of time doing pylon impressions, and up front they had only one effective line - they were behind all night against a team that lost its best player early, after all. Maybe they'll develop into a decent team, but if I were a Senators fan right now I'd be a bit worried, it's clear the Senators are having trouble making the transition from their old trap-heavy style to a more mobile game.

Are you seriously saying that the Leafs might be a better team than the Senators? You need to shake your head. The Leafs played okay last night. The newcomers Lindros, Allison and O'Neill played better than many expected. Anyone who knows hockey knows these guys can play. The problem with them is injuries and the fact that they sometimes take a night off where they just seem to go through the motions. The fact is, the Leafs will be better than the Leaf Haters say and worse than the Leaf lovers claim. They will be one of a number of teams battling for the last couple of playoff spots in the East. The Senators do have "three lines with some kind of scoring threat." You have claimed that the Ottawa Defense looked like pylons yet Toronto was only able to score twice. Yes, Hasek made some good saves, but Belfour also made some excellent saves. The Leafs defense is questionable at best and Belfour will be called upon to stand on his head in many games.

[gruven 530]

it's clear the Senators are having trouble making the transition from their old trap-heavy style to a more mobile game.

[gruven 530]

it's clear the Senators are having trouble making the transition from their old trap-heavy style to a more mobile game.

The Sens played trap for almost all of the third period.... Dont make the mistake of thinking that the trap is gone from hockey. It's not. Now the trapping team has to skate the passing lanes instead of hanging on to the opposing forward through the neutral zone. But the trap is alive and well, and worked quite efficiently against the Leafs in the third...

[Slovak39 0]

hands down the best game last night! not just cause i like the sens, but your right uber exciting game to watch. spezza 100+ points this year.

[digitalmonkey 929]

hands down the best game last night! not just cause i like the sens, but your right uber exciting game to watch. spezza 100+ points this year.

The only game I couldn't watch last night was the Kings-Stars game. The Montreal-Boston game was good too. Especially the outcome!