Friday, November 23, 2007

Leafs drop the lead in big D, Stars keep streak alive




The Toronto Maple Leafs went to Irving on Thanksgiving Day Thursday, a chance to watch the mythical Cowboys keep their winning record alive and take in some of the ambiance of America’s Team.

They apparently did not take notes…

On Friday, Toronto met the hometown Stars and after taking an early lead in the first period and holding the Stars to a tie heading late into the second, they let things unravel through the third.

By the third period, the Stars were playing more like the Cowboys, taking charge of the play and packing away two more goals in the third, good enough to secure a 3-1 victory and keep a modest little wining streak of 4-0-1 alive since GM Doug Anderson was let go.

It was not a barn burner of a game by any stretch, as Marty Turco made 18 saves on 19 shots on the way to victory, his first in the nets in three games as the Stars had gone with backup Mike Smith for the recent winning roll.

Toronto has a record of 1-3-2 in their last six games, with just one soul satisfying victory over the Ottawa Senators to boost their spirits. Friday night saw the Stars directing 24 shots on Vesa Toskala, who turned aside 21 of that Stars attack.

The continuing slide by the Blue and White, will no doubt once again start up the rumblings that the positions of GM John Ferguson Junior and perhaps even head coach Paul Maurice, may be on the cusp of a change.

With the Stars and Thrashers now the poster children for turning around a negative situation, it may not be too long before the public chants start to be heard in the Air Canada Centre, declaring that it’s time for a change at the centre of the hockey universe.

Considering the efforts of the Leafs in the last six games, they aren’t doing much on their end to give the impression that they could be the kind of team that they sat and watched on Thursday afternoon.

All of that successful history and hype either overwhelmed them or went clear over their heads like a wayward slap shot from the point.

While the Cowboys had a few dark seasons in recent years, they also have had far more successful ones over the last three decades.

Something that the Leafs and their fans certainly can’t relate to in any way!

One thing is certain, nobody and we mean NOBODY is saying "How about those Maple Leafs"

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