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Like all Canadians, residents in the Centre of the Universe (that's Toronto, eh?) celenbrated Canada's epic 3-2 overtime victory over the United States in the gold medal game at the Vancouver Olympics.
But just 48 hours later, it was back to rooting for the Maple Laughs, I mean Maple Leafs. Talk about a letdown.
The Leafs responded with a resounding thud in their first game following the Olympic break, falling to the Carolina Hurricanes at home, 5-1. The loss likely ended any hope Toronto had of escaping the basement in the Eastern Conference. A win could have pulled Toronto within four points of the Whaler-Canes, the loss dropped them eight points behind.
While all of Canada basks in the glow of the Olympic win, here's a sobering thought: the two worst teams in the NHL reside north of the 49th parallel. While Toronto is the worst in the East, Edmonton is at the bottom of the barrel in the West.
However, the Oilers are catching up the Maple Laughs, as the teams are now separated by only five points.
Here's another sobering thought for the Canucks: it is very possible that the Maple Leafs and Les Canadiens, the two standard bearers of Canadian hockey, will each miss the playoffs in the same season for only the third time in the expansion era. It also happened in 1970 and 2007.
Canada could have as many as four teams make the playoffs, but also as few as two. The only teams that appear to be looks are Ottawa and Vancouver (maybe the Canucks will be inspired by the Olympic spirit and go on and win the Stanley Cup -- wouldn't that be something for one city in one year?)
After beating the Bruins, 4-1, in their first game back, the Canadiens hold the eighth spot in the East,but they are just one point ahead of Boston and the Rangers.
In the West, the Flames have dropped to ninth, although they are just one point out of a playoff spot.
Canadians would love to add a Stanley Cup to their gold medal victory. It's the only thing missing, really. But thanks to commissioner Gary Bettman, the most evil man in sports, the odds are heavily stacked against Stanley coming back to Canada.
After all, there are 24 NHL teams in the United States and just six in Canada. No Canadian team has won the Cup since Canadiens in 1993, the longest drought in the country's heroes. Canadian fans desperately want Stanley to come home. But given the choice of that or winning a gold medal in the Olympics, methinks they would chose the latter every time.  |
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