Leaf Game Blog....2nd Period

Rumour du jour had the Leafs getting Rick Nash and Kristian Huselius for Kadri, Schenn, Komisarek and Grabovski. Love this deal for both teams but one major stumbling block: Nash has a full no trade clause and the Blue Jackets host the All-Star game next year so I don't see them dealing their captain and only star.

If I were the Leafs, I would do anything in my power to get Nash...short of totally gutting the team. Even if you had to throw in a 1st rounder as well to get this deal done, I would jump on it in a heart beat. Komi sucks, Schenn is not much better, Grabo and Kadri are good and potentially really good but Nash would catapult the Leafs into a different type of team entirely. Plus, with guys like Joe Colborne and Matt Frattin chomping at the bit to jump up onto the big club, moving out 2 forwards and getting back only one healthy one (Huselius is hurt and most likely out for the year), opening up roster spots is of vital importance to the Leafs in the next few weeks. Colby Armstrong is due back as is Darryl Boyce and John-Michael Liles which means this glut of extra players and depth is now at its' optimal usage time. You deal from a position of strength and now is the time.

Period 2 set to begin....

The Monster wasn't nearly as busy as Fleury but was steady when called upon....

Looks like Grabovski doesn't like to be mentioned in trade rumours as he has been on fire in the 2nd period. 2 goals, zipping around as if he knows he is the best player in that game (Paging Evgeni Malkin.....Malkin.....Malkin...) he even passed up a chance to get his first career hat trick on a 2 on 0 by passing to a wide open Nik Kulemin (except the puck jumped over his stick). Heck, even Luke Schenn is starting to look like an offensive dynamo in this game as the Pens just look flat, even after a timeout by Couach Bylsma.

The Pens show some life, as they get a goal from a nice re-direct by Matt Cooke. 2-1 Leafs late in the 2nd....

After the goal, the Pens finally had a bit of pressure (this after giving up 2 more odd man rushes) but they were unable to tie the score....after 2, Leafs lead 2-1....

Back for the 3rd...