THE BEGINNING FOR CHIPS AND PRICE

Good morning all. First off I would like to take this opportunity to thank the Leafs for another entertaining game. They were so far from anything resembling a hockey team, they might as well have been called the Zimbabwe Tubuktu hockey club. On that note, MN-TO-NO-GO is down by two more, and the Leafs are at the bottom (where they belong for eternity) of the NL standings.

I suppose the big news for tonight is Carey Price's NHL debut. Is he the second coming of Ken Dryden and Patrick Roy? Or is he another talented hockey player which will melt and crumble under the NHL's pressure? I don't think many people will argue the fact that given his performance in the past two years is proof positive that he's got the crystal-balls to back up Cristobal. Playing for the gold medal game in the juniors was a test of his character. Furthermore being thrown in to net for the AHL playoffs (without having played in the AHL level mind you) and performing at the same high level and winning MVP honours is proof enough for this believer that not only is he the real deal, not only is he ready, but he doesn't need practice games against the likes of Columbus.

Win or loose, shut out or blow out, Price will play his first NHL game tonight and his next soon there after. Hopefully he has some magic left in his pads to bring us to the cup this year. If he plays at the top of his game, this team has the makings for a Cinderella story. But for now let us focus on the here and now.

For a successful night, we need to slow down their offence and take the ice away from the likes of Crosby and Malkin (which is why Carbo elected to switch up the offensive Grabowsky to Chipchura tonight) and we have to keep their shots to the sides and at angles. We have been more disciplined in recent times, so if Syd the amazing diving kid keeps his terrible acting to a minimum, we should be OK.