LEAFS POSTGAME: PANTHERS SET FRANCHISE RECORD

Four games left. On Monday night, that’s all that stood between the Leafs and the inevitable loss to the Oilers in the draft lottery. The Panthers were in town – Jagr, Barkov, Ekblad, the whole gang – in a quest to set a franchise record in points. Which is slightly more impressive than waiting for your balls to drop in the right order. (editor’s note: phrasing)

Spoiler alert: the Panthers achieved that feat in a game that contained the most painfully long third period of all time. I’m only being a little bit hyperbolic.

Not to be a nerd, but this chart says it all. After a relatively even first period, Florida took over. The Leafs were flat-out bad in the second, and Florida made them pay for it with three goals. The worst part? Two of those goals were by Rocco Grimaldi, who is tiny. If you’re getting scored on by tiny players, your team is bad. I will not argue about this. 

The third period – which was pain…full…y…slow…bec….ause…of…40000….video…reviews – featured an attempted “comeback” by the Leafs, with two goals from Colin Greening (one of which was off a sweet sweet dish from Nylander), that ultimately fell short when Barkov scored 36 seconds after TJ Brennan’s goal.

Despite the goals in the third, the Leafs really were bad all night. Heck, the Leafs couldn’t even win in the faceoff department, putting up a measly 40% in that department. They tied in hits at 24, though. So that’s good.

Yeah, this is normally the Blue Warrior, but Colin Greening scored two goals tonight. The same Colin Greening that Ottawa couldn’t find a place for in the NHL, buried in the AHL, and included as a salary dump in the Dion Phaneuf trade. You suck, Ottawa.

The Leafs play their final home game of the season, hosting the Blue Jackets in what is sure to be a spirited battle to be as bad as possible. Game starts at 7.