Lessons learned from the AHL Outdoor Classic

The Toronto Marlies visited Hamilton Bulldogs at Ivor Wynne Stadium on Saturday.

Attending the AHL Outdoor Classic is like eating a slider for lunch -- it's a nice bite-sized sample of a burger, but it only makes you hungrier for its much larger, juicier, counterpart.  And you know you're getting the real thing for dinner.

A few friends and I convoyed to Hamilton Saturday night to see the game between the Toronto Marlies and Hamilton Bulldogs at Ivor Wynne Stadium. It was an unbelievable experience --  the Marlies routed the Dogs 7-2, I witnessed a couple solid fights, and the crowd belted out 'Sweet Caroline' not once, but twice. When you can hold an ice-cold beer with your bare hands in the middle of January, you know the Hockey Gods are smiling down on you.

But with news that a potential Leafs-Red Wings tilt is in the cards as the next chapter of the NHL Winter Classic, one could only dream of what that one would feel like.

The capacity of Ivor Wynne Stadium is almost 30,000, with over 20,000 taking in the 'Steeltown Showdown' last Saturday. The proposed setting for the Maple Leafs-Red Wings tilt at Michigan Stadium is more than triple that capacity -- 110,000 Leafs and Red Wings fans in the stands would shatter the NHL's attendance record of 71,217, set at the 2008 Winter Classic at Buffalo's Ralph Wilson Stadium, where the Sabres played the Penguins.

This game would be the Big Mac of Big Macs. I salivate thinking about it. (The game, not the burger. Okay, the burger too.)

In the event the Leafs-Red Wings end up playing in the Winter Classic next year, I thought I'd share a list of what I learned from Saturday's event to help prepare Leafs Nation, who are clamouring for something special to come their way. And since it doesn't look like Lord Stanley's ready to make an appearance on Yonge Street just yet, let's hope this matchup is confirmed soon.

5. Perfect weather = perfect game

Okay, it's not something any of us can control, but the Marlies-Bulldog game couldn't have had a better backdrop. No smokestacks in sight, only clear blue skies. In the past, weather has been a major factor at the Winter Classic -- think the NHL's version of the 'Snow Bowl' in 2008, or Crosby crouched on the rain-soaked ice last year -- and while the unpredictability of it seems to be a selling point for the league, I'm sure the fans do not want to amputate their limbs after the game.  So while we were lucky to sit in the sun Saturday, we were still wearing at least two layers of clothes, and my feet were still cold in the shade. Don't underestimate sitting outside for three hours -- dress appropriately.

4. Kick it old school

Sure, the Marlies won the game 7-2, but someone clearly dropped the ball here. MLSE is praised around the continent as one of the best sports businesses in North America, but I was appalled to see the regular Marlies jerseys on the players while the Bulldogs donned nice vintage sweaters. Maybe MLSE did the research and realized it wasn't worth making new jerseys for a one-time event for the AHL, but as a fan, seeing these retro sweaters is one of the main attractions to the Winter Classic. Playing outside and wearing old-looking jerseys reminds us of the glory days of hockey, even if my generation can't remember those old black and white TVs. I'm sure the Leafs, being the most profitable organization in the league, and whose jerseys grace arenas all the way down to Anaheim, will have new sleeves up their sleeves should they be the next candidates for The Classic.

3. Stay for the weekend

In an ideal world, days off from work to catch a sporting event would be government approved. Unfortunately, no such universe exists, so my gang was unable to catch the AHL alumni game on Friday. A shame, too, because the likes of Doug Gilmour and Wendel Clark suited up for the Blue and White, something I would have loved to see live once in my life. The NHL Winter Classic usually falls on the Jan. 1 holiday, with the alumni game a day or two prior, so if you usually work Dec. 30-31 and plan on attending the Winter Classic, I would book them off as annual days. You never know when the next time you'll see one of your boyhood idols play again.

2. Be prepared to break the bank

I don't just mean on concession stands. My buddy got our AHL Classic tickets for $40, but again, this game is the slider. If you want the real deal, it will cost you handsomely. For one thing, the Leafs would not be the home team. The NHL Winter Classic home teams usually offer their season ticket holders first opportunity to purchase packages, and I'm sure the Red Wings organization would do everything in their power to pack their own house before Leafs fans can make it a quasi-home game. If we pay several hundreds of dollars for regular Leafs game, just imagine how much this one could cost.

1. Everyone wins with turkey legs

A fan enjoys a bite out of his turkey leg.

That's right folks, it would be the perfect treat for an event on New Year's Day. Meat on a stick, it doesn't get any better (unless you're vegetarian... I hear kebobs are good too). And for those missing the festive family fixin's to take in the game live, it would fit well with the holiday theme. At the Bulldogs-Marlies game, the only two things the crowd of Hamiltonians and Torontonians could agree to chant in unison were "Boston Sucks" and "Turkey Legs."

Scrivens Saves in St. Louis

Ben Scrivens was certainly the soldier the Leafs needed.

On the eve of Remembrance Day, Scrivens churned out an inspired effort, helping the Leafs win 3-2 in overtime against the St. Louis Blues, despite a Blues offence that barraged the Leafs for two-thirds of the game.  Despite the steady assault on Scrivens, the Leafs rookie stood tall and stopped all three shots in the shootout to secure the win.

The Leafs raced to a quick start, scoring two powerplay goals in the first period.  John-Michael Liles wristed one past a screened Jaroslav Halak from the top of the circle.  On another man advantage, Phil Kessel chipped the puck past Halak, adding to his league lead with 12 goals and increasing the lead to 2-0. 

From there, the Blues took it to the Leafs.

St. Louis clawed their way back, using their size and strength to hem the Leafs into their zone for sustained periods.  Jason Arnott made it 2-1 on the powerplay when he onetimed a nice Pietrangelo feed from the slot.  Then, with three minutes to go and the Blues trailing by, the home team pinned the visitors into their defensive zone, leaving Steckel, Lombardi and Fratting gasping for air when the puck finally cleared the zone.

But the Blues were resilient and tied it up when Patrik Berglund jamming the puck at the lip of the crease.  The Blues outshot the Leafs 30-8 in the final two frames of the game. 

Sufficed to say Scrivens was sharp. 

He made several highlight reel saves, including a sprawling arm save on Steen who was wide open at the side of the net.  Coming into the game there were major concerns about the goaltending situation and who should start. 

With the way Scrivens played tonight, he's silenced the controversy, at least for a little while.

Bruins Pummel Leafs... Again

For all the talk about the Leafs atop the NHL standings, leave it to Tyler Seguin and The Champs to bring them back to earth.

Coming into tonight's game, the Leafs were tied with Pittsburgh Penguins for first in the NHL with 19 points, while the Bruins have been reminded time and time again of their slow start as a result of their Stanley Cup hangover.  But it was the Leafs who looked like they had one too many, as their clumsy play left rookie goaltender Ben Scrivens apologizing to the bench.  It wasn't his fault -- his teammates simply left him out to dry in a 7-0 routing.

Tyler Seguin buried a beauty onetimer from the dot to make it 1-0 after the Leafs failed to cover passing lanes on the penalty kill -- that's right, another goal against with a man down.  Seguin struck again early in the second, followed shortly by Horton splitting the defense and wiring one five hole on Scrivens only seven seconds later.  And nothing could be done on Seguin's hat trick goal, a top-shelf beauty after striding past a slow-footed Komisarek.

So while the Leafs should feel good about their start, they are a long way from even being a contender in the playoffs.  If there's one thing the Leafs can learn from the B's, it's to step up when they need to most.

A win against the Bruins tonight could have sent Leaf Nation on a frenzy and proved a point to the rest of the league that they could be the real deal.  Instead they're left wondering who that slow, uninspired team was that took a beating at the Air Canada Centre.  They've reignited the Seguin-Kessel comparisons, even with Kessel's strong start.  And they've created nothing short of controversy about their goaltending situation.

One game and the team is slumping.  Confidence is fleeting, isn't it?

Leafs Continue Super Strong Start With 4-3 Win Against Penguins

You can't help but be excited.

The Leafs are now 3-0 after an exciting win against the Pittsburgh Penguins.  TSN host James Duthie cheekily mentioned Toronto is at the top of the standings, hardly anything to read into much.  Still, it was another character win for the Leafs.

They slayed last year's demons by beating Montreal in the season opener, sent a message to the rival Senators by pummeling them 5-1, and tonight they managed to hold off a win-hungry Pens team who haven't won in their new building yet.  Gustavsson was clutch down the stretch, kicking his pad out to stop glorious scoring chances.  Although the Leafs had only two shots in the third period, they skated hard until the last whistle.  While they've only played three games, the Leafs have earned their stripes, and wear those patches with what to me looks like pride. 

I think it's reasonable to be so excited.  There's no doubt the Leafs will lose soon, possibly many when all is said and done, but absolutely no one can say that this is the same team from last year.  Players like Mike Brown, Colby Armstrong, and Kris Versteeg have added hustle and heart --  suddenly third periods don't seem so bad.  It helps when your goalie makes saves.

So far, Burke's additions have been just what the doctors ordered.

A little life blood to go with that truculence.

Turning Over A New Leafs Season

We are hours away from the start of the 2010-2011 NHL hockey season and I'm all giddy inside.

But before the city burns after the Leafs' first win, and before we call for Ron Wilson's head after a string of losses, let's reflect on the changes the team has gone through and why this time around, it is not stupid to be optimistic.  There are many new faces, but the two biggest changes are attitude and depth. 

The Maple Leafs are trying to prove they are no longer the laughing stock of the NHL.  Brian Burke vows his pack has a winning attitude -- or as I like to call it, swag.  To me, it's not so much the winning attitude as it is their unwillingness to surrender that makes me breathe easier.  The Leafs seem to have a never-say-die attitude coming into the season, a stark contrast from the debauchery of a team that essentially let Andrew Raycroft prance around on his old stomping ground and celebrate in triumph despite being up by three goals.  The Leafs made him look like he was worth trading Tuukka Rask... but that is another tragedy altogether.

The other area of improvement is organizational depth.  I love (hate) it when reader comments say that Burke should be fired because he wasn't able to bring high end offensive talent this year.  It stuns me at how shortsighted some people are.  First off, you can't make lemonade without the lemons.  And you can't buy lemons unless you have assets to offer back.  Burke couldn't trade for a top-notch center because we had zero tradeable assets.  As the old saying goes, "You gotta give a lil' to get a lil'."  The same thing applied for attracting free agents.  Players decide to sign with winning clubs.  They want to know that the organization they play for is committed to winning and that they will be surrounded by people who can help them do that.  A year ago, the Leafs best prospects were free agent signings in Tyler Bozak, Christian Hanson, and now-departed Viktor Stalberg.  Today, the cupboard is much fuller with players like Luca Caputi, Jussi Rynnas, Ben Scrivens, Jerry D'Amigo, Marcel Mueller, Keith Aulie.  Some signed, others were acquired, and even more were found with the draft picks we DID have.  The Bozaks and Gustavssons don't even count as prospects, and they're still quite young.  While these players don't immediately help the Maple Leafs, they can help building a winning attitude with the Toronto Marlies.  Building from the ground up, that's how it's done. 

The Leafs have come a long way.  From Stajan, Blake and Ponikarovsky to Armstrong, Kessel and Versteeg; from a team without a leader to Dion Phaneuf, undisputed (though untested) captain of the franchise.  From Vesa Toskala to a goalie that stops pucks.  Even the fact that Nazem Kadri isn't starting the season with the big club says a lot about the difference a year made.

Whether or not it will pan out this year is a mystery.  But you've got to give Brian Burke for trying. 

Hockey at last.  And here we go...