People have been wondering how Phil Kessel was able to play so well against the Bruins during the playoffs (including four goal and two assists), especially after previously struggling against his former team. Well, it turns out the Leafs winger is actually the latest version of the terminator:
Like Arnie, I just hope Kessel strives to uphold the motto “I’ll be back”, for next season.
Credit: @BuzzFeedCanada
If you have any tips or information about any of Toronto’s sports teams, please email me at Englishpaul@hotmail.co.uk
As part of Blue Toro’s on-going/never-ending quest to provide interesting content, welcome to our new weekly feature: Top Toronto Athlete sightings of the week.
As regular readers know, we often feature public shots of athletes who ply their trade in Toronto. However, rather than producing random blogs discussing these various sightings, we thought it would make more sense to collate them into a weekly feature.
As such, we now present our inaugural column. Please feel free to contact us with your feedback, constructive or otherwise:
1) JAMES REIMER
Removing whatever doubt was left that James Reimer never stops smiling, here he is taking the time to pose with a fan, despite dealing with the fallout from the Leafs game 7 meltdown. Mind you, now that we know who the goaltender is going home to every night, I think we’d all have a permanent smile on our face under those circumstances.
2) JOFFREY LUPUL
Meanwhile, Joffrey Lupul appears to be doing his best to avoid the spotlight, which might explain why he went under the cover of darkness to attend the Vampire Weekend Concert last night. However, he still couldn’t avoid the fans. If his left fist and expression on his face are any indication, the winger appears close to lashing out at somebody.
3) JOE EPPELE
Argonauts offensive lineman Joe Eppele was at RealSports Bar with some friends on Monday night to watch the Leafs game against the Bruins. They all seem quite happy, so I’m assuming the photo was taken sometime before the last two minutes of regulation. Either that, or they just don’t care.
4) BRETT LAWRIE
While this isn’t what you’d usually term as a social sighting, we felt obliged to share this photo of Brett Lawrie. I’m sure plenty of women out there can empathise with how much of a pain it is when you’re preparing to go out and you’ve misplaced your makeup mirror.
5) JOSE BAUTISTA
This picture actually comes from last weekend, when Jose Bautista went out for a meal in Boston. How do we know he’s in Boston? Look no further than the guy not bothering to stand up for the photo, basically embodying the arrogant sense of self-importance normally associated with Boston sports fans.
6) RUDY GAY
Quick quiz: Why do you think the Raptors Rudy Gay looks less than happy? Is it because; a) He’s in Baltimore, b) He’s shopping at H&M or c) The Grizzlies have clearly shown they don’t need him.
7) R.A. DICKEY
Blue Jays pitcher R.A. Dickey received an honorary doctorate from Wycliffe College at the University of Toronto earlier this week, i.e. he didn’t actually put any time or effort in to earn it. This led to questions about if his Cy Young award was also an honorary one, given the way he’s performed at times this season.
8 ) DION PHANEUF
And finally, I’m not saying fan James Liles is pissed off with Dion Phaneuf, but here’s a photo that was taken when he ‘meet’ the Leafs captain.
If you have any tips or information about any of Toronto’s sports teams, please email me at Englishpaul@hotmail.co.uk
Okay, it’s been four days since the Leafs now infamous implosion, meltdown, self-capitulation, or whatever the hell you want to call it. The question is, are you ready to watch a goal by goal reaction to the 5-4 loss against the Bruins?
I’m going to guess ‘probably not’. However, given the average person’s inwardly natural sense of morbid curiosity, I bet you’ll still relive the experience through the eyes of this group of Leafs fans:
You may want to watch the video clip a few times to see the reactions of certain people. A personal highlight was the girl sitting on the left, who was clearly bored and did her best to hide her amusement when the Bruins scored the game-winner.
If you have any tips or information about any of Toronto’s sports teams, please email me at Englishpaul@hotmail.co.uk
I appreciate Monday night’s 5-4 loss to the Bruins still has a lot of people feeling a bit dazed and confused. However, I reckon enough time’s now passed, that we can look at some of the top reactions from fans, players and media alike:
1) IN THE OFFICE
I’m guessing scenes similar to this one were repeated in offices and work places all across Southern Ontario on Tuesday morning.
2) BOSTON CREME SURPRISE
I wonder if the Penguins fan who attempted the following joke, made it through the day in one piece. Is he even from Pittsburgh?! Jackass!!
3) LEAFS FANS FIGHT ON THE TRAIN
I know emotions were running high after the game, but shouldn’t stuff like what happened in game 7 unite Leafs Nation rather than tear them apart? Mind you, it does amuse me how the guy that was getting his ass kicked, suddenly became a lot braver when other people became involved.
4) LEAFS FLAG AT HALF-MAST
This picture seemed particularly appropriate. In fact, I can almost hear the trumpet playing in the background.
5) SIGN OUTSIDE A SPORTS BAR
Only an Ottawa Senators fans could have come up with the following, although I will admit it did amuse me.
6) JACK EDWARDS CALLS THE WINNING GOAL
As if we didn’t already have enough reasons to hate the Bruins, Jack Edwards call of the winning goal for NESN just provided us with another one.
7) JOFFREY LUPUL TWEET
That hockey game will haunt me until the day I die…
I’m sure that tweet from Joffrey Lupul resonates with a lot of people. Leafs fans look forward to having you for a full campaign next season Mr Lupul.
8 ) LEAFS FULL PAGE ADVERT
Of course this advert has absolutely nothing to do with the fact fans still bought playoff tickets despite the 70% increase from the regular season prices, already the most expensive in the league.
9) LEAFS FAN MELTDOWN: PART 1
This photo seemed to capture the very essence of Leafs fans having a meltdown after the Bruins scored the winning goal in overtime.
10) LEAFS FAN MELTDOWN: PART 2
Finally, I much prefer the way the following Leafs fan handled their meltdown:
(Women and young children may want to look away at this point.)
(Look, I’m being serious.)
(Okay, fine. Well don’t say I didn’t warn you.)
I can only assume she’s pining for the days of when Tie Domi played for the Leafs.
If you have any tips or information about any of Toronto’s sports teams, please email me at Englishpaul@hotmail.co.uk
Despite the devastating 5-4 loss to the Bruins, the Leafs can hold their heads high and be proud of what they accomplished this season. However, this still doesn’t change the fact we’re all going to need a little time to get over the trauma of last night.
Personally, I’m just about over the denial and anger stages and slowly beginning to accept what happened. Which might explain why I found it too hard to resist creating the following meme:
They way I look at it, if you don’t laugh, you’ll cry.
In all honesty though, James Reimer has nothing to be ashamed of. If it wasn’t for him, the Leafs wouldn’t have got back into the series.
Besides, all the goaltender has to do is remind smartasses like me, who he gets to go home to every night:
Yep, something tells me Mr Reimer is going to be just fine.
I’m sure there’s still several twists and turns left in what has been an extremely tense and exciting game 7. However, Cody Franson’s heat-seeking missile to give the Leafs a 2-1 lead over the Bruins has to be worth another look:
Apart from the actual action on the ice, the highlight of the night had to be when the fans inside the ACC started chanting “Thank you Seguin”, after Phil Kessel scored. In effect, they were basically taking the piss out of Bruins fans, who chant “Thank you Kessel” whenever Tyler Seguin gets a goal against the Leafs.
Fingers crossed Bruins fans won’t get their chance at revenge tonight in game 7 at TD Garden.
Yes, maybe I’m still buzzing from the Leafs game, hence why I’m writing this at 12:20am, but for anyone else who’s still up, here’s James Reimer’s big saves from the second period:
Okay, fine. They may not exactly be worthy of going viral, but I’m sure you all want to see Dion Phaneuf’s and Phil Kessel’s goals again. Enjoy:
Not only did the goals send the Leafs on the way to a 2-1 win, they also helped them defeat the Bruins on home ice for the first time in the playoffs since 1959. Here’s hoping this young team can make more history during tonight’s deciding game 7 in Boston.
