Let's all take a deep breath and step down off the ledge. It's going to be okay.
Yes, the Toronto Maple Leafs got their butts kicked by the Ottawa Senators on Tuesday. Yes, Carey Price of my Montreal Canadiens looked pretty awful letting in four goals on eight shots against the Boston Bruins on Wednesday night.
None of it matters, because it's just exhibition hockey. It's meaningless. I know it's hard to tell, with the pre-game shows and the post-game shows and the call-in shows and the stadiums in Toronto and Montreal predictably packed, but these September games are nothing more than glorified scrimmages.
I'm no Leaf fan, but I wouldn't judge the team's chances in 2010-11 based on their 5-0 loss to the Sens. Mostly because that 'Leaf' team that suited up isn't the real Leaf team. For that matter, that Senators team was a fake one too. Filled with minor leaguers, and draft picks, and players who won't get a sniff of NHL action once October comes around.
I love hockey as much as the next guy, but my interest in watching the Habs play last night, aside from seeing the uniform in motion again, was getting a look at some players I've only read about. Jarred Tinordi. Louis Leblanc. Aaron Palushaj.
I wasn't really interested in whether or not they beat a Boston Bruins squad also comprised of youngsters and projects.
Smart fans don't look for wins until the regular season.
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