Weekend Match-Ups To Watch

This weekend could be the most important stretch for some NHL teams battling for a play-off spot. Before we get in the match-ups, I would like to comment on the play of  Trevor Gillies. Who does this guy think he is? I used to cringe when I watched Matt Cooke, wondering when he was going to strike next. Thank You Trevor Gillies for making Cooke look like a saint. When you have more penalty minutes than time played and have taken a run at 2 professional hockey players heads (with only 1:10 mins of ice time, in between hits), should this guy not get a life time ban? I know that is kind of out of the question, but what does this clown bring to the game of hockey other than brutality. Gillies needs to be checked out for mental problems before he should be able to step back on the ice. I understand that in the heat of the moment, players can act out of character. This guy stood in the door way of the game against Pittsburgh and laughed at what he did to Eric Tangradi of the Penguins. He serves a 9 game suspension and then takes a run a Cal Cultterbuck's head. If not the life time ban which I know is astronomic, can we maybe look at 20 games?
 Now to some real hockey. Going into this weekend (Thursday night), The #Toronto Maple #Leafs and #Carolina Hurricanes will be looking to push Buffalo out of the play-off race.  The leafs have been HOT. The play of Brett Lebda, I think has gone under the radar. At the start of the season the struggling d-man was looking to find a solid home in Toronto. With all the talent recently moved out of Toronto, Lebda has had an opportunity to play a more important role, posting a +5 in the last 5 games. I don't think leafs fan remember that Brett has won a Stanley cup with the red wings, and was a very big part of the defensive game in Detroit. Take a look at his career play-off stats.......

Career Playoff Statistics

Season	Team	GP	G	A	P	+/-					Shots
2003-2004	Grand Rapids Griffins-AHL	4	0	0	0	-3
2005-2006	Red Wings	6	0	0	0	3					7
2005-2006	Grand Rapids Griffins-AHL	11	1	4	5	-9
2006-2007	Red Wings	12	0	2	2	4					19
2007-2008	Red Wings	19	0	2	2	0					12
2008-2009	Red Wings	23	0	6	6	8					19
2009-2010	Red Wings	2	0	0	0	0					1
	NHL Totals	62	0	10	10	15					58

Everything seems to be working for the Leafs. They will meet their biggest test tonight when they face the division leader, the Flyer's. Oct 23 was the last  meeting between the two teams. It saw Philadelphia out shoot the leafs 40-14. Look for this improved Leaf team to be  in front of the net blocking shots again tonight ( they had over 22 shots blocked last night). If the Leafs plan on getting any where n.close to the play-offs they will first need to overcome the Sabers. Buffalo will be going tough tonight, in Raleigh N.C. visiting  the Canes. This game should be a  battle of goalies, seeing two of the most relied on tenders taking the ice. If either goalie isn't up the to challenge, this game has the chance to get out of hand on the score sheet. Look for the likes of Cory Stillman and Eric Staal to have an impact on the win tonight in Carolina.
 One team that can take the wind right out of the Canes and Leafs sails, is the Chicago Black Hawks. The Hawks have clawed their way back in to the playoff picture in the west. The top forwards Towes, Kane, and Hossa are showing why they took home the cup last season. The all-star caliber quality, has an outstanding +32 rating, if you add Brian Campbell to the mix they are +56. WOW! For both Carolina and Toronto (playing the Hawks respectively  Fri/Sat) to have any kind of success against Chicago, they must find a way to get under the skin of the top 2 lines and throw off their game. With a 6-3 record against teams in the east, the Hawks need to make sure they show up and not look past the determined teams. The Blackhawk's should record 4  points to the 86, they sit with presently.