Being a Leafs fan is a chronic condition, and here we are again. After watching Ottawa take a 3-2 decision from our boys yesterday, October 3, I am already practicing my deep breathing exercises. At 1-2-0, we are technically just two games back in the Atlantic, which is the only thing keeping my blood pressure from hitting record highs. The season is live, the standings are a blank canvas, and I am already exhausted.
While we stew in our own misery, the rest of the league keeps spinning. Yesterday saw a flurry of action, including Buffalo edging Chicago 3-4 and Pittsburgh slipping past Montreal 5-6. It’s early, and the standings are basically fiction right now, but that never stops the anxiety. Looking ahead, today brings five matchups: Winnipeg visits Detroit, Utah heads to New York, Florida faces Anaheim, Calgary travels to Seattle, and Vegas hits Vancouver. I’ll be watching, naturally, because despite the 1967-shaped hole in my heart, I’m a glutton for punishment. Whether it’s the draft, free agency, or just another defensive breakdown, I’ll be here. The path to a championship is long, arduous, and almost certainly designed to break my spirit by April.