Dumb Penalties After a Busy Day

By HOWARD BERGER

WASHINGTON (Dec. 9) - After looking respectable on the penalty kill through much of November, the Maple Leafs were stripped naked by the Washington Capitals on Friday night. A sequence of undisciplined penalties allowed the Caps to score all their goals on the powerplay - three of them by defenseman Dennis Wideman - in a 4-2 victory over the Leafs; Toronto losing for the third time in four games since Saturday. Wideman became the first defenseman to score a hat-trick against the Maple Leafs since Mar. 7,1994, when Steve Duchesne of the St. Louis Blues had three at Maple Leaf Gardens - that info from the Toronto Sun's Lance Hornby: a walking encyclopedia among us all. (NOTE: On Saturday, the NHL reviewed Wideman's third goal and ruled it had gone in off teammate Brooks Laich, so Steve Duchesne is still the last d-man to score three on the Leafs)

The game, itself, seemed to be an intrusion after a busy day compiling reaction to the sale of Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment to communications rivals Rogers and Bell Media. Much of the chatter around the visitors' dressing room after the morning skate centred on the most noticeable and popular member of the Leafs ownership group. One by one, the veteran players - and coach Ron Wilson - voluntarily mentioned his name: the lone face they all know in a throng of investors that has now grown beyond immediate comprehension.

Larry Tanenbaum - owning right of first refusal in the sale of MLSE majority shares, but not quite worth $1.4 billion himself - will continue to be seen during and after all Leaf games at the Air Canada Centre; his stock having increased from 20% to 25% of the enormous pie. Through good times and bad, Tanenbaum was the conscience of a now-former controlling group fronted by the impersonal Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan, and a man that deeply cared about those on the front lines.

"I think it's great that Larry got more of a percentage," said Leaf captain Dion Phaneuf. "Larry has always made a point of interacting with the players; he's a really good guy to talk with in any situation. I'm excited he got a bigger stake in ownership."

Added defenseman Luke Schenn - earmarked to be captain before Phaneuf"s acquisition: "Larry is an unbelievable human being; a class act all around, and one of the nicest people I've ever met. From a player's standpoint, you couldn't ask for more out of an owner. He comes into the dressing room after all of our home games with praise after a win and words of encouragement after a loss. He does lots of great things for us and has always shown how much he cares about the team.

"I met a few people, here and there, from the Teachers' Pension Plan over the years but never got to know them as anything more than a familiar face; they all seemed very businesslike. Larry is much more personable; he comes to team and charity events and is a gracious host. I'm really thrilled he's staying on."

I had a wildly busy day here on Friday - walking (in the wrong pair of shoes) for nearly two hours after the Leafs morning skate to photograph several of the world-renowned sights here in the American capital. And, despite a couple of wicked blisters, I'm happy to present you the following photo-review:

LEAFS AND CAPITALS STAND DURING NATIONAL ANTHEMS AT THE VERIZON CENTER, BEFORE THE PUCK IS DROPPED (BELOW) BY REFEREE MIKE HASENFRATZ BETWEEN MIKHAIL GRABOVSKI AND JEFF HALPERN.

PHIL KESSEL SCORED THE LEAFS FIRST GOAL, HIS 18th OF THE SEASON, AND WAS FOUND IN THE VICINITY OF THE WASHINGTON NET A NUMBER OF TIMES.

LEAFS DID A GOOD JOB BOTTLING UP THE CAPITALS WHILE PLAYING FIVE-ON-FIVE, BUT HAD NOT A CLUE WHILE SKATING SHORTHANDED.

PERHAPS JOFFREY LUPUL AND NICKLAS BACKSTROM WERE DISCUSSING THEIR MUTUAL NUMBERS (ABOVE)... AND PERHAPS NOT.

THIS LOOKS LIKE A BIT OF A FIRE-DRILL (ABOVE) WITH PLAYERS ON BOTH TEAMS SCATTERING IN ALL DIFFERENT DIRECTIONS NEAR CENTRE-ICE.

MR. G-Q WAS AT IN THE HOUSE - A.K.A. DON KOHARSKI: FORMER LONG-TIME REFEREE AND CURRENT OFFICIATING SUPERVISOR.

IT WAS NOT A PLEASANT NIGHT FOR LEAFS GOALIE JAMES REIMER, WHO WAS UNDER SIEGE DURING WASHINGTON POWERPLAYS AND COULDN'T STOP WHAT HE COULDN'T SEE (BELOW): DENNIS WIDEMAN'S SECOND GOAL AT 1:49 OF THE SECOND PERIOD, WITH BROOKS LAICH AND DION PHANEUF PROVIDING THE SCREEN.

ALEX OVECHKIN, IN FAMILIAR FACE-OFF STANCE (ABOVE), WAS DANGEROUS ALL NIGHT, SETTING UP ONE OF WIDEMAN'S GOALS AND CELEBRATING WITH THE CAPITALS' DEFENSEMAN (BELOW).

HATS RAIN DOWN FROM THE VERIZON CENTER SEATS (ABOVE) AS THE CAPITALS MOB WIDEMAN AFTER HIS THIRD GOAL, WITH 1:50 TO PLAY.

WIDEMAN FLIPS A PUCK INTO THE STANDS (ABOVE) WHILE SKATING OUT AS THE GAME'S UNDISPUTED FIRST STAR.



CAPITALS COACH DALE HUNTER - JUNIOR LEGEND FROM LONDON - ADDRESSES MEDIA AFTER THE VICTORY OVER TORONTO.

THE VERIZON CENTER (ABOVE AND BELOW) EARLIER IN THE DAY, WITH THE CHIEF ATTRACTION IN THESE PARTS DISPLAYED ON A BANNER OUTSIDE.

LEAFS SKATE IN THE MORNING AT THE VERIZON CENTER (ABOVE) AND COLBY ARMSTRONG - SOILED LINEN IN HAND - STEPS OUT OF THE VISITORS' DRESSING ROOM (BELOW) WITH THE SMILE OF A MAN RETURNING AFTER A 23-GAME ABSENCE WITH A HIGH-ANKLE SPRAIN. WE LAST SAW HIM AT THE ACC AGAINST WINNIPEG ON OCT. 19.

ONE OF THE CLASSIC VIEWS IN AMERICA (ABOVE): THE STRETCH ALONG PENNSYLVANIA AVE. TO THE UNITED STATES CAPITOL.

THE DOME ATOP THE U.S. CAPITOL MAY BE THE MOST RECOGNISABLE STRUCTURE ON EARTH. MANY STILL BELIEVE IT WOULD HAVE BEEN DESTROYED BY TERRORISTS ABOARD UNITED AIRLINES FLIGHT 93 ON SEP. 11, 2001 (FROM NEWARK TO SAN FRANCISCO), HAD PASSENGERS NOT BRAVELY AND LEGENDARILY FOUGHT TO RE-TAKE THE AIRCRAFT. HIJACKERS NOSEDIVED THE PLANE INTO A FIELD IN SHANKSVILLE PA.

LOOKING THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION FROM CAPITOL HILL (ABOVE) - PAST THE ULYSSES S. GRANT MEMORIAL ALONG THE NATIONAL MALL TO THE WASHINGTON MONUMENT (A PLANE PASSING BY ON FINAL APPROACH TO REAGAN AIRPORT). THE WORLD'S LARGEST OBELISK (555 FEET) WAS BADLY DAMAGED DURING THE BIZARRE, 5.8-MAGNITUDE VIRGINIA EARTHQUAKE ON AUG. 23 OF THIS YEAR AND HASN'T YET RE-OPENED TO THE PUBLIC.

THE 2011 CHRISTMAS TREE (ABOVE) ON CAPITOL HILL.

THE CAPITOL REFLECTING POOL (ABOVE AND BELOW) APPEARED SUMMER-LIKE, EVEN WITH TEMPERATURES HOVERING IN THE MID-40s.

NATIONAL ARCHIVES OF THE U.S. ARE HOUSED IN THE HISTORIC BUILDING (ABOVE).

IMPORTANT GOVERNMENT BUILDINGS ALONG CONSTITUTION AVE. - THE UNITED STATES TREASURY (ABOVE) AND THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT (BELOW).

NO SITE IN THE AMERICAN CAPITAL IS AS POPULAR AS THE FABLED WHITE HOUSE (ABOVE AND BELOW): HOME, RIGHT NOW, TO U.S. PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA AND HIS FAMILY. MIGHT A NEW FAMILY BE MOVING IN EARLY IN 2013?

Mid-Season Gem Awaits Maple Leafs

By HOWARD BERGER

WASHINGTON (Dec. 8) - After getting flattened by a virus on the weekend and having to skip Monday's Leafs-Rangers game in New York (the flu never seems to appear before a January trip to Edmonton), it's nice to be back on the road here in the grand capital of the United States. Though the Leafs have been plodding along just a notch above .500 since opening the season 4-0-1, a vastly underplayed quirk in their schedule could prove invaluable.

Upon flying home from their first visit to Winnipeg on New Year's Eve, the Leafs don't go near an airport until Jan. 23, when they make a post-game flight to Long Island. For nearly three-and-a-half weeks in what is generally considered the toughest part of the season (the post-Christmas "dog days" of January), the Toronto players will spend their nights at home. The club will have a busy slate of nine games at the Air Canada Centre during that period, but the only road match is a bus-ride to and from Buffalo. To boot: following the game at Nassau Coliseum on Jan. 24, Leaf players not involved in the All-Star festivities in Ottawa will have another full week of rest prior to a Jan. 31 encounter at Pittsburgh.

It should come as no surprise that Toronto has not enjoyed this caliber of break at any time in the post-expansion era (since 1967); January, in fact, has often featured laborious travel. Last season, the Leafs went to Atlanta, Los Angeles, San Jose and Phoenix (Jan. 7-13). Two years ago, it was down to Washington, Nashville, Atlanta, Tampa Bay and Florida (Jan. 15-23). In 2007-08: Anaheim, Los Angeles and San Jose (Jan. 9-12). In 2005-06: Calgary, Edmonton and Vancouver (Jan. 6-10); then Colorado, Minnesota and two games in Ottawa (Jan. 17-23).

Only twice since the NHL expanded from six to 12 teams have the Leafs enjoyed a period of light, mid-season travel. In 1971-72, the club played at Pittsburgh on Dec. 28 and did not fly again until a Jan. 19 game at Montreal. In between (like this year) was a bus trip to Buffalo (Jan. 9). Unlike this year, the Leafs immediately offset the easy travel with a seven-game trip to Montreal, Minnesota, Chicago, Los Angeles, Oakland, Vancouver and Detroit (Jan. 19 to Feb. 1). In 1978-79, the Leafs of Sittler, McDonald, Salming et al played a road game against the Islanders (Dec. 26) and then seven in a row at home before flying to Denver on Jan. 15.

But, 23 nights on the ground, followed by seven more of complete rest for the bulk of the team, is a luxury confined to the current Leafs... one the club must avail itself of. Luck involving roster health will obviously play a determining role, as will the Leafs ability to maintain focus on home ice. The Saturday-night games next month shouldn't be a problem with Detroit, the Rangers and Montreal in town. But, mid-week visits by Tampa Bay, Winnipeg, Buffalo, Ottawa, Minnesota and the Islanders will pose a challenge, given a penchant for snoozing on such occasions.

Ron Wilson will therefore need to be at his creative best - varying the pace and mood of practises and morning skates. Add in a break from key injuries and the much-improved Leafs could gobble up some impressive real estate in the Eastern Conference playoff race.

As always, I had my trusty Nikon in hand during the trip here late this afternoon:

THERE WAS AN INTERESTING SKY ABOVE PEARSON AIRPORT AS AIR CANADA FLIGHT #308 PREPARED TO LEAVE FOR WASHINGTON AT 3:50 P.M. THURSDAY.

I LOVE THIS PHOTO: THE FACE OF A NEARLY-FULL MOON APPEARS TO BE GAZING DIRECTLY AT THE WING-LET OF OUR EMBRAER-175 IN MID-FLIGHT.

ALMOST NEVER IN MY YEARS OF FLYING HAVE I SEEN SUCH A SPECTACULAR COLLAGE OF COLOURS AND SWIRLING CLOUD-PATTERNS AT SUN-SET.

TWENTY MINUTES BEFORE LANDING, WE PASS OVER DOWNTOWN BALTIMORE AND ITS INNER-HARBOUR (ABOVE). ORIOLE PARK AT CAMDEN YARDS IS ALL LIT UP IN EARLY-DECEMBER WHILE M & T BANK STADIUM - HOME OF THE NFL BALTIMORE RAVENS - STANDS DARK ACROSS THE ROAD.

MOMENTS LATER - FLYING ABOVE LANDOVER, MARYLAND - WE NOTICE THAT FED EX FIELD, HOME OF THE WASHINGTON REDSKINS, IS ALSO ILLUMINATED, TWO DAYS BEFORE HOSTING THE ANNUAL ARMY-NAVY COLLEGE FOOTBALL GAME: TO BE ATTENDED BY U.S. PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA AND VICE-PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN. IT'S THE 112th EDITION, BUT FIRST TO BE HELD INSIDE THE CAPITAL BELTWAY.

RUSH-HOUR TRAFFIC SNAKES THROUGH ALEXANDRIA, VIRGINIA (ABOVE) AS OUR PLANE IS ON FINAL APPROACH TO REAGAN NATIONAL AIRPORT (BELOW).

Coaching Trio Linked to Leafs' Past

By HOWARD BERGER

TORONTO (Dec. 1) - To be clear, Ron Wilson has been dragged unwittingly into the conversation of the past 24 hours that involves former and current Anaheim coaches Randy Carlyle and Bruce Boudreau.

Given that Wilson's Maple Leaf teams have not made the playoffs in his three years behind the bench - and that he refuses to play the "media game" by softening his public demeanour - the apparent countdown to his demise in this city continues despite an enormous leap in the standings, and a much-improved performance by the club through the month of November.

Both elements were paramount to Wilson surviving an early exit this season and both were executed. The Leafs have been at or near the top of the Eastern Conference and aggregate NHL standings since opening night; the club featuring players that were ranked one-two in league scoring heading into Thursday's games. Neither the overall upswing nor the lofty positions of Phil Kessel and Joffrey Lupul, however, have reflected on Wilson; not nearly to the extent that Leaf failures have since 2008.

Again, I think this is mainly an issue involving choice and perception. As someone pointed out earlier today, had Wilson the temperament of coaching colleague Barry Trotz, for instance, he'd likely not be spoken about in connection with Carlyle's sudden availability.

As for Leafs GM Brian Burke Tweeting that his coach "isn't going anywhere", we'll take him at face-value, unless this is an example of him "lying through my teeth" to the media, which he's promised to do when required. Coincidentally, Carlyle - though of a different coaching philosophy than Wilson - isn't exactly the Good Humour Man, himself; Randy's tongue can cut as sharply as Ronnie's when in the "mood". Given the intensity of the Toronto hockey market, it's unlikely the Maple Leafs, under Carlyle, would present a kinder, gentler image - particularly in light of the man that would ultimately make the coaching switch.

One thing Wilson, Carlyle and Boudreau have in common is their playing history with the Leafs. They were teammates here in Toronto during the 1977-78 NHL season, combining to register 15 goals and 45 points.

Here's the visual evidence:  




AS A ROOKIE DEFENSEMAN, RANDY CARLYLE'S BIOGRAPHY FIRST APPEARED IN THE LEAFS 1976-77 MEDIA GUIDE (ABOVE AND BELOW).






BRUCE BOUDREAU AND RON WILSON (BELOW) APPEARED IN A COMBINED 53 GAMES DURING THE 1977-78 SEASON UNDER ROOKIE COACH ROGER NEILSON; THEIR BIOGRAPHIES WERE IN THE MEDIA GUIDE THE FOLLOWING YEAR (ABOVE).









THE THREE "COACHES" APPEAR IN LEAFS FINAL STATISTICS FOR 1977-78 (ABOVE).

Burke Should Keep His Young Defensemen

By HOWARD BERGER

TORONTO (Nov. 30) - There is no question that Bobby Ryan, if available, would look terrific in a Maple Leafs jersey. Ryan is a proven scorer that can provide a team 35 goals per season and he's still only 24 years of age.

The difficulty in attempting to pry the right-winger away from Anaheim (apart from how the Randy Carlyle-to-Bruce Boudreau coaching change might affect the dynamic) is cost-specific: Ducks GM Bob Murray will be looking to acquire at least one young defenseman - knowing, now, that he was pilfered of Jake Gardiner in the deal last February that saw Francois Beauchemin and Joffrey Lupul switch teams. Whether or not that dissuades him from genuine shop-talk with former Anaheim boss Brian Burke remains to be determined, though Burke does have the assets Murray is seeking.

And, that's where the Leafs GM ought to be very careful.

With the exception of a reliable No. 1 goalie, there are no elements more precious in today's game than size and mobility on defense. Burke has one or both in virtually every blue-liner that has worn the Leafs jersey this season, and not by accident; double-B and his staff have adroitly built most of the hockey club from the goal out. Dion Phaneuf, Luke Schenn, Keith Aulie, Gardiner, Cody Franson, Carl Gunnarsson and injured veteran Mike Komisarek are 6-foot-2 or taller. Phaneuf, Schenn, Aulie and Komisarek enjoy throwing their weight around. Phaneuf, Gardiner, Gunnarsson and 5-foot-10 John-Michael Liles are adept at moving the puck. This is an enviable surplus of goods at the game's second-most important position, and a spot in which injury-depth becomes increasingly valuable throughout the season.

Were the Leafs having difficulty scoring goals, perhaps Burke would anxiously part with a young defenseman in pursuit of Ryan. But, Toronto is scoring with the best teams in the league through the initial-third of the schedule - in large part because of its puck-advancing skill on the back end, from where the bulk of offence originates. Its defence, as a unit, is near the top of the NHL in production, an enormous improvement over the past calendar year. To sacrifice a blue-liner for yet another marksman - even one as good as Ryan - might be a lateral move, at best.

Advice from this end would be for Burke to retain every bit of quality and depth on defence.

**************************************

And now, a bit of photo "clean-up" from southern California, where the Leafs ended their successful road trip on Sunday night:

BRILLIANT FALL COLORS...
Between family visits and hockey trips, I've been to Los Angeles dozens of times in the past 20 years, but never when the autumn foliage is in full bloom. The gorgeous colours that appear in Toronto and southern Ontario between early and mid-October flourish in California between mid and late-November each year. A morning walk on Tuesday of this week captured the ensuing images:








































SIGNS, SIGNS; EVERYWHERE SIGNS...
Even those that have never visited Los Angeles will recognise many of the names and places in the area's ubiquitous highway signs:






















COMIN' ON HOME...
After nine days away, it was high-time to see the family once again, as I returned to Toronto on Air Canada Flight #796 from Los Angeles Tuesday afternoon:



LOS ANGELES BEACHES ARE LARGELY DESERTED IN LATE-AFTERNOON AT THIS TIME OF YEAR, THOUGH PLAYA DEL REY (ABOVE AND BELOW) IS NORMALLY LESS-BUSY THAN OTHERS GIVEN THE NOISE FROM JETLINERS DEPARTING OVERHEAD OUT OF LOS ANGELES INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT.






A COUPLE OF FREIGHTERS (ABOVE) OFF THE COAST OF MANHATTAN BEACH.



ON MOST OCCASIONS, EASTBOUND FLIGHTS OUT OF L-A-X CLIMB TO 4,000 FEET ABOVE THE OCEAN BEFORE TURNING BACK DIRECTLY OVER THE AIRPORT. ONCE IN AWHILE - DEPENDING ON FLIGHT PATTERN AND WINDS - PLANES WILL FLY SOUTH BEFORE TURNING EASTWARD OVER NEWPORT BEACH IN ORANGE COUNTY. THAT'S THE ROUTE WE TOOK ON WEDNESDAY. THE ABOVE PHOTO SHOWS THE PALOS VERDES PENINSULA JUTTING INTO THE PACIFIC OCEAN SOUTH OF THE COAST-LINE, WITH REDONDO, HERMOSA AND MANHATTAN BEACHES NORTH OF THE PENINSULA. LOOK CLOSELY IN THE MIDDLE OF THE PHOTO AND YOU CAN SEE THE BUILDINGS OF DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES SOME 35 MILES IN THE DISTANCE.



FURTHER SOUTH (ABOVE), WE APPROACH LONG BEACH HARBOUR.



THE MOST FAMOUS RESIDENT OF LONG BEACH HARBOUR IS AT BOTTOM-LEFT IN THE ABOVE PHOTO: THE RMS QUEEN MARY OCEAN LINER THAT SAILED THE NORTH ATLANTIC BETWEEN 1936 AND 1967. THE SHIP LEFT SOUTHAMPTON, ENGLAND FOR ITS FINAL VOYAGE ON OCT. 31, 1967 AND DOCKED PERMANENTLY IN LONG BEACH. IT HAS SINCE BEEN CONVERTED INTO A MAJOR TOURIST ATTRACTION AND FIRST-CLASS HOTEL. THE BUILDINGS OF DOWNTOWN LONG BEACH ARE AT UPPER-RIGHT AND THE CIRCULAR STRUCTURE EMBODIES QUITE A MOMENT OF NHL HISTORY: IT WAS AT THE LONG BEACH ARENA - OCT. 14, 1967 - THAT THE LOS ANGELES KINGS PLAYED THEIR FIRST REGULAR-SEASON GAME, AGAINST PHILADELPHIA (FAMED CANADIAN JUNIOR COACH BRIAN KILREA SCORED THE KINGS FIRST GOAL THAT NIGHT). THE KINGS WOULD SPLIT THEIR EARLY GAMES BETWEEN LONG BEACH AND THE L.A. SPORTS ARENA BEFORE THE FORUM, IN SUBURBAN INGLEWOOD, OPENED ON DEC. 30, 1967.



INTERSTATE-405, THE SAN DIEGO FREEWAY, WINDS ITS WAY NORTH AND SOUTH (ABOVE) JUST METERS WEST OF LONG BEACH AIRPORT.



A LIGHT DUSTING OF SNOW (ABOVE) ATOP MOUNTAINS EAST OF LOS ANGELES.



DESERT MOUNTAINS (ABOVE) IN THE SETTING SUN BETWEEN L.A. AND LAS VEGAS.



OKAY VEGAS REGULARS: HOW MUCH OF THE FAMED "STRIP" CAN YOU IDENTIFY (ABOVE)? McCARRON INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT IS AT BOTTOM OF THE PHOTO AND THE REPLICA EIFFEL TOWER AT PARIS LAS VEGAS IS CLEARLY ILLUMINATED TOWARD THE UPPER-RIGHT.



AN HOUR FROM HOME, OUR FLIGHT BEGINS TO CROSS LAKE MICHIGAN (ABOVE) WITH THE LIGHTS OF MILWAUKEE VISIBLE ON A CRYSTAL-CLEAR NIGHT.