What a difference a year makes. The Leafs have once again got out their golf shirts and clubs after a dissapointing season and have missed the playoffs for the 5th straight year. The Habs have managed to gather enough of an inconsistent season to start their playoff march against a team that they are not expected to beat. In all honesty, on paper, things haven’t changed that much at all.
Free agency really exemplified the difference in these two squads. Bob Gainey splashed his cash on speedy forwards like Brian Gionta and Mike Cammalleri while Brian Burke was concerned about steadying his blueline through the likes Mike Komisarek, Francois Beauchemin, and Norris Trophy candidate Garnet Exelby. However, through all 82 games, where we sit is the same. Montreal is staring down the most feared team in the NHL and Toronto sits at the bottom of the league without a lottery draft pick. The more things change the more they stay the same.
But Saturday, April 10th marked a strange day for the Forever Rivalry. A Toronto vs Montreal game ended with both teams going home happy. Montreal secured the point they needed to make the playoffs, while Toronto’s future captain Dion Phaneuf had the overtime winner to give the Habs one last loss in the 2009-2010 season courtesy of their friends in blue and white. I can’t help but stop to think about the season opener at the ACC when the two teams faced off and the game really meant something. After watching the OT winner get past former Leafs/former Ducks/current Flames/future Jokerit HC goaltender Vesa Toskala it was the start of a terrible year for Leafs fans but more importantly a great night for Leafs and Habs fans to drink beer and yell obscenities at each other.
We aim to provide you with that same atmosphere. Here, at the Home of the Hate, we we provide equal coverage on the Leafs and Habs from both perspectives (Leafs coming from Leaf & Lion , and Canadiens coming from newcomer to the blog circuit Chris Searl). This will give a chance for a fresh perspective on the squads, common ground for discussion among fans, and most importantly, a vent for Leafs and Habs fans to get at each others throats. There’s a comment button on every article. Don’t be afraid to use it.
Let the games begin.
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LEAFS VS HABS 
I look forward to this blog boys, should be some good discussions.
Comment by Greg April 13, 2010 @ 2:23 PMGo Caps
Comment by Kid April 13, 2010 @ 3:59 PMGO PHOENIX!!!
Comment by #1 and only COYOTES FAN April 13, 2010 @ 11:15 PM