Good game, although it must be taken with a pretty huge grain of salt: it was a contending team coming off a disappointing loss playing against a team that we all know will be out of it by November 1 coming off a surprise win. This one had Leafs letdown written all over it.

Latendresse had a strong game last night...I've noticed that a few of his detractors are writing that off as being due to him playing on Koivu's line last night. That has always been somewhat of the point: Latendresse is a player with good offensive potential, but he has not been able to grow into it playing 8-10 minutes per game on the 3rd line. In some respects, I'd almost like to see him stay with Koivu, on the threat that he goes back down to the 3rd or 4th line if he doesn't park his butt near the net. I'm not completely convinced that Higgins is better on that line than Gui would be, as both Koivu and Tanguay need the puck to be effective. I love Higgins as a player, but his one huge fault is that he quite often gets tunnel vision when the puck is on his stick. He might be a better fit with Lang and Sergei Kostitsyn.

As for the new CBC Hot Stove, I think I'm going to carve my eyes out with rusty spoons next week during the second intermission instead of watchign that drivel. Mike Milbury is absolutely worthless...there is a reason that he is on TV now, and its because he demonstrated very little as a GM over his career. His idiotic comment that its a no-brainer that you choose a kid from Ontario instead of some European with a 5th-round draft pick demonstrates his lack of judgement when it comes to player evaluation. I'll just point out that Detroit didn't do too bad ignoring Mad Mike's advice: Datsyuk (6th round), Holmstrom (10th) and Zetterberg (7th). Montreal has fared alright as well: Sergei Kostitsyn (7th), Markov (6th) and Halak (9th). That's a pretty good power play unit there. :P