Rask Returns To Terrorize Leafs

It's the NHL Closer. We pass the mic to the kids at Orland Kurtenblog. Their NHL Closer is written by Canadians for Americans.

The Grapes of Rask. Toronto drafted Finnish goaltending prospect Tuukka Rask in the first round of the 2005 draft. In 2006, they traded him to Boston for Andrew Raycroft. In 2007, they signed another Finn netminder - Vesa Toskala - to replace Raycroft. Well, Rask returned to Toronto last night, making 30 saves in a 4-2 victory over Toskala while Raycroft watched from the bench. The moral of the story? John Ferguson Jr. is a terrible GM.

I Wish I Was Like You...Easily Amused. The Closer caught a lot of shit last week for calling Edmonton's 1-0 shootout victory over Vancouver "soc-cer?" Six days later and we offer no apologies - that game gets the gas face compared to what the 'Nucks and Oil did tonight. Both temporarily forgot their offensive ineptitude in Edmonton's 5-4 shootout win, a game that featured eight different goal scorers and 53 total shots. Despite the loss, Pinky and Brain Sedin were still in good enough moods to get their collective freak on.

Captain Curmudgeon Cranks Colorado. A two goal outing from Owen Nolan - his first multi-goal game since 2004 - paced the Flames to a 4-1 victory over the slumping Avs in Calgary. Nolan credited the performance to his usual pre-game ritual: Matlock, canasta, dinner at 3:30pm and a brisk mall walk. He was also wearing an onion on his belt, which was the style at the time.