Game 1: Toronto-3 Detroit-2

Marian Hossa and Ty Conklin decided to stay in the locker room while the 2007-08 Championship banner was being raised. Maybe the rest of the team should have done the same. On a night when the Detroit Red Wings were to begin their defense of the Stanley Cup by putting arguably the best team they've ever had on the ice, they came up flat. Was it the pre-game fanfare that took them off their focus? Or was it simply that the Leafs outplayed them? However you look at it, no one can argue that tonight the Maple Leafs were the better team. The scoreboard doesn't lie. Most fans, including myself, will point out that now that the banner has been hung and the rings have been dispensed, the Wings can get down to the business of playing good hockey. But with all the veterans on this team, it's hard to believe that tonight's upset was due to a lack of focus. I think the Leafs won this game because they came into it knowing they were the underdog and that Detroit is, by far, the team to beat this year. They used the Wings as a measuring stick, which is what other teams will do, too. When you're going up against the best, you elevate your game. You get up for it. It's something the Wings will have to deal with all year, and it's something they better learn how to handle really quick. This Toronto team that outplayed them tonight is, on paper, arguably one of the worst teams in the league. Detroit, on paper, ranks the best. Which goes to show, sometimes what's on paper and what you actually get are two totally different things. Just ask the Tigers.

Reed's Rundown

• Chris Osgood looked solid until his terrible clearing attempt that cost the Wings the first goal of the game. From then on, the Leafs were pumped and they never let up. I'm sure Ozzie wishes he could have that one back.
• Holmstrom was Holmstrom. The two goals he scored from the top of the crease were perfect examples of why he's the best at what he does.
• I thought Johan Franzen also looked good. He rang a shot off the post, and played well on both ends of the ice. He'll get his chances this year, and he'll bury a lot of them.
• Hossa had an assist, but ultimately, was a non-factor. Nerves? I doubt it. Not used to his linemates yet? Probably.
• Lilja had a chance to absolutely flatten a Leaf, but he passed up the hit. WHY??? A player as big as Lilja has got to be a physical force on the ice. With Dallas Drake gone, Detroit has a total of one big hitter: Niklas Kronwall. Okay, two if you count Kopecky. Lilja needs to step it up and use his size to make up for all those horrible turn-overs he commits.