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MIKE CASSESE

One preseason game into a new the season and the sky is falling in Toronto.

The Sun's advertising wrap screams LEAFS: HERE WE GO AGAIN this morning (the actual front page includes a reference to 'a familiar nightmare') The Star went with "Doesn't that smell familiar?" while The Post struck a more optimistic tone with "Leafs get first loss out of the way".

My two cents: Dion Phaneuf made Nick Foligno look like Rocket Richard last night. Hope that improves as the captain knocks the summer rust off. Also, it was nice to get my first taunting e-mail of the season from a Sens fan this morning entitled "Oh hey, look at that" with a link to the game story on our site. Good times.

If there's one positive after the 5-0 loss it's that the boys in blue and white are right back at it tonight - and tomorrow night and the two nights after that.

Mirtle says the Leafs will be icing this lineup tonight:

Forwards

Kulemin, Bozak, Kessel MacArthur, Grabovski, D'Amigo Caputi, Mitchell, Boyce Rosehill, Foster, Orr

Defence

Beauchemin, Komisarek Blacker, Schenn Richmond, Mikus

Goalies

Reimer (starter) Scrivens

At some point this week I'll get him on the phone to talk Leafs and we'll post the results here. There's a good chance I'll break down sobbing at some point.

For now, the links:

Our very own James Mirtle on Kris Versteeg's Stanley Cup tattoo, apparently inked on his arm at 4 a.m. one morning.

Down Goes Brown always delivers the goods. Here's a list of signs you're not making it to the second week of training camp with the big club.

Junior from Maple Leafs Hot Stove takes you on an emotional roller coaster ride in his diary of last night's loss. Poor guy might not last the season.

The Pension Plan Puppets provide a solid account of the opener, complete with video and this take on Phaneuf: "As the captain he sets the tone and he did not set a very good one tonight. He was repeatedly caught pinching, took terrible, off-target shots on the powerplay and had the kind of game we'll clearly hope is nothing more than shaking out the cobwebs."

The Sun's Steve Simmons says the Leafs will not be playing the trap this season.

The Star's Vinay Menon on Brian Burke and the curing of " Blue and White disease."

Christian Hanson dropped the gloves last night, so you knew the Slap Shot references we're going to be out there this morning.

Lastly, a view from the other side with the Ottawa Citizen's game story by Allen Panzeri.

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