HOCKEY LAST NIGHT: LIFE WITH EDDIE, AND SABRES DON'T GO TO 11

Hockey blogger par excellence James Mirtle was first to this: Ed Belfour, currently of the Florida Panthers, formerly of the Leafs and always of whatever bar is open, apparently got a little loud while out on the town after a 2-0 loss in New Jersey on Thursday, according to a Palm Beach Post story.

Not to piggyback on James' work, but it's hard to pass up a chance to run a drunk pic of Belfour that's been on my hard drive since 2002.

Florida's other goalie, Alex Auld, ended up needing stitches in his head after some horseplay at the hotel; Belfour claims his teammate slipped on the marble floor. Hey, I understand; who among us doesn't have occasional issues with marble floors?

Bruins 2 Sens 1: Talk about your ready-made storylines -- Zdeno Chara scores the game-winner in his first regular-season game against his old team, and didn't you notice that on the play, the Sens defence pair let two Bruins stand in front of the net and block Martin Gerber's view?

The score probably flattered Boston -- Tim Thomas was sharp in goal, making a big save on Jason Spezza midway through the game. A ghastly giveaway by Tom Preissing practically handed Boston their first goal. For the Sens, this was probably one of those 12-15 games a season you lose in spite of yourself.

Leafs 5 Habs 4 (shootout): And for the Leafs, it was one of those 12-15 games a season you win in spite of yourself. Sorry, the joke is just too obvious on a night when the Leafs were about as careful with the puck as Paris Hilton is with money. J.S. Aubin got hung out to dry on a couple goals, but in the shootout, with no defenceman to screen him or give the puck away, he stopped six straight Canadiens shooters. Habs goalie David Aebischer (47 saves) ended up the hard-luck loser after Kyle Wellwood slipped home the shootout winner.

Thrashers 5 Sabres 4 (shootout): Kari Lehtonen and Atlanta deny the Sabres their bid for the first 11-0 start in the league history. Lehtonen's now 7-2 in shootouts. OK, that's why Thrashers coach Bob Hartley pulled Johan Hedberg and put him in for the shootout the other night.

Pens 8 Flyers 2: Dominic Moore -- brother of Steve and Mark Moore, who both had to give up the game far too early due to injuries -- scored his first goal in a Pittsburgh uniform. That's what all the fuss should be over, not Sidney Crosby getting his first NHL hat trick, heh-heh-heh.

Derian Hatcher, who had his pocket picked on one of the Cole Harbour Comet's goals, is now minus-14 on the season.

Ducks 3 Blackhawks 0: Geez, injury-riddled Chicago managed only 14 shots on Ilya Bryzgalov, including just three in the final period. Anaheim's quietly started 8-0-3 . The record for longest unbeaten streak to start the season is 15 games, set by one of the mid-'80s Edmonton teams.

Oilers 4 Capitals 0: Dwayne Roloson notched one of the night's three shutouts (sounds like pre-lockout hockey), facing a mere 19 shots. Edmonton just kept it simple and got out of there with a win. Edmonton fans will have to wait till 2009-10 to see Alex Ovechkin again.

Back with more later. Send your thoughts to neatesager@yahoo.ca.