Leafs deadline acquisition Colin Blackwell has been a welcome addition to the bottom six, playing a much larger game than his 5'9, 190 lb stature might indicate. Blackwell is absolutely fearless and has a high compete level - something that Tampa's Nick Paul found out the hard way on Thursday.
During what was already a runaway game in the third period, with the score 6-0 in favour of the Lightning, Nick Paul tried to push his way toward the net after Erik Kallgren had frozen the puck to stop play. Blackwell did not like that one bit and went right after the 6'3, 225-pound Bolts forward.
It's plays like this one that reveal why the Leafs targeted Blackwell at the deadline. That type of energy is contagious and to go after a much larger player in Nick Paul, it sends a message to the rest of the team that he's ready to go to war for his teammates.
