And in more fantasy world news if the meteor hadn't of hit the Earth 25 million years ago your next door neighbour would be a stegosaurus.
Leafs. 2013 Short Season
- Thread starter Ironhead
- Start date
I wouldn't worry too much about Kessel. He's always been a streaky goal scorer. As soon as the first on falls in, he'll probably follow that up with another dozen goals in the next 7 games.
Cannot believe the Maple Leafs actually won tonight.
Okay, maybe Buffalo is not such a good team, they're average. But hey, look at that, the Leafs are average too.
The positives: Riemer. he looks like the same goalie from 2 years ago. Sophmore jinx over, never got over the concussion and that goalie coach Alluier from last year. His worst game was that 5-2 win in Pittsburgh. That's how I feel about it.
All of the sudden, the Leafs actually look okay down the middle. The play of Garboski and Kadri is surprising. Kadri is getting somewhere like a point a game. I think one point tonight, and two goal posts. Carlyle is using Garboski as a checking center. Odd, but looks like he is improving his defensive zone play. In tough situations, the Garboski Kulemin and whoever line is the goto line for Carlyle.
Even with Carlyle stressing defensive play, that group of Leaf defensemen is still Ron Wilson and Brian Burke's group. They can all move the puck well quickly up ice. Once they were able to finally get the puck back, outlet, to the winger and go through the netural zone with speed. But you need that defense to make that pass. This Leafs defense can still do that. Most Leafs chances tonight generated from the rush. Only a couple of chances from the forecheck, the Graboski line had a couple of chances off the forecheck.
Now for the negative.
Actually, with Reimer playing well, that's the biggest negative removed from goal.
I think the Leafs need more size up front. Unless Colton Orr and Mike Brown get more ice time, the Leafs get out shot because they don't have the puck that often it seems. Since some of the players don't forecheck that well, they're always stuck in their own zone.
Right now, the Leafs have three small centers, two of which are playing really well. One of them got a big contract, and the other is starting to look like he belongs with a point a game pace, even when not playing with the best players on the team. Put Bozak on the wing, JVR try him out at center. Give that Colbourne kid another shot.
:eyebrows:
Okay, maybe Buffalo is not such a good team, they're average. But hey, look at that, the Leafs are average too.
The positives: Riemer. he looks like the same goalie from 2 years ago. Sophmore jinx over, never got over the concussion and that goalie coach Alluier from last year. His worst game was that 5-2 win in Pittsburgh. That's how I feel about it.
All of the sudden, the Leafs actually look okay down the middle. The play of Garboski and Kadri is surprising. Kadri is getting somewhere like a point a game. I think one point tonight, and two goal posts. Carlyle is using Garboski as a checking center. Odd, but looks like he is improving his defensive zone play. In tough situations, the Garboski Kulemin and whoever line is the goto line for Carlyle.
Even with Carlyle stressing defensive play, that group of Leaf defensemen is still Ron Wilson and Brian Burke's group. They can all move the puck well quickly up ice. Once they were able to finally get the puck back, outlet, to the winger and go through the netural zone with speed. But you need that defense to make that pass. This Leafs defense can still do that. Most Leafs chances tonight generated from the rush. Only a couple of chances from the forecheck, the Graboski line had a couple of chances off the forecheck.
Now for the negative.
Actually, with Reimer playing well, that's the biggest negative removed from goal.
I think the Leafs need more size up front. Unless Colton Orr and Mike Brown get more ice time, the Leafs get out shot because they don't have the puck that often it seems. Since some of the players don't forecheck that well, they're always stuck in their own zone.
Right now, the Leafs have three small centers, two of which are playing really well. One of them got a big contract, and the other is starting to look like he belongs with a point a game pace, even when not playing with the best players on the team. Put Bozak on the wing, JVR try him out at center. Give that Colbourne kid another shot.
:eyebrows:
Leafs win !
The kid, Fratten, with two including the OT winner. :thumb:
Reimer looked good, still need a vet goalie to go with him.
Kessel will break out soon ... I hope.
I agree with some comments, Leafs need to get bigger, especially at center.
Next up the Caps on Thursday.
Go Leafs !
The kid, Fratten, with two including the OT winner. :thumb:
Reimer looked good, still need a vet goalie to go with him.
Kessel will break out soon ... I hope.
I agree with some comments, Leafs need to get bigger, especially at center.
Next up the Caps on Thursday.
Go Leafs !
One thing about the Leafs in the start of this shorten season, they have gotten the lead in every single game except for one, when Miller the Buffalo goalie stole that game.
Also, another 1 goal game, low scoring too.
You know, this could be a mirage, as last year they got off to a hot start, but I don't remember low scoring 1 goal games they won. Last year, low scoring 1 goal games were the games they lost.
You have to like how the Garboski Kumelin and McClement line is playing. McClement is strong with the puck. This line can do the forecheck. The tying goal was a cycle to a point shot to a goal line tap it. Usually it is not a thing of beauty, but I thought that goal was a thing of beauty. A basic play and they executed it just like that.
Then the winning goal off the rush, speed to beat the defense wide. And that really was a thing of beauty.
Phil Kessel cannot not even hit an empty right now. Even so, he probably had the best chances of all the Leafs tonight.
Bozak has to do more. Sooner or later, they will try someone else at center. But who? Right now, no way can you mess around with the other two lines.
Put Bozak on the wing, and JVR between Bozak and Kessel. Hell, just put Kessel at center with Bozak on the wing.
Also, another 1 goal game, low scoring too.
You know, this could be a mirage, as last year they got off to a hot start, but I don't remember low scoring 1 goal games they won. Last year, low scoring 1 goal games were the games they lost.
You have to like how the Garboski Kumelin and McClement line is playing. McClement is strong with the puck. This line can do the forecheck. The tying goal was a cycle to a point shot to a goal line tap it. Usually it is not a thing of beauty, but I thought that goal was a thing of beauty. A basic play and they executed it just like that.
Then the winning goal off the rush, speed to beat the defense wide. And that really was a thing of beauty.
Phil Kessel cannot not even hit an empty right now. Even so, he probably had the best chances of all the Leafs tonight.
Bozak has to do more. Sooner or later, they will try someone else at center. But who? Right now, no way can you mess around with the other two lines.
Put Bozak on the wing, and JVR between Bozak and Kessel. Hell, just put Kessel at center with Bozak on the wing.
Playing the Bruins on Saturday will be a real test of character for the Leafs. Let's see how they fare, especially if Brown (shoulder) and Orr (flu) can't play.
this is true Kathleen. The teams that beat Boston, don't do it by trying to out tough them. They do it by mostly staying out of the penalty box. boring, I know, but when looking at the Bruins game-by-game stats over the last three seasons, they won all of the games with high PIMs.
Ok game. Leafs did not seem to press as much as they could early on.
Again, third line was good. Reimer held Leafs in.
Segiun was invisible most of the night. I did not notice Lucic at all.
I know how this will sound ... I think the Leafs goal should have counted and I agree with the no goal call on the Boston disallowed goal.
Again, third line was good. Reimer held Leafs in.
Segiun was invisible most of the night. I did not notice Lucic at all.
I know how this will sound ... I think the Leafs goal should have counted and I agree with the no goal call on the Boston disallowed goal.
Possible if management/ownership wasn't so short sighted
Rask was ours.
The Couture pick wasn't ours and the Sharks made another move with our 1st to move up 3-4 spots.
With Seguin and Hamilton, even though the Bruins used our selections it's impossible to know what effect Kessel had on the team. Could have been negative, could have been positive. My guess is both picks would have been higher, making the deal worse overall.
Nonis spoke about being patient but I'm waiting for his first major deal to verify that statement. If Getz and Perry are available next summer, there's absolutely no excuse not to sign those two long term, even if it means overpaying them by 1-2mil. Filing the team with second and third line slugs (Connolly, Komisarek, etc) at 4-5mil is a waste of time and cap space.
Probably Getz. Ontario boy Perry should be possible and IMO should replace Kessel who hasn't fit in since Carlyle took over.
As much as I would like to see it happen I doubt it will....
If Anaheim doesn't sign with them (reported that Getzlaf is close to resigning though not Perry) the Ducks will trade them and ask for a very hefty price....
Not likely the Leafs will be able to pull another lopsided trade (Lupul/Gardiner) again with Anaheim...
Phaneuf on the PP again tonight, shoots a high one and hits JVR in the wrist. JVR was screening the goalie. Does Dion even know what he's doing out there? He's got to shoot that low with the screen, his own guys will stop screening the goalie soon because of this.
The cure is in practice, have Dion stand in front of the net and his own teammates or coaches wire pucks at him, nice and high. He'll get the message after taking a few up in the ribs, off the arms and ducking the odd head high one.
The cure is in practice, have Dion stand in front of the net and his own teammates or coaches wire pucks at him, nice and high. He'll get the message after taking a few up in the ribs, off the arms and ducking the odd head high one.
yeah. only 39 games left. although if the leafs can win as many games as they did last season, 35, they'd finish first place in the league! they already got 4, now to go 31 for 39...
Two games on home ice and one goal. At least that was how many they scored before I turned off the TV set.
Don Cherry is right. The Leafs need Canadians especially Ontario boys on the team.
The visiting team, usually wants it more because they are playing in front of their friends and family.
Unless you live in Toronto and follow the hockey as closely as we do, it clear the Leaf team just don't have that same desire like the road team does in Toronto.
Doesn't matter how many coaches you change or GM, Leafs still can't win at home.
When the Leafs use to win at home, we have to go back to Rodger Neilson. Don't even remember most of the players on those teams.
The more recent Leaf teams that were decent, they were the Pat Burns teams, and the Pat Quinn teams. Pat Burns, Dougie Gilmore. Pat Quinn, Cujo, Gray Roberts.
Who is the leading point getting for the Leafs today? A product of the Ontario junior leagues. Kadri has a bit of a swagger, even when he did nothing. But I think you need some of that to play hockey in Toronto.
This team, just does not want it as much as the visitors.
The other problem that is a problem now is that they must try something different up front with the so-called first line. The Leafs can't wait forever for Kessel to break out of it.
Boooooooooo.
:eyebrows:
Don Cherry is right. The Leafs need Canadians especially Ontario boys on the team.
The visiting team, usually wants it more because they are playing in front of their friends and family.
Unless you live in Toronto and follow the hockey as closely as we do, it clear the Leaf team just don't have that same desire like the road team does in Toronto.
Doesn't matter how many coaches you change or GM, Leafs still can't win at home.
When the Leafs use to win at home, we have to go back to Rodger Neilson. Don't even remember most of the players on those teams.
The more recent Leaf teams that were decent, they were the Pat Burns teams, and the Pat Quinn teams. Pat Burns, Dougie Gilmore. Pat Quinn, Cujo, Gray Roberts.
Who is the leading point getting for the Leafs today? A product of the Ontario junior leagues. Kadri has a bit of a swagger, even when he did nothing. But I think you need some of that to play hockey in Toronto.
This team, just does not want it as much as the visitors.
The other problem that is a problem now is that they must try something different up front with the so-called first line. The Leafs can't wait forever for Kessel to break out of it.
Boooooooooo.
:eyebrows:
I wanted Jordan Staal to come to Toronto so bad ... oh well.
I wonder if Marc(NYR) is consdering joining the 'Canes when/if he becomes an FA.
The game ...
Good first period, should have stopped there.
Note to Dave Nonis ....
GET KESSEL A TRUE #1 CENTER !
I wonder if Marc(NYR) is consdering joining the 'Canes when/if he becomes an FA.
The game ...
Good first period, should have stopped there.
Note to Dave Nonis ....
GET KESSEL A TRUE #1 CENTER !
