Go Leafs Go!!

[new2game]

it all comes down..

..to last season's 1 month swan dive that the Leafs took in Jan and Feb. If Maurice can avoid a long losing streak like that, and when it happened last year, the "veteran" coach Quinn had no answers..that had more to do with his demise than anything..

N2G

 

[21pro]

what we should be discussing here is also how much improved the NYIslanders are. they brought one of the most exciting games i've seen the leafs play so far this season. this islander team was expected to never win more than 21 games this season... they are almost half way there already with 9 wins...good job in proving everyone wrong- wang, imo! (his 2 best players are DiPietro and Yashin!)

let's face it, the leafs had to ice a strong game to pull out the win. it was barreling down to the end of the 3rd with leafs up a close 3-2 and the islanders were able to bring alot of pressure... when you pressure, you gamble, and that is where the game turned 4-2 on a leafs PP nearing the end... much closer than the score alluded to.

 

[21pro]

ok- we can talk sens, sabres, flyers, panthers, oilers, hurricances, rangers, canadiens, devils, lightning, etc... but DO NOT mention the islanders?

i thought it was worth mentioning- ONLY because they were a WORTHY opponent of the Leafs... this was not expected because they were the favourite team to finish at the bottom of the Eastern Conference... yes, it is a leafs thread... but part of determining the success or failure of our team is how they relate to their opponents.

i wonder if Alison should even play in the NHL... let's face it, many age 32 and over NHL vets have not adjusted to todays game very well...
Ziggy Palffy, Derian Hatcher, John LeClair, are a few that once were players that deeply contributed to their respective franchise and fail to do so in the newer game... just a few that quickly come to mind.

 

[teassoc]

The Leafs dive last year was when they went on their 'West Coast' trip (maybe also included Calgary or Edmonton). They lost close games and didn't seem to recover until everything was pretty much lost anyway.

Raptors have just returned from a very poor 'West Coast' trip as well and the BJ's in the past have had bad trips out West (not last year if I rember correctly).

Seems like there is something about those trips that catches Toronto teams out?

 

[21pro]

The Leafs dive last year was when they went on their 'West Coast' trip (maybe also included Calgary or Edmonton). They lost close games and didn't seem to recover until everything was pretty much lost anyway.

i think the goal differential during that slide was 25 goals for and 41 against... they didn't play either alberta team but played van, col, and min and a home game against phoenix in the middle... it was a tough sked because of the travel, not because of the opponents they played...

..swan dive that the Leafs took in Jan ...If Maurice can avoid a long losing streak like that, and when it happened last year, the "veteran" coach Quinn had no answers..that had more to do with his demise than anything

however, the points earned after that dive- ie, during the run.... did accumulate more than the amount given away during the slide. in all, it was important, but, i don't think it was the main reason for Quinn's exit. the shelf-life factor would be my reasoning for making a coach change if i was GM. (the leafs have had quite a few longer dives during the Quinn tenure)

 

[21pro]

OK- let's talk about Carlo again... where is he? last I heard, he was sidelined for a week with a fractured finger... then upgraded to 2-4 weeks... this is the end of week # 5 now.

 

[Ranger68]

No need to rush him with the way the team is playing. He won't be getting much ice time anyway, what with Kaberle, McCabe, Kubina, and Gill well in front of him. (Not to mention White.) He needs to prove he can play regularly *somewhere* before he gets serious ice-time with the big club.

 

[21pro]

what a butt kicking Washington took Friday night, huh? 7-1 Leafs...

a well rounded effort ... 14 different leaf players registered points on the scoreboard.

now, this is starting to sound like Paul Maurice hockey! if the team keeps this up, I can see Paul Maurice being alongside Ted Nolan and Barry Trotz for Jack Adams voting come May and June.

 

[new2game]

Before we grade Rask...

GOOD DEAL ?? While goalie Andrew Raycroft is performing very well for the Leafs, the player they gave up to Boston to get him, goaltending prospect Tuukka Rask, is also having a stellar campaign in the top Finnish league as he continues his development.

The 19-year-old, with Ilves Tampere, has played more games and more minutes than any other goalie in the league. After 24 appearances, Rask had a 2.57 goals-against average and .916 save percentage.

Those who have watched him say he appears to be on track to become a No.1 NHL goalie and, of course, to lead Finland at next month's world junior championship.

...let's see him break into the NHL and actually get a few saves under his belt....and maybe even win a few games. Most prospects are crap shoots, unless you have a Crosby , Ovechin or a Malkin on your hands. So far, Raycroft is doing what he is supposed to be doing, playing like a decent team's # 1 goaltender. For the moment, the move was the right one, especially considering the Leafs have a decent prospect in Justin Pogge..

N2G

 

[Oil Please]

GOOD DEAL ?? While goalie Andrew Raycroft is performing very well for the Leafs, the player they gave up to Boston to get him, goaltending prospect Tuukka Rask, is also having a stellar campaign in the top Finnish league as he continues his development.

The 19-year-old, with Ilves Tampere, has played more games and more minutes than any other goalie in the league. After 24 appearances, Rask had a 2.57 goals-against average and .916 save percentage.

Those who have watched him say he appears to be on track to become a No.1 NHL goalie and, of course, to lead Finland at next month's world junior championship.

And Alan Bester was going to be the GREATEST goale of all time!

 

[zipp1]

You know i have been a long time Leaf fan. I actually them them win the cups in the 60s so I am not 25. lol

I am an early fan of Raecroft and Maurice. However, guys ket us what the full year before we annoint them with being great. God some people go over the top.
If you are going to nail someone, Ferguson is close to being an idiot. However, even though he can not talk well, give him the rest of the year.
Either stay on or off the bandwagon. Some people have no clue

 

[21pro]

Paul Maurice, imo, might have made a critical error in tonight's game by fucking up the lines that were performing well for the last 5 games... that didn't have to happen just because Sundin was back in the lineup. why spoil a good thing?

imo- the top line shoulda been left, and Sundin shoulda been worked back into position... don't mess with success.

 

[21pro]

lol... he's definitely not as god... but, the Finnish elite league is a great proving ground for goaltenders. probably moreso than being a backup in the AHL.... (Pogge)

Rask would definitely be in the top 15%, though... just as Mikka Kipprusoff, Kari Lehtonen, Anterro Niittymaki, Hannu Toivonen and Vesa Toskala.

Let's face it ...some work out, some don't... however, a higher %age of Finnish elite goaltenders make good in the NHL as compared to Canada... just a thought.

this debate was made on the assumption that the leafs gave up too much to get Raycroft... i don't think so, Raycroft has the ability to win a Stanley Cup. he's that good- but, the team in front of him has to be equally up to the challenge. Raycroft is definitely better than Nikolai Khabibulin, Dwayne Roloson, and Martin Gerber. well, imo, anyways. everyone has their subjective fav's...

 

[PHNINE]

I didn't get to see much of the game, but from what I did see it seemed as if the Leaf team looked tired. The defence was horrible around the net. Guys kept going in on the boards and leaving the front of the net empty for open shots. Maybe it is conditioning, but then again I thought the conditioning was suppose to be better this year. They say JFJ might be looking at a trade or something before the trade deadline. All I know is this team needs a shake up, a boost, or something.

 

[Scenicdrive]

.... All I know is this team needs a shake up, a boost, or something.

Please bring in our lovely hockey goddess, Kathleen, to do the shake up. LOL. Well, the season is long and harsh for any team. There are going to be ups and downs. Have some faith in Maurice and his charges. The good doc will not be surprised at all to see the Leafs in playoffs.

 

[21pro]

fuckin' PM... what the hell did you mess with a succesful line for, you fool? (ooops! i already commented on that)

ok, then:

Antropov is awesome.

 

[Scenicdrive]

fuckin` PM... what the hell did you mess with a succesful line for, you fool? (ooops! i already commented on that)
ok, then:
Antropov is awesome.

Geezzz...and you told the good doc you are a die hard Penguins fan??? https://terb.cc/vbulletin/showpost.php?p=1457776&postcount=31 A closet Leafs fan should not scream out that loud against Maurice to wake up everyone. LMAO!!! Leave that to the good doc`s Kathleen darling please. *Wink, wink* LOL!!!

 

[21pro]

nope... you're right... i'm true Penguins all the way. but, rather trying to have something in common with terbites and coworkers alike...

actually, i have quite a few friends in the big league and have different reasons to cheer on different players and/or teams... i've always been a huge Pens fan through thick and thin... (been through 2 stanley cups and 2 bankruptcies, and been through alot of world class elite players and even more 'nobodies' over the years...lol...)

your Sabres are perhaps the toughest team 'not to like' right now. they have an aura about them that just makes you wanna cheer for them... i also cheer the Islanders and the Sharks on most nights, too. i guess i just like exciting hockey. Minnesota, Vancouver, Tampa Bay, and Florida bore me ill.

my Antropov is awesome statement is an attempt to make up for all the blasphemist things i've said about him over the years. i knew he had a skill set, but I felt that it was just a sin for him to not use those God-given talents during games in the past.

 

[Scenicdrive]

nope... you're right... i'm true Penguins all the way. but, rather trying to have something in common with terbites and coworkers alike...

actually, i have quite a few friends in the big league and have different reasons to cheer on different players and/or teams... i've always been a huge Pens fan through thick and thin... (been through 2 stanley cups and 2 bankruptcies, and been through alot of world class elite players and even more 'nobodies' over the years...lol...)

your Sabres are perhaps the toughest team 'not to like' right now. they have an aura about them that just makes you wanna cheer for them... i also cheer the Islanders and the Sharks on most nights, too. i guess i just like exciting hockey....

LOL!!! No need to explain my friend. The good doc was just teasing you. It is entirely understandable that in the Maple Leafs Country, you talk like a Leafs fan. Not to hijack this thread, I see Maurice doing a good job in general turning the Leafs around. If the team can follow through what they are now, they will be in playoffs and they will fight tooth and nail to advance. As for your favorite Penguins, they have several young super stars in the making. All they need are some more missing pieces and they can go far and deep in playoffs as well.

The good doc always like the blue collar work ethics in the Sabres. As I said elsewhere, they are, in many ways, continuing their journey from last season. The Leafs and Penguins had their share of taste of enjoying the Stanley Cup, whereas this is still very much a void for the Sabres. If the Sabres can handle the injury problems of their players skillfully throughout, this season is their moment in the sun. Having said that, this is by no means to write off any good team as Stanley Cup contender. Look at how tough the Leafs played the Sabres!!! Sometimes I am amused by the intense rivalry when they played each other. But that drama perhaps can be looked at as more icing on the cake. It calls for even more excitement. Isn't that what new NHL hockey is supposed to be??? Excitement sells tickets and air time. It is good for the fans, the teams, and the new NHL. LOL!!!

 

[21pro]

i am not surprised with the leafs record... i actually thought they woulda had about 36-38 points by now, but the worst of the worst teams this season are actually winning a few games against top bracket teams... it makes for a smaller point spread... and will make it harder to predict who will finish the season in what order between 5th spot and 14th!!! (remember last season it took until Jan for all the bottom 3 teams to record 10 wins) It looks like 2 of the 3 this season might do it by December 1st! Philly 7wins, Florida 8wins and Washington 9wins already...

Toronto can't afford to finish anything below 2nd in the division. and it's looking like they need 94pts to secure 8th.

... that's the ticket to the dance i hope we're all rootin for!...

as sports journalist James Murphy says,

"Leafs Nation" talking Stanley Cup again and thinking maybe, just maybe, this is the year.