The Toronto Maple Leafs pulled off probably their biggest surprise yet this season-they actually won a shootout victory, and they did it against legendary goalie Martin Brodeur. The Leafs have been a consistent disappointment in the shootout this year, having lost 3 of them before tonight. So when a 5-5 tie was not decided in overtime, Leafs Nation was collectively preparing themselves to settle for a single point in a hard fought battle against the New Jersey Devils. The shootout started just as Leafs fans expected it would-with 2 of their shooters missing the mark, and the Devils taking the lead on a Patrick Elias goal. Then the unthinkable happened. On the Leafs final attempt, Thomas Kaberle beat Marty Brodeur to pull the Leafs even, and Vesa Toskala denied Jamie Langenbrunner at the other end when he had the chance to secure the Devils victory. So with both teams even after 3 shooters, Niklas Hagman came on the ice for the Leafs, and slid the puck into the net with a perfect backhand. Toskala then turned away New Jersey's attempt to tie, and the Toronto Maple Leafs came away with the win.
It was the perfect ending to a thrilling game. With two solid goalies at each end of the ice, one would expect to see a very low scoring game, and some very disciplined defensive play. Tonight the opposite was true and it appeared that both goalies-even the legendary Brodeur-were powerless to stop all the firepower coming their way. This was clearly an off night for Vesa Toskala as well. He has been a barricade in the Maple Leafs net so far, but tonight it looked like he was taking a night off. His play with the puck looked lazier than usual, and he let in several shots that he is capable of stopping most of the time. Also taking a night off for the Leafs was most of their defense. Lately, they have covered their opponents very well, but tonight that coverage was nowhere to be seen, nor was their usual physical dominance in their own end. Surprisingly though, the Maple Leafs offense would carry the team and they kept pace with the Devils all game long.
After the Toronto Maple Leafs went down 2-0 in the first period (yet again!), they scored 3 unanswered goals to take the lead in the 2nd. I don't know what it is with this team and 2 goal defecits, but for some reason that is the Leafs magic number. That seems to be about the time where they look up at the scoreboard, and realize its time to pull their heads out. The lead would switch back and forth throughout the game before ending in a 5-5 tie, setting up the dramatic shootout.
Despite the poor defensive showing, Maple Leafs fans can be excited that their team seems to finally have found some offence. The Antropov-Stajan-Ponikarovsky line was dominant again for the Leafs tonight. Matt Stajan has really picked up his game since being benched by Ron Wilson, and tonight he scored 2 goals as a result of his hard work in front of the net. One thing that all the Maple Leafs lines did well tonight was get traffic in front of Martin Brodeur. He had trouble seeing the puck all game long. Ponikarovsky scored as well, giving the Leafs top line 3 goals on the night-an excellent showing from those guys. The other goals belonged to Thomas Kaberle on a beautiful shot from the point, and Jamal Mayers who banged one in from in front of the net. The line of Mayers-Moore-Hollweg was impressive as well. Aside from the goal by Jamal Mayers, this line provided excellent energy for the Maple Leafs in the form of some hard hitting by Ryan Hollweg, and dominant puck control by Dominic Moore. It was great to see this line finally contribute some offence!
Overall, this was a wild game that was fun to watch! Of course, the Maple Leafs victory made it even more fun. Although they suffered from some bad defensive breakdowns, and a night off from their usually solid goaltender, the Toronto Maple Leafs picked the right time to finally get their offense in gear. They scored 5 goals against the best goalie in the game, and beat him in a shootout! Now Im off to see if hell has frozen over.
Thursday, October 30, 2008
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
Toronto Maple Leafs Cooled Down In Close Loss
The Toronto Maple Leafs short-lived winning streak was brought to an end tonight against the Tampa Bay Lightning. Despite out shooting the Bolts, dominating them in the faceoff circle, and controlling the pace of the game, the Leafs just could not beat goaltender Mike Smith for most of the night, and fell 3-2. With the game tied at 1, Vinny Lecavalier managed to score two goals to give the Lightning a 3-1 lead. Lately, the Toronto Maple Leafs have been good at playing from behind and erasing defecits, but this time they could not complete the comeback. Despite Leafs defenceman Mike Van Ryn bringing them to within one goal in the second period they could not find the last goal they needed.
Overall, I thought the Maple Leafs outplayed their opponents and they deserved the win. However, in hockey the win does not always go to the hardest working team, and Tampa managed to capitalize on the few chances they did get in the game. As has been the theme in many of the Leafs close losses they simply failed to convert their scoring oppurtunities, and their speed and tough checking was not enough to pull out the win. The good news for Maple Leafs fans is that their team continues to match up well against most of their opponents, and rarely have they been clearly outplayed in regulation time. This team refuses to give up, even when playing from behind, and their work ethic is a clear improvement over years past. It is making the Leafs an exciting team to watch this season and it's worth noting that they have lost only two games by more than one goal. While the Toronto Maple Leafs aren't considered a serious contender at this point in the season, they have not been a doormat as many analysts expected them to be. They are giving their fans plenty of exciting games and hopefully if they can keep up this level of play, more pucks will bounce their way and more wins will add up. All the Leafs really need to do right now to be seriously competitive is learn to finish their scoring chances.
One silver lining that stood out for the Leafs in the game tonight was the outstanding play of John Mitchell. Mitchell was not expected to even be on the roster this season, but tonight he looked like a serious offensive threat for the Maple Leafs. Ron Wilson certainly thought so, and midway through the game he promoted Mitchell to the second line, replacing Nikolai Kulemin and playing him alongside Mikhail Grabovski and Niklas Hagman. He really stood out in the 3rd period where he set up multiple scoring chances that nearly tied the game up for the Leafs. Unfortunately, it was not meant to be, but I wouldn't be surprised if we see John Mitchell getting substantially more ice time in the future.
Meanwhile on the blue line, Mike Van Ryn continues to be one of the Maple Leafs best defenders. He continued his point streak tonight with a goal that gave the Leafs some hope to come from behind. This seems to be a recurring theme! Whenever it looks like a team has the Leafs on the ropes, Van Ryn is always there to score a goal (or set up one) that gets Toronto right back into the game. He just doesn't give up. He has officially made Leafs GM Cliff Fletcher look like a genius for bringing him to Toronto in a trade for Bryan McCabe. While McCabe sits on the injured reserve in Florida, Van Ryn is lighting up the scoreboard for the Leafs and providing solid defensive play as well. Despite all the trade rumors that surrounded him when he first came to the Maple Leafs, I hope Mike Van Ryn will be here to stay. It is for these reasons he has been named my "player of the week."
Sadly though, the Leafs did not get the result they wanted on the scoreboard and Tampa's ability to convert their chances was their downfall. They will get a chance for a fast rebound though as they will be in New Jersey to face the Devils tomorrow night. The Toronto Maple Leafs will face a good defense and an even better goalie, but if they can show the energy and hard work they showed tonight, they should put themselves in position to grab the win. Of course, a few lucky bounces wouldn't hurt either!
Luke Schenn Will Remain With Maple Leafs
It has been announced that the Toronto Maple Leafs will be keeping Luke Schenn up for the remainder of the year. This is not a surprise given how solid Schenn's play has been, but there have still been those in the hockey world calling for him to be sent back down to juniors. This should effectively silence the naysayers. Anyone who has watched Luke Schenn since the start of the season knows that he has easily been one of the Leafs top d-men. When you are one of the best players on an NHL team there is no sense in going back to the junior leagues. There is obviously nothing more he can learn there, and I am glad that Ron Wilson made the right decision on this one. Congratulations to Luke Schenn for far surpassing expectations! I look forward to seeing him progress in the blue and white. If this is his learning year, I can only imagine what level of play he will bring to the Toronto Maple Leafs in a couple seasons down the road.
Overall, I thought the Maple Leafs outplayed their opponents and they deserved the win. However, in hockey the win does not always go to the hardest working team, and Tampa managed to capitalize on the few chances they did get in the game. As has been the theme in many of the Leafs close losses they simply failed to convert their scoring oppurtunities, and their speed and tough checking was not enough to pull out the win. The good news for Maple Leafs fans is that their team continues to match up well against most of their opponents, and rarely have they been clearly outplayed in regulation time. This team refuses to give up, even when playing from behind, and their work ethic is a clear improvement over years past. It is making the Leafs an exciting team to watch this season and it's worth noting that they have lost only two games by more than one goal. While the Toronto Maple Leafs aren't considered a serious contender at this point in the season, they have not been a doormat as many analysts expected them to be. They are giving their fans plenty of exciting games and hopefully if they can keep up this level of play, more pucks will bounce their way and more wins will add up. All the Leafs really need to do right now to be seriously competitive is learn to finish their scoring chances.
One silver lining that stood out for the Leafs in the game tonight was the outstanding play of John Mitchell. Mitchell was not expected to even be on the roster this season, but tonight he looked like a serious offensive threat for the Maple Leafs. Ron Wilson certainly thought so, and midway through the game he promoted Mitchell to the second line, replacing Nikolai Kulemin and playing him alongside Mikhail Grabovski and Niklas Hagman. He really stood out in the 3rd period where he set up multiple scoring chances that nearly tied the game up for the Leafs. Unfortunately, it was not meant to be, but I wouldn't be surprised if we see John Mitchell getting substantially more ice time in the future.
Meanwhile on the blue line, Mike Van Ryn continues to be one of the Maple Leafs best defenders. He continued his point streak tonight with a goal that gave the Leafs some hope to come from behind. This seems to be a recurring theme! Whenever it looks like a team has the Leafs on the ropes, Van Ryn is always there to score a goal (or set up one) that gets Toronto right back into the game. He just doesn't give up. He has officially made Leafs GM Cliff Fletcher look like a genius for bringing him to Toronto in a trade for Bryan McCabe. While McCabe sits on the injured reserve in Florida, Van Ryn is lighting up the scoreboard for the Leafs and providing solid defensive play as well. Despite all the trade rumors that surrounded him when he first came to the Maple Leafs, I hope Mike Van Ryn will be here to stay. It is for these reasons he has been named my "player of the week."
Sadly though, the Leafs did not get the result they wanted on the scoreboard and Tampa's ability to convert their chances was their downfall. They will get a chance for a fast rebound though as they will be in New Jersey to face the Devils tomorrow night. The Toronto Maple Leafs will face a good defense and an even better goalie, but if they can show the energy and hard work they showed tonight, they should put themselves in position to grab the win. Of course, a few lucky bounces wouldn't hurt either!
Luke Schenn Will Remain With Maple Leafs
It has been announced that the Toronto Maple Leafs will be keeping Luke Schenn up for the remainder of the year. This is not a surprise given how solid Schenn's play has been, but there have still been those in the hockey world calling for him to be sent back down to juniors. This should effectively silence the naysayers. Anyone who has watched Luke Schenn since the start of the season knows that he has easily been one of the Leafs top d-men. When you are one of the best players on an NHL team there is no sense in going back to the junior leagues. There is obviously nothing more he can learn there, and I am glad that Ron Wilson made the right decision on this one. Congratulations to Luke Schenn for far surpassing expectations! I look forward to seeing him progress in the blue and white. If this is his learning year, I can only imagine what level of play he will bring to the Toronto Maple Leafs in a couple seasons down the road.
Sunday, October 26, 2008
Toronto Maple Leafs Win First Round In Battle Of Ontario
The Toronto Maple Leafs managed to hang on in the dying seconds of last night's game, to preserve a 3-2 win over the hated Ottawa Senators. Despite the Maple Leafs dominating most of the matchup, the Sens managed to make things interesting in the final minutes of play with a shorthanded goal to bring themselves within one. The Ottawa goalie was then pulled, and the pressure was on in the Maple Leafs zone. However, Vesa Toskala once again proved himself as one of the league's elite goalies, and turned away all attempts to tie the game up. The Toronto Maple Leafs escaped with the win thanks to Toskala, but there is no reason the game should have been this close, and the Leafs made a crucial error in the final minutes that gave their arch enemy the chance to come back.
So before I get into what the Maple Leafs did right, I will point out this error. Ron Wilson has been an outstanding coach so far for the Leafs, and Ive had nothing but good things to say about him in my posts. However, now its time to criticize him for something he did very wrong. In the final two and a half minutes, Ottawa took a penalty that put them a man down for almost the rest of the game, while trailing by two goals. By all means, this should have guaranteed a Toronto Maple Leafs victory. When a team must play the final two minutes with only 4 players, and needing two goals to tie, they should have no prayer of coming from behind. However, Ron Wilson and the Maple Leafs decided not to press the attack-while they were on a powerplay! Instead, they opted to hang back in the neutral zone, and play "cautious hockey." When your team has a man advantage over the other team, it does not matter what the score is or how much time is left-you ALWAYS press the attack. If the Maple Leafs would have kept the pressure on in the attacking zone, they would have forced Ottawa to play defence for the rest of the game, thus giving them no chance to score any goals. The fact that they were up a man would have made this much easier to do. By choosing to hang back in the neutral zone, the Toronto Maple Leafs allowed their desperate foes to attack them instead, even though they only had 4 skaters on the ice. The result of this "cautious" play was of course, a shorthanded goal, which set up an intense finish that never should have been. Ron Wilson, the next time the Maple Leafs are closing out the game with a powerplay, press the attack! There will be no chance for a shorthanded goal if the Leafs are shooting the puck on the opposing net. That was a painful mistake that nearly cost us the victory, and I hope the Maple Leafs have learned their lesson. There is no excuse for playing defensively on the powerplay. Period.
Now that we have that out of the way, the Toronto Maple Leafs improved on alot of things in last night's game. For one, they appear to be getting much better at faceoffs. In the early part of the season, the Maple Leafs were a dismal faceoff team, which cost them alot of valuable puck possession. This was not the case last night, and the Leafs dominated in the faceoff circle. They also beat the Senators cleanly to the puck many times, once again showing just how fast they really are. This team is not the old and slow Maple Leafs of the past. They are very quick, and their speed has taken alot of teams by surprise this year. The defensive play of the Leafs was once again outstanding, as it has consistently been in the last few games. Every time the Leafs take the ice, they look like they are getting tougher in their own zone. This is also a welcome change from the Maple Leafs of the past, and Ron Wilson deserves alot of credit for turning this defense around.
There were a couple more noteworthy occurrences in last night's game. Jeff Finger finally got his first start for the Toronto Maple Leafs, after being injured in the preseason. Jonas Frogren was scratched to make room for him, which was a tricky call given how solid Frogren has played. However, Finger showed that he belongs on the Leafs blue line, and his play was great in my opinion. The best play he made all night was a sure goal-saver. With Toskala sprawled out in the crease, the puck came loose from underneath him and slid in the blue paint towards the goal line. Just before it slid across for an Ottawa goal, Finger swept the puck away, and allowed the Leafs to clear it to safety. He wasn't much of an offensive threat, but Jeff Finger is obviously very good at the defensive aspects of the game. Though his contract might be an overpayment, it looks like Finger is going to be crucial in stopping alot of goals for the Maple Leafs this year. Mikhail Grabovski finally got his first goal as a Maple Leaf as well. After coming so close in previous games, he was finally rewarded tonight when he took a great pass from Niklas Hagman, who was set up behind the net. Left wide open, he ripped a shot from an angle that beat the glove hand of Alex Auld, and went in under the crossbar to give the Maple Leafs the second goal of the game. Also scoring for the Leafs was Dominic Moore on a powerplay in the first period, and Alex Ponikarovsky in the 3rd. Overall, a great effort from the Toronto Maple Leafs, despite their failure to press the attack at the end of the game. Ron Wilson is a smart coach though, and I would be very surprised if he did not learn from that mistake.
So before I get into what the Maple Leafs did right, I will point out this error. Ron Wilson has been an outstanding coach so far for the Leafs, and Ive had nothing but good things to say about him in my posts. However, now its time to criticize him for something he did very wrong. In the final two and a half minutes, Ottawa took a penalty that put them a man down for almost the rest of the game, while trailing by two goals. By all means, this should have guaranteed a Toronto Maple Leafs victory. When a team must play the final two minutes with only 4 players, and needing two goals to tie, they should have no prayer of coming from behind. However, Ron Wilson and the Maple Leafs decided not to press the attack-while they were on a powerplay! Instead, they opted to hang back in the neutral zone, and play "cautious hockey." When your team has a man advantage over the other team, it does not matter what the score is or how much time is left-you ALWAYS press the attack. If the Maple Leafs would have kept the pressure on in the attacking zone, they would have forced Ottawa to play defence for the rest of the game, thus giving them no chance to score any goals. The fact that they were up a man would have made this much easier to do. By choosing to hang back in the neutral zone, the Toronto Maple Leafs allowed their desperate foes to attack them instead, even though they only had 4 skaters on the ice. The result of this "cautious" play was of course, a shorthanded goal, which set up an intense finish that never should have been. Ron Wilson, the next time the Maple Leafs are closing out the game with a powerplay, press the attack! There will be no chance for a shorthanded goal if the Leafs are shooting the puck on the opposing net. That was a painful mistake that nearly cost us the victory, and I hope the Maple Leafs have learned their lesson. There is no excuse for playing defensively on the powerplay. Period.
Now that we have that out of the way, the Toronto Maple Leafs improved on alot of things in last night's game. For one, they appear to be getting much better at faceoffs. In the early part of the season, the Maple Leafs were a dismal faceoff team, which cost them alot of valuable puck possession. This was not the case last night, and the Leafs dominated in the faceoff circle. They also beat the Senators cleanly to the puck many times, once again showing just how fast they really are. This team is not the old and slow Maple Leafs of the past. They are very quick, and their speed has taken alot of teams by surprise this year. The defensive play of the Leafs was once again outstanding, as it has consistently been in the last few games. Every time the Leafs take the ice, they look like they are getting tougher in their own zone. This is also a welcome change from the Maple Leafs of the past, and Ron Wilson deserves alot of credit for turning this defense around.
There were a couple more noteworthy occurrences in last night's game. Jeff Finger finally got his first start for the Toronto Maple Leafs, after being injured in the preseason. Jonas Frogren was scratched to make room for him, which was a tricky call given how solid Frogren has played. However, Finger showed that he belongs on the Leafs blue line, and his play was great in my opinion. The best play he made all night was a sure goal-saver. With Toskala sprawled out in the crease, the puck came loose from underneath him and slid in the blue paint towards the goal line. Just before it slid across for an Ottawa goal, Finger swept the puck away, and allowed the Leafs to clear it to safety. He wasn't much of an offensive threat, but Jeff Finger is obviously very good at the defensive aspects of the game. Though his contract might be an overpayment, it looks like Finger is going to be crucial in stopping alot of goals for the Maple Leafs this year. Mikhail Grabovski finally got his first goal as a Maple Leaf as well. After coming so close in previous games, he was finally rewarded tonight when he took a great pass from Niklas Hagman, who was set up behind the net. Left wide open, he ripped a shot from an angle that beat the glove hand of Alex Auld, and went in under the crossbar to give the Maple Leafs the second goal of the game. Also scoring for the Leafs was Dominic Moore on a powerplay in the first period, and Alex Ponikarovsky in the 3rd. Overall, a great effort from the Toronto Maple Leafs, despite their failure to press the attack at the end of the game. Ron Wilson is a smart coach though, and I would be very surprised if he did not learn from that mistake.
Friday, October 24, 2008
Toronto Maple Leafs End Their Drought
The Toronto Maple Leafs finally ended their streak of almost-wins tonight. After losing 3 of the last 4 games in shootouts, the Leafs were able to close out the Boston Bruins tonight in regulation time. Niklas Hagman added the empty netter to make the final score 4-2. Finally! After showing incredible work ethic and determination in their last few matchups against superior teams, the young Leafs finally got the win they have been working so hard for, and have come so close to getting. The Bruins didn't make it easy on the Maple Leafs though, and scored two quick goals in the 1st period to take a 2-0 lead and force the Leafs to come from behind yet again. This game seemed to play out like a carbon copy of Tuesdays game against the Ducks. After falling into a two goal defecit early on in the first period, the Maple Leafs once again barricaded their own zone in the 2nd and 3rd periods. Boston would not score again, and the Leafs would begin the long process of digging themselves out of a hole through tough defensive play. However, this time they managed to avoid the much feared shootout, and grind out the win in the 3rd period.
This time though, it was Mike Van Ryn who would put the Toronto Maple Leafs on the board first, and set the comeback in motion. Van Ryn deserves alot of credit for his grit and determination. Early in the 2nd period, he took a crushing hit from Boston's Milan Lucic, which shattered the glass panel he was rammed into. Several fans were cut pretty badly from the exploded glass that Lucic's hit caused, and were seen being attended to by security guards. The game was delayed for several minutes while the injured fans were looked after and the glass panel was replaced. After heading to the locker room to remove glass from his uniform, Mike Van Ryn would return to make the Bruins pay a price for their hit. After going on the powerplay, the Maple Leafs defenceman would bury a well-placed shot that found its way past Tim Thomas, and brought the Leafs to within a goal.
Shortly after that, it would be Maple Leafs forward Nik Antropov who would even the odds for his team-just as he did Tuesday against Anaheim. Antropov would deflect a beautiful setup from Matt Stajan into the net, on a play that Tim Thomas had no prayer of stopping. Stajan also deserves some credit, as he was the victim of a punishing hit early on in the game as well. Though no shattered glass was involved on Stajan's hit, he was still knocked flat on open ice, and was clearly feeling the effects from it as he picked himself up. Like Van Ryn, he would exact his revenge on the scoreboard, as his assist on Antropov's tying goal was perfectly placed. Big hits are supposed to throw players off their game. Tonight though, it clearly had the opposite effect on the Toronto Maple Leafs. The more Boston hit, the more it seemed to motivate the Leafs, and they deserve alot of respect for the toughness and character they showed tonight. It was great to see that neither Van Ryn or Stajan were injured, and even better to see them put up points for the Maple Leafs. I can think of no better revenge than that.
So after tying the game up at 2 goals a piece, the Toronto Maple Leafs would pull ahead for good in the final period. Anton Stralman notched the game winning goal on a rebound that went right to his stick. Though Boston had a few good scoring chances late in the game, Toskala was solid in goal for the Maple Leafs. As I mentioned above, an empty netter in the closing miute of the game would give the Toronto Maple Leafs all the insurance they would need to hang on for the win, and avoid the shootout.
Jason Blake Sits Out For The Maple Leafs
Another thing worth noting about tonight's game, is the fact that Toronto Maple Leafs head coach Ron Wilson benched Jason Blake. He has said before that he is not afraid to sit anybody out if they are not playing up to par. Blake becomes the latest Maple Leafs veteran to find himself in Ron Wilson's "doghouse" after putting forth a very mediocre effort in the last few games. Wilson deserves alot of praise from Leafs Nation. For too long, veteran players have been guaranteed roster spots, regardless of how motivated their play has been. This has led to certain Leafs veterans becoming too casual in their play. Some of them have simply assumed they can just show up, put forth a few lackluster shifts, then go home and collect their paychecks. Those days are over. If certain Maple Leafs players do not play to their full ability, they will be benched in favor of a younger player who is working harder. Hopefully this will wake Jason Blake up, and the next time he hits the ice he will know his roster spot on the Leafs is not guaranteed-he will have to earn it back, and to do that, he is going to have to play with some serious motivation. Something we have not seen him do yet this year. Wilson gave this same treatment to Nik Antropov, and all of a sudden, he leads the Toronto Maple Leafs in scoring with 4 goals. Lets see if it has the same result on Blake. Thank you Ron Wilson, for finally brining the discipline that the Toronto Maple Leafs have needed for a long time.
This time though, it was Mike Van Ryn who would put the Toronto Maple Leafs on the board first, and set the comeback in motion. Van Ryn deserves alot of credit for his grit and determination. Early in the 2nd period, he took a crushing hit from Boston's Milan Lucic, which shattered the glass panel he was rammed into. Several fans were cut pretty badly from the exploded glass that Lucic's hit caused, and were seen being attended to by security guards. The game was delayed for several minutes while the injured fans were looked after and the glass panel was replaced. After heading to the locker room to remove glass from his uniform, Mike Van Ryn would return to make the Bruins pay a price for their hit. After going on the powerplay, the Maple Leafs defenceman would bury a well-placed shot that found its way past Tim Thomas, and brought the Leafs to within a goal.
Shortly after that, it would be Maple Leafs forward Nik Antropov who would even the odds for his team-just as he did Tuesday against Anaheim. Antropov would deflect a beautiful setup from Matt Stajan into the net, on a play that Tim Thomas had no prayer of stopping. Stajan also deserves some credit, as he was the victim of a punishing hit early on in the game as well. Though no shattered glass was involved on Stajan's hit, he was still knocked flat on open ice, and was clearly feeling the effects from it as he picked himself up. Like Van Ryn, he would exact his revenge on the scoreboard, as his assist on Antropov's tying goal was perfectly placed. Big hits are supposed to throw players off their game. Tonight though, it clearly had the opposite effect on the Toronto Maple Leafs. The more Boston hit, the more it seemed to motivate the Leafs, and they deserve alot of respect for the toughness and character they showed tonight. It was great to see that neither Van Ryn or Stajan were injured, and even better to see them put up points for the Maple Leafs. I can think of no better revenge than that.
So after tying the game up at 2 goals a piece, the Toronto Maple Leafs would pull ahead for good in the final period. Anton Stralman notched the game winning goal on a rebound that went right to his stick. Though Boston had a few good scoring chances late in the game, Toskala was solid in goal for the Maple Leafs. As I mentioned above, an empty netter in the closing miute of the game would give the Toronto Maple Leafs all the insurance they would need to hang on for the win, and avoid the shootout.
Jason Blake Sits Out For The Maple Leafs
Another thing worth noting about tonight's game, is the fact that Toronto Maple Leafs head coach Ron Wilson benched Jason Blake. He has said before that he is not afraid to sit anybody out if they are not playing up to par. Blake becomes the latest Maple Leafs veteran to find himself in Ron Wilson's "doghouse" after putting forth a very mediocre effort in the last few games. Wilson deserves alot of praise from Leafs Nation. For too long, veteran players have been guaranteed roster spots, regardless of how motivated their play has been. This has led to certain Leafs veterans becoming too casual in their play. Some of them have simply assumed they can just show up, put forth a few lackluster shifts, then go home and collect their paychecks. Those days are over. If certain Maple Leafs players do not play to their full ability, they will be benched in favor of a younger player who is working harder. Hopefully this will wake Jason Blake up, and the next time he hits the ice he will know his roster spot on the Leafs is not guaranteed-he will have to earn it back, and to do that, he is going to have to play with some serious motivation. Something we have not seen him do yet this year. Wilson gave this same treatment to Nik Antropov, and all of a sudden, he leads the Toronto Maple Leafs in scoring with 4 goals. Lets see if it has the same result on Blake. Thank you Ron Wilson, for finally brining the discipline that the Toronto Maple Leafs have needed for a long time.
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
Toronto Maple Leafs Shootout Woes Continue
For the Toronto Maple Leafs, tonight's matchup against the Anaheim Ducks looked like a broken record. The Leafs dropped yet another shootout, as frustration begins to mount over their consistency as the league's shootout doormat. It has seemed that no matter the opponent, or no matter the players, the Toronto Maple Leafs are a sure bet to lose the tiebreaker. Tonight though, Ron Wilson tried a gamble when the final horn sounded in overtime-he switched Vesa Toskala and replaced him with the aging Curtis Joseph when it came time for the event all Maple Leafs fans have come to dread. The goalie switch was justified on Wilson's part, because as he pointed out, Joseph's save percentage and win-loss record is better than Toskala's in the shootout. This despite the fact Toskala has been the better netminder for the Leafs so far, and had been warmed up from 3 full periods of hockey. However, the switch did show Ron Wilson's willingness to take a gamble, and "play the percentages" as he put it. I respect that about him, despite the fact the move did not play out the way the Maple Leafs had hoped. Joseph was scored on twice, but did not get any help from the Leafs shooters. Nikolai Kulemin and Thomas Kaberle shot for the Toronto Maple Leafs, neither of which were able to beat the Ducks netminder. Kulemin, who has been the only Leaf so far whos been able to score in the tiebreaker, finally missed his mark and shot the puck wide of the net. Kaberle's luck was no better, as the Maple Leafs were once again haunted by their shootout woes.
Though it may not be much consolation to Maple Leafs fans, their team did put up a spirited fight to tie the game and force overtime, and looked as though they outplayed their opponent for most of the game. The most promising aspect of their comeback, is that the Toronto Maple Leafs held the Ducks without a single shot on goal for the entire 3rd period. As many people have predicted during the offseason, the Maple Leafs defence and goaltending is keeping them in close games, while their troubles lie with scoring goals. They allowed a goal early on in the first period, and even though they outshot Anaheim, an unfortunate breakaway led to the Ducks taking a 2 goal lead. After that though, the Maple Leafs blue line slammed the doors and barred them shut, as the Ducks would not score in the 2nd or 3rd period. Jonas Frogren once again led the defensive charge, and made the Anaheim forwards pay for every puck they carried into the Leafs zone. His hits were absolutely punishing. It would seem that Cliff Fletcher certainly succeeded in finding a dominant physical presence for the Maple Leafs blue line. Frogren is the real deal, and in my opinion, has been one of the Leafs best players right alongside Luke Schenn.
The outstanding play of the Maple Leafs defence eventually allowed Nik Antropov to spearhead the comeback. Antropov, who was regarded in the offseason as Toronto's only proven top 6 forward, reaffirmed that title tonight. Pavel Kubina hammered a shot from the point in the 2nd period that Antropov was able to deflect into the net, bringing the Leafs within one goal. Though the goal belonged to Antropov, I will say this about Pavel Kubina-he is not afraid to put the puck on the net! While many Leafs fans complain that their defence does not shoot enough, and lacks a powerful shot from the point, I think it is more than possible for Kubina to step into that role. He proved tonight that he can put pucks on the net, and he had multiple shots tonight that resulted in rebounds ready to be banged into the net.
Once the 3rd period began, The Toronto Maple Leafs shut down the Ducks completely, but took almost 19 minutes to net the tying goal. They had several good scoring chances, and once again showed their weakness on the powerplay by failing to get a goal with the man advantage, but finally got what they worked so hard for all night when Vesa Toskala was pulled from the net with about a minute left in the game. With the extra attacker on the ice, the Maple Leafs applied desperate pressure, and tied the game when Antropov knocked in the rebound from Mike Van Ryn's point shot. The Maple Leafs outplayed the Ducks clearly tonight, and yet again were robbed of a just win by the shootout. However, tonight they displayed excellent defensive play, forechecking, and determination. Ron Wilson must be pleased with his team's effort despite the tiebreaker. If the Toronto Maple Leafs can keep playing the way they did tonight, the wins they deserve will start to come. A little bit of luck in the shootout wouldn't hurt either.
Though it may not be much consolation to Maple Leafs fans, their team did put up a spirited fight to tie the game and force overtime, and looked as though they outplayed their opponent for most of the game. The most promising aspect of their comeback, is that the Toronto Maple Leafs held the Ducks without a single shot on goal for the entire 3rd period. As many people have predicted during the offseason, the Maple Leafs defence and goaltending is keeping them in close games, while their troubles lie with scoring goals. They allowed a goal early on in the first period, and even though they outshot Anaheim, an unfortunate breakaway led to the Ducks taking a 2 goal lead. After that though, the Maple Leafs blue line slammed the doors and barred them shut, as the Ducks would not score in the 2nd or 3rd period. Jonas Frogren once again led the defensive charge, and made the Anaheim forwards pay for every puck they carried into the Leafs zone. His hits were absolutely punishing. It would seem that Cliff Fletcher certainly succeeded in finding a dominant physical presence for the Maple Leafs blue line. Frogren is the real deal, and in my opinion, has been one of the Leafs best players right alongside Luke Schenn.
The outstanding play of the Maple Leafs defence eventually allowed Nik Antropov to spearhead the comeback. Antropov, who was regarded in the offseason as Toronto's only proven top 6 forward, reaffirmed that title tonight. Pavel Kubina hammered a shot from the point in the 2nd period that Antropov was able to deflect into the net, bringing the Leafs within one goal. Though the goal belonged to Antropov, I will say this about Pavel Kubina-he is not afraid to put the puck on the net! While many Leafs fans complain that their defence does not shoot enough, and lacks a powerful shot from the point, I think it is more than possible for Kubina to step into that role. He proved tonight that he can put pucks on the net, and he had multiple shots tonight that resulted in rebounds ready to be banged into the net.
Once the 3rd period began, The Toronto Maple Leafs shut down the Ducks completely, but took almost 19 minutes to net the tying goal. They had several good scoring chances, and once again showed their weakness on the powerplay by failing to get a goal with the man advantage, but finally got what they worked so hard for all night when Vesa Toskala was pulled from the net with about a minute left in the game. With the extra attacker on the ice, the Maple Leafs applied desperate pressure, and tied the game when Antropov knocked in the rebound from Mike Van Ryn's point shot. The Maple Leafs outplayed the Ducks clearly tonight, and yet again were robbed of a just win by the shootout. However, tonight they displayed excellent defensive play, forechecking, and determination. Ron Wilson must be pleased with his team's effort despite the tiebreaker. If the Toronto Maple Leafs can keep playing the way they did tonight, the wins they deserve will start to come. A little bit of luck in the shootout wouldn't hurt either.
Saturday, October 18, 2008
Toronto Maple Leafs Drop Third Straight Game
The Toronto Maple Leafs were in Pittsburgh tonight to play the Penguins, and fell 4-1 in regulation time. The Maple Leafs started off strong, and played a solid two periods of hockey, but by the third it was apparent they could not match the elite skill on the Penguins lineup. Though the Maple Leafs defense did a good job containing Crosby and Malkin for most of the game, there is a glaring weakness that is becoming apparent on this young Leafs team. That is the power play. The Leafs were a dismal 1 for 6 tonight with the man advantage, and they were just as bad last night against the Rangers. The Penguins played the 1st period with 4 skaters for an entire 8 minutes, and Toronto managed only one goal during this time. This came as a result of 3 penalties, one of which was a 4 minute major for high sticking. The fact that the Maple Leafs could not score with a 4 minute powerplay is telling to just how bad their special teams are. The Toronto Maple Leafs are clearly missing something in their special teams. Head coach Ron Wilson has been successful recently in improving the Leafs penalty kill, so now he is going to have to turn his attention to the power play. The Maple Leafs had every oppurtunity to win this game, but the power play failed them miserably tonight. At times, it seemed as if the Leafs played better 5 on 5, and looked much more dangerous offensively at even strength. This is going to have to be fixed.
Despite their woes with the man advantage, the Maple Leafs did do some things well on the ice tonight. Ron Wilson's top line was Niklas Hagman-Mikhail Grabovski-Nikolai Kulemin. This line looked absolutely deadly for most of the game. They created quite a few spectacular scoring chances, and like last night, came painfully close to putting pucks in the back of the net. The good news is that this line clearly has some chemistry for the Maple Leafs offensively. Those 3 players all have great puck moving ability, and it was incredibly frustrating to watch them come so close, only to just miss finishing their plays. The talent is definitely there with this line. They just lack the experience. I hope that Ron Wilson will play these 3 Leafs on the top line more often, and get them the playing time they need. If Ron Wilson does that, it is only a matter of time before they start seeing their chances turn into points. I can't say enough good things about this line. Those 3 guys may be the future for the Toronto Maple Leafs offense.
Also playing well was the Maple Leafs defence once again-in particular Luke Schenn and Jonas Frogren. As I mentioned before, they were able to contain Malkin and Crosby up until the 3rd period, when the Penguins finally broke out. They were easily the best two players on the Leafs blue line, and are starting to develop chemistry as a tough, gritty pair that are both fearless in blocking shots. Leafs fans, you are looking at a bright future in Luke Schenn. If he is playing this well now in his first season, I can only imagine how much he will improve in a couple more years. Luke Schenn clearly shows just how valuable a good first round draft pick can be. Though this season hasnt gone well for the Maple Leafs, watching Schenn is enough reason to pay attention to this team.
Getting the start in goal tonigh for the Maple Leafs was Curtis Joseph. He made some good saves, and showed some surprising flexibility considering his age, but the offensive talent of the Penguins was just too much for him tonight. I thought he played a good game in goal overall considering the team he was facing, and he should be a capable backup for the Maple Leafs. Hopefully Vesa Toskala got plenty of rest tonight. Even though our team may be off to a rough start, Leafs fans can take comfort in the fact that if this season goes the way our last few games have, we will have another great young draft pick in our lineup next year. Another young player who can play like Luke Schenn has so far wouldnt be a bad thing at all for the Toronto Maple Leafs. John Tavares anyone?
Despite their woes with the man advantage, the Maple Leafs did do some things well on the ice tonight. Ron Wilson's top line was Niklas Hagman-Mikhail Grabovski-Nikolai Kulemin. This line looked absolutely deadly for most of the game. They created quite a few spectacular scoring chances, and like last night, came painfully close to putting pucks in the back of the net. The good news is that this line clearly has some chemistry for the Maple Leafs offensively. Those 3 players all have great puck moving ability, and it was incredibly frustrating to watch them come so close, only to just miss finishing their plays. The talent is definitely there with this line. They just lack the experience. I hope that Ron Wilson will play these 3 Leafs on the top line more often, and get them the playing time they need. If Ron Wilson does that, it is only a matter of time before they start seeing their chances turn into points. I can't say enough good things about this line. Those 3 guys may be the future for the Toronto Maple Leafs offense.
Also playing well was the Maple Leafs defence once again-in particular Luke Schenn and Jonas Frogren. As I mentioned before, they were able to contain Malkin and Crosby up until the 3rd period, when the Penguins finally broke out. They were easily the best two players on the Leafs blue line, and are starting to develop chemistry as a tough, gritty pair that are both fearless in blocking shots. Leafs fans, you are looking at a bright future in Luke Schenn. If he is playing this well now in his first season, I can only imagine how much he will improve in a couple more years. Luke Schenn clearly shows just how valuable a good first round draft pick can be. Though this season hasnt gone well for the Maple Leafs, watching Schenn is enough reason to pay attention to this team.
Getting the start in goal tonigh for the Maple Leafs was Curtis Joseph. He made some good saves, and showed some surprising flexibility considering his age, but the offensive talent of the Penguins was just too much for him tonight. I thought he played a good game in goal overall considering the team he was facing, and he should be a capable backup for the Maple Leafs. Hopefully Vesa Toskala got plenty of rest tonight. Even though our team may be off to a rough start, Leafs fans can take comfort in the fact that if this season goes the way our last few games have, we will have another great young draft pick in our lineup next year. Another young player who can play like Luke Schenn has so far wouldnt be a bad thing at all for the Toronto Maple Leafs. John Tavares anyone?
Toronto Maple Leafs Playing Well, But Shootouts Are Still A Problem
The Toronto Maple Leafs earned a hard fought point tonight in Madison Square Garden, though they ultimately dropped another shootout decision to the Rangers. Despite the heartbreaking result, the Maple Leafs played a solid game overall, and there were plenty of reasons for Leafs fans to feel good about their young team coming away from this game. The biggest story was obviously Vesa Toskala. The Leafs netminder made 32 saves-many of which were down right spectacular-and didn't allow a single regulation or overtime goal. This kept the Maple Leafs in the game, when most of the 3rd period was played in their own end. Though he eventually lost in the shootout, Toskala will get credit for a shutout. At times during the final period, it seemed like the Toronto Maple Leafs were trapped in a shooting gallery, with Toskala being shelled from all angles. Though he did get a bit of help from a pair of goalposts, he stood his ground and stunned every Rangers fan in the building with some impossible-looking saves. Every top goaltender in the league combines stellar play with a little bit of luck, and Toskala had both tonight. It is clear that the Toronto Maple Leafs do in fact, have elite goaltending, despite some recent claims that Toskala is overrated.
Another reason for Maple Leafs fans to be excited is the ever-improving play of Luke Schenn. He was named the 3rd star of tonight's game (Toskala was 1st) in recognition of his outstanding play. His presence was most notable on the Leafs penalty kill, when he was able to clear the puck time and time again with his long reach. His play might be the single biggest reason the Toronto Maple Leafs were able to completely shut down the New York powerplay unit. He didn't shy away from throwing some hits either, but probably the best part about his game was his willingness to block shots. Maple Leafs head coach Ron Wilson has stressed recently that his team needs to block shots, and Schenn's ability to do that was a big help to Toskala, and a huge reason the Leafs earned the shutout and escaped New York with a point. It is safe to say that Luke Schenn has been one of the Maple Leafs top defenders, and was on the ice for well over 20 minutes tonight. He is getting top-pairing ice time, and showing he is worth every bit of it. I can't help but wonder if there are still any Leafs fans who think he should be sent back down to the juniors. The Toronto Maple Leafs will be keeping him right where he is at for the remainder of the year-he is just too good to go back down.
Other Maple Leafs who deserve recognition for their efforts are Jonas Frogren, Pavel Kubina, and Niklas Hagman. Frogren showed Leafs fans why he was brought over from Sweden, by putting his body on the line tonight for his team. He played physical all night long, and was absolutely fearless in blocking shots-the most notable of which came right before the final buzzer and likely prevented a game winning goal. Though he was slow getting up after the block, Frogren didnt appear injured. The Toronto Maple Leafs have found a tough-as-nails defender in this guy who isnt afraid to take some punishment-or dish it out. Pavel Kubina threw his weight around as well, and won several key positional battles in his own end. Surprisingly, he even broke through two Rangers d-men and got in all alone for a one-on-one against the opposing goalie. Though his shot was stopped, it was easy to mistake him for a skilled forward on the play, rather than a hulking defenceman! Niklas Hagman showed his phenomenal stick handling skills, and often blew right through the opposing blueliners as if they were standing still. He was easily the hardest-working Maple Leafs forward, and it is surprising that he didn't come away from the game with a goal or two. All in all, a solid overall effort from the young Toronto Maple Leafs, and quite frankly, they deserved the win that eluded them tonight.
Maple Leafs Need To Work On Shootouts
The Toronto Maple Leafs have now dropped two games in a row to the dreaded shootout. Though there are many aspects of their game that have improved from last year, the shootout is still an area of concern. Leafs fans must be baffled at their teams consistent ability to throw these events. Hopefully the loss of two in a row will convince Ron Wilson that the Maple Leafs need to address this issue more in practice. However, the challenge facing any new coach is that he must first become familiar with his lineup, before he can get a feel for which of his players will perform best in this situation. So far, he seems to be rotating through the lineup giving every Leafs player a chance. Surprisingly, the veterans on the team have come up short. Kubina, Antropov, Stajan, and Blake have all been misses in the shootout. However, the Maple Leafs do seem to have a shootout sniper in Nikolai Kulemin, who scored in both losses to the Blues and Rangers. My guess is we will now see Kulemin earn a permanent spot in the shootout lineup, and Wilson will continue to shuffle through his lineup to find two more guys who are just as consistent. Personally, I would like to see the Maple Leafs give Niklas Hagman a chance, and I imagine that will happen shortly. His stickhandling skills and smooth puck movement could be very useful in any shootout. I predict he will shine in this event. If I am right, the Maple Leafs will still need to find another sniper they can count on at the end of the game. With some time, Ron Wilson should get a better feel for his roster, and hopefully field a more consistent shootout lineup. If he can solve that puzzle, he will be able to earn some valuable extra points for the Toronto Maple Leafs-points which have cost the Leafs playoff spots in the past.
Another reason for Maple Leafs fans to be excited is the ever-improving play of Luke Schenn. He was named the 3rd star of tonight's game (Toskala was 1st) in recognition of his outstanding play. His presence was most notable on the Leafs penalty kill, when he was able to clear the puck time and time again with his long reach. His play might be the single biggest reason the Toronto Maple Leafs were able to completely shut down the New York powerplay unit. He didn't shy away from throwing some hits either, but probably the best part about his game was his willingness to block shots. Maple Leafs head coach Ron Wilson has stressed recently that his team needs to block shots, and Schenn's ability to do that was a big help to Toskala, and a huge reason the Leafs earned the shutout and escaped New York with a point. It is safe to say that Luke Schenn has been one of the Maple Leafs top defenders, and was on the ice for well over 20 minutes tonight. He is getting top-pairing ice time, and showing he is worth every bit of it. I can't help but wonder if there are still any Leafs fans who think he should be sent back down to the juniors. The Toronto Maple Leafs will be keeping him right where he is at for the remainder of the year-he is just too good to go back down.
Other Maple Leafs who deserve recognition for their efforts are Jonas Frogren, Pavel Kubina, and Niklas Hagman. Frogren showed Leafs fans why he was brought over from Sweden, by putting his body on the line tonight for his team. He played physical all night long, and was absolutely fearless in blocking shots-the most notable of which came right before the final buzzer and likely prevented a game winning goal. Though he was slow getting up after the block, Frogren didnt appear injured. The Toronto Maple Leafs have found a tough-as-nails defender in this guy who isnt afraid to take some punishment-or dish it out. Pavel Kubina threw his weight around as well, and won several key positional battles in his own end. Surprisingly, he even broke through two Rangers d-men and got in all alone for a one-on-one against the opposing goalie. Though his shot was stopped, it was easy to mistake him for a skilled forward on the play, rather than a hulking defenceman! Niklas Hagman showed his phenomenal stick handling skills, and often blew right through the opposing blueliners as if they were standing still. He was easily the hardest-working Maple Leafs forward, and it is surprising that he didn't come away from the game with a goal or two. All in all, a solid overall effort from the young Toronto Maple Leafs, and quite frankly, they deserved the win that eluded them tonight.
Maple Leafs Need To Work On Shootouts
The Toronto Maple Leafs have now dropped two games in a row to the dreaded shootout. Though there are many aspects of their game that have improved from last year, the shootout is still an area of concern. Leafs fans must be baffled at their teams consistent ability to throw these events. Hopefully the loss of two in a row will convince Ron Wilson that the Maple Leafs need to address this issue more in practice. However, the challenge facing any new coach is that he must first become familiar with his lineup, before he can get a feel for which of his players will perform best in this situation. So far, he seems to be rotating through the lineup giving every Leafs player a chance. Surprisingly, the veterans on the team have come up short. Kubina, Antropov, Stajan, and Blake have all been misses in the shootout. However, the Maple Leafs do seem to have a shootout sniper in Nikolai Kulemin, who scored in both losses to the Blues and Rangers. My guess is we will now see Kulemin earn a permanent spot in the shootout lineup, and Wilson will continue to shuffle through his lineup to find two more guys who are just as consistent. Personally, I would like to see the Maple Leafs give Niklas Hagman a chance, and I imagine that will happen shortly. His stickhandling skills and smooth puck movement could be very useful in any shootout. I predict he will shine in this event. If I am right, the Maple Leafs will still need to find another sniper they can count on at the end of the game. With some time, Ron Wilson should get a better feel for his roster, and hopefully field a more consistent shootout lineup. If he can solve that puzzle, he will be able to earn some valuable extra points for the Toronto Maple Leafs-points which have cost the Leafs playoff spots in the past.
Sunday, October 12, 2008
Toronto Maple Leafs Show Two Different Forms
The Toronto Maple Leafs opened the regular season against the defending Stanley Cup champion Detroit Red Wings. In an outcome that shocked the league, the Leafs downed the champs in a close game, 3-2. Nikolai Kulemin scored the game winner on a turnover that resulted in a breakaway. Overall, the Maple Leafs looked like something none of the analysts have predicted they will be-a competitive team. Vesa Toskala provided outstanding goaltending, while the Leafs blue line implemented Ron Wilson's defensive scheme almost perfectly. Luke Schenn played alongside Thomas Kaberle, and logged top minutes against Detroit's best players. He looked poised beyond his years. In locking down some of the best players on the best team in the league, Schenn clearly showed he is far too good a player to be sent back to the juniors. To me, it would be a disaster to his development if the Maple Leafs sent him down to a league that is far below his talent level. On the whole, It certainly seemed like the Toronto Maple Leafs showed a glimpse of some serious potential, especially with their new core of young players.
Though many hockey "experts" have predicted the Maple Leafs to be a bottom-feeder team and finish in the basement of the standings, Detroit goaltender Chris Osgood certainly didn't think so. After falling to the Leafs, Osgood was quoted as saying "they have a better team than last year. Some people think just because you switched older players out in Toronto your team is going to be worse. It's not the case, they have some good young players on their team." In my opinion, Osgood was bang on. The Leafs have made themselves younger, faster, and more defensively sound over the offseason. I don't see how they can be a worse team than last year, as some people seem to think. If they can continue to play a defensively sound game, and the younger players can build on their confidence, there is no reason to think the Toronto Maple Leafs can't surprise a few "experts" this year.
However, even with a young and exciting team that seems to have some real potential, the Toronto Maple Leafs are bound to experience some growing pains. That was evident tonight in their second game of the season against the arch-rival Montreal Canadiens. In losing 6-1 to their old foe, the Maple Leafs looked like the complete opposite of the team that showed up in Detroit. The defense looked confused, the Leafs forechecking was non-existent, and Toskala was shaky in goal-though a lack of help is partly responsible for that. They took far too many penalties, and simply appeared much more undisciplined than they did in their first game. It was one of those games that Leafs fans will hope to forget forever. By all means, THIS was the Toronto Maple Leafs team that most analysts have predicted we will see all season long.
Perhaps they are right. Perhaps the Maple Leafs will look like the horrible team that they were tonight for the rest of the year. However, they have shown that they can also play great, and have the talent to be competitive in this league. Maybe, just maybe, they will show this form instead, and turn quite a few heads come April. It all starts one game at a time though, and the Maple Leafs are going to have to pass a new test now-showing that they can rebound in the face of an embarassing loss. They will get the chance to pass that test on Monday against St. Louis. Let's see if the young players on this Leafs team have the focus to forget about tonight's game, and come out again on Monday showing the confidence they showed against the champs. It would certainly seem to me though, that the Toronto Maple Leafs aren't going to be a middle of the pack team this year. This new, young team will either fall flat on their faces from the growing pains of rebuilding, like they did against Montreal, or confidently show their maximum potential, like they did against Detroit, and take the NHL by surprise.
Though many hockey "experts" have predicted the Maple Leafs to be a bottom-feeder team and finish in the basement of the standings, Detroit goaltender Chris Osgood certainly didn't think so. After falling to the Leafs, Osgood was quoted as saying "they have a better team than last year. Some people think just because you switched older players out in Toronto your team is going to be worse. It's not the case, they have some good young players on their team." In my opinion, Osgood was bang on. The Leafs have made themselves younger, faster, and more defensively sound over the offseason. I don't see how they can be a worse team than last year, as some people seem to think. If they can continue to play a defensively sound game, and the younger players can build on their confidence, there is no reason to think the Toronto Maple Leafs can't surprise a few "experts" this year.
However, even with a young and exciting team that seems to have some real potential, the Toronto Maple Leafs are bound to experience some growing pains. That was evident tonight in their second game of the season against the arch-rival Montreal Canadiens. In losing 6-1 to their old foe, the Maple Leafs looked like the complete opposite of the team that showed up in Detroit. The defense looked confused, the Leafs forechecking was non-existent, and Toskala was shaky in goal-though a lack of help is partly responsible for that. They took far too many penalties, and simply appeared much more undisciplined than they did in their first game. It was one of those games that Leafs fans will hope to forget forever. By all means, THIS was the Toronto Maple Leafs team that most analysts have predicted we will see all season long.
Perhaps they are right. Perhaps the Maple Leafs will look like the horrible team that they were tonight for the rest of the year. However, they have shown that they can also play great, and have the talent to be competitive in this league. Maybe, just maybe, they will show this form instead, and turn quite a few heads come April. It all starts one game at a time though, and the Maple Leafs are going to have to pass a new test now-showing that they can rebound in the face of an embarassing loss. They will get the chance to pass that test on Monday against St. Louis. Let's see if the young players on this Leafs team have the focus to forget about tonight's game, and come out again on Monday showing the confidence they showed against the champs. It would certainly seem to me though, that the Toronto Maple Leafs aren't going to be a middle of the pack team this year. This new, young team will either fall flat on their faces from the growing pains of rebuilding, like they did against Montreal, or confidently show their maximum potential, like they did against Detroit, and take the NHL by surprise.
Tuesday, October 07, 2008
Grabovski To Be Toronto Maple Leafs Top Centre?
The Toronto Maple Leafs wrapped up their preseason with a less than impressive record, but there are still plenty of reasons for Leafs fans to be optimistic about the future of their team. One of those is the performance of Mikhail Grabovski. The Maple Leafs acquired Grabovski this summer in a trade with Montreal for a 2nd round draft pick. It's a risky move to trade away a high draft pick during a time in which your team is supposed to be rebuilding, but Maple Leafs GM Cliff Fletcher seems to have been rewarded in taking such a risk. So far, it looks like Grabovski has all the attributes a team like the Leafs would hope to gain from a 2nd round pick-and possibly more. He is young (only 24), fast, and he has enough offensive potential to be a top line scorer for the Maple Leafs well into the future. Although some critics have called into question his work ethic and attitude during the time he spent in Montreal, Grabovski was clearly one of the hardest working players on the ice for the Toronto Maple Leafs during the preseason.
The numbers he posted for the Maple Leafs speak for themselves. Grabovski tallied 5 goals and 3 assists in 8 preseason games for the Leafs. Obviously, averaging a point per game is an impressive feat, but what is most promising about those numbers is his performance in the final preseason game. He scored a goal and two assists against the Columbus Blue Jackets, who iced almost every player in their starting lineup. By finishing with such an impressive showing, Grabovski is showing the Maple Leafs that his play can get stronger as he settles into a new role with a new team. It appears that there is alot of talent in this young Leafs forward, and the more comfortable he gets, the more it shows. With a lack of proven NHL talent up front, the Toronto Maple Leafs will look to Mikhail Grabovski to produce some much-needed offense this season.
Where the Maple Leafs will place him in their lineup for the regular season is still up in the air. However, there is some speculation that the Leafs will start Grabovski in the role of number one centre-the role left vacant by former team captain Mats Sundin. Given his outstanding performance in the preseason, I would say the chance of this happening is pretty high. The only other player the Maple Leafs have right now who is capable of stepping into that position, is Nik Antropov. However, Antropov has clearly been more comfortable playing on the wing, and if he is to build on his 26 goal total of last year, it might be best to leave Antropov on the outside. After Antropov though, the only other players the Maple Leafs have who might be considered for the job are Alex Steen and Matt Stajan. However, Grabovski has decisively outplayed both of those players this preseason. Steen has had some decent offensive moments, but not nearly as consistently as Grabovski. Stajan, on the other hand, has been practically invisible and hardly looks capable of centering the Toronto Maple Leafs top line. I would be very surprised if we do not see the Maple Leafs place Grabovski in the number one centre role at some point. My guess is, we will see that happen fairly early on in the regular season. One thing is for sure though, the Toronto Maple Leafs are going to give this rising star lots of ice time-something Montreal did not do, and which I believe will be the Habs loss and the Leafs gain.
Toronto Maple Leafs to start Luke Schenn
The Maple Leafs have announced that they have signed defenceman Luke Schenn to a 3 year contract, and will place him in the lineup for the start of the regular season. Schenn was the Leafs number one draft pick in this summer's entry draft. Throughout the course of the preseason, he was easily one of the Maple Leafs top defencemen, and looked much more poised and NHL ready than most people thought he would. Toronto Maple Leafs head coach Ron Wilson was greatly impressed with Schenn's play, enough so to place him on the roster for the regular season opener against the Red Wings. It is not yet known just how many games Schenn will play for the Leafs, as the team can still elect to send him back to the WHL. That decision will likely be made based on his play in the first few games of the season. In my opinion, if he looks good enough to play at the NHL level now, than it is better for his development to leave him in the Maple Leafs lineup. If he is already outplaying seasoned NHL blueliners, than there is nothing more that he can learn if he is shipped back to the juniors. Ron Wilson seems to be adopting that approach, and I wouldn't be too surprised if Luke Schenn plays well enough to earn himself a permanent spot on the Toronto Maple Leafs lineup this year.
The numbers he posted for the Maple Leafs speak for themselves. Grabovski tallied 5 goals and 3 assists in 8 preseason games for the Leafs. Obviously, averaging a point per game is an impressive feat, but what is most promising about those numbers is his performance in the final preseason game. He scored a goal and two assists against the Columbus Blue Jackets, who iced almost every player in their starting lineup. By finishing with such an impressive showing, Grabovski is showing the Maple Leafs that his play can get stronger as he settles into a new role with a new team. It appears that there is alot of talent in this young Leafs forward, and the more comfortable he gets, the more it shows. With a lack of proven NHL talent up front, the Toronto Maple Leafs will look to Mikhail Grabovski to produce some much-needed offense this season.
Where the Maple Leafs will place him in their lineup for the regular season is still up in the air. However, there is some speculation that the Leafs will start Grabovski in the role of number one centre-the role left vacant by former team captain Mats Sundin. Given his outstanding performance in the preseason, I would say the chance of this happening is pretty high. The only other player the Maple Leafs have right now who is capable of stepping into that position, is Nik Antropov. However, Antropov has clearly been more comfortable playing on the wing, and if he is to build on his 26 goal total of last year, it might be best to leave Antropov on the outside. After Antropov though, the only other players the Maple Leafs have who might be considered for the job are Alex Steen and Matt Stajan. However, Grabovski has decisively outplayed both of those players this preseason. Steen has had some decent offensive moments, but not nearly as consistently as Grabovski. Stajan, on the other hand, has been practically invisible and hardly looks capable of centering the Toronto Maple Leafs top line. I would be very surprised if we do not see the Maple Leafs place Grabovski in the number one centre role at some point. My guess is, we will see that happen fairly early on in the regular season. One thing is for sure though, the Toronto Maple Leafs are going to give this rising star lots of ice time-something Montreal did not do, and which I believe will be the Habs loss and the Leafs gain.
Toronto Maple Leafs to start Luke Schenn
The Maple Leafs have announced that they have signed defenceman Luke Schenn to a 3 year contract, and will place him in the lineup for the start of the regular season. Schenn was the Leafs number one draft pick in this summer's entry draft. Throughout the course of the preseason, he was easily one of the Maple Leafs top defencemen, and looked much more poised and NHL ready than most people thought he would. Toronto Maple Leafs head coach Ron Wilson was greatly impressed with Schenn's play, enough so to place him on the roster for the regular season opener against the Red Wings. It is not yet known just how many games Schenn will play for the Leafs, as the team can still elect to send him back to the WHL. That decision will likely be made based on his play in the first few games of the season. In my opinion, if he looks good enough to play at the NHL level now, than it is better for his development to leave him in the Maple Leafs lineup. If he is already outplaying seasoned NHL blueliners, than there is nothing more that he can learn if he is shipped back to the juniors. Ron Wilson seems to be adopting that approach, and I wouldn't be too surprised if Luke Schenn plays well enough to earn himself a permanent spot on the Toronto Maple Leafs lineup this year.
Saturday, October 04, 2008
Toronto Maple Leafs Try Ian White At Forward
The Toronto Maple Leafs fell in a back and forth close game last night to the Detroit Red Wings. The final score was 5-3 after an empty netter was added, but the Maple Leafs managed to make things interesting, and gave the defending Stanley Cup champions all they could handle. Perhaps the most interesting thing that the Maple Leafs did last night, was in trying defenceman Ian White up front at the forward position. This was a surprising move on Ron Wilson's part, but one that makes sense if you think about it. Considering it is still only preseason, the Leafs can afford to take a few chances.
After the game, Ron Wilson was quoted as saying this could be a way for Ian White to keep his job and remain a part of the Toronto Maple Leafs. White has struggled this preseason in the defensive zone, and while he has shown some ability to create plays offensively, his poor performance in his own end has resulted in more than one goal being scored against the Maple Leafs. That is hard to overlook when you play defence, and your primary job is to keep the puck out of the net. However, as a forward, it is less of a concern, so when the Toronto Maple Leafs decided to try him out at this position, it was a logical move. In my opinion, Ian White looked much more comfortable last night up front than he does on the blue line. Granted, this was only one game, but the position of forward just seems a better fit for Ian White. He was involved in a number of scoring chances last night for the Maple Leafs, and I was surprised he didn't come away from the game with a goal or two. He did manage to tally an assist though, and the Leafs were able to get a much better look at his puck moving ability, rather than the often blown coverage he has become known for in the defensive zone. Overall, his forechecking was good, his stickhandling was smooth, and he clearly showed his ability to create plays. I am hoping the Toronto Maple Leafs will play him again as a forward in tonight's rematch against the Wings, so we can get another look at this interesting move.
I'm betting that if Ian White can impress again up front, he will remain a part of the Toronto Maple Leafs. As a defenceman, he just doesn't play well enough in his own end to make this year's lineup. The Maple Leafs are crowded this year on the blue line, and many of those players are known for playing sound defensive games. Guys like Jonas Frogren, Luke Schenn, Carlo Colaiacovo, and Jeff Finger have all been way ahead of Ian White in terms of defensive performance. If White hopes to make the Maple Leafs lineup this year, he might have the edge he needs if he can keep playing well up front. The Leafs forward lineup is far from decided at this point, so there may be room for him there. I will be watching tonight's game with added interest to see what he can do for the Maple Leafs. For the remainder of the preseason, he will be fighting for his career, so I am hoping that determination will result in him creating some scoring chances, and possibly a couple of goals for the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Toronto Maple Leafs Injury Update
It was reported last night that both Pavel Kubina and Jeff Finger will be out of the Maple Leafs lineup for the next few games, due to injury. In a post-game interview, Leafs head coach Ron Wilson stated he believes that it will be unlikely that Finger will be in the lineup for the Maple Leafs regular season opener, and could be out for 2-3 weeks. Pavel Kubina, on the other hand, is expected to return for the opener and should be in the lineup by then. Fortunately, the Toronto Maple Leafs are pretty deep on defencemen this year, and I expect either Carlo Colaiacovo or Mike Van Ryn to fill in for Finger until his return.
After the game, Ron Wilson was quoted as saying this could be a way for Ian White to keep his job and remain a part of the Toronto Maple Leafs. White has struggled this preseason in the defensive zone, and while he has shown some ability to create plays offensively, his poor performance in his own end has resulted in more than one goal being scored against the Maple Leafs. That is hard to overlook when you play defence, and your primary job is to keep the puck out of the net. However, as a forward, it is less of a concern, so when the Toronto Maple Leafs decided to try him out at this position, it was a logical move. In my opinion, Ian White looked much more comfortable last night up front than he does on the blue line. Granted, this was only one game, but the position of forward just seems a better fit for Ian White. He was involved in a number of scoring chances last night for the Maple Leafs, and I was surprised he didn't come away from the game with a goal or two. He did manage to tally an assist though, and the Leafs were able to get a much better look at his puck moving ability, rather than the often blown coverage he has become known for in the defensive zone. Overall, his forechecking was good, his stickhandling was smooth, and he clearly showed his ability to create plays. I am hoping the Toronto Maple Leafs will play him again as a forward in tonight's rematch against the Wings, so we can get another look at this interesting move.
I'm betting that if Ian White can impress again up front, he will remain a part of the Toronto Maple Leafs. As a defenceman, he just doesn't play well enough in his own end to make this year's lineup. The Maple Leafs are crowded this year on the blue line, and many of those players are known for playing sound defensive games. Guys like Jonas Frogren, Luke Schenn, Carlo Colaiacovo, and Jeff Finger have all been way ahead of Ian White in terms of defensive performance. If White hopes to make the Maple Leafs lineup this year, he might have the edge he needs if he can keep playing well up front. The Leafs forward lineup is far from decided at this point, so there may be room for him there. I will be watching tonight's game with added interest to see what he can do for the Maple Leafs. For the remainder of the preseason, he will be fighting for his career, so I am hoping that determination will result in him creating some scoring chances, and possibly a couple of goals for the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Toronto Maple Leafs Injury Update
It was reported last night that both Pavel Kubina and Jeff Finger will be out of the Maple Leafs lineup for the next few games, due to injury. In a post-game interview, Leafs head coach Ron Wilson stated he believes that it will be unlikely that Finger will be in the lineup for the Maple Leafs regular season opener, and could be out for 2-3 weeks. Pavel Kubina, on the other hand, is expected to return for the opener and should be in the lineup by then. Fortunately, the Toronto Maple Leafs are pretty deep on defencemen this year, and I expect either Carlo Colaiacovo or Mike Van Ryn to fill in for Finger until his return.
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