Connolly Lifts Leafs Past Hurricanes
Tim Connolly scored 2 goals last night to help the Toronto Maple Leafs defeat the Carolina Hurricanes in a 2-1 victory in overtime. One of the Leafs best performance in recent games was hindered by Hurricanes' goaltender, Cam Ward. Toronto outshot Carolina by 38-19 in 4 periods of play and beat them in all areas of the game.
The scoring did not start until late in the third period but there was excitement throughout the whole game. Tim Connolly was able to deflect Clarke MacArthur's shot to finally fool Cam Ward to give the Leafs a 1-0 lead. Few minutes later, Joffrey Lupul was called on a highsticking penalty which allowed Carolina to tie the game at 1-1 resulting in the game going to overtime. Although the Hurricanes game a bit of momentum by scoring the late tying goal, the Leafs was still the better team as Connolly notched his second goal of the night as he pushed the puck which had trickled behind Ward after Lupul's shot. James Reimer got the win for the Leafs and was solid even though he only faced 19 shots.
There wasn't a lot of negative points in the Leafs game. Although they allowed another powerplay goal, their previous penalty kills were done well. Even on the goal, they did well, except Jake Gardiner forgot to tie up the stick of this opponent. All in all, it was a good game and a well deserved win.
The Leafs don't play until Friday against the Buffalo Sabres, a team Toronto has yet to find a way to defeat in a convincing manner. They'll have time to figure it out in the two days before the game, as well utilize Connolly's knowledge of his previous team.
The Rest of the Hockey World
1. Canada's WJC team complete: Canada's roster for the World Juniors Championship tournament has been officially released with notable players such as Mark Scheifele (Winnipeg Jets), Brett Connolly (Tampa Bay Lightning), Dougie Hamilton (Boston Bruins), and Ryan Strome (New York Islanders). Let's go Canada!
2. Another concussion: Ottawa Senator's, and league leading goal scorer, Milan Mickalek suffered a concussion after a collision with teammate Erik Karlsson in yesterday's game.
3. Timonen crushed...by a ref?: Kimmo Timonen was fallened by a referee last night as the ref tried to jump out of the way but ended checking the defenceman to the ground.
4. NHL 36 & 24/7: The two shows will premiere today on VERSUS and HBO respectively. Can't wait!
Wednesday, December 14, 2011
Tuesday, December 13, 2011
Weekend Recap, Leafs vs. Canes Tonight
Didn't write this weekend or Monday since there wasn't much Leafs news, but there are some news around the hockey league.
On the injury front, Sidney Crosby is out again with concussion-like symptoms. Along with Sid, Claude Giroux of the Philadelphia Flyers, and league points leader, is out with a concussion as well after getting kneed by his own teammate. Chris Pronger, Flyers' captain, joins this group as well with a concussion. So many concussions, I thought they were trying to get rid of them! I'm not sure how they can reduce the number of injuries anymore. People just don't follow the rules and everyone is getting hurt. These 3 guys are only a few of those who are suffering from concussions. When will it end?
Los Angeles Kings' coach Terry Murray was fired yesterday and will be replaced by John Stevens as the interim coach for the time being. Although it was Murray who took the bullet for the teams lack of offense, the players should be the one to be punished. With an average of 2 goals per game, the Kings are one of the leagues worst in that category. Hopefully being yelled by their GM Dean Lombardi will spark the team to do better because they should be one of NHL's top teams with the players they have.
A couple of NHL shows are going to premiere soon with the return of the '24/7 Winter Classic' on HBO this Wednesday featuring the New York Rangers and Philadelphia Flyers. In addition, the NHL is introducing 'NHL 36' which follows the life of a NHL player for 36 hours. The first player to debut on the show is Chicago Blackhawks' Patrick Kane. It will be debutting on Wednesday as well but only on VERSUS. We'll be able to watch it on the NHL Network on Saturday December 17 at 4:00pm. Going to be two awesome shows!
Now on to the Leafs!
Toronto will be playing against the Carolina Hurricanes tonight at the ACC. This is a game they need to win, especially at home. Not only is it a must win, it's a game that they should be able to win considering how badly the Hurricanes are playing this season. Even with the new head coach change, the Canes are only 2-7-0 with Kirk Muller.
With the amount of time to rest and practice, the Leafs' penalty kill should be better this game. They just need to remember not to chase people around and leave their positions. As well, their speed game needs to show up again along with the physical presence from their tough guys. I understand the need for James Reimer to be the one in net since he needs to get his game back, but if he doesn't win this game then Gustavvson should be in net against Buffalo on Friday. You can only give a guy so many chances to come back. And with Gustavvson playing the way he is, there shouldn't be a problem for Ron Wilson to put him in whenever they need him.
Didn't write this weekend or Monday since there wasn't much Leafs news, but there are some news around the hockey league.
On the injury front, Sidney Crosby is out again with concussion-like symptoms. Along with Sid, Claude Giroux of the Philadelphia Flyers, and league points leader, is out with a concussion as well after getting kneed by his own teammate. Chris Pronger, Flyers' captain, joins this group as well with a concussion. So many concussions, I thought they were trying to get rid of them! I'm not sure how they can reduce the number of injuries anymore. People just don't follow the rules and everyone is getting hurt. These 3 guys are only a few of those who are suffering from concussions. When will it end?
Los Angeles Kings' coach Terry Murray was fired yesterday and will be replaced by John Stevens as the interim coach for the time being. Although it was Murray who took the bullet for the teams lack of offense, the players should be the one to be punished. With an average of 2 goals per game, the Kings are one of the leagues worst in that category. Hopefully being yelled by their GM Dean Lombardi will spark the team to do better because they should be one of NHL's top teams with the players they have.
A couple of NHL shows are going to premiere soon with the return of the '24/7 Winter Classic' on HBO this Wednesday featuring the New York Rangers and Philadelphia Flyers. In addition, the NHL is introducing 'NHL 36' which follows the life of a NHL player for 36 hours. The first player to debut on the show is Chicago Blackhawks' Patrick Kane. It will be debutting on Wednesday as well but only on VERSUS. We'll be able to watch it on the NHL Network on Saturday December 17 at 4:00pm. Going to be two awesome shows!
Now on to the Leafs!
Toronto will be playing against the Carolina Hurricanes tonight at the ACC. This is a game they need to win, especially at home. Not only is it a must win, it's a game that they should be able to win considering how badly the Hurricanes are playing this season. Even with the new head coach change, the Canes are only 2-7-0 with Kirk Muller.
With the amount of time to rest and practice, the Leafs' penalty kill should be better this game. They just need to remember not to chase people around and leave their positions. As well, their speed game needs to show up again along with the physical presence from their tough guys. I understand the need for James Reimer to be the one in net since he needs to get his game back, but if he doesn't win this game then Gustavvson should be in net against Buffalo on Friday. You can only give a guy so many chances to come back. And with Gustavvson playing the way he is, there shouldn't be a problem for Ron Wilson to put him in whenever they need him.
Saturday, December 10, 2011
Leafs Lose to Capitals 2-4
Although the Toronto Maple Leafs played a lot better, other than their penalty kill, they still lost to the Washington Capitals last night. All four of Washington's goals came on the powerplay due to bad penalties by the Leafs, 2 of which were scored by defenseman Dennis Wideman adding to his 2 assists on the night.
Analyzing the performance, the Leafs skated well utilizing their speed to create chances on the turnovers and on their rushes. Faceoff percentage was okay and they were checking well against the Capitals. Overall, they did everything right except for their penalty kill which has been a wreck in the past 2 games. Same with their powerplay which was unable to convert into goals for them.
Phil Kessel, who ties Milan Michalek for most goals, and Cody Franson got the goals for Toronto. Joffrey Lupul almost got a goal after Washington's third goal, hitting the post with Phil Kessel right there to bank it in but was unable to get a stick on it. All in all, they did well in terms of sticking to the game plan, just needs to work on their special teams now. Toronto is off until next Tuesday so they'll have some time to rest and to get their penalty kill and powerplay working again.
The Rest of the Hockey World
1. Winnipeg with #4: The Jets won their fourth straight game now after their win against Carolina last night. They face Detroit Red Wings tonight which will be a bit test for them.
2. Ovechkin vs. Phaneuf: Watch the game last night, I saw both Alex Ovechkin and Dion Phaneuf playing a super physical game with both landing solid hits on each other the entire game. One of the best games for both players this season.
Although the Toronto Maple Leafs played a lot better, other than their penalty kill, they still lost to the Washington Capitals last night. All four of Washington's goals came on the powerplay due to bad penalties by the Leafs, 2 of which were scored by defenseman Dennis Wideman adding to his 2 assists on the night.
Analyzing the performance, the Leafs skated well utilizing their speed to create chances on the turnovers and on their rushes. Faceoff percentage was okay and they were checking well against the Capitals. Overall, they did everything right except for their penalty kill which has been a wreck in the past 2 games. Same with their powerplay which was unable to convert into goals for them.
Phil Kessel, who ties Milan Michalek for most goals, and Cody Franson got the goals for Toronto. Joffrey Lupul almost got a goal after Washington's third goal, hitting the post with Phil Kessel right there to bank it in but was unable to get a stick on it. All in all, they did well in terms of sticking to the game plan, just needs to work on their special teams now. Toronto is off until next Tuesday so they'll have some time to rest and to get their penalty kill and powerplay working again.
The Rest of the Hockey World
1. Winnipeg with #4: The Jets won their fourth straight game now after their win against Carolina last night. They face Detroit Red Wings tonight which will be a bit test for them.
2. Ovechkin vs. Phaneuf: Watch the game last night, I saw both Alex Ovechkin and Dion Phaneuf playing a super physical game with both landing solid hits on each other the entire game. One of the best games for both players this season.
Friday, December 9, 2011
MLSE sold, Leafs vs. Caps Tonight
Probably the biggest news for sports fans in Toronto today is the selling of Maple Leafs Sports and Entertainment (MLSE) shares by Ontario Teacher's Pension Plan to Bell Media and Rogers Communications for a hefty $1.32 billion. The shares now stand at 37.5% to Bell, 37.5% to Rogers, and 25% to Tanenbaum. I don't now too much about business and stuff like that but I'm sure there will be difficult times but also great times ahead. Looking forward to seeing how things turn out later on.
On to Leafs news, Joe Colbourne was sent down to Toronto Marlies as Colby Armstrong is back in Toronto's lineup for tonight's game against the Washington Capitals. This is good news for the Leafs since Armstrong will add some good forechecking and toughness to the team.
The last time these two teams met, Toronto thrashed the Capitals in a 7-1 win. We'll see if tonight will be the same or will the Capitals start to find their groove against a struggling Toronto group. The Leafs will need to reduce their turnovers by a lot, start winning faceoffs and keep their legs moving. They've been lucky so far on their turnovers but giving pucks away to Ovechkin and Backstrom will not be a smart idea.
The Rest of the Hockey World
1. Anisimov Snipes: Artem Anisimov made a gesture immitating a person shooting at the puck after scoring a goal against the Tampa Bay Lightning last night. This was uncalled for and no one, not even his own team and especially not his coach, liked it. He was given 16 minutes in penalty and we'll see if he'll get more later on for his actions.
2. Kaberle to Habs, Spacek to Canes: Tomas Kaberle (ex-Leafs) was traded to the Montreal Canadiens for Jaroslav Spacek. I think Carolina was the one to gain something in this trade as Kaberle's numbers have dropped immensely. Spacek isn't a point producer but he does have a +2 compared to Kaberle's -12.
3. Boston lost again: This makes it 2 in a row now! Boston coming off a great November is now riding a 2 game losing streak after their lost against the Florida Panthers.
Probably the biggest news for sports fans in Toronto today is the selling of Maple Leafs Sports and Entertainment (MLSE) shares by Ontario Teacher's Pension Plan to Bell Media and Rogers Communications for a hefty $1.32 billion. The shares now stand at 37.5% to Bell, 37.5% to Rogers, and 25% to Tanenbaum. I don't now too much about business and stuff like that but I'm sure there will be difficult times but also great times ahead. Looking forward to seeing how things turn out later on.
On to Leafs news, Joe Colbourne was sent down to Toronto Marlies as Colby Armstrong is back in Toronto's lineup for tonight's game against the Washington Capitals. This is good news for the Leafs since Armstrong will add some good forechecking and toughness to the team.
The last time these two teams met, Toronto thrashed the Capitals in a 7-1 win. We'll see if tonight will be the same or will the Capitals start to find their groove against a struggling Toronto group. The Leafs will need to reduce their turnovers by a lot, start winning faceoffs and keep their legs moving. They've been lucky so far on their turnovers but giving pucks away to Ovechkin and Backstrom will not be a smart idea.
The Rest of the Hockey World
1. Anisimov Snipes: Artem Anisimov made a gesture immitating a person shooting at the puck after scoring a goal against the Tampa Bay Lightning last night. This was uncalled for and no one, not even his own team and especially not his coach, liked it. He was given 16 minutes in penalty and we'll see if he'll get more later on for his actions.
2. Kaberle to Habs, Spacek to Canes: Tomas Kaberle (ex-Leafs) was traded to the Montreal Canadiens for Jaroslav Spacek. I think Carolina was the one to gain something in this trade as Kaberle's numbers have dropped immensely. Spacek isn't a point producer but he does have a +2 compared to Kaberle's -12.
3. Boston lost again: This makes it 2 in a row now! Boston coming off a great November is now riding a 2 game losing streak after their lost against the Florida Panthers.
Thursday, December 8, 2011
No Leafs Game, Other Hockey News
Toronto didn't have a game last night and they don't have one tonight either so no news on them today. Leafs will be in Washington to face the Capitals on Friday.
The Rest of the Hockey World
1. Canes win: Carrolina's Kirk Muller won his first game as coach of the Carrolina Hurricanes in a 5-3 win over the Edmonton Oilers.
2. Ovi tricks Karlsson: Alexander Ovechkin made a nice play against Erik Karlsson as he skated from one end of the Senator's blue line, around the net, to the other end of the blue line, made a quick stop to lose Karlsson, picked his shot and rifled it past Craig Anderson. Sweet move by Ovi, something we need to see more from him.
Toronto didn't have a game last night and they don't have one tonight either so no news on them today. Leafs will be in Washington to face the Capitals on Friday.
The Rest of the Hockey World
1. Canes win: Carrolina's Kirk Muller won his first game as coach of the Carrolina Hurricanes in a 5-3 win over the Edmonton Oilers.
2. Ovi tricks Karlsson: Alexander Ovechkin made a nice play against Erik Karlsson as he skated from one end of the Senator's blue line, around the net, to the other end of the blue line, made a quick stop to lose Karlsson, picked his shot and rifled it past Craig Anderson. Sweet move by Ovi, something we need to see more from him.
Wednesday, December 7, 2011
Loss to Devils but Kessel Regains Lead
Toronto was able to rally back to send the game to overtime against New Jersey but it wasn't enough to stop David Clarkson from scoring the game winner as the Devils win 3-2. At least the Leafs gained a point from this game which seemed like a giveaway to the Devils.
The first period was disasterous for the guys in blue and white as the Devils took an early 2-0 lead thanks to Toronto's penalties. And these penalties were all thanks to the amount of turnovers and spending most of the period in their own zone. After coming out in the second and third period, Toronto looked like a new team as they fought back to tie the game with goals by Phil Kessel (who now ties Jonathan Toews for most goals in the league) and Matt Frattin.
In overtime, Carl Gunnarsson had a wide open one-timer at the point but missed most of the puck, giving it away to New Jersey which led to the game winning goal. Although it wasn't Toronto's best game, we did see them fight back with some good checking by Luke Schenn, Philippe Dupuis and the rest of the team. Next time, less turnovers, more faceoff wins and more speed! Toronto's next game will be at Washington on Friday.
The Rest of the Hockey World
1. Winnipeg beats Boston: Of all the teams in the NHL, I would not have thought Winnipeg to be the one to stop Boston's streak. Good on them though as they finally have a winning record this season (12-11-4).
2. Wild rookie wins: Minnesota Wild was forced to use their backup goaltender as Josh Harding left the game after being hit on the head by his own teammate. The rookie made 34 saves to gain his first NHL win *thumbs up*.
3. Tyler Seguin overslept: Seguin of the Boston Bruins overslept and missed the morning meeting which led to him being a scratch in the game against Winnipeg. That's too bad, I'm sure they could have used him.
Toronto was able to rally back to send the game to overtime against New Jersey but it wasn't enough to stop David Clarkson from scoring the game winner as the Devils win 3-2. At least the Leafs gained a point from this game which seemed like a giveaway to the Devils.
The first period was disasterous for the guys in blue and white as the Devils took an early 2-0 lead thanks to Toronto's penalties. And these penalties were all thanks to the amount of turnovers and spending most of the period in their own zone. After coming out in the second and third period, Toronto looked like a new team as they fought back to tie the game with goals by Phil Kessel (who now ties Jonathan Toews for most goals in the league) and Matt Frattin.
In overtime, Carl Gunnarsson had a wide open one-timer at the point but missed most of the puck, giving it away to New Jersey which led to the game winning goal. Although it wasn't Toronto's best game, we did see them fight back with some good checking by Luke Schenn, Philippe Dupuis and the rest of the team. Next time, less turnovers, more faceoff wins and more speed! Toronto's next game will be at Washington on Friday.
The Rest of the Hockey World
1. Winnipeg beats Boston: Of all the teams in the NHL, I would not have thought Winnipeg to be the one to stop Boston's streak. Good on them though as they finally have a winning record this season (12-11-4).
2. Wild rookie wins: Minnesota Wild was forced to use their backup goaltender as Josh Harding left the game after being hit on the head by his own teammate. The rookie made 34 saves to gain his first NHL win *thumbs up*.
3. Tyler Seguin overslept: Seguin of the Boston Bruins overslept and missed the morning meeting which led to him being a scratch in the game against Winnipeg. That's too bad, I'm sure they could have used him.
Tuesday, December 6, 2011
Win Against Rangers, Back Home Tonight vs. Devils
The Leafs won last night because they stuck to their game plan. Using their speed, they left the New York Rangers behind as they skated around the rink and putting pucks behind Lundqvist in a 4-2 win. Gustavsson was in net for the Leafs and made save after save that were sure goals for the Rangers, especially after the giveaway he made. But he used everything in his goalie toolbox to get the win last night.
Cody Franson, Tim Connolly, Joffrey Lupul and David Steckel scored for the Leafs while Artem Anisimov and Marion Gaborik scored for the Rangers.
In addition to their speed, the Leafs put up big hits during the night, most notable hit by Dion Phaneuf on Michael Sauer. Although they were out-hit by the Rangers, it was a better effort compared to the last few games. Faceoffs were better as well but still require some work on their end.
Tonight the Leafs will be back in town at the ACC to play against Martin Brodeur and the New Jersey Devils. Reimer will be in net to start the game and hopefully they'll do exactly the same as they did last night. Their energy might not be as high but they'll have to do their best to keep the tempo up.
The Rest of the Hockey World
1. New Realignment: The Board of Governors passed a new realignment of the teams for the 2012-2013 season and it's going to be a brand new game come next September. Here's the new format -
2. Boston keeps rolling: The Bruins beat Pittsburgh 3-1 to improve their record to 14-0-1 in their last 15 games and 17-7-1 in the season.
The Leafs won last night because they stuck to their game plan. Using their speed, they left the New York Rangers behind as they skated around the rink and putting pucks behind Lundqvist in a 4-2 win. Gustavsson was in net for the Leafs and made save after save that were sure goals for the Rangers, especially after the giveaway he made. But he used everything in his goalie toolbox to get the win last night.
Cody Franson, Tim Connolly, Joffrey Lupul and David Steckel scored for the Leafs while Artem Anisimov and Marion Gaborik scored for the Rangers.
In addition to their speed, the Leafs put up big hits during the night, most notable hit by Dion Phaneuf on Michael Sauer. Although they were out-hit by the Rangers, it was a better effort compared to the last few games. Faceoffs were better as well but still require some work on their end.
Tonight the Leafs will be back in town at the ACC to play against Martin Brodeur and the New Jersey Devils. Reimer will be in net to start the game and hopefully they'll do exactly the same as they did last night. Their energy might not be as high but they'll have to do their best to keep the tempo up.
The Rest of the Hockey World
1. New Realignment: The Board of Governors passed a new realignment of the teams for the 2012-2013 season and it's going to be a brand new game come next September. Here's the new format -
| Conference A | Conference B |
| Anaheim Ducks | Chicago Blackhawks |
| Calgary Flames | Columbus Bluejackets |
| Colorado Avalanche | Dallas Stars |
| Edmonton Oilers | Detroit Redwings |
| Los Angeles Kings | Minnesota Wild |
| Phoenix Coyotes | Nashville Predators |
| San Jose Sharks | St.Louis Blues |
| Vancouver Canucks | Winnipeg Jets |
| Conference C | Conference D |
| Boston Bruins | Carolina Hurricanes |
| Buffalo Sabres | New Jersey Devils |
| Florida Panthers | New York Islanders |
| Montreal Canadiens | New York Rangers |
| Ottawa Senators | Philadelphia Flyers |
| Tampa Bay Lightnings | Pittsburgh Penguins |
| Toronto Maple Leafs | Washington Capitals |
2. Boston keeps rolling: The Bruins beat Pittsburgh 3-1 to improve their record to 14-0-1 in their last 15 games and 17-7-1 in the season.
Monday, December 5, 2011
Leafs Back in Action Tonight at NY
The Leafs will face against the New York Rangers tonight at Madison Square Garden to try and break their slump. It won't be an easy game for the Buds since they'll be shooting pucks at Henrik Lundquist. In addition, the Rangers are a hard working group of guys that will stand in the way of any shot and can also score at the other end of the rink. It should provide as another good test for the Leafs to gauge how well they're playing, especially against the top teams of the NHL.
Things I'm hoping to see from the Leafs tonight:
1. A better jump in their game: Toronto's most lethal weapon is their speed game. They need to get their legs moving and push the tempo of the game to their level.
2. Punish the opposition: From their last game, I saw minimal contact being made by the Leafs. I hope they start flattening people to the boards.
3. Better puck control: Those turnovers are killing their game. They need better control and better passes. Short, quick passes. No soft pokes and hope someone from your team will pick it up. Even if you're gonna get hit, make the play and take the hit.
4. More goals: What else can I say? Where's the goals at? Kessel seems to be in a slump now and the goals have stopped for the Leafs. It's time for everyone else to pick up the slack. Reimer can only stop so many.
The Rest of the Hockey World
1. Realignment of the League: The GMs are meeting up to talk about the realignment of teams in each division to accomodate the new Winnipeg Jets. Just switch Detroit and Winnipeg around.
2. Minnesota keeps winning: No stopping them it seems as the Wild keep their #1 position after winning against the Ducks last night.
The Leafs will face against the New York Rangers tonight at Madison Square Garden to try and break their slump. It won't be an easy game for the Buds since they'll be shooting pucks at Henrik Lundquist. In addition, the Rangers are a hard working group of guys that will stand in the way of any shot and can also score at the other end of the rink. It should provide as another good test for the Leafs to gauge how well they're playing, especially against the top teams of the NHL.
Things I'm hoping to see from the Leafs tonight:
1. A better jump in their game: Toronto's most lethal weapon is their speed game. They need to get their legs moving and push the tempo of the game to their level.
2. Punish the opposition: From their last game, I saw minimal contact being made by the Leafs. I hope they start flattening people to the boards.
3. Better puck control: Those turnovers are killing their game. They need better control and better passes. Short, quick passes. No soft pokes and hope someone from your team will pick it up. Even if you're gonna get hit, make the play and take the hit.
4. More goals: What else can I say? Where's the goals at? Kessel seems to be in a slump now and the goals have stopped for the Leafs. It's time for everyone else to pick up the slack. Reimer can only stop so many.
The Rest of the Hockey World
1. Realignment of the League: The GMs are meeting up to talk about the realignment of teams in each division to accomodate the new Winnipeg Jets. Just switch Detroit and Winnipeg around.
2. Minnesota keeps winning: No stopping them it seems as the Wild keep their #1 position after winning against the Ducks last night.
Sunday, December 4, 2011
Leafs Lose...Again
Even though the Toronto Maple Leafs got James Reimer back in net, their offense was a no-show again in the game against the Boston Bruins last night. While watching the first 10-15min of the game, I counted at least 10 turnovers by the Leafs. I'm surprised the final score didn't end up being 1-10 (actually 0-10 because Grabovski's goal was a random shot that somehow went in).
One thing I saw the Leafs do well was handling the puck competently in front of their own net. Other than that, everything was bad. Passing, forechecking, faceoffs...everything! They were passing it to the wrong person, their forechecking looked like child's play compared to Boston's, no one could beat Patrice Bergeron in the faceoff circle. It looked like the Leafs had their energy sucked out of their body and instead of generating momentum, they just sat there and watched the Bruins dominate. It was a hard game to watch as a Leafs fan. Even on the powerplay where either Zdeno Chara or Milan Lucic was in the box, they still couldn't generate a goal.
To angry to keep talking about this...FRUSTRATING!
The Rest of the Hockey World
1. Ryan Miller gets hit...again: Jordin Tootoo of the Nashville Predators collides with Ryan Miller in his first game back from being hit and sustaining a concussion. What did Miller do? He beat the crap out of Tootoo.
2. David Perron is back: Perron scores his first goal after being out for a year. Well done.
3. Andre Markov has knee surgery...again: Markov who has been out for which seems like forever is going under the knife again to repair his knee. This time to take out debris, pushing his return date back another 3 weeks. He should just retire but that's a waste of his skills.
4. Dale Hunter gets his first win as a NHL coach: Brooks Laich get the overtime goal for the Washington Captials, giving Hunter his first win.
5. Matt Moulson got 4 goals: Moulson of the New York Islanders got 4 goals against the Dallas Stars.
Even though the Toronto Maple Leafs got James Reimer back in net, their offense was a no-show again in the game against the Boston Bruins last night. While watching the first 10-15min of the game, I counted at least 10 turnovers by the Leafs. I'm surprised the final score didn't end up being 1-10 (actually 0-10 because Grabovski's goal was a random shot that somehow went in).
One thing I saw the Leafs do well was handling the puck competently in front of their own net. Other than that, everything was bad. Passing, forechecking, faceoffs...everything! They were passing it to the wrong person, their forechecking looked like child's play compared to Boston's, no one could beat Patrice Bergeron in the faceoff circle. It looked like the Leafs had their energy sucked out of their body and instead of generating momentum, they just sat there and watched the Bruins dominate. It was a hard game to watch as a Leafs fan. Even on the powerplay where either Zdeno Chara or Milan Lucic was in the box, they still couldn't generate a goal.
To angry to keep talking about this...FRUSTRATING!
The Rest of the Hockey World
1. Ryan Miller gets hit...again: Jordin Tootoo of the Nashville Predators collides with Ryan Miller in his first game back from being hit and sustaining a concussion. What did Miller do? He beat the crap out of Tootoo.
2. David Perron is back: Perron scores his first goal after being out for a year. Well done.
3. Andre Markov has knee surgery...again: Markov who has been out for which seems like forever is going under the knife again to repair his knee. This time to take out debris, pushing his return date back another 3 weeks. He should just retire but that's a waste of his skills.
4. Dale Hunter gets his first win as a NHL coach: Brooks Laich get the overtime goal for the Washington Captials, giving Hunter his first win.
5. Matt Moulson got 4 goals: Moulson of the New York Islanders got 4 goals against the Dallas Stars.
Saturday, December 3, 2011
Reimer is back!
Not only is James Reimer back in the Leafs' line-up tonight, he'll be the starting goaltender against the dominant Boston Bruins. This should provide as a boost of confidence for the team but we'll have to see how Reimer adjusts to playing in a fast paced game after being out of action for so long. Gustavsson will be his backup tonight.
I've been trying to think of who the best person is to be in front of the Leafs' net to battle the big guys like Lucic and Horton. In terms of defensemen, Phaneuf, Schenn, and Komisarek seem to be tough enough to handle them. Gardiner, Gunnarsson, Franson, and Aulie look soft compared to the Bruins when trying to battle in front of the net. Both Franson and Aulie are pretty big guys themselves but don't always use it to their advantage. I'd look to see both Phaneuf and Schenn to be the two guys who stand in front of their own net and shove everyone out of the way while their linemates Gunnarsson and Gardiner to be the ones pressuring the Bruins' players.
Although Kessel has been playing well throughout the season so far, he's been pretty quiet against his old team. We always say we're waiting for him to tear his old team apart with his speed and snapshot but he's only one guy. If he can't do it, then we need others to bring it. But it's easier said than done when you have to play against the Conn Smythe Trophy winner, Tim Thomas.
In any case, I expect to see the Leafs to play even better than the last. It's the fourth game between the two teams and they should have figured out by now how to win. A good defensive game can go a long way. Just look at Nashville.
Rest of the Hockey World
1. Red Hot Wings: Detroit Red Wings beat the Buffalo Sabres to extend their winning streak to 7 games. You can never count a group of old guys out, especially when the group consists of Datsyuk, Lidstrom, and Zetterberg. The good news for Buffalo is that Ryan Miller might be back tonight in net.
2. Boudreau failed as well: The new coach of the Anaheim Ducks couldn't pull a win in his debut, but the team did earn a point in a shootout loss against the Philadelphia Flyers. Still, a win would have been great for him...and the Ducks.
Not only is James Reimer back in the Leafs' line-up tonight, he'll be the starting goaltender against the dominant Boston Bruins. This should provide as a boost of confidence for the team but we'll have to see how Reimer adjusts to playing in a fast paced game after being out of action for so long. Gustavsson will be his backup tonight.
I've been trying to think of who the best person is to be in front of the Leafs' net to battle the big guys like Lucic and Horton. In terms of defensemen, Phaneuf, Schenn, and Komisarek seem to be tough enough to handle them. Gardiner, Gunnarsson, Franson, and Aulie look soft compared to the Bruins when trying to battle in front of the net. Both Franson and Aulie are pretty big guys themselves but don't always use it to their advantage. I'd look to see both Phaneuf and Schenn to be the two guys who stand in front of their own net and shove everyone out of the way while their linemates Gunnarsson and Gardiner to be the ones pressuring the Bruins' players.
Although Kessel has been playing well throughout the season so far, he's been pretty quiet against his old team. We always say we're waiting for him to tear his old team apart with his speed and snapshot but he's only one guy. If he can't do it, then we need others to bring it. But it's easier said than done when you have to play against the Conn Smythe Trophy winner, Tim Thomas.
In any case, I expect to see the Leafs to play even better than the last. It's the fourth game between the two teams and they should have figured out by now how to win. A good defensive game can go a long way. Just look at Nashville.
Rest of the Hockey World
1. Red Hot Wings: Detroit Red Wings beat the Buffalo Sabres to extend their winning streak to 7 games. You can never count a group of old guys out, especially when the group consists of Datsyuk, Lidstrom, and Zetterberg. The good news for Buffalo is that Ryan Miller might be back tonight in net.
2. Boudreau failed as well: The new coach of the Anaheim Ducks couldn't pull a win in his debut, but the team did earn a point in a shootout loss against the Philadelphia Flyers. Still, a win would have been great for him...and the Ducks.
Friday, December 2, 2011
This is blog about hockey, my favourite sport. It'll feature recent news in the hockey world along with my opinion on past games. Since I'm a fan of the Toronto Maple Leafs I will be mainly focusing on them but I'll take stabs at other teams as well.
So let's talk hockey!
Leafs:
They've been playing pretty well in the month of November. With all the injuries they've sustained it's a miracle they're still 2nd in the North-East Division and 5th in the Eastern Conference. I've watched all their games so far and I can say they get better with each win. There are still plenty of things they can change (ex. reduce the number of turnovers, allow less shots on goal, better defense in front of their own net), but right now this is the best team I've seen since the Sundin-Roberts-Mogilny days. The Leafs aren't a big team, but they're fast and they use it to their advantage. They fight for the puck along the boards and have some pretty good forechecking.
What the Leafs need right now is secondary scoring and better defense. The first line of Kessel-Bozak-Lupul has put up 34 goals, 44 assists (78 points) while the second line of MacArthur-Grabovski-Kulemin has 17 goals, 17 assists (34 points). They cannot keep relying on their top line to help win games, they need more guys to step up and score. Thankfully there has been random guys putting the puck in the net but what's going to happen when their #1 line goes on a slump? With their defense, oh man, it's pretty bad in my eyes. Too many holes in their defense right now. They're letting guys through a bit too easily, allowing players to walk around in their own zone with the puck without much contest and they simply can't stop a guy from scoring in front of their net. Watching the previous Boston vs. Toronto game, you can see some of these weaknesses. Let's take a look:
1. Turnovers, turnover, turnovers. It seems whenever a Boston player forechecks and pressures the Toronto defenseman to move the puck, they just give it away rather than clear their own zone. Can't keep doing that! It kills me every time I watch their games. Happens in each game they play!
2. Lucic standing in front of the Leafs' net and easily tapping in a goal. Sure, Lucic is a pretty big guy and pushing him out of the way isn't the most easy thing to do, but lift his stick up so he can't get the puck! Too many, just too many times this has happened in the season already. The Leafs get out-muscled in front, leaving a man wide open. To me the Lucic goal was what killed the Leafs' hopes of catching up and I that's what helped Boston win the game.
3. Is it just me or does it seem like Toronto players fall down a lot? I understand in faceoffs people tend to fall down, but other times...is it that hard to make a turn?
4. Positioning in their own zone is just bad. They're not in position to receive passes from their defenseman resulting in turnovers. They're not in position to move up and out of their zone with ease. They're not in position!!!
I'm not too worried about their goaltending. Gustavsson has stepped up and finally looks like a real NHL goalie during the time Reimer was out. Yes, he hasn't played extremely well, but I've seen major improvements compared to past seasons. I wish they had more confidence in him rather than put Ben Scrivens in net. Don't get me wrong, Scrivens played well but he isn't ready for the NHL. He definitely needs more time to work on his skills. For now, the Leafs can count on Gustavsson to be their man. He'll become a solid backup once Reimer is back in net and I'm sure he'll make the decision harder for Ron Wilson to pick a starting goalie.
The Leafs will head to Boston to face them again on Saturday. They're 0-3-0 against them now but there has been a lot of improvements in the 3rd game. Maybe they'll get them this time...I hope. At least Reimer is back (though as the backup only).
Rest of the Hockey World:
1. Boston's record for November (12-0-1): WHAT?! Seriously, that's amazing for a team that had a horrible October. Way to turn it around and well deserved. They brought back their gritty and tough style of play and dominated everyone in the league.
2. Sidney is back: Kind of old news now but might as well give a comment on it. Crosby already has 2 goals and 9 assists (11 points) in 6 games. Impressive start!
3. Minnesota and Vancouver turning it around: Both didn't have great starts to the season but November seems to have been nice to both teams. They're last 10 games were 7-3-0 putting them #1 (Minnesota) and #2 (Vancouver) in the North-West Division. Minnesota is 1st in the Western Conference thanks to a better start while Vancouver is sitting 9th.
4. Coaching changes galore: 4 coaching changes and counting now. St. Louis, Washington, Carolina and now Anaheim. All understandable and I'm glad Bruce Boudreau gets to have another go at being a NHL coach (now in Anaheim).
5. Ryan Nugent-Hopkins is rookie of the month: Well deserved with 6 goals and 10 assists in November. He has a 27 points in the season already! This kid no doubt will win the Calder Trophy this season.
So let's talk hockey!
Leafs:
They've been playing pretty well in the month of November. With all the injuries they've sustained it's a miracle they're still 2nd in the North-East Division and 5th in the Eastern Conference. I've watched all their games so far and I can say they get better with each win. There are still plenty of things they can change (ex. reduce the number of turnovers, allow less shots on goal, better defense in front of their own net), but right now this is the best team I've seen since the Sundin-Roberts-Mogilny days. The Leafs aren't a big team, but they're fast and they use it to their advantage. They fight for the puck along the boards and have some pretty good forechecking.
What the Leafs need right now is secondary scoring and better defense. The first line of Kessel-Bozak-Lupul has put up 34 goals, 44 assists (78 points) while the second line of MacArthur-Grabovski-Kulemin has 17 goals, 17 assists (34 points). They cannot keep relying on their top line to help win games, they need more guys to step up and score. Thankfully there has been random guys putting the puck in the net but what's going to happen when their #1 line goes on a slump? With their defense, oh man, it's pretty bad in my eyes. Too many holes in their defense right now. They're letting guys through a bit too easily, allowing players to walk around in their own zone with the puck without much contest and they simply can't stop a guy from scoring in front of their net. Watching the previous Boston vs. Toronto game, you can see some of these weaknesses. Let's take a look:
1. Turnovers, turnover, turnovers. It seems whenever a Boston player forechecks and pressures the Toronto defenseman to move the puck, they just give it away rather than clear their own zone. Can't keep doing that! It kills me every time I watch their games. Happens in each game they play!
2. Lucic standing in front of the Leafs' net and easily tapping in a goal. Sure, Lucic is a pretty big guy and pushing him out of the way isn't the most easy thing to do, but lift his stick up so he can't get the puck! Too many, just too many times this has happened in the season already. The Leafs get out-muscled in front, leaving a man wide open. To me the Lucic goal was what killed the Leafs' hopes of catching up and I that's what helped Boston win the game.
3. Is it just me or does it seem like Toronto players fall down a lot? I understand in faceoffs people tend to fall down, but other times...is it that hard to make a turn?
4. Positioning in their own zone is just bad. They're not in position to receive passes from their defenseman resulting in turnovers. They're not in position to move up and out of their zone with ease. They're not in position!!!
I'm not too worried about their goaltending. Gustavsson has stepped up and finally looks like a real NHL goalie during the time Reimer was out. Yes, he hasn't played extremely well, but I've seen major improvements compared to past seasons. I wish they had more confidence in him rather than put Ben Scrivens in net. Don't get me wrong, Scrivens played well but he isn't ready for the NHL. He definitely needs more time to work on his skills. For now, the Leafs can count on Gustavsson to be their man. He'll become a solid backup once Reimer is back in net and I'm sure he'll make the decision harder for Ron Wilson to pick a starting goalie.
The Leafs will head to Boston to face them again on Saturday. They're 0-3-0 against them now but there has been a lot of improvements in the 3rd game. Maybe they'll get them this time...I hope. At least Reimer is back (though as the backup only).
Rest of the Hockey World:
1. Boston's record for November (12-0-1): WHAT?! Seriously, that's amazing for a team that had a horrible October. Way to turn it around and well deserved. They brought back their gritty and tough style of play and dominated everyone in the league.
2. Sidney is back: Kind of old news now but might as well give a comment on it. Crosby already has 2 goals and 9 assists (11 points) in 6 games. Impressive start!
3. Minnesota and Vancouver turning it around: Both didn't have great starts to the season but November seems to have been nice to both teams. They're last 10 games were 7-3-0 putting them #1 (Minnesota) and #2 (Vancouver) in the North-West Division. Minnesota is 1st in the Western Conference thanks to a better start while Vancouver is sitting 9th.
4. Coaching changes galore: 4 coaching changes and counting now. St. Louis, Washington, Carolina and now Anaheim. All understandable and I'm glad Bruce Boudreau gets to have another go at being a NHL coach (now in Anaheim).
5. Ryan Nugent-Hopkins is rookie of the month: Well deserved with 6 goals and 10 assists in November. He has a 27 points in the season already! This kid no doubt will win the Calder Trophy this season.
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