Leafs Lineup vs. Penguins
The following are the Leafs lines for tonight’s game. Ron Wilson has shuffled the lines quite a bit and has looked to find some chemistry for a shooter to play with John Mitchell. He’s hoping Jason Blake will fill the role while Jamal Mayers can provide some grit on the right side.
“I’m trying different things in practice just as I would in a game,” Wilson said of the changes, “getting guys ready for the potential line shuffling that happens in a game. Some guys’ strengths work with other guys’ weaknesses. I’m not knocking Jamal, but we don’t really have anyone else to put up there. It’s not a reward, it’s an opportunity more than anything else.”
The Penguins have also put Malkin and Staal together to look for the necessary 1-2 punch they had last season and feel Staal is better suited on the 2nd line than on the third.
“It’s self-explanatory, another good player on the wing with Gino,” Bylsma said. “It’s something I’ve done in the past, based on how they’re playing, to make the line look a little different and based on match-ups. I’d anticipate doing that again.”
The Pens are not underestimating the Leafs, despite their lack of statistics in the win column. They believe every game against the Maple Leafs, especially at the ACC, are difficult games to play and tonight will not be an exception. They are going to come out strong.
Leafs Lines:
Hagman – Stajan – Stempniak
Ponikarovsky – Grabovski – Kulemin
Blake – Mitchell – Mayers
Orr – Wallin – Rosehill
Kaberle – Beauchemin
Schenn – Komisarek
White – Finger
Toskala
MacDonald
A reminder to all that Checking From Behind will be hosting another Pre-Game Discussion Tonight at 6:00 to discuss everything around the league, but most importantly Toronto’s game tonight and their plan to not only find their identity, but also to help Toskala find his way to a win.
Micheal A. Aldred
michealaldred@mapleleafshotstove.com
October 10th, 2009 at 9:13 pm
We need to make a trade for JSG now
October 10th, 2009 at 9:13 pm
This is a disgraceful effort. Turnovers are killing this team quickly.
October 10th, 2009 at 9:13 pm
Malkin has chapped lips
October 10th, 2009 at 9:13 pm
Mitchell really looked like crap on that play…
October 10th, 2009 at 9:14 pm
That was John Michell that coughed up the puck to Malkin not Beauchemin, Mitchell is a sh__box.
October 10th, 2009 at 9:15 pm
so Toskala (wasn’t so much his fault on that last goal) has his 5 GAA again tinight. Good job Leafs.
October 10th, 2009 at 9:15 pm
I keep going into the “It’s ok, we’ll get a good draft pick” mode… but then I realize that its Boston who will get a good draft pick, or two. We can still pick someone good at 62nd(?) overall, right?….. Right?
October 10th, 2009 at 9:15 pm
rosehill for captain
October 10th, 2009 at 9:16 pm
Stajan looked really good when he was playing with Stalberg.
October 10th, 2009 at 9:16 pm
rosehill is a keeper
October 10th, 2009 at 9:16 pm
Wow – when Mitchell is playing like that, you KNOW this team is messed right now…
October 10th, 2009 at 9:17 pm
so hiw come we look like junior B players and we have so many players that will probably be playing for their olympic teams? Because our coaching sucks that’s why…
October 10th, 2009 at 9:17 pm
@ Paso I agree
October 10th, 2009 at 9:17 pm
julie sucks-stajan never is good dude wtf are you talking about?
October 10th, 2009 at 9:18 pm
@lonsmos2
I know last goal was Mitchell’s fault – but can Toskala please stop just ONE of their good chances… please?…
October 10th, 2009 at 9:18 pm
we look like a junior team…
October 10th, 2009 at 9:19 pm
Leafs TV should setup a Wallin Cam and then they could run it on comedy night
October 10th, 2009 at 9:19 pm
@ Largus
yeah that GM with vision is working out for us well eh?
How he was going to make us tough and improve our penalty kill and improve our goaltending… workin out well so far eh?
LMAO yeah Wallin is awesome too.
October 10th, 2009 at 9:20 pm
Toskala is done as a leaf the fans will bury him for sure now. NO CHANCE he’ll last much longer here.
October 10th, 2009 at 9:20 pm
Well it seems like anyone who isn’t worried yet knows SFA about hockey!
October 10th, 2009 at 9:20 pm
@b leaf-wheres honesthockey now? he was writing about him like hes bob gainey
October 10th, 2009 at 9:21 pm
Kollar
He can’t stop their bad chances. He’s a junior B goalie at best totally lost right now. every shot is an adventure.
October 10th, 2009 at 9:21 pm
Refs want this game done.
October 10th, 2009 at 9:22 pm
Kaberle takes a huge hit from Crosby and no one will lay a finger on Crosby all night.
October 10th, 2009 at 9:23 pm
No one is even trying in their own end
October 10th, 2009 at 9:23 pm
@ lonsmos2
One of many problems we have.
October 10th, 2009 at 9:23 pm
I’m really starting to worry about this Kessel trade.
October 10th, 2009 at 9:24 pm
seriously Kulemin? Seriously?
October 10th, 2009 at 9:24 pm
Kaberle has taken at least 2 shots tonight WTF is going on?
October 10th, 2009 at 9:25 pm
The ref was like fuck. I have to call that!
October 10th, 2009 at 9:25 pm
I like how nobody touched Crosby at all but yet he runs over Kaberle. No joke at all, we are a weaker team then last year
October 10th, 2009 at 9:25 pm
julie sucks
I’m worried about a lot of the moves our coach and GM are making…
October 10th, 2009 at 9:26 pm
How many times has Crosby or Malkin decided to skate cross ice infront of our blue line on a 2 on 2, why isn’t anyone just killing these guys? Forget about the puck, lay him out!!! This is frustrating…
October 10th, 2009 at 9:26 pm
Burke better sign Savard or someone with talent next year
October 10th, 2009 at 9:26 pm
Kulemin sucks ass, he should not even be up in the Nhl
October 10th, 2009 at 9:27 pm
and the f—king Sens are winning.
I’m so embarrased as a Leaf fan living in Ottawa
October 10th, 2009 at 9:27 pm
The guys need to forget the score after this PP and start playing goon hockey. Lay them all out and forget the puck!
October 10th, 2009 at 9:27 pm
WHY THE FUCK IS WILSON PUTTING WALLIN OUT THERE. FUCK I CANT WATCH THIS GAME ANYMORE
October 10th, 2009 at 9:27 pm
I’ve said it before, if you’re going to lose on home ice, make them pay!
October 10th, 2009 at 9:27 pm
Don’t worry about the Kessell trade…
Kadri coming up…
Bozak with Stahlberg (sp?)…
Gunnarsson, Hanson…
And Grabovski is just too small – he doesn’t have the grit of a Gilmour or Fleury to make it in the NHL…
And it’s not the refs fault tonight, folks… let’s keep our eyes open on what’s really the problem…
October 10th, 2009 at 9:28 pm
Wallin on the pp again WTF is RW thinking?
October 10th, 2009 at 9:28 pm
@ lonsmos2
I’m origionally from Kingston and am glad I’m not there as its 50/50 Leaf/Sens fans.
October 10th, 2009 at 9:29 pm
It’s not the refs fault, but they have made terrible calls against the Leafs, and the team is just too fragile to overcome it right now. They are giving Pittsburgh the benefit of the doubt on everything, and calling the Leafs on everything.
October 10th, 2009 at 9:30 pm
Point and case
October 10th, 2009 at 9:30 pm
Instead of the hook, why not an elbow?
October 10th, 2009 at 9:30 pm
The ref wants to suck Malkins dick for sure
October 10th, 2009 at 9:30 pm
Why did Mayers not kill Malkin there? Whats with the hesitation?
October 10th, 2009 at 9:30 pm
have some friggin mercy on us, use your 3rd PP unit for gods sake.
October 10th, 2009 at 9:31 pm
Ha, is anyone watchin the Philly/Anaheim game too? Selanne has another 2 goal night. 2 shots, 2 goals.
October 10th, 2009 at 9:32 pm
@ ribble1
Exactly! Who cares if you get suspended (it’s just Mayers)? Teams will think twice when dangling on the blueline.