Leafs v. Devils, Take 2: A New Day
For the second time in four days the Maple Leafs will face off against the New Jersey Devils, this time at the ACC. In what seems to be the most nonsensical decision made in recent memory by NHL schedulers, come this Friday the Leafs and Devils will have faced off three times in one calendar week. What’s up with that?
As you are all undoubtedly aware, the Leafs have a few new faces in the fold, and we are all eager to see what Phaneuf, Sjostrom, and Giguere bring to the table as members of the blue and white.
Note: I won’t get into trade analysis here; that has already been covered in excellent fashion by the MLHS crew in prior posts.
Game Notes
- The last time these two teams met, four days ago, the Devils skated away with a 5-4 victory. The Leafs were able to rally to force overtime, but lost while killing a penalty in the extra frame (easiest bet in Vegas).
- Alexei Ponikarovsky’s recent hot streak, which included the tying goal and an assist against New Jersey, coincided with the addition of ex-Leaf Matt Stajan to his line. How he will fare with a new centre will be one of the more intriguing aspects to watch.
- Zach Parise nearly beat the Leafs all by himself last game. For the Leafs to find any success in this one, shutting down Jersey’s aptly-named “ZZZ” line (Zach Parise, Travis Zajac, Danius Zubrus) is a must. Wilson will be counting on Phaneuf to provide some physicality against a unit that skated circles around a lackadasial Leafs D last time out.
- New Jersey is a Jacques Lemaire-coached team. Which means, if leading (even by one goal), they will at roughly the midpoint of the game shift into full-out trap mode. To avoid this scenario, or to counter the trap should it rear its ugly head, the Leafs must play a strong puck pursuit game, and must win the dump-and-chase plays tonight. If their effort lets up after 40 minutes – as it did against Vancouver in Saturday’s debacle – they will have little to no chance of winning this hockey game.
- Phil Kessel v. Martin Brodeur, lifetime: 0 goals, 5 assists, 8 games. Will tonight finally the night Kessel puts one by him?
- Update: Apparently not. According to Fire & Ice, Brodeur will get a much-deserved rest after starting New Jersey’s past 33 games. Backup goaltender Yann Denis gets his first start since Nov. 21.
Lineup Notes
- Various practice reports suggest Ponikarovsky will get a crack at top line duties with Bozak and Kessel.
- Recently-recalled C/W Christian Hanson is expected to centre John Mitchell and Lee Stempniak.
- 3rd line expected to be Kulemin-Wallin-Sjostrom, 4th: Rosehill-Primeau-Orr.
- Dion Phaneuf may get shifted around during the game, but is expected to spend time alongside Tomas Kaberle in the early going, and on the PP.
- Jeff Finger was a placeholder on the second line in practice (Leafs could not recall Hanson in time due to a post-trade roster movement freeze pending physicals for the new players). Often that role is a sign the player will be a healthy scratch.
- Mike Komisarek misses yet another game. Most have written off the Olympics for him already, and some are beginning to wonder whether he will play the rest of the season at all.
- J-S Giguere, who seems quite happy to mentor Gustavsson, gets the start in net.
Stats Pack
| NJ | TOR | |
|---|---|---|
| Overall Record | 35-17-2 (2nd East) |
17-28-11 (15th East) |
| Home Record | N/A | 9-12-5 |
| Road Record | 17-8-2 | N/A |
| Goals For | 140 (t-22nd) | 148 (16th) |
| Goals Against | 120 (1st) | 195 (30th) |
| Powerplay % | 19.2 (t-9th) | 16.4 (25th) |
| Penalty Kill % | 82.6 (13th) | 70.2 (30th) |
| Scoring First | 22-5-0 | 11-4-4 |
| Leading After One | 17-1-0 | 7-4-1 |
| Trailing After One | 9-13-1 | 5-15-3 |
| Leading After Two | 24-1-0 | 13-1-2 |
| Trailing After Two | 3-14-0 | 0-25-6 |
| Overtime | 8-2 | 1-11 |
February 2nd, 2010 at 4:00 pm
Just got the offer for tickets tonite. I think I will take my uncle up on these ones!! Cant wait to see Phaneuf and Giggy !!
February 2nd, 2010 at 4:00 pm
lol i would love to see the leafs play in a black and white jersey.
February 2nd, 2010 at 4:00 pm
[...] Leafs and our lone newcomer. Be sure to check out Garrett’s excellent pre-game analysis here before tonight’s tilt with the New Jersey [...]
February 2nd, 2010 at 4:03 pm
@ NewfieDave
LMAO never under estimate toronto maple leaf fans loyalty.
As for the game tonight i really think were going to be suprised at the result of losing 4 forwards. I think losing those players is going to solidify our all around game because the players are going to be forced to work as one unit and wait for the other team to make mistakes as opposed to the run and gun style of play we had previously.
Was anybody else taken back by how out of place that calgary jersey looked on stajan last night? and hes not using his number 14…
February 2nd, 2010 at 4:08 pm
Only_crime wrote:
A guy by the name of Fleury wore #14 and I don’t think they’re in a hurry to give it back out to a rental player.
February 2nd, 2010 at 4:11 pm
What’s the over/under for the first “Holy Mackinaw!!!!!” from Joe Bowen for a play by either Giguere or Phaneuf? I’ll take Giguere in the first three minutes.
February 2nd, 2010 at 4:17 pm
Phaneuf will probably look pretty odd in a Leafs jersey as well..
February 2nd, 2010 at 4:21 pm
ingy56 wrote:
I’ll take Dion on his first shift.
February 2nd, 2010 at 4:22 pm
ry_dwsn wrote:
For Flames fans, for sure. For us? That jersey will fit like a glove!
February 2nd, 2010 at 4:26 pm
@ ingy56
good call on that one forgot about that although the numbers not retired is it?
and make a drinking game out of it every time joe bowen says it TAKE A DRINK lol
February 2nd, 2010 at 4:30 pm
Only_crime wrote:
I don’t think it is retired, probably just reserved for a worthy player. I think Wendel Clark’s number 17 is held back for the same reason. I hope the Leafs take the same approach with #14, but they haven’t in the past. If I took a drink every time Joe said that I wouldn’t last a game.
February 2nd, 2010 at 5:47 pm
ingy56 wrote:
Actually, I made this post earlier today but I watched the game last night and if my TV was Black & White, I would have sworn it was the Leafs against the Flyers. Same effort and same result. However, what I didn’t expect was that the ACC crowd flew all the way over to Calgary to give them the same applause. Must be a Welcome Wagon thing of the Wives.
Funny you made the comment about Stajan. He looked disturbingly similar to Fleury in that uniform and Face-Shield. (Less the Hookers, Coke and Talent of course)
February 2nd, 2010 at 5:53 pm
Anyone rememeber that song on the muppets (mana mana). I guess they used to call that the Phaneuf song, it used to go – Dion Phaneuf, da da da dada , Dion Phaneuf, da da da da.
February 2nd, 2010 at 6:16 pm
i think tonights gonna be a low scoring game…i say 2-1.
February 2nd, 2010 at 7:27 pm
Garnett Exelby is the worst defencemen I have ever seen in my life. How the eff he made the NHL I’ll never know. Can’t skate – How do you fall down twice on the same shift skating backwards all by yourself? Can’t saucer pass – His attempt to hit Schenn with that pass was laughable – He even choked up on the stick!…!! Shoots like Shaq at the free throw line….just horrible. Please get rid of him asap…
February 3rd, 2010 at 2:27 am
[...] Leafs v. Devils, Take 2: A New Day : Maple Leafs Hot Stove [...]
February 3rd, 2010 at 5:35 am
[...] Leafs v. Devils, Take 2: A New Day : Maple Leafs Hot Stove [...]
February 3rd, 2010 at 9:33 pm
[...] Leafs v. Devils, Take 2: A New Day : Maple Leafs Hot Stove [...]
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