Pre-Break Pregame: Leafs – Blues
The Toronto Maple Leafs visit the St. Louis Blues tonight, in the Leafs’ final game prior to the NHL’s Olympic break.
The Leafs are coming off a narrow loss to the West-leading San Jose Sharks, a game which left the team with much to feel good about. Tonight, the team will look to resolve their road woes and enter the break on a high note, by capitalizing on what has been an inconsistent and underachieving Blues squad.
Game Notes:
- Although much scrutiny and anticipation has surrounded the respective futures of several players on both teams, neither the Leafs nor the Blues made any moves at today’s “pre-Olympic trade deadline”.
- The Leafs have struggled mightily on the road this season (8-17-6), and are currently in the midst of a five-game road losing streak (0-3-2).
- The Blues have struggled at home this season (10-16-5), but are coming off a home shootout victory over Detroit, which was preceded by four straight losses (0-2-2) in their own arena.
- At the start of the season, the Blues were lauded for having assembled one of the deepest forward groups in the league. However, beyond Andy McDonald (18 goals) the group has struggled to meet expectations, with key players Keith Tkachuk (12 goals), Paul Kariya (12 goals), Brad Boyes (10 goals), David Perron (15 goals), T.J. Oshie (11 goals), David Backes (13 goals) and Patrick Berglund (8 goals) all producing well below expectations.
- Former Leaf forward Alex Steen has found a niche in St.Louis, and unlike most Blues’ forwards has exceeded expectations this season with 14 goals in 47 games played.
- However, in light of their inconsistency this season, the aforementioned group has shown in various games that any of its members are capable of a big game at any time, so the Leafs would be well-advised to tread carefully regardless of the stat sheet.
- Despite their struggles, the Blues remain only 6 points out of a playoff position. However, they are 13th in the Western Conference standings, with 5 teams standing in the way of the eighth and final playoff spot. Expect an inspired performance by the Blues as they cannot afford to lose ground in the Western Conference dogfight.
- Chris Mason gets the start for St. Louis. Mason is the reason the Blues are still in playoff contention, posting a respectable 2.59 GAA and .910 SV% in 43 games played.
- Leafs goaltender J-S Giguere gets the call in net tonight. Giguere has been outstanding as a member of the Leafs, posting 2 shutouts his first two games before allowing 3 goals in the loss to San Jose. The San Jose performance is noteworthy as two of the three goals deflected off Leafs’ players, and the third was the product of a fortuitous bounce off a skate to the open side of the net.
Lineup Notes
- Frederik Sjostrom and Christian Hanson return to the Leafs lineup tonight, after recovering from a case of food poisoning suffered just prior to the game against San Jose. ”I’ve always told players, don’t eat seafood if it flew farther than you to get there,” quipped Leafs’ coach Ron Wilson.
- Accordingly, Nazem Kadri, whose play was encouraging during his emergency recall, has been returned to the OHL’s London Knights.
- Anticipated lines:
1st: Ponikarovsky – Bozak – Kessel
2nd: Stalberg – Hanson – Stempniak
3rd: Kulemin – Wallin – Sjostrom
4th: Mitchell – Primeau – Orr - Anticipated defensive pairings:
Beauchemin – Phaneuf
Kaberle – Gunnarsson
Exelby – Schenn - Jeff Finger (9 pts, -12, 30 games) is expected to be a healthy scratch for the seventh straight game.
Stats Pack
| StL | TOR | |
|---|---|---|
| Overall Record | 26-25-9 (13th West) |
19-30-11 (15th East) |
| Home Record | 10-16-5 | 11-13-5 |
| Road Record | 16-9-4 | 8-17-6 |
| Goals For | 150 (t-24th) | 161 (13th) |
| Goals Against | 165 (16th) | 202 (30th) |
| Powerplay % | 16.9 (24th) | 17.4 (t-20th) |
| Penalty Kill % | 85.3 (4th) | 71.2 (30th) |
| Scoring First | 17-11-6 | 13-5-4 |
| Leading After One | 10-4-2 | 9-5-1 |
| Trailing After One | 5-13-1 | 5-16-3 |
| Leading After Two | 18-2-6 | 15-2-2 |
| Trailing After Two | 2-18-3 | 0-25-6 |
| Overtime | 7-9 | 1-11 |
—
Broadcast Info
Game time: 8pm EST
Television: LeafsTV
Radio: AM 640 (Toronto), AM 900 (Hamilton)
Online: atdhe.net
February 13th, 2010 at 8:09 am
Well that kind of sucks as a precursor to a long break. If I am Burke after that furthers my resolve to unload the rest of the history and keep the rebuild going. Anyhoo, I was hoping for a better outcome.
February 13th, 2010 at 8:10 am
Oh yeah and Kadri got another 3 points today, so he is up to 8th in OHL scoring. The guy has been an absolute scoring machine since the WJC.
February 13th, 2010 at 9:42 am
It really wasn’t a good night for the Leaf organization last night. Marlies were also beat up bad and Keith Aulie separated his shoulder after being tripped into the boards going for an icing.
February 13th, 2010 at 9:52 am
keon wrote:
That really sucks about Aulie. Hadn’t heard that yet. Hope he recovers well.
I saw the Burke presser/comments. As a father of 3 young kids, that really is a hard thing to watch.
February 13th, 2010 at 9:55 am
Agreed, I have two young boys as well. I couldn’t even imagine and honestly, don’t want to.
February 13th, 2010 at 10:11 am
So, can we turn this into TEAM CANADA HOT STOVE for a couple weeks? Not much to talk about in Leafland.
February 13th, 2010 at 10:22 am
With 3 boys myself I like you keon, do not even want to imagine.
February 13th, 2010 at 11:11 am
Hey HH, are you coming on to me? lol
You missed a comma after myself, so your comment reads completely different that what you intended.
February 13th, 2010 at 11:38 am
@ keon:
HAHA! Ah punctuation,……it’s a bitch sometimes.
February 13th, 2010 at 12:03 pm
All things aside, that effort stank last night. The culture of losing here needs to get obliterated. It seems all to easy when one dons the blue and white to take a paid night off.
Getting sick of the bad luck we have as well, Aulie separating his shoulder, BB losing his son goes without saying.
This organization and the fans have taken enough kicks to the teeth.
Hey hockey gods:…….get off our collective backs!
FFS already.
February 13th, 2010 at 12:18 pm
aulie will be ready next year to have a shot at making the team. Like I said before, I would try to trade Beauchemin to Montreal for their 1st rounder. They wanted him but we got him and they need blueline help still.
Phaneuf-Schenn
Kaberle-Komisarek
Gunner-????
Lots of possible guys. Frogren is he resigns, Aulie, Blacker if hes ready, a cheap UFA. I would hope its Frogren atabout a mil
thats about 20 mil and a very decent lineup
February 13th, 2010 at 12:19 pm
saw a post on twitter that the leafs picked up cheechoo off waivers? anybody know if this is true or false?
February 13th, 2010 at 12:24 pm
fathead says:
Toronto claims Jamie Lundmark on waivers from Cgy. NYR put Steve Valiquette on re-entry waivers. May and Cheechoo clear waivers.
February 13th, 2010 at 12:29 pm
@Pat.b
was it a leafs did pick up cheechoo or they should?
i havent heard anything, his contract is up soon and we wouldnt be paying for it so why the hell not?
February 13th, 2010 at 12:29 pm
@ long_suffering_leaf_fan:
I like the lundmark pickup… not bad at all….
February 13th, 2010 at 12:30 pm
DamoSpin
Lundmark makes $600,000. A UFA this summer. A body to fill for Ponikarovsky when he gets dealt #NHLTrade
February 13th, 2010 at 12:33 pm
i dont think they should of really picked him up there were just rumors flying around that we had picked him up. the only reason we should of considered picking him up is if pony gets traded with no player in return.
February 13th, 2010 at 12:39 pm
deadprez wrote:
Almost looks like a pickup for the Marlies because Hanson, Bozak and Stalberg are up with the Leafs
February 13th, 2010 at 12:44 pm
@ long_suffering_leaf_fan:
Yea agreed….. Burke and Nonis have a game plan, they are preparing themselves for something:)
February 13th, 2010 at 12:51 pm
long_suffering_leaf_fan wrote:
He would then have to reclear waivers. Sounds like a body for the leafs after a trade.
February 13th, 2010 at 12:55 pm
rustynail wrote:
it sounds exactly like that to me as well…
if they could grab Cheechoo on re-entry at $1.5M for 1 more year – that would be nice.. obviously he is not scoring like he once was – and probably never will – but, the man is a warrior.. watching him play for SJ last year in the playoffs against Anaheim – he was the only guy that played with courage for the Sharks in that series.. he was an absolute beast – was one on one with Pronger for almost the entire series, scored a couple of really nice and really big goals and played for all he was worth.. will be well worth the $1.5M for 1 year..
February 13th, 2010 at 12:58 pm
Andrew R wrote:
Absolutely. He can play Stempniak’s role as the third line, hardworking “tweener” at a much more reasonable term and cap hit.
February 13th, 2010 at 1:01 pm
rustynail wrote:
Ah gotcha … looks like Poni might have played his last game as a Leaf but that also says to me that what we are getting back is a draft pick or a prospect then?
February 13th, 2010 at 1:07 pm
Or are you guys thinking that Stemps is gone?
February 13th, 2010 at 1:11 pm
long_suffering_leaf_fan wrote:
I sure hope so…
and not because I do not like the way he has played this year – but, I just do not see the fit long term – even if he signs for $1M per – I think this is the wrong guy… forget the fact it will probably cost $2-$2.5M to keep him.. not quite good enough for top6 minutes, decent 3rd line player, but, for less salary, you could do just as well or better with a guy like Cheechoo on re-entry or Primeau @ $1M or running with your own youth (hanson or deveaux for example)..
this all of course is just my opinion – others can and will vary..
February 13th, 2010 at 1:25 pm
I like Stemps … he throws his body around a bit and I think he has some skill, I think he is a decent 3rd liner but 2 mil a year is even too much for him. Maybe he has told Burke that he wants 2.5 mil a year or something and they are just trying to recoup a second rounder for him before he walks.
February 13th, 2010 at 1:29 pm
As per Mike Augello at HB:
Ottawa’s Jonathan Cheechoo, who was also placed on waivers yesterday did not get claimed, most likely because of his $3 million price tag and that he has 1 year remaining on his contract. If Ottawa brings him up and exposes him to recall waivers, do not be surprised if the Leafs make a claim. Cheechoo was a favorite of Coach Ron Wilson in San Jose and his cap hit on recall waivers will only be $1.5 Million for the remainder of his deal.
February 13th, 2010 at 1:34 pm
long_suffering_leaf_fan wrote:
Augello’s on crack…
5 goals in 61 games does not a 1.5 million dollar player make. He can barely even skate.
February 13th, 2010 at 1:39 pm
@ Julie Sucks:
He does have potential though I think, 1.5 mil is a bit pricey … who are his linemates on the 4th line in Ottawa any ideas?
February 13th, 2010 at 3:05 pm
I do think this move gives Burke and Nonnis some flexibility in trades as well. It allows them them to take back picks and prospects and not have to rush any of them into the lineup. Worst case senario they waive him later. Calgary fans seem to think he was the Rob Schremp of Calgary so who knows.
February 14th, 2010 at 12:48 am
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