Leafs at Islanders, Sunday at 5pm. Wait, what?

This is an odd one to say the least.

The Maple Leafs, fresh off last night’s victory over Oilers, are on Long Island this afternoon to take on the Islanders in an usually-timed 5pm game (Leafs TV).

As enjoyable as last night’s high-scoring affair was, it also revealed a key area in which the Leafs have much work to do: playing with the lead.  Toward the end of the second, and throughout the third period, the Leafs’ tendencies shifted away from the relentless puck pursuit they displayed so admirably in the game’s first half, with the team instead taking their foot off the gas and sitting back in the defensive zone for the latter stages.

Case in point: midway through the game, the Leafs had a 5-1 lead … and were promptly outscored 3-1 the rest of the way.  Mind you, a few bad penalties did not help matters for the league’s worst penalty-killing team, but the effort level clearly had begun to dissipate in both the neutral and defensive zones by the halfway point of the game. That is something which is clearly unacceptable, and is quite simply not the sort of tendency that will allow the Leafs to win many games.  Against the Oilers, they can get away with that (as evidenced last evening); however, had that been the effort on display versus a team fighting for a playoff spot, the Leafs probably would have lost that game.

You might be asking at this point what any of that has to do with the Islanders game tonight.  And the answer is plenty.  The Leafs will enter this game a tired group from playing last night & having to fly out right after, and the exhaustion level is coupled by the fact that tonight’s game will be their fifth in the past eight days. Fatigue could be a factor; never mind the fact that it is scheduled at somewhat of an odd time (5pm) to begin with.

The good news is, the Leafs have been on a roll of late, winning three games in row and four of their past five.  The Islanders, meanwhile, enter this game coming off a win at home last night over the Devils, one which snapped a four-game losing skid.

Jean-Sebastien Giguere will get the start in net tonight for the Leafs, with Martin Biron expected to get the nod for the Islanders.

You can catch the television broadcast of the game on LeafsTV, radio play by play on AM 640 or AM 900 (depending on your region), or watch it online at atdhe.net.

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  • Canada Cup

    Wilson was pretty clear on the weekend that he expects Kadri to be with the Leafs next year.

  • daniel marois

    I agree. Kadri scoring 93 points this year needs to be recognized as a huge in his development. He only had 78 points last season due to breaking his jaw and getting limited ice-time when Tavares was traded to London last season. Kadri has taken his game to a new level and is the undisbuted leader on his club. I know many wondered whether getting Brayden Schenn would have been better. It is hard to say based on both players having similair stats this season. But you can’t overlook the PIMs Kadri has ammassed and his committment to defence this year with his +/- numbers. I think it will be difficult for London to get past Barrie or Windsor to get to the Memorial Cup, but I truly expect Kadri to put up some great post-season numbers.
    .
    And hey, if London gets eliminated in the first round of the OHL playoffs (which they won’t), then Kadri will play the last few games of the Leafs season :)

    As for Kabs, listen folks. As I have said before, there is no way Rick Curran will allow Kabs to sign a hometown discount in Toronto. Kabs will be looking for a 5-7 year deal worth north of $6 mil per season. Burke knows how insane it would be to lock him into a contract like that when you factor Phaneuf making $6mil, Komi and Beach making $4mil a season, there is no way to fit Kaberle’s contract on that defence and have enough room to sign or trade for forwards with big contracts. The closer we get to the draft and media coverage of how high Boston will be drafting with Toronto’s pick, Burke will move Kaberle on draft day and get back a 1st rounder plus top prospect or high impact roster player. That will ease the pain of the lost picks in the Kessel deal. In fact, if Burke does not do this, he will be just as delusional about this group making the playoffs next season as he was about the same sentiment last summer.

  • B Leaf

    On the subject of Kadri, I think we made the steal of that draft. Just sayin…
    I think Kadri is one major component we need. We do need to add another top line player. If that player doesn’t come via Kaberle trade, then we would have to go to the UFA market.
    Two things I would like to explore:
    1) Clear cap space by moving Kaberle and another D-man, then sign Kovalchuk
    2) Reaquire our second round pick plus more from Boston in a Kaberle deal. Then sign White to an offer sheet at $3M.

  • daniel marois

    @ B Leaf

    I would love to see Kaberle moved to Boston and get either our second round pick back in the deal or Boston’s first rounder this year + their top prospect Joe Colborne.
    .
    Or, why not call ‘ole reliable’ in Glen Sather and move Kabs to NY and get a package including Chris Kreider?

  • BeLeafer

    @ Canada Cup:
    can’t say I agree… we won’t know until it happens but the value is still there for Kaberle. Remember a team that maybe just missed out on a chance the cup, or just missed out on the playoffs may address a need for a puck moving d-man. As well there are quite a few teams with extra 1st round picks.The price is not that high — a young top 6 forward/ 1st rnd pick or prospect. Burke will have teams that will pony up.

    His play has declined in the past 25 games or so, but he’s still in his prime and nothing has regressed..

    Burke got Phanuef.. he’ll be able to swindle for Kabs, we could see another player added to make it a bigger deal..

    reading the papers today, it’s funny that Burke and Wilson are putting on the act that they want him back next year, all part of the mind game i guess

  • rockydundas

    Please don’t get me wrong, I am excited as anyone about Kadri’s development and I think his points totals are very encouraging. I’m just warning against reading too much into point production as the sole barometer to a players development. I remember back in the 80′s (yes, I’m that old! LOL!) a player named Guy Rouleau had 91 goals and 191 assists in his last year of junior… never played a game in the NHL. Kadri is going to have a great career, but to compare a 19 year olds stats with a 17 year olds numbers isn’t a true comparison. Many players bump their totals 25-50 points a year after they are drafted. Hull and Seguin could very well have careers much bigger than Kadri’s. time will tell.

  • ryhon

    As far as I’m concerned, we have the guys to fill out the depth of the roster. I say, use Kabs to after that one guy who will have a high impact on this team, similar to the Phaneuf trade. Bring in the one big name, whether it be a top prospect or legitmate top three forward. Why trade Kabs for 2nds? We have enough guy in that callibre. Bring in something that is a true piece to the needs of this team.

  • BeLeafer

    @ paupah:
    agreed.. GM’s if/when pondering the trade won’t base it on his 2nd half this season, they will see that this guy stays healthy, can add a lot, and he’s still only 32…. teams will be a knocking..

    but, yes a – 1st, top 6 roster player & prospect will be hard to believe. I would say the young roster forward +++?? will happen.

    Burkie can swindle….

  • rustynail

    BeLeafer wrote:

    @ Canada Cup:
    can’t say I agree… we won’t know until it happens but the value is still there for Kaberle. Remember a team that maybe just missed out on a chance the cup, or just missed out on the playoffs may address a need for a puck moving d-man. As well there are quite a few teams with extra 1st round picks.The price is not that high — a young top 6 forward/ 1st rnd pick or prospect. Burke will have teams that will pony up.
    His play has declined in the past 25 games or so, but he’s still in his prime and nothing has regressed..
    Burke got Phanuef.. he’ll be able to swindle for Kabs, we could see another player added to make it a bigger deal..
    reading the papers today, it’s funny that Burke and Wilson are putting on the act that they want him back next year, all part of the mind game i guess

    Besides if Mr. 500 wins ever takes Kessel off the left boards on a pp maybe we will actually score and Kabs value will go up. Not holding my breath for that to happen though.

  • Charlie

    Canada Cup wrote:

    I think that we will see a significantly lower return from Kaberle than what we would have seen last year and even lower than what Burke might have been able to get at the deadline.
    This is a result both of a decline in his play and the reduction of term left on his contract. I just hope the slide doesn’t go too much further.

    He will definitely get more than he would have at the last draft. If the return was so good, Burke woulda traded him!

  • Charlie

    rustynail wrote:

    jonas640
    Tomas Kaberle not practicing.
    2 minutes ago via web

    Trade??!?!!!

    (Damn the deadline!)

  • Charlie

    Nights wrote:

    Also, more on Nazem Kadri :
    Hall has a 1.86 PPG
    Seguin has a 1.68 PPG
    Kadri has a 1.88 PPG…
    I think we can’t doubt the kid no more.

    You’re right, we can’t doubt his JUNIOR abilities.

    Let’s see what he does in the bigs though. I’m hoping he translates his junior success into pro success.

  • Charlie

    ryhon wrote:

    As far as I’m concerned, we have the guys to fill out the depth of the roster. I say, use Kabs to after that one guy who will have a high impact on this team, similar to the Phaneuf trade. Bring in the one big name, whether it be a top prospect or legitmate top three forward. Why trade Kabs for 2nds? We have enough guy in that callibre. Bring in something that is a true piece to the needs of this team.

    We can have that for free on July 1. Kovalchuk.

    (Read “free” as “not having to trade assets” as his contract will be the very opposite of free.)

  • kingkessel

    @ peterbleafs:
    I dont know where THAT came from, but alright.

  • ryhon

    @ Charlie:
    We need more than one left winger up front. We need a bonafide C and a powerforward as well. Signing Kovalchuk is not going to solve our problems up front. If we could land Kovalchuk or Marleau (preferrably Marleau, but unlikely) AND trade Kabs for another key element of the forward core (Staal perhaps?) I’d be very happy indeed.

  • peterbleafs

    kingkessel wrote:

    @ peterbleafs:
    I dont know where THAT came from, but alright.

    Oh sorry, I was just joking, thought you were one of the young guys who do pot and then post on here.

  • Charlie

    ryhon wrote:

    @ Charlie:
    We need more than one left winger up front. We need a bonafide C and a powerforward as well. Signing Kovalchuk is not going to solve our problems up front. If we could land Kovalchuk or Marleau (preferrably Marleau, but unlikely) AND trade Kabs for another key element of the forward core (Staal perhaps?) I’d be very happy indeed.

    For sure! By saying we get Kovalchuk, I for sure still wanna trade Kaberle.

  • TuckerThomas

    Lets just hope Kadri hits the gym hard this off season.
    Caputi and him could spot each other.

  • lonsmos2

    rustynail wrote:

    BeLeafer wrote:
    @ Canada Cup:
    can’t say I agree… we won’t know until it happens but the value is still there for Kaberle. Remember a team that maybe just missed out on a chance the cup, or just missed out on the playoffs may address a need for a puck moving d-man. As well there are quite a few teams with extra 1st round picks.The price is not that high — a young top 6 forward/ 1st rnd pick or prospect. Burke will have teams that will pony up.
    His play has declined in the past 25 games or so, but he’s still in his prime and nothing has regressed..
    Burke got Phanuef.. he’ll be able to swindle for Kabs, we could see another player added to make it a bigger deal..
    reading the papers today, it’s funny that Burke and Wilson are putting on the act that they want him back next year, all part of the mind game i guess
    Besides if Mr. 500 wins ever takes Kessel off the left boards on a pp maybe we will actually score and Kabs value will go up. Not holding my breath for that to happen though.

    exactly sometimes I don’t understand why RW is so stubborn, it has to be his ego he sticks with something that obviously doesn’t work way too long, Having Kessell on the left side half boards has been and will continue to be a total waste of time.

  • lonsmos2

    TuckerThomas wrote:

    Lets just hope Kadri hits the gym hard this off season.
    Caputi and him could spot each other.

    lets hope it is at Gary Robert’s gym and he brings along Kessel, Bozak, Stalberg and Caputti

  • kingkessel

    peterbleafs wrote:

    kingkessel wrote:
    @ peterbleafs:
    I dont know where THAT came from, but alright.
    Oh sorry, I was just joking, thought you were one of the young guys who do pot and then post on here.

    Well, I am young and do smoke pot, but you said I got all bent out of shape when I simply said our forwards arent “fine”. I just didnt agree with your wording. Carry on, sir.

  • Schenn

    rockydundas wrote:

    Please don’t get me wrong, I am excited as anyone about Kadri’s development and I think his points totals are very encouraging. I’m just warning against reading too much into point production as the sole barometer to a players development. I remember back in the 80’s (yes, I’m that old! LOL!) a player named Guy Rouleau had 91 goals and 191 assists in his last year of junior… never played a game in the NHL. Kadri is going to have a great career, but to compare a 19 year olds stats with a 17 year olds numbers isn’t a true comparison. Many players bump their totals 25-50 points a year after they are drafted. Hull and Seguin could very well have careers much bigger than Kadri’s. time will tell.

    Correction: 91 goals and 100 assists for 191 points

  • Angry Analyst

    keon wrote:

    To the Angry Analyst… Campbell suffered a broken collar bone and ribs because of his unfortunate “slip” yesterday.
    .
    What a clumsy person he is eh?

    Well Nichols didn’t break everything in his body when Laperriere violently pushed him into the boards, and that was a much dirtier hit. I guess Campbell doesn’t get enough calcium. If I fell into the boards like him I probably wouldn’t even end up as injured. His injuries are those one would receive in a car crash to be honest (assuming the rumors are true).

  • Canada Cup

    @BeLeafer

    I’m not trhying to predict what Burke will get or whether he’ll be able to pull anothe swindle. I just think that a fall-off in Kaberle’s play and the fact that he will have one year left on his contract will reduce the return.

    I still say do it, but I think there are some unrealistic expectations as to the return.

  • ms office 2007
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