Blackhawks-Maple Leafs: Live Game Blog

by Derek Harmsworth on September 11, 2010 in Leafs Prospects - 605 Comments

The following is an up to the minute, live game blog of tonight’s rookie tournament game featuring the Chicago Blackhawks and the Toronto Maple Leafs.  Remember to hit refresh to see the absolute latest updates.

Update: Lights are out, clock is back up, and the zamboni is on the ice.  In about twenty minutes the Leafs should hit the ice for warm-up.  in the mean time, let’s hear some predictions?

Update 6:24: Back In The Saddle by Aerosmith cranks through the JLC and the Leafs have hit the ice for warm up!

Update 6:25: First time seeing the new jerseys.  Look pretty cool actually.  Blackhawks are also on the ice.

Update: As Ken Beckett reports, Michael Liambas is currently not on the ice for Toronto during warm up.

Update: Interesting stat from the night’s media guide: Leafs have six 18 year olds playing.  Carrick, McKegg, Nicholls, Olden, Ross, and Crescenzi are all 18.

Update: About one minute left in warm up, then puck drop at 7PM.

Update: Apologies.  I was having technical difficulties.  There are a lot of media here on one wireless connection and I was having problems.  Not like you missed anything right?  Haha.  4-2 Leafs.  Outshoot the Hawks 13-10 in the period.

Update: Again I apologize.  It won’t happen again, I promise.  Here are my highlights from the first:

Both Bradley Ross and Sondre Olden have looked good out there, using their size and strength to their advantage.  Olden is showing real hustle.  Kadri is all over the ice, couple big hits and a few scoring chances, while Jussi Rynnas has looked a little shaky.

Update: The Leafs hit the ice and the second period is just about to get underway.

Update: Rynnas with a strong save to start the second.  He looked far more confident on that save.

Update: Paradis almost pulls the Blackhawks within a goal but he can’t find the mark on the back hand.  Two and a half gone in the second.

Update: Rynnas with a great reaction save.  Hawks starting to build momentum.

Update: Leafs going to the powerplay.

Update: Gysbers takes a Blackhawks clearing attempt off the face.  He has gone to the bench.

Update: Gysbers is on the bench.  Looks to be okay.

Update: Leafs with a two man advantage after Lalonde takes a delay of game penalty.

Update: It’s short lived.  Leafs are going to the box.  Dale Mitchell to serve a Jussi Rynnas penalty

Update: Rynnas penalty is for delay of game.  Leafs with a little pressure 4-on-4.  Holzer showed good poise walking the line, but can’t get his point shot through.

Update: And it’s a penalty parade.  This time Olden will go for a hooking call.  Hawks will have two man advantage in 10 seconds.

Update: Great work by the Leafs penalty killing unit, as they clear it down the ice.  Penalty is now a 5-on-4 advantage.

Update: Rynnas starting to look a little more confident.  Standing tall on penalty kill.  Leafs successfully kill of penalties, now back to five aside hockey.  Just under half a period to go.

Update: Rynnas with a great save at the side of the net.

Update: The Leafs fail to cash on a 2-on-1.  Irwin sent it a little high.  Hawks goalie may have gotten a piece.

Update: Kenny Ryan with a heavy slap shot that almost fools the Hawks goalie Richards.

Update: Rynnas flashes the leather and he is coming up big in the second period.  Hawks outshooting the Leafs 18-15 in the game

Update: Kadri, D’Amigo and Mitchell try to get something going for Toronto, but Richards is able to handle D’Amigo’s shot with little issue.

Update: A seeing eye shot from the point beats Rynnas and the Hawks have pulled within one as it is now 4-3.  Goal scored by Jeremy Morin.

Update: 5 minutes left in the second period.

Update: Lalonde and DiDomenico with the assists on the Morin goal.

Update: Leafs going to the powerplay.  Former Leafs prospect Phillippe Paradis takes a holding penalty with 3:47 to go in the second period.

Update: Great work by David Gilbert of the Hawks who held the puck against the boards against a couple Leafs players for what had to be a good 15-20 seconds.

Update: The Hawks have killed off the penalty, but appear to have taken another one as Makarov heads to the sin bin.  1:37 remains in the game.

Update: Hawks had too many men on the ice.  Leafs buzzing on the powerplay.

Update: And the Leafs convert on the powerplay.  Kenny Ryan finds twine on a soft back hand to give the Leafs a 5-3 Lead.

Update: Dallas Jackson and Greg McKegg pick up assists on the Ryan goal.  A scrum ensues with 8.4 seconds left in the second.

Update: And Kyle Beach has picked up a penalty for too much beaking at the official.  He wasn’t happy with how that scrum was handled.

Update: The second period is over.  Kyle Beach has picked up a 10 minute misconduct.  Chicago outshooting the Leafs 21-19 in the game.  Leafs lead 5-3.

Update: By the way, as I pointed out on Twitter.  Brian Burke, Ron Wilson, Tim Hunter, and I believe David Nonis are all in the house for Toronto.

Update: The third period is about two minutes away from puck drop.

Update: Third period is underway.

Update: Nice blocker save from Rynnas to start the period.  He directs rebound out of play for a whistle.

Update: Rynnas covers up for a whistle as pushing and shoving goes on in front.  Blackhawks were beginning to buzz in the zone a little bit, so Rynnas hit the pause button.

Update: Great wheels by David Gilbert who gets a quality scoring chance on Rynnas, who is up to the task and makes the save.  Almost four minutes gone in the third.

Update: Kadri with a great curl and drag, but he is unable to beat Richards.

Update: Leafs defenseman Drew Paris fell into a Blackhawks player and looked to get a skate in the face.  He appears to be alright though.

Update: Kenny Ryan gets a point blank chance in front, but can’t cash in.

Update: Rynnas with a HUGE save.  The Hawks had a point blank chance and the shot was rocketed by Lalonde.

Update: Kadri with some great work on the cross ice feed by Richards covers it up.  A fight breaks out involving Dale Mitchell and Ryan Stanton.  Decent tussle.  Mitchell looked like he took a bit of a bad fall, landing face first on the ice.  He appears okay though.

Update: Looks like Gysbers is headed to the box.  Me thinks Makarov may have dressed that one up a little.  The crowd doesn’t disagree with me.  12 minutes to go in the game.

Update: Rynnas looks more confident as the game goes on.  Out far in the crease to make a glove save on Brian Connelly.

Update: Leafs back to even strength, just as Chicago misses a chance to convert on a two-on-one.  Kadri with some great moves in the attacking zone.  Eventually gets the puck back, but has it blocked by Chicago defenders.

Update: D;Amigo hits the post in tight.  Leafs starting to apply some pressure with just under nine minutes left in regulation.

Update: That hit by Crescenzi echoed through the arena.  Solid body contact.

Update: Leafs back to the powerplay with a chance to ice the game.  Powerplay has been good tonight.

Update: Five minutes remain in the third period.  Just under a minute left in the minor penalty.

Update: Hawks kill the penalty, but it wasn’t easy.  Great pressure by the Leafs on the man advantage.  3:30 to go in the game.

Update: And that will do it.  The Leafs add another.  Gysbers lefts one go from the point that fools Richards.  6-3 Leafs. With just under two minutes to play.

Update: Last minute of play in the period.  Pro Leafs crowd cheers in approval.

Update: Leafs will win game.  I am headed to the locker rooms for post game.

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Tags: Atlanta Hawks, Blackhawks player, Bradley Ross, Brian Burke, Chicago, Chicago Blackhawks, dale mitchell, Dallas Jackson, David Gilbert, David Nonis, Drew Paris, Goal, Greg McKegg, Hawks goalie, hockey, Jeremy Morin, Jussi, Kadri, Ken Beckett, kenny ryan, Kyle, Kyle beach, Michael Liambas, National Hockey League, Northeast Division, official, Person Travel, Ron Wilson, Ryan Stanton, Sondre Olden, Tim Hunter, Toronto, Toronto Maple Leafs, Twitter, wireless connection Print article