GDT: Maple Leafs head to Long Island
Frank Gunn/AP
Lineup Note: Brett Lebda will play for the first time in 9 games, taking Carl Gunnarsson‘s spot in the lineup. You have to wonder how Wilson justifies this to Gunnarsson. “You were one of five players out there for that Antropov goal. Take a seat and make way for Lebda and his -19 in 22GP.”
After last night’s 5-4 victory over the Atlanta Thrashers, the Maple Leafs head to Nassau Coliseum to take on the New York Islanders (Sportsnet, 7pm). The Leafs have been outscored 26-7 in losing five straight games on the road.
The Maple Leafs have also lost their last three games against the Islanders, scoring just one goal each time. They won’t have to face Dwayne Roloson, who routinely plays like a Vezina candidate against the Blue and White, as he was traded to Tampa Bay since the last time these two met. Kevin Poulin will get the start. John Tavares has not scored a goal in 9 straight games, but he has four in five career games against his hometown team.
Mired in a longer goal slump is Phil Kessel (11 games), but he is coming off just his ninth game this season in which he had a plus-rating, as he was +2 riding shotgun with Mikhail Grabovski and Nikolai Kulemin. By the way, the Leafs are 9-0-0 in those games.
When asked about Kessel’s new line, Ron Wilson had this to say:
“I watched every goal (Kessel) scored in Boston and he usually did it playing with two lefties (Marc Savard and Milan Lucic). So I gave Phil a chance with lefties on the ice (Grabovski and Kulemin).
Really, Wilson? Is this the best you can come up with? Well…it seemed to go alright last night, I suppose.
Let’s hope the Leafs can continue their improved play since the all-star break and James Reimer can bounce back with a win tonight. They’re going to need it too, as they have to go 20-8-1 the rest of the way to get to 90 points, which could get them into the playoffs.
And because why not, here’s a little trivia question: Who scored the last ever playoff goal at Maple Leaf Gardens? I’ll post the answer on twitter @SantosDan.
- 1303 comments
- Collapse All
@ IBleaf: come on give it a breakwith your whinning all the time we won the game we got2 points for the win. Got 3 points from Army and Boyce and 2 from Kabby and there is nothing in the game you liked is there ever anything you like… you are starting to sound like Andrew all the time whinning. And you say Florida with there D-men pinching what did that get them tonight they lost 2-1. Only 1 point ahead of us now.
- 0
Replies - 0
Likes 
Reply
Like
new thread is up
- 0
Replies - 0
Likes - Reply
- Like
- 0
Replies - 0
Likes - Reply
- Like
@ luisad: if i had to choose between the two, i still would pick Boyce over Brent for the 3rd or 4th line, Boyce’s game is looking pretty solid
- 0
Replies - 0
Likes - Reply
- Like
we played horrible tonight but still managed to pick up the Win which was sweet. I was watching the St/Louis and Florida game after the leafs and both teams were just so much faster, florida is awesome at pinching they do it almost every play in the opposing teams end and very effective at that. Our biggest problem seems to be slow transition and we have way to many guys that pass it without looking where its going : Ie Versteeg , and i feel it is carrying over to the rest of the team, we try to be to cute. Personally i was not impressed by anything in this game except the results, Islanders out worked out hit and out smarted us on every play. Its nice to get the win but as for getting to the playoffs its possible but not with the effort we showed tonight.
- 0
Replies - 0
Likes - Reply
- Like
Zetterberg is cold (0 pts in last 3 GP). Might be asking for a change !
- 0
Replies - 0
Likes - Reply
- Like
@ Cameron: Yeah I remember that discussion. I agree with you about Rolie’s tendencies, it’s always been that way for the guy. Even THIS year he shuts out Washington in his first start for the Lightning and then gives up 7 in 25 shots the very next game! . There’s a reason this guy was a backup until he was 35. . But having said that, if he gets on a 2 month tear they could definitely win the Cup.
- 0
Replies - 0
Likes - Reply
- Like
- 0
Replies - 0
Likes - Reply
- Like
LOL… CHECK OUT THE STANDINGS IN THE WEST, SPECIFICALLY THE POINTS. FROM 14TH PLACE AND UP THE STANDINGS, 54 PTS, 56PTS, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 63, 64, 65 PTS… THOUGHT THAT WAS KINDA ODD THIS FAR INTO THE SEASON. 11 POINTS SEPARATING 3RD FROM 14TH.
- 0
Replies - 0
Likes - Reply
- Like
- 0
Replies - 0
Likes - Reply
- Like
D’Amigo with 3 pts tonight, 7 in 3 games played
- 0
Replies - 0
Likes - Reply
- Like
- 0
Replies - 0
Likes - Reply
- Like
Brenter37 On the bus on way to the airport. Gutted that one out for a big 2 points. We need to keep this rolling
- 0
Replies - 0
Likes - Reply
- Like
rustynail wrote:
Amoroq wrote: Amoroq wrote: Tampa is just falling apart, 5-3 buffalo. QFT QFT QFT!!!! 7-3 and like 15 saves for RoliYep got him in the FHL … FML, I’ll take back to back Leaf wins though :)
- 0
Replies - 0
Likes - Reply
- Like
Ensign wrote:
here is the hit http://www.crashthecrease.com/2011/02/08/video-matt-cooke-hits-fedor-tyutin-from-behind/Fuggin Brutal, I would love to kick his ass, but I probably would never seen the little bitch approaching from behind.
- 0
Replies - 0
Likes - Reply
- Like
Amoroq wrote:
Amoroq wrote: Tampa is just falling apart, 5-3 buffalo. QFT QFT QFT!!!!7-3 and like 15 saves for Roli
- 0
Replies - 0
Likes - Reply
- Like
- 0
Replies - 0
Likes - Reply
- Like
Here’s hoping Phil Kessel’s effort on the Kulie goal in the third will get him rollin. I f we can just get him out of this slump who knows what might happen.
- 0
Replies - 0
Likes - Reply
- Like
Amoroq wrote:
Tampa is just falling apart, 5-3 buffalo.QFT QFT QFT!!!!
- 0
Replies - 0
Likes - Reply
- Like
- 0
Replies - 0
Likes - Reply
- Like
Jordan wrote:
leafslunch wrote: Jordan wrote: kaberle 8th in pts for defence. Guy is a machine every year Pfff I would much rather have Phillips, that guy would put us (or any team) over the top! (gag) ya i know. what a bunch of noobs, his minus is in lebda status tooyou mean -26? with 4 points
- 0
Replies - 0
Likes - Reply
- Like
I can’t believe that some ppl think Phillips is the top defenceman available, or according to Ek the first domino to fall. Phillips doesn’t even compare to Beauch and Kabby.
- 0
Replies - 0
Likes - Reply
- Like
7-3 Buffalo . How’s Roloson working out for you tonight? God, that guy is feast or famine.
- 0
Replies - 0
Likes - Reply
- Like
leafslunch wrote:
Jordan wrote: kaberle 8th in pts for defence. Guy is a machine every year Pfff I would much rather have Phillips, that guy would put us (or any team) over the top! (gag)ya i know. what a bunch of noobs, his minus is in lebda status too
- 0
Replies - 0
Likes - Reply
- Like
here is the hit http://www.crashthecrease.com/2011/02/08/video-matt-cooke-hits-fedor-tyutin-from-behind/
- 0
Replies - 0
Likes - Reply
- Like
Jordan wrote:
kaberle 8th in pts for defence. Guy is a machine every yearPfff I would much rather have Phillips, that guy would put us (or any team) over the top! (gag)
- 0
Replies - 0
Likes - Reply
- Like
the best part of the night was when greg millen said “the leafs are a much MUCH better team than the ottawa senators”
- 0
Replies - 0
Likes - Reply
- Like
Jordan wrote:
kaberle 8th in pts for defence. Guy is a machine every yearWe better keep him or it’ll be 10 years looking for another.
- 0
Replies - 0
Likes - Reply
- Like
All in all not a bad night, picked up 2 on Florida and 1 on Carolina.
- 0
Replies - 0
Likes - Reply
- Like
- 0
Replies - 0
Likes - Reply
- Like
