Game In 10 – Game 74
A trip to the wilderness in a game of no mistakes. Actually, this game had more than its fair share, the Leafs just benefited from more composure and goalscoring prowess. Continue for some Optimus Reim magic.
1 – The Leafs are 33-31-10 and I’ll just call this one 3 shots and a goalie.
2 – Not even a minute and forty seconds in and Joffrey Lupul makes it 1-0 Leafs with an absolutely wicked shot that beat Backstrom cleanly, off the post, top shelf, right where mamma hides the cookies!
3 – These line combinations work, it took some time (some time being a big portion of the season) for Bozak and Kessel to click like they did late last season, but they did and Joffrey Lupul really opens up some space on their line and makes them more dangerous on the forecheck as well.
4 – I swear, the Minnesota Wild have the greatest collection of funky names in the NHL. Cal Clutterbuck – a part time worker in a saw mill, likes flowers and long walks in the woods during a full moon. Clayton Stoner – a hockey player by day, hippy by night, may or may not enjoy certain substances. Chuck Kobasew – Making sausages is a hobby, making people smile – a calling. Brad Staubitz – Likes Word War 2 memorabilia and eating large quantities of sugar, ladies beware.
5 – I know John Madden is a defensive beast, but surely 2 short handed breakaways are a little bit much, wouldn’t you say? Pretty much what we’ve expected from this game except Minnesota didn’t capitalize on our mistakes. On the other hand what we did was capitalize on pretty much everything. Only 17 shots on Backstrom.
6 – James Reimer is the main reason we’re still in the playoff hunt. If anyone was denying that, there’s really no denying it anymore. I’m not calling him the second coming of Felix Potvin but for the life of me, I can’t remember when a young goalie played this well for the Leafs. 28 save shut out. Also, Luke Schenn – 3 hits (team leading), 1 blocked shot, 3 shots and a +2 on the night. God I love this kid.
7 – A great rush by the money line and Grabo basically takes a page out of the Lupul shot bible and continues his excellent season with a wicked snipe. His 28th goal of the season, ever closer to that magical 30 goal mark.
8 – Carl Gunnarsson has really picked up his game since Kaberle was traded and is also looking more like the defensive plus minus leader from a season ago. Much as expected, his ice time has also soared, from around 15 mins per game (when he wasn’t scratched) in a period from October 7th – February 16th to around 24 minutes on average from February 16th – March 11th
9 – Our PP just plainly sucks. No words of embellishment this time (1/6 tonight, which means 4 goals on our last 48 chances). Luckily, our PK was good as the Wild continued to struggle on their PP opportunities.
10 – No help on the out of town scoreboard means this was a life or death game and much like ancient Rome, it’s thumbs up for our gladiators!
