Game In 10: Game 19, Leafs at Predators

by Mislav Jantoljak on November 17, 2011 in Uncategorized - 1,502 Comments

The Leafs had many roster issues coming into this game. Mike Brown was a late scratch and Matthew Lombardi suffered an injury in the game. The team played well for stretches but the giveaways and our own mistakes haunted us once again. A big contingent of Leafs fans made a trip to Music City tonight, gotta love the dedication of Leafs Nation. RIP Wade Belak, the league loves you for a reason. Also, Nashville fans love to tap dance on the glass.

1 – The Leafs are worrying me, 10-7-2 on the season. In other news, grass is green and food is good.

2 – Solid jump from the puck drop made this game different from other recent Leaf games, but the Predators managed to score on their first shot on goal after a puckhandling error (2^nd in two games) by Ben Scrivens. Gunnar also has a helping hand in the goal but error or no error it was still a really lucky goal for the Preds.

3 – Since the opening goal, which came after 5:48 minutes of play, the Predators needed 11 minutes to put their second shot on net. In fact, Nashville had only 3 shots on net during the entire first period. The Leafs outshot them 9-3.

4 – Ben Scrivens made another gigantic stop on the year by stopping a sure goal on a shot by Mike Fisher in the middle of the second. Immediately after, Luke Schenn, who’s playing better hockey of late, stops the puck before it crossed the goal line saving Scrivens’ rear end. So basically, Ben’s game plan is making a mistake on the first goal then standing on his head for the rest of the game. Interesting.

5 – PK was solid, PP was solid. After going 1 for 2 on the PP against the Coyotes, the Leafs went 1/2 tonight. Liles made a really smart rush up the ice when the Predators wanted to change and sniped one. Need to keep it going, but it’s really nice to see our powerplay finally producing and our penalty killing killing (5/5 in the last two games). The team was also excellent in the faceoff circle.

6 – Bad giveaway by Dion and the Predators take full advantage. There were times in tonight’s game when our captain was fantastic defensively. Then there were times in tonight’s game where he looked really horrible defensively. The shot advantage the team gained during the first period was negated after the second. The Preds outshot us 14-8 in that period. The game ended with the Leafs vastly outshooting Nashville (39-21).

7 – Quietly and without much fanfare, JM Liles has collected 11 points on the season along with scoring 3 goals so far. A smart, and cheap, offseason move by Brian Burke.

8 – Matthew Lombardi got injured late in the second and he didn’t return. Just what the doctor ordered, right? Not enough injury problems on the Leafs for the hockey gods, I guess. Komisarek left the game in the third… Activate the Marlies!

9 – I love the guy, but Nikolai Kulemin has to start generating offense. He’s doing what he does defensively, but when you’re a top six forward you’re counted on to produce offense – this isn’t news. Good late scrap between McGrattan and Rosehill but McGrattan spoils it by being a clown at the end. Apparently, winning fights against helmets is pretty satisfying. Bleeding knuckles are just the icing on the cake. Craig Smith – top, top, top shelf? Even Fisher hinted a smile.

10 – 3 mistakes, 3 goals against. That was the story of this game. Pekka Rinne is good at tending goal. Expect something. Soon.

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