Game In 10: Game 46, Leafs vs. Wild

The Leafs hosted a struggling Minnesota Wild in a game where our team desperately needed to put some points on the board. Good thing we did just that.

1 – The Leafs are 23-18-5. Yes?

2 – Great start for the Leafs as they jumped the Wild from the puck drop. Nazem Kadri scored on a spinning backhand after him and Lupul combined on a good cycle in the offensive zone. Lupul showed some nice puck handling skills prior to the goal, while Kadri showed off his great hand eye coordination and backhand eye coordination. I made the second one up.

3 – Joey “Orr” Crabb scored on a great rush. He protected the puck extremely well, held it on the outside, drove to the goalmouth and scored on a lifted net. Beautiful move. Crabb people etc.

4 – Speed kills and Phil Kessel showed plenty of it tonight, looks like splitting Lupul and Kessel didn’t do any damage to either of them as the duo still managed to produce. Kessel scored a power play goal, his 25th goal of the season and Lupul had 3 points on the night.

5 – Good amount of zone time throughout the game, it wasn’t a case of one and done chances. The team was much more composed in the defensive zone and showed more determination in the corners.

6 – After a good number of power play chances, including a 5 on 3 opportunity, Phil Kessel finally gets a man advantage goal after a scramble in front of Backstrom.

7 – Grabo knows how to use his feet. Great redirection goal to complete a great night for the Maple Leafs, a night where almost everyone contributed. Lombardi has really picked up his game.

8 – Gustavsson looked solid and is building his confidence in every single game. He looks much calmer in net, had no trouble looking through traffic and just played solid positional hockey (except on the goal, obviously). I choose to ignore his field trip away from the net. I choose to remember the big pad stop in the 3rd. The shutout bid? Well, he destroyed that one all by himself, a bad angle goal.

9 – We outshot the Wild by a large margin. Sure it’s the Wild, who are struggling right now, but special teams worked, we had jump right from the opening puck drop, and didn’t give up many chances.

10 – The boys played a really good 60 minutes of hockey tonight. We need more of the same as we’re playing some struggling teams next. Montreal next. Boooo.

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  • wags31

    The day Alfy retires will be one of the best days of my life !  

  • http://www.hockey-nerd.com Cameron

    If he is our #1 going into the playoffs, there is no way he will be allowed to walk.  From what I understand, Gus is very much one of the boys on the team.  If he gets the job done, they will want him back.  In that case, Burke may look to move Reimer for a more experienced and proven guy to play with him.  But we’re a long ways from that.  Reimer may take the net back before long – who knows.
    -
    Anyways, I’m going to bed.

  • Anonymous

    agree. 

    I had the feeling early on that he would get the goose-egg. and should have. how the fuck did that goal go in. bad luck for Monster….he did everything right on that play, Johnson can take that shot 10,000 other times and the way Monster is hugging the post, it doesn’t go in.

  • http://www.hockey-nerd.com Cameron

    Leaf fans hear nothing but negativity about their own team.  That self-deprecating attitude has slipped into the way we think about everything.  League opinion is that Schneider and Bernier are worth a bundle of top notch assets, but if you wanna look at on ice evidence, numbers, and common sense, Reimer is on par or better than these guys.  Personally, I think they’re all worth less than the media says, but I’m confident Reimer would fetch a great return.
    -
    More likely he’d be part of a package for a bigger player though, or a more proven goalie.

  • Anonymous

    i’ve always liked/loved antropov. 

    i don’t think he needs to have speed to be effective on this team. that’s not his game, never has been.

  • Anonymous

    hahaaa

  • Anonymous

    I think that;s why the fans here are fucken clueless about real hockey and what it’s all about. The hate on for the Leafs here is more personal than in fricken MTL. I never had an issue with the Nucks and their fans til i moved here. Classless fans and players. Or as I like to call them… “Fairweather Fans”. As soon as the season is over, they don’t care bout hockey at all. In T.O, it’s all year round. True hockey fans

  • DefenceWinsChampionships

    I know it hasn’t been something he has ever excelled in, but he has never been on a team this fast before, either. In any case, his size (6’6”, 245 lbs) and net-presence would be a welcome addition. And even if he is a step behind, he could benefit from being the trailer in the O zone. Look at Kulemin’s goals last year. Most were either: 

    A – getting hit with a pass after coming into the O zone late
    B – cleaning up Grabo and Mac’s rebounds in the slot
    or C – standing in front of the net banging in loose pucks

    Antropov could do much the same, and his gigantic shadow over the opposing goalie would make it easier for guys like Kessel and Lupul to snipe. 

  • Anonymous

    I’m buying what you’re selling. 

    The idea of Antro coming back….makes me happy.

    Doubt the Jets move him until (and if) they are clearly out of it. He’d probably fetch a decent asking price to a contending team looking for a big body.

  • Anonymous

    Whereabouts in the lower mainland are ya?

    Any good bars in Vancouver where they actually show Leaf games? I’ve been here just a few years now and most places are loathe to play a Leaf game. 

    Ps. Are you the guy that did the piece on Reimer while he was training in Maple Ridge? I am in the Ridge and love that segment.

  • Anonymous

    I’m in East Van bud. Knight n 41st. Ya, The Regal Begal in Kitsilano is known as the Leaf central for games. Original Joes at Cambie n Broadway will show games too. But Regal Begal is the best. lol. Always reminds me of Three’s Company when i mention it.

    Here’s my email if you care to hook up for a brew and a game. Always cool to find more Leafs nation out in Van.   matchouinard123@gmail:disqus.com   

    Cheers

  • Anonymous

    Got it, Matt. thanks. I’ll flip you an email and we can catch a game sometime at ‘the Beagle’ (Jack Tripper’s old stomping grounds ;)

  • Anonymous

    LOL. Sounds good bud. I’ll try and get Larry out. He is the ladies man after all. Although i keep telling him to shave his chest hair.

    Cheers Mike.

  • http://www.afc.co.uk Scottish Leaf

    Delighted we won, about time, now let’s hope the boys can go on a winning streak by defeating Montreal on Saturday night!

  • Nazem.K-savzri

    I was reading comments about Gus from Jordan in the last thread where he said our team cannot compete with him as our goalie in the playoffs (or sumn along those lines), and imo that couldnt be further from the truth. Gus has worked MAJOR changes fundamentally in his game and u can see it in everystop he makes. Hes not getting his body out of position behind screens hes not peaking around one side leavin half the net open, nor is he tip towing to see over exposing easy point shot goals. Hes seeing the puck, and hes allowing it to hit him rather than trying to pounce, and hes reading plays soooo much better. I see a real keeper in Gus and 1 we should consider resigning b4 FA.

  • Nazem.K-savzri

    Ps: if u look to his SEL days btw. His best play was in the playoffs. Just ridiculously good numbers. Gus could be sick if we give him the chance like we r now.

  • Nazem.K-savzri

    Ps: if u look to his SEL days btw. His best play was in the playoffs. Just ridiculously good numbers. Gus could be sick if we give him the chance like we r now.

  • Nazem.K-savzri

    I wonder if Antropov would look good with our current lineup. Interesting comment. I hate the idea of old look leafs, but hes an exception. Good size, hard shot, good awareness, silk hands. Hed look good with the talent we have i think. Cant see him not geling with any of our forwards. He could center lupul+kessel too if we wanted.

  • Nazem.K-savzri

    Oh…and antro with grabo and kulez…heck..even kadri, could be deadly.

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Mislav Jantoljak

Author: Mislav Jantoljak

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Hello everyone, I'm Mislav, most of you probably know me as Xterratu, a Croatian Leafs blogger living in Zagreb. I love the Leafs yadda yadda and write hockey related stuff. I wrote on Leafspace, then did some work on LeafsHQ for about a year and a half and am now a proud member of Maple Leafs Hot Stove. @Xterratu on Twitter.