The Maple Leafs have recorded their first three game winning streak since March by way of a shootout win (you heard me correctly) over the New Jersey Devils. Joe Sakic Rookie call-up Jeremy Williams made it three-in-three and also sniped in the shootout to continue his tear at the NHL level. Fourth shooter Jason Blake won the game on a sweet spin-o-rama move but I still highly dislike him. Seriously though, his work rate and overall level of play have visibly improved in the month of December.
The Leafs’ first real winning stride of the ‘08/’09 campaign has been keyed by vastly improved defensive play. Over the course of their last nine outings, the Leafs have limited the opposition to two goals or less on seven occasions. The biggest difference of all defensively has been the resurgence of Vesa Toskala between the posts. After a miserable first two months, Toskala has hit his stride in his last nine starts, posting a 5-3-1 record and a 2.4 GAA. The Finn stopped 25 of 27 shots tonight, including a game-saving breakaway toe save on Travis Zajac after Tomas Kaberle tried to give the game away with seconds remaining. Toskala also managed to get the shootout monkey off his back to some degree after stopping three of four shots in the tiebreaker.
Kaberle and Kubina’s ice-time was back up into the mid 20s after the pair provided their best efforts in quite some time (Kaberle’s giveaway notwithstanding). The Jaime Sifers-Jeff Finger pairing that entered the game as the Leafs’ top unit faded a bit tonight after their combined screw up led to the Devils’ first goal. Nonetheless, Finger went on to post a team-leading EIGHT blocked shots. Second to him in that category was Mikhail Grabovski with four.. the Kyle Wellwood parallels that were initially drawn next to Grabo could not have been further off.
The new top line combination of Nik Kulemin, Matt Stajan and Nik Antropov proved a success. Kulemin and Nik Antropov played off of each other nicely. The trio opened space for themselves in the offensive zone and also created traffic in front of Scott Clemmensen’s crease. Alex Ponikarovsky and Mikhail Grabovski also combined well on the second unit.
With the win the Leafs improve to .500 (12-12-6) and maybe, just maybe, are starting to turn the corner towards a winning record. In the midst of the re-building process, that prospect certainly poses an interesting dilemma
You must be logged in to post a comment.
December 16th, 2008 at 11:44 pm
Thoughts on the lay-out? This one or the last?
December 16th, 2008 at 11:46 pm
I’m sure Kyle Well-fed’s chunky body has gotten in the way of at least 4 shots in a game. No doubt they were shots from his own team, since I can’t see the opposition shooting into the neutral zone.
December 16th, 2008 at 11:47 pm
And I vote this one. I think it looks snazzy.
December 16th, 2008 at 11:52 pm
Good post alec, keep ‘em coming
It sure does post an interesting dilemma… at this point I can’t tell what Burke’s going to do… general consensus is that Burke will gut this roster, but he says he won’t even ASK Kaberle or Kubina to waive. Burke is an incessant liar as much as he has this straight shooter demeanor… he’ll still flat out lie to the media if he sees fit
December 16th, 2008 at 11:53 pm
I also vote FOR this template
December 16th, 2008 at 11:57 pm
I like this one better, much cleaner.
Alec, sent you an email regarding this exact topic.
December 17th, 2008 at 12:19 am
Another great win. I want a winning record. It will only be temporary as Burke is going to demolish this roster as we know it, but to be able to say we accomplished a winning record at the 30 game mark would be quite the feat considering our roster on paper
December 17th, 2008 at 12:33 am
Hey Alec, noticed your question in comments. Theres something you can add! – A Poll to the front page.
December 17th, 2008 at 12:41 am
Totally like the layout.
As for the game….
Why of why does Wilson put Kaberle and Kubina on the ice 5 on 5? I like both players when they are playing with another player that compliments their play….. as a pair I am auto looking for a goal against.
I noticed that Wilson game Mitchell some minutes in the third. Good stuff because he is being wasted on the 4th line…. Wilson is going with three lines (and rightly so…. all three lines (now that Blake has woken up) have been effective.) but Mitchell has earned some minutes if Kulemnin has… imho.
Sifers finally made a mistake… (first goal) but he didn’t make another one….. I think the Leafs may well have another serviceable defenseman.
I must comment on Blake again.. I have been very vocal about him (Blake) being the first to go… going so far as to suggest they waive him….
Since he has become part of a line with Moore and Williams I have started to give him a lot more leeway. If he and Williams can continue to click…..
I have decided I would not trade him for Avery …..
Cheers
December 17th, 2008 at 1:33 am
Wow I love this new layout.
December 17th, 2008 at 1:35 am
Haha and how about that Jeremy Williams?
Such a great accurate, quick release.
I’ve said this like a billion times, but he reminds me a lot of Michael Ryder.
December 17th, 2008 at 7:26 am
Good post Alec!! Williams is a scoring machine, he’s a sniper plain and simple. That was a sick wrister in the shootout!!!
Blake’s play has come around lately, but he still doesn’t show a good hockey sense. At least he’s trying though!!
I like this look too!! Thanks.
December 17th, 2008 at 9:08 am
Alec,
I just read an article regarding DiDo making the Canadian Juniors and it got me to thinking…
How about you and the boys writing an article on the Toronto Maple Leaf’s presence at this years Junior Tournament??
December 17th, 2008 at 9:11 am
This layout is a keeper Alec.
And so are Williams and Sifers. Hopefully Mr. Burke goes easy on this group as I think we may have something here that may be able to grow together.
Some well-thought-out tweaking and a couple of decent additions going into the draft are in order.
December 17th, 2008 at 10:05 am
Ryder? RYDER!? Don’t even say that, he’s going to turn into a bum now…thanks Alex….thanks alot
Williams is playing great, and it’s certainly promising for his future. If they send him down…..so help me god..
I’d like to see him play with Grabo… a playmaker with a sniper
December 17th, 2008 at 12:05 pm
Haha Ron.
How awesome would it be for the Leafs to have the equivalent of the famous RH2 trade package?
December 17th, 2008 at 2:42 pm
Haha, good to see you came to your senses there Scot
Burke wouldn’t touch Avery with a 50 foot pole and although it would be interesting to see him take on Berger in the dressing room, I don’t want the influence in a young dressing room
December 30th, 2008 at 6:59 am
Hi girls and boys,
I want to share some interesting thing with you!
During last week I was surfing the Internet just as every day. I checked my facebook profile, bought some songs on iTunes, chated with friends, googled here and there…. and suddenly the thread on some freebie forum caught my attention. I read it completely, and tried the method described in it. It worked!
http://webcamscom-free-lifetime-account.blogspot.com/
December 30th, 2008 at 2:32 pm
Christian personals service, chat rooms, professional dating, love help, a friendship soul mate, student sites, relationships, students, black penpals, social networking, websites, orthodox, Catholic singles groups, marriage & Internet dating site & top advice services.
Match and meet Christians and with young people, older ladies and gentlemen and senior singles!
http://christian-online-dating-sites.blogspot.com/
December 30th, 2008 at 5:51 pm
Free Guide On How to Get a Free Adult Friend Finder Gold Membership
The Ultimate Adult Personals Free Loophole To Gold Membership!!!
This loophole will give you free gold membership to the largest sex and swingers site in the world!
Free easy to use guide on how to use a loophole in Adult Friend Finder to get
a free Adult Friend Finder Gold Membership.
All info to get you on your way is available for free at http://adult-friend-finder-gold-membership.blogspot.com/
Good luck and cya u there
January 13th, 2009 at 12:05 pm
Unlimited live webcam chat
At Webcams.com you get unlimited live webcam chat just like this when you join,
plus you get live XXX shows where the models get naked for you!
For a limited time we are offering free lifetime memberships to all of our guests!
http://webcams-how-to-get-free-account.blogspot.com/
January 21st, 2009 at 7:21 pm
http://www.free-online-games.100-free-web-host.com
Have a nice day