So the Maple Leafs extend their tank-friendly stretch of non-success with a convincing 4-1 loss at the hands of the Philadelphia Flyers tonight, marking their seventh loss in their last nine games. As I snicker while watching Mats Sundin look equal parts lazy, fat and slow (yeah, he scored an empty net chance, so what), here are a few thoughts about tonight’s pedestrian performance from the Blue and White:
*The Leafs had very little to offer for the first 40 minutes. Lots of shots as per usual (outshot Philly 42-30), but few were penetrating chances. Wilson seemed to overplay his energy line for the first period before curtailing their minutes for the rest of the tilt. An energy boost is needed now and again but please, spare us the painful experience of watching the likes of Ryan Hollweg and Andre Deveaux trying to stick-handle or do anything in relation to the puck. Finally, the Ponikarovsky – Stajan – Antropov line found some life in the third. The energetic, always-dangerous presence of Mikhail Grabovski was noticeably absent tonight.
*Alexei Ponikarovsky appears to be developing a signature reverse between the legs finishing move. Don’t look now but he’s on pace for 25+ goals. That’s pretty unreal and part of the credit should be given to Matt Stajan for providing an enabling link-up presence. There’s a very interesting to trade or not to trade question developing with Poni. He’s having a fantastic year, finishing very efficiently on his chances and using his body more and more effectively as he did tonight. It’s all contingent on the market that’s out there, if his market value is reflective of the belief that he’s still just a role player then he’s definitely worth keeping. He might just be a worthy top six player.
*Not sure if Ron Wilson missed the memo about the Flyers’ offensively-dangerous penalty kill, but it was perhaps not the best time to experiment with Lee Stempniak on the point. I’m fairly confident the Leafs were outchanced on their own power-play opportunities.
*Who would’ve thought pre-training camp that Ian White and Luke Schenn would comprise the Leafs’ top two Leaf performers among defenseman come the mid point of the season? The prevailing belief was that Schenn would be with Kelowna and Ian White a different NHL club. Consider also the pleasantly surprising play of Grabovski, Stajan, Ponikarovsky and Antropov and there’s definitely something to take out of this first half of the ‘08/’09 campaign.
*The fact that the Leafs have the worst team save percentage probably isn’t overly surprising. But this is somewhat – the Leafs are fifth best in the league in terms of shots allowed per game. Indisputably points to truly awful goaltending.
*Jeez, somebody should’ve tried to acquire that Jeff Carter guy last year.
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January 10th, 2009 at 11:18 pm
The process of tanking is looking good so far, as long as Toronto continually improve and compete hard every game, but lose in tight ones, i’m fine by that.
January 10th, 2009 at 11:21 pm
“Jeez, somebody should’ve tried to acquire that Jeff Carter guy last year,” Fletcher did, it’s just because of Kaberle
:D
January 10th, 2009 at 11:23 pm
Ahaha, that was the joke there Mizuno
Good blog bud
January 10th, 2009 at 11:35 pm
One step closer to a top 5 pick
Nice post-game blog, Alec.
January 10th, 2009 at 11:38 pm
I can just smell taht top 5 pick. Add two more losses to the Leafs in next 2 games with Grabovski out of the lineup.
January 10th, 2009 at 11:56 pm
“Ahaha, that was the joke there Mizuno”.
Indeed lol! , and yes I’ve been musing over Poni’s situation with the Leafs the whole night. I can’t help one thing…..I’m starting to find myself leaning to this side of a substantially higher Canadian content in regard to the bulk of the Leafs line-up. I just feel there will be a deeper connection with the fanbase and that in turn will bring this listless crowd out of it’s silence. I have to tell you I always felt that it was the Gilmour’s, Andreychucks, Clarke’s, Robert’s, McCauley’s etc., etc. that I fondly recount these “heroic” performances from when it counted the most. I just don’t feel that burning desire from Antro, Poni, Blake, Kaberle……etc. I am high on Grabo, Kulemin, Stralman and Hagman though. I just feel that is a huge component of the desired success here. I NEVER used to think this way but now when I look back to the past, I find myself having a different opinion to all this. Just my 2 bits.
January 11th, 2009 at 12:05 am
I’m confident we’ll actually start to tank, but I dont know if the time is now. We hardly could have expected to beat Montreal and Philly. This team is starting to lose when theyre supposed to lose and win when theyre supposed to win. Look at their game scores/opponen in the last month or so (ignore that loss to the Isles). This team is more predictable than they’re given credit for.
January 11th, 2009 at 1:22 am
A top 5 pick will help ease the pain. =)
January 11th, 2009 at 1:49 am
Second consecutive game that Sundin’s been in the box for the losing goal.
January 11th, 2009 at 1:56 am
Going back to my predictability logic…look at the Leafs upcoming opponents for the rest of the month. We’ll be back to .500 by the end of January.
January 11th, 2009 at 2:07 am
I had to point this out from Berger’s Q&A blog from Hockeybuzz:
JOHNNY from North York, Ont. writes: “Howard, a handful of players on the Marlies have had NHL auditions, but have yet to make an impact. I’m referring to guys like Ben Ondrus, Kris Newbury, Mike Stapleton and Staffan Kronwall. Could the Leafs put together a package of these players and acquire an established NHL star in return?”
Berger: Johnny, I don’t mean to poke fun at you, and I’m glad you asked this question. It’s the type of wishful scenario that Toronto hockey fans frequently envision, but it’ll never happen.
Jesus Christ.
I think Berger makes up his own questions to make us look like idiots.
January 11th, 2009 at 2:40 am
Just looking at the best team in the league: San Jose Sharks, they have incredible depth. Defence scoring is amazing, penalty kill very good, speed, blazing speed outlet passes. Man, that’s what i call a deep team. Hopefully we can be better than SJS in years to come. It’s a long winding road.
January 11th, 2009 at 3:25 am
Tran, agreed. I saw that and I was one of many who laughed out loud at it. What kind of moron who makes a comment has even heard of Tim Stapleton?
January 11th, 2009 at 3:25 am
*a comment like that
January 11th, 2009 at 3:48 am
Alex, I need to ask. Did you insert the JC at the end of this? Or did Berger write that?
“Berger: Johnny, I don’t mean to poke fun at you, and I’m glad you asked this question. It’s the type of wishful scenario that Toronto hockey fans frequently envision, but it’ll never happen.
Jesus Christ.”
Either way, it’s damn funny, but I’m curious if Berger used the name as a reaction to the question or if he signed his response as if he was Jesus.
January 11th, 2009 at 11:55 am
i agree with goose puck. the leafs are winning against teams they should win against and lose to those they should be losing to with the exception of the isles. need them to get a few extra wins so the stock can go up on some of the players that could be traded. or atleast have those players look good while losing.
anyone notice blake is a puckhog. constantly shoots first or loses the puck. please get rid of that guy.
January 11th, 2009 at 12:15 pm
Will we ever hear the fans at the ACC chant “tank! tank!” rather than “Go Leafs Go”? I’m all for it. If the Leafs were indeed trying up to now to get in to the playoffs they should realize they’re in the same position as the past three years – perhaps this year we take a different tact and not shoot for the playoffs for once. I’m not saying don’t try to win. But let’s start training for the future. Get Schenn on the powerplay to see what he can do. Call up Pogge every now and then. Ditto with other Marlies. If Kaberle and Kubina still feel like staying at the moment then take away their minutes. Do what must be done. If the Leafs are total crap for one year and the result is significant improvement through the draft and trades, then that’s perfectly alright by me. This season is a write off, but next season I expect results.
January 11th, 2009 at 12:23 pm
lol… it was Alex that through in the Jesus Christ
January 11th, 2009 at 12:26 pm
Well if you read the comment closely, and I assume Alex cut and pasted it accurately, the guy leaving it actually says “Mike Stapleton”….
so maybe Howard tossed in an incorrect name to just confirm to people how “out of the loop” the person is before asking such an idiotic question.
One does wonder what the market value is for a midget who has played an offensive role on the 2nd best team in the Finnish Elite League might be though… the Marlies seem intent on pulling small skilled forwards back from Europe though. Simon Gamache, Tim Stapleton… I wonder who is next?
January 11th, 2009 at 12:26 pm
BERGER IS A TOOL
January 11th, 2009 at 12:34 pm
OK its time for me to hibernate…wake me for the draft.
January 11th, 2009 at 1:53 pm
Ok. I have to laugh. Its about time we enjoyed the leafs for all the wrong reasosn. LOL.. Your last point about 5th on shots against and worst of Goals against.. OUCH… I love this site LOL… If you cant laugh at the leafs who can you laugh at “smiles”. Great post.. Now i feel better, I am not the only sucker in the world for loving the leafs…
January 11th, 2009 at 5:52 pm
Vote Chad Rau into the finalist round for the Hobey Baker trophy as the NCAA’s most outstanding player:
http://www.hobeybaker.com/voting/
You can vote as many times as you want.
January 11th, 2009 at 7:15 pm
Thanks Alex,
I thought I heard somewhere that he was being mentioned for the Hobey Baker.
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