- Luongo was great. Similar to Schneider against Carolina, he made some great saves and gave his team a chance to win the game. On the second goal I thought he was on his knees too early, but at the same time it was a perfect shot. If Luongo played like this the whole season no one would be bashing him.
- First line was amazing. Could've had 5 more with better luck and execution. Toronto running around in their own zone and making bad plays time after time gave them more chances than usual, but still they skated and worked very hard and deserved more than they got.
- Raymond was excellent, and Higgins and Kesler were good too. If Raymond keeps hounding the puck and going to tough areas he will be very effective, something that was missing most of last season.
- Third line is kind of dragged down by Malhotra right now. He just stands around and doesn't accomplish anything in own zone, and his offensive play is not even on the AHL level (seriously, he wouldn't play in a top 6 role with the Wolves based on his play this season). It's very hard for Hansen and especially Hodgson (who is more of a puck mover) to create anything. Both of them are trying and skating hard. Malhotra needs to be replaced. He is horrible.
- Wasn't a big fan on defence in general. After a good stretch of games Ballard had his second awful game in a row and same could be said about Salo. Toronto's not an easy team to play against for defencemen, though.
I thought the Hansen goal was a typical misread by Dion. He did not perceive Hansen's speed as being a threat and so he went at Hansen early, weakly waving his stick at him and then lost the angle he would have had if he'd have just powered up the ice. Typical example of Dion making a misread of both his prowess and his situation.
Who cares what Ron says. Who did he play for? Or coach? He is the weather girl of sports reporters, his job is to sit beside Cherry and look interested. If he can't manage that he'll be moved along like Hodge was. NBD.
Hodge was moved along for a different reason. He was critical on air of the CBC for not cutting to the play-off OT between the Habs and Flyers.
McLean is an air guitar playing weasel who does not have the cojones to call out CBC for their policies on air (better to take shots at Burrows and the Canucks) nor the coordination to flip a pen in frustration like Hodge. He is just a high level referee.
The reason the Leafs lost according to Dave Feschuk, hockey writer for the Toronto Star?
Maybe it was the Air Canada Centre’s despicably disinterested crowd, which, as per usual, left so many platinum and gold seats empty in the many minutes after intermissions. Whatever, the Leafs gave up goals in the opening moments of both the first and second periods.
Just another iteration of the lower bowl "suits" complaint that regularly goes around Vancouver. The Leafs are the Canucks East.
Or maybe the Leafs are just not good enough and have abysmal systems and horrible special teams.
Or maybe they have the wrong guys as coach and GM?.
Saw MacLean's justification for his actions. Didn't really see an apology in there, but didn't see him laying on any extra thick insults either. Either way, I think he's been leading the charge in terms of the Canucks getting a ton of bad press--Auger-gate, the Torres hit on Seabrook, Lapierre and Burrows' agitating ways, the evil of the Canucks in the Finals, etc. I lost a ton of respect for him and this explanation did very little in terms of adding any back.
Or maybe the Leafs are just not good enough and have abysmal systems and horrible special teams.
Or maybe they have the wrong guys as coach and GM?.
I wont comment on their GM, because aside from the Kessel trade (which is looking better from the Leafs perspective) he has actually come out on top of the majority of deals he has made.
But how Ron Wilson still is employed is beyond me. I cant remember the exact stat, but I seem to recall Hughson, or Simpson saying the last time the Leafs were in the top 20 in PK was in 2003... That is pathetic. Now I know Ron Wilson has only been the coach since 2007, but he has to bare a lot of the responsibility for that.
On to the game... I am so glad that Hansen exposed Phaneuf out wide. It was a beautiful moment that brought back a ton of memories of when Phaneuf used to get burned wearing that awful red and yellow jersey
We're probably going to be out scoring our defensive problems all year. That was a great game by Luongo, and our awful coverage still resulted in 3 goals against. We really need another stabilizing presence on the blue line. Malhotra is bloody awful; guy is a massive liability at this point.
Higgins remains on pace for over 50 points; will be awesome if he can hit 60. Hodgson hasn't been the same since the hit in the Ottawa game...though looked a bit better compared to the previous two games.
I wont comment on their GM, because aside from the Kessel trade (which is looking better from the Leafs perspective) he has actually come out on top of the majority of deals he has made.
But how Ron Wilson still is employed is beyond me. I cant remember the exact stat, but I seem to recall Hughson, or Simpson saying the last time the Leafs were in the top 20 in PK was in 2003... That is pathetic. Now I know Ron Wilson has only been the coach since 2007, but he has to bare a lot of the responsibility for that.
On to the game... I am so glad that Hansen exposed Phaneuf out wide. It was a beautiful moment that brought back a ton of memories of when Phaneuf used to get burned wearing that awful red and yellow jersey
And of course, Wilson is deep into talks on extending his contract. After this weekend, I'd be surprised if he didn't sign on the dotted line before Xmas...unless Burkie pulls the offer.
I would add that the sedins get some "diving bad press" etc but for the people that dont watch them shift in shift out....dont realize how much abuse they take.......ie the amount of other teams lumber (embeded in their backs) they have to skate with .....
so when they stay on their feet after a big crosscheck due to postion and other times being knocked over by a light hit because they are a) off balance b) tired of noncalls......... that other stars would get on a more reg basis
that' s what galls me of certain media that brand them as soft but dont see that they work every shift in the trenches
as for Ron he 's entitled to his opinions but he does tends to hold on things. or brings in the same old guips because he either thinks its funny or feels insecure and has to subtly reinforce his veiwpoint
Whyyyyyyy is Burrows still referred to as an agitator in the eastern press.
People make him out like he's the reincarnation of Claude Lemieux. Has Burrows ever even been suspended? I'm sure he's annoying but he's not dirty by the standard set for the rest of the league.
What frustrates me about Malhotra is he's a guy who has speed and could be useful driving the net but he INSISTS on being the one who carries the puck into the zone before making a blocked/bad pass. GIVE IT TO CODY, that's his thing! Remember that one timer goal you scored Manny?!
We're probably going to be out scoring our defensive problems all year. That was a great game by Luongo, and our awful coverage still resulted in 3 goals against. We really need another stabilizing presence on the blue line. Malhotra is bloody awful; guy is a massive liability at this point.
Higgins remains on pace for over 50 points; will be awesome if he can hit 60. Hodgson hasn't been the same since the hit in the Ottawa game...though looked a bit better compared to the previous two games.
The defensive problems lie deeper than just the defenseman. The forwards this year aren't as responsible defensively as they were last year. The key thing is that we've replaced our checking line from last year with a scoring one. Malhotra was insanely good in his role last year and played a lot of tough minutes against top notch opposition players. This year, I don't believe Hodgson's line has played the same tough minutes as Malhotra's line did last year and as a result those minutes have been more evenly distributed through the top three lines. If the team wants to get to last year's level of defensive play, all the forwards have to be more committed to their defensive roles.
Call me ignorant, but I had no clue there was such a hate-on for Hughson/Simpson/Healy by Leafs fans.
We'll trade you Mark Lee and Kevin Weekes any day.
I hate Simpson and Healy, but oh God, a thousand times yes - anything to get rid of Mark Lee. I actually don't mind Weekes, but if I never had to hear Lee's voice again, it would still be too soon.
