Kadri scored. I keep telling my Leafs loving co-worker hes crap but it doesn't sink in. Kadri did nothing all game. Hardly saw him and he had no shots and then gets that *** gift.
It's funny to see all the Leafs fans now fawning over this guy because he scored on Miller in a moment of unawareness. I didn't notice Kadri at all tonight.
I thought Foligno wasn't good at all today, didn't look like he had a single hit, offense died on his stick often.
Also, Hodgson has been for these two games outstanding, he has meshed with Vanek and Pommer so well and should have way more points with how well he has played. If Luke Adam can produce with those two, I'm excited with what Hodgson can do with those guys for a whole year, especially since Hodgson is infinitely more skilled and appears to have chemistry.
Didn't play all that well but kept most of the Leaf chances to the perimeter and capitalized on a couple good chances of our own. The way you must often win games that are the 2nd in two nights.
Totally outplayed. Credit to Miller and the penalty kill.
I'm not sure what game you were watching. From a class standpoint the Kessel-Lupul line was pathetic to watch. Lupul cherry picked all night and did nothing with it. The teams entire strategy seems to be have Lupul cherry pick a breakaway or 2 on 1 or get it to Kessel and have him shoot from anywhere on the ice. Grabovski was non existent, Kulemin is a black hole offensively and MacArthur (someone I loved as a player in junior) has turned into a trashy NHL player. The VHP line alone generated more quality chances than the other 7 lines in the game combined. Toronto was in Buffalo's zone for longer periods of time but most of the shots were low quality. Buffalo played yesterday, Toronto did not. Toronto was at home, Buffalo was not.
I thought both teams looked equally rusty and the ice sucked. Toronto's defense on the other hand was great at both ends of the rink I thought. They had an uncanny knack of keeping the puck in no matter the situation. And this is without arguably their best D man.
I thought Foligno wasn't good at all today, didn't look like he had a single hit, offense died on his stick often.
He wasn't that great in the first game either but he was at least physical. The few times he did hit someone tonight he bounced off them and fell on his ass. He clogged up parts of the ice offensively tonight where he didn't need to which allowed for an easy clear.
Wouldn't be surprised at all if he has the flu or something. But then again he had an unnecessary fight later in the game so maybe he's fine. Buffalo was controlling the tempo of the period before that fight and proceeded to get hemmed in their zone for the rest of the game. Hopefully his balls aren't chopped off by Lindy but he needs to reel that in when you're on the road.
Good:
- Miller
- Grigorenko has done well defensively for an 18 year old center, or really for any rookie
- Top line generated a lot
- Ott continuing to be awesome
- Not taking any guff around the net
Bad:
- Other lines didn't generate much offensively
- PP still very sloppy and the 2nd unit has no effectiveness on top of that
- Blowing an opportunity to shut out the Leafs
Ugly:
- NHL lockout seems to still be in effect for Kaleta. Not allowed out on the ice.
- Pommers robbing Vanek of a crucial assist. Now he'll finish one point shy of the Art Ross.
- Leafs PP
I like the new look of the team, but we really need someone to step up and take over Gaustads spot at the dot. Nearly caught myself yelling at Ruff to get Grier out there at the end ...
Good:
- The apparent 180 in attitude with this team regarding sticking up for each other... any time someone has touched Miller this season, the Sabres have taken a penalty doing something to protect him.
- VHP. Playing like a first line should, all of them getting points. Hodgson doesn't look out of place at all.
- Miller. Never makes it look difficult but he made 34 saves, the kind of play we'll need from him this season to be contenders.
- Stafford. Little thing I've noticed from the first two games, he seems to be connecting on a LOT more passes. I feel like last year that breakaway pass to Vanek against Philly wouldn't have happened. He gets a lot of passes on the tape.
- Grigs in the defensive zone. He was almost always the first forward back and made several plays getting his stick on the puck. Absolutely not out of place playing defense in the NHL.
- Ott. He's awesome.
- Sulzer. So solid defensively. I can't think of a big mistake he's made in these two games.
- Defense overall was pretty good, definitely frustrated the Leafs forwards getting into the zone, it was just a struggle once it got into the zone.
- The calls we're getting this season.... is that now four disallowed goals in two games? I don't think I've ever seen that many go one way.
- PK. That extended 5-on-3 was amazing.
- Beating the Leafs.
Bad:
- Grigo's confidence with the puck on offense. I really wish he would've shot on that 2-on-1 and scored, because it feels like he's so concerned with playing defense he doesn't want to get caught making a mistake.
- Got absolutely killed at the dot, 46-19, against a team that I don't think most would consider seriously deep at center. And oddly enough it wasn't Grigs who killed us.. he was 4/7. Hodgson (5/17) and Ennis (2/12) is really bad.
- Also got outshot by a lot.
- Ennis' miss on the pass by Vanek.
- Scott losing to Orr.
Ugly:
- Giving out scarves to their fans is the most Toronto thing ever.
It's funny to see all the Leafs fans now fawning over this guy because he scored on Miller in a moment of unawareness. I didn't notice Kadri at all tonight.
For all his defensive zone prowess, I didn't even know Grigorenko dressed. I guess we pay more attention to our own players.
I'm not sure what game you were watching. From a class standpoint the Kessel-Lupul line was pathetic to watch. Lupul cherry picked all night and did nothing with it. The teams entire strategy seems to be have Lupul cherry pick a breakaway or 2 on 1 or get it to Kessel and have him shoot from anywhere on the ice. Grabovski was non existent, Kulemin is a black hole offensively and MacArthur (someone I loved as a player in junior) has turned into a trashy NHL player. The VHP line alone generated more quality chances than the other 7 lines in the game combined. Toronto was in Buffalo's zone for longer periods of time but most of the shots were low quality. Buffalo played yesterday, Toronto did not. Toronto was at home, Buffalo was not.
I thought both teams looked equally rusty and the ice sucked. Toronto's defense on the other hand was great at both ends of the rink I thought. They had an uncanny knack of keeping the puck in no matter the situation. And this is without arguably their best D man.
You credit the Leafs, I blame the Sabres forwards for being terrible at helping their D get the puck out along the boards. This needs to improve.
That may be true, but I saw one defensive sequence where Grigs was thrown out of the draw, Hecht took it, lost it and they nearly gave up a goal as a result. The other forward on the ice was Ott.
The other key draws I saw down the stretch had Hodgson taking them and losing them.
We have a top 10 guy who can play defence (so you don't him running to the bench after the draw). Use him. And if he is tired, feel free to use your TO.
