Game Preview: Leafs vs. Kings

by Greener on Dec 1, 2008 5:00 PM EST Comment 31 comments

The (American) Thanksgiving horn 'o' plenty keeps on giving for your friend Greener this week, and I keep on thanks-ing. This deliciously laden cornucopia brought to you by a peaceful, loving Universe, and the lawyers running the NHL who've finally realized that human beings west of, say, Buffalo actually want to see the Leafs more than once a decade.

The Kings are a surprisingly talented bunch whose perpetual placement in the standings belies the fact that they are a good, entertaining hockey team. Kind of like the Leafs of the last say, 12 years.

One main cause for concern for the Kings always seems to be in net. They either keep them too long: OMGDan Cloutier, or not long enough: Mathieu Garon, Cristobal Huet. I'm reading that the starter tonight will be #1 Jason Labarbera, which is good news. Labarbera has looked shaky in every game I've seen him in this year, and his rebound control is Raycroftian. He's beatable by shelling him with shots, and going hard to the net looking for rebounds. This is an obvious thing to say Labarbera or not, as the Leafs should be doing that every goddamn game no matter who they face.

Look for guys like Dustin "If It Lives I Hit It" Brown, and eventual-runner up-to-Luke Schenn-for the Calder- Drew Doughty. They, and guys like Alex Frolov and Patrick O'Sullivan are good, and if Toronto have a lead, Ron Wilson has to keep the Leafs interested because the Kings have the ability to come alive and pull themselves out of a hole.

The Leafs are riding a crest right now due to the Burke signing, and the confidence instilled by Vesa Toskala doing his usual quarter poll turn to being a great goalie. With him playing like he has the past few games, listen for the sound of thousands of car horns honking on Olympic Avenue, mine included.

ALSO: Here's a fun game. Drink an entire beer for every "Mats Sundin in the skybox" shot they show! You'll be drunk by the first intermission!

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Drew Doughty=lacks the foxiness of Luke Schenn.

Ain't nothing but puck drops and poke checks, babydoll.

by wrap around curl on Dec 1, 2008 5:46 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

See? Wrap gets it!

He Score, He Shoot! Soon to Be Announced As the New Leafs GM

by Greener on Dec 1, 2008 5:51 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

luke schenn is

quite the foxy fella

Making stuff up since real Leafs news is far too depressing

by loser domi on Dec 1, 2008 8:37 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Leaf defenceman Luke Schenn and Kings defenceman Drew Doughty took in Sunday night’s Raptors-Lakers game, sitting behind the Raptors bench, both cheering for Toronto.

“It was a lot of fun,” said Schenn. “We didn’t see Jack (Nicholson) but David Beckham was there.”

Doughty, chosen second overall in the summer’s draft, and Schenn, chosen fifth overall, were 1-2 in terms of time on ice by rookies, are good friends from their days representing Canada at world junior events.

by LeafFanInVan on Dec 1, 2008 5:59 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Drew Doughty also looks too similar to Doughy. And unless you make croissants and crescents for a living, that’s not a name I want to confuse hockey players with during their careers.

by bkblades on Dec 1, 2008 5:59 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Drew Doughty is a defenceman taken in the first 5 picks by the Kings, so you know he has to be at least as good as Thomas Hickey and Aki Berg.

by handknit on Dec 1, 2008 6:07 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Aki Berg

so…. does anyone else cringe whenever they see Mike Cammaleri play? Or do something like, say, score a hattrick like he did on Thursday?

by Karina on Dec 1, 2008 6:57 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Aki Berg made me cringe sometimes but why Cammaleri?

by Mirinov's Nose on Dec 1, 2008 7:16 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Aki Berg was traded to Toronto for Adam Mair and a second round pick – the pick was used to select the very same Mike Cammalleri.

But the Kings also didn’t think too much of Cammalleri and his contract demands, and traded him to Calgary. I like to think the Leafs are off the hook now.

by bkblades on Dec 1, 2008 7:57 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Aaah. Yes. So it’s the same kind I get when I see Tuukka Rask, except not near as bad.

by Mirinov's Nose on Dec 1, 2008 8:04 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Leafs v Habs: March 21, 09

Hey folks,

I’m from Nova Scotia and am planning a trip to Montreal in March to see my first ever Leafs game. According to the Canadiens website, the game is sold out, but I have found tickets on other sites for decent prices. I’m just wondering what some of the more reputable online ticket sellers are and what to expect to pay.

Also, I was wondering if anyone had any “experience” with buying the cheapest tickets at the Bell Ctr to get in the door, and moving down to better seats later in the game.

Any advice appreciated. Can’t wait to cheer on the Leafs as they stomp the Habs in Montreal!

by somny on Dec 1, 2008 7:10 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

You will not be able to move down, there will not be an empty seat in the house. In the previous two years, you could (if lucky and early) find the cheapest seats (in the Molson Zone, best seats in my opinion, cheap, cheerleaders and that’s where the rowdy people are) for $100 minimum (they go for $40 normally). This year, being the 100 year anniversary (though only 99 seasons, suckers!) you will pay far more than that. Especially since they put such an extreme ticket limit on this year. Thus, I would expect maybe double that for the cheapies, or $200 for a pair at least. But then again, even though I live in Montreal, I haven’t bought off scalpers, and a friend of mine has only bought off a website (sorry I don’t know which one) once.

Good luck, and I’ll see you at the game, though my pair of tickets are split, damn.

by lordosis on Dec 1, 2008 7:17 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Can’t really help you with any of your questions. I did have a friend who used to live near the Forum years ago and he’d pick up cheap nosebleed tickets partway through the game and then make his way down to the penalty box area to heckle Montreal players. He was awesome.

by Mirinov's Nose on Dec 1, 2008 7:19 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I’ve used Stub Hub to get baseball tickets in Chicago and New York (both mets and yankees) without any issues. They even couriered me the tickets.

Bitter Leaf Fan: a life-long Toronto Maple Leafs fan comments on the team, the media and the exasperation...

by mf37 on Dec 1, 2008 9:23 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Star One tickets is how I got a pair to the Wendel game. They were great.

You’re probably looking at $100-$200 a ticket for the cheapest seats. Get them as soon as possible though.

Pension Plan Puppets: A Toronto Maple Leafs blog and a group therapy session.

by PPP on Dec 2, 2008 10:11 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Will Mats be taking in the game? That’ll be interesting considering the Burke quotes reported today. From the Globe & Mail:

“I think it’s my job to determine, a, if he has interest, and, b, the cost,” Burke said. “Then, and only then, can I decide if it makes sense.”

‘The word is that Burke will make a soft overture to Sundin, and if the new Leafs boss determines there is interest from the 37-year-old Swede, an offer will be made that will be difficult for Sundin to reject.’

http://www.globesports.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20081130.wspt-leafs30/GSStory/GlobeSports/home

Man, I hope it’s all PR work. It just doesn’t make sense to sign Sundin. Burke strikes me as the type to think that Mats has earned the right to play here and if Sundin wants to come back Burke will make it happen. Again, Hopefully Mats will only consider a contender if he decides to play. I’ve got to say though, that as much as I think signing Sundin would be bad for the future of the team, I’d be cheering as loud as anyone the first time he took the ice again in a Leaf uniform

by Mirinov's Nose on Dec 1, 2008 7:11 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

On Saturday at his introductory news conference Burke made it as clear as he could without being offensive that Sundin and the rebuilding Leafs are not a good fit for each other. On Monday, though, some Burke quotes in the Globe and Mail made it sound like the climate perhaps had changed and Burke was more open to the Sundin possibility.

Well, Burke killed that on Monday with repeated assertions there’s no real point on either side to go down the Sundin road.

From Bob MacKenzie’s new article on TSN.

by lordosis on Dec 1, 2008 7:18 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Good. Hope Mats does something soon though. Every time I think we’ve heard the last of this it seems to come back. I’ll be happy when it’s all over and done with.

by Mirinov's Nose on Dec 1, 2008 7:23 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Amen brother

by lordosis on Dec 1, 2008 7:25 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Leafs TV is claiming that Jaime Sifers has been called up from the Marlies. WTF?

Old Guys in Blue and White

by koopa kid on Dec 1, 2008 9:01 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

I dunno, Greener wrote the preview blame him.

Pension Plan Puppets*
* Blog contains less than 2% puppet content by weight.

by Chemmy on Dec 1, 2008 9:04 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I didnt hear that...

But they’re way out in LA, so perhaps thats why I didnt hear…

Big Smoke Sports - We Burn The Buds, Roll The Raps, and Smoke The Jays

by Archimedies on Dec 1, 2008 9:09 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

No sign

Of that on ESPN, NHL, or Mapleleafs.com

Big Smoke Sports - We Burn The Buds, Roll The Raps, and Smoke The Jays

by Archimedies on Dec 1, 2008 9:10 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

It was in today’s Leafs Insider or whatever that daily email blast is from MLSE. Apparently Siefers is going to be an extra body on D in case of injury and isn’t expected to see any game action.

Bitter Leaf Fan: a life-long Toronto Maple Leafs fan comments on the team, the media and the exasperation...

by mf37 on Dec 1, 2008 9:24 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

They are down to six until Van Ryn and Frogren come back, and that includes and Ian White, so they are suddenly short handed on the blue line after the Carlo deal.

by general borschevsky on Dec 1, 2008 9:44 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs