Leafs 2 at Sabres 3 (OT): Have Your Say
by PPP on Sep 27, 2008 9:45 PM EDT
in Game Recaps
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PrintComputer problems kept a game thread from going up or a preview. My apologies. I actually only caught this game on the radio and only some portions. Here were tonight's rosters. By my count, the Leafs'scratches included eight NHL players and the Sabres only three so it seems like the Sabres brought the heavy hitters after their embarrassing loss in the pre-season opener.
From what I could make out, the Leafs were the better team for 58 minutes and then the referee decided to ignore a blatant (and effing dirty) slew foot by Thomas Vanek (I think it was him that Ralphie named) on Mikhail Grabovski before giving the Sabres one last chance to tie the game.
Now, the stories will focus on the blown 2-0 lead and there is no doubt that this is an issue but here are a few bright spots. First, that wasn't the Leafs that gave up the lead. It was a split squad. On top of that, this is a perfect teaching opportunity for Ron Wilson. That is exactly what the preseason is supposed to provide the new coach. He can better prepare the team to hold on to their leads in the regular season by having chances to highlight mistakes in tonight's game.
Anyway, what did you guys think of the game? Who stood out for you? Who looked out of place? What do the boys need to work on?
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Alright
Step right up, who has some reactions to the game?
1967ers is curious about how the team’s leadership was thrown under the bus but they’ve still managed to lose two games late. What gives?
Pension Plan Puppets: A Toronto Maple Leafs blog and a group therapy session.
Puke Again
Sorry. See my last comment on the previous post. That pretty much sums it up. My other reaction is – why? Why did I think it would be different this year?
by general borschevsky on Sep 27, 2008 10:10 PM EDT reply actions
The year hasn’t started yet! This was a line-up missing Steen, Kaberle, Mayers, Moore, etc. This is a great teaching opportunity.
Now, if it becomes a pattern like it did with Maurice…then maybe not enough players were cleared out.
Pension Plan Puppets: A Toronto Maple Leafs blog and a group therapy session.
Was that too negative? I like your point about it being a perfect teaching opportunity. It’s not theory anymore, Mr. Wilson, it’s real. Let’s get to work.
Some good guys not in the lineup, but I’m not happy with two guys who were – Stajan and Blake, both wearing the A on their sweaters. I’m not real comfortable with that
by general borschevsky on Sep 27, 2008 10:23 PM EDT up reply actions
Hmmmm
I don’t know about giving it to Blake. He should at least earn it this season before he’s given it.
Stajan I can kind of understand because I see it as they are testing him.
Pension Plan Puppets: A Toronto Maple Leafs blog and a group therapy session.
Same. I grudgingly accept Stajan, but not Blake. There’s too many other worthy candidates – Kaberle, Kubina, Mayers, even Steen, Moore, or Devereaux. Hopefully it’s just a one time pre-season thing and we’ll never see the A on Blake’s sweater again.
by general borschevsky on Sep 27, 2008 10:32 PM EDT up reply actions
No kidding, those are some good examples for the kids. Blake could be one and he’s had some extra jump. Let him be one without a letter first.
Pension Plan Puppets: A Toronto Maple Leafs blog and a group therapy session.
Lets remain grounded...
I watched the whole game and while it was terribly disappointing to blow another lead late in the third I think we all need to remain grounded and not freak about some meaningless preseason game. Especially considering the roster we put on the ice tonight.
Some player by player thoughts…
Frogren really impressed me tonight. He threw some big hits and his positioning was generally very good.
Pogge looked awesome most of the game. I’m sure he’d love to have the winning goal back. Wilson seemed a bit harsh on him in the post game interview but I have to agree with what he said. Pogge isn’t ready for the NHL – he needs time to sharpen his mental game. Look at Price in Montreal – when shit got real he showed his inexperience.
White had what seemed like 50 shots on goal tonight. His goal was good, it looked to me like Kulemin got a peice of it. White was a defensive liability and I’ll be very surprised if he plays against Detroit on Oct 9.
Blake didn’t look as good as he has in the other preseason games but I still think he’s going to have a rebound year.
Kulemin is improving every game and had some flashes of greatness tonight.
Mitchell also had some bright spots but took a really bad penalty in the closing minutes of the third.
Kubina looked good, much better than last night. His shot is an absolute bullet – Miller didn’t have a chance on the goal.
Wilson is the perfect coach for this team. Whether we have the talent or not he is going to do everything in his power to make us a playoff team, tankers be damned.
Welcome
I missed you the other day but thanks for joining the site.
Thanks for the wrap-up. From what I heard Pogge was cool calm and collected until the last 3 minutes of the game. Good comparison to Jim Carey Price.
I am not sure if it showed tonight but from what I saw in the last Pittsburgh game Kulemin and Grabovski are starting get a bit of an understanding going.
I think Kubina will have a big year on the PP. At least, he better because he’s on my fantasy team.
Pension Plan Puppets: A Toronto Maple Leafs blog and a group therapy session.
I definitely like the Kul-Grabs combo. I don’t think Grabovski is a first line centre, but if he can keep his turnovers to a minimum he has a place on this team in my mind. Kulemin still looks like he’s adjusting to the North American game… The english language is probably holding him back to a degree so pairing him Grabs is a good call.
Anybody know what Grabovskis english is like?
It was nice seeing Tlusty do an interview after the game tonight. I think it’s a huge asset to the foreign players to know the language – it makes it easier for everyone, most importantly the coaching staff.
English = Huge
The big thing is that it lets them interact with their teammates. A lot of soccer teams have had issues with language cliques and the last thing the Leafs need is for two kids to get isolated because they can’t communicate.
No idea on Grabs’ English but he was in Hamilton last year so I would expect it to be beyond rudimentary.
Pension Plan Puppets: A Toronto Maple Leafs blog and a group therapy session.
I’m a little concerned over the blown leads. Not the actual losses, of course — it’s pre-season, who cares? But the media love their “storylines”, and right now it’s starting to look like “The Leafs can’t hold a third period lead” will be the early candidate to be beaten into the ground.
That can wear on a team, especially a young one.
Down Goes Brown - Because it's technically possible that things may get better before we all die.
by Down Goes Brown on Sep 27, 2008 10:26 PM EDT reply actions
Good Point
Once those bloodthirsty hounds get their teeth into a story they won’t let it go and it sure won’t help to hear, on the rare ocassions that they actually have a lead and they subsequently blow it, questions like:
“So what is it about the dressing room that makes this team so vulnerable to blowing leads late in games?”
“Would you say that coaching is the cause of the blown lead tonight?”
Pension Plan Puppets: A Toronto Maple Leafs blog and a group therapy session.
Wilson was awesome in the post game. We should have a pool to guess when he’ll have a breakdown on par with his Canadian media negativity rant last year.
Multiple Pools
You could have so many options.
- when does he just walk out of a presser
- when does he start ranting
- when does he start making fun of the questions
- when does he stab Damien Cox in the eye
Actually, he already has hit the media. I think Feschuk threw his hissy fit because Wilson suggested that Hollweg being a pest made him perfectly suitable to follow the Leafs for a major daily newspaper.
Pension Plan Puppets: A Toronto Maple Leafs blog and a group therapy session.
An Iron Fist
That Hollweg comment is gold.
Wilson has already started making fun of the questions for sure. After most questions he has this reaction like “Are you seriously asking me this?”. He should start a ritual where he smacks the reported on the head when they ask a dumb question. Make them sign waivers before the interviews.
His interaction with the media is phenomal. Time will tell if he can put his answers into actual results on the ice. He has enoughI liked Paul Maurice but I think he deserved the axe. Can you imagine him benching McCabe for not blocking shots? or Woz for a lazy hook? Wilson will have no problem cracking down, screw egos and feelings.
The crackdowns will be key because he has been very clear about what happens when someone doesn’t play Ron Wilson hockey. It’s kind of like Coach Orion from Mighty Ducks III.
Pension Plan Puppets: A Toronto Maple Leafs blog and a group therapy session.
Stressing the positive...
Yeah, it was another tough loss in a building that has been host to many for the Leafs. But, it was a preseason game so let’s keep it in perspective and let Wilson and his crew work with these coaching opportunities. As for the positives, plenty can be taken from the game. Namely:
-Blake, again, had all kinds of jump tonight and was winning alot of battles for loose pucks and foot races. He’s starting to resemble the irritating little prick he was when he played with the Isles.
-Frogren plays with a nasty edge to his game and will finally provide some snarl to the backend (along with Finger)
-Stralman looks a bit more solid on his skates this season and clearly is adapting to the Nort h American game. Along with Kaberle and Carlo, Stralman proviides the Leafs with the opportunity to have a great skater on all 3 of the D-pairings.
-Grabovski gets bounced around alot but the kid still sticks his nose in there and competes. The skills are all there; he just needs to make better decsions with the puck when entering the offensive zone
- Pogge was solid and poised for 60 minutes. Looked confident handing the puck as well. The OT winner was horible, however.
- Mitchell looked really good tonight and despite the last minute penalty, has earned another look from the coaching staff.
- Kulemin contines to improve and show flashes of his skill level. I’m wondering if a trip to the Marlies to start the season might not be best for him?
Welcome
Thanks for joining the site! Nice to have a fellow TFC fan. Did you see Wynne’s goal today?
That Kulemin observation is a good one and a tough decision to make. He, apparently, has been promised a spot with the Leafs. If they are willing to give him a good learning curve and the necessary ice-time (ie don’t bury him on the fourth line with 6 minutes a game) then I think for his confidence keeping him with the big club might be best.
Pension Plan Puppets: A Toronto Maple Leafs blog and a group therapy session.
Actually, I took in the TFC game this afternoon and Wynne’s goal was a left footed beauty! Another game they should have taken three points from, though.
You maybe right about Kulemin and him being promised a spot on the roster. To me, he looks tentative and unsure of himself. And that’s understandable. But there are those glimpses where you can see the kid has game. As you said, they are going to have to be patient with him and put him in spots where he can succeed.
on the subject of english
These guys do their work on the ice not in the showers. Language cliques!! Language is only a problem if you let it become one. The Habs were the finest example. Maurice Richard had a pretty good career, hardly spoke any English a part from his ability to swear, worked in an era where the coach didn’t speak French, and half his teammates didn’t understand him either. Felix Potvin is a perhaps more familiar example of this same situation. Speaking a second language like Tlusty does shows that he can rehash the clichés. But it does not mean he understands what people are saying to him. Besides, the boys just need to learn what to do , not describe what they do. An animated guy like Wilson is sure to get his point across no matter what language he speaks.
Oh and by the way- Key blocked shot by Stajan near the end- I think he hears Wilson!
That shot block by Stajan was great, he’ll get a doggie treat from Wilson for sure.
I still think language is important, especially with the systems a player needs to learn under a coach like Wilson. Only so much is translated through animated movements – there’s getting a feeling for your fellow teammates and there’s learning the coaching systems that don’t necessarily fall under the natural instincts category.
Shot block
Ralphie was pretty impressed with the block. He clearly wants to play.
Pension Plan Puppets: A Toronto Maple Leafs blog and a group therapy session.
Some guys can definitely make it through but Richard had more than three teammates that spoke French.
I don’t think that it’s that necessary to learn the systems because to an extent you’re right in saying that diagrams and hand motions can explain a lot. It’s more about adapting to North America and reaching a comfort level that lets him focus on his game instead of focusing on how lonely he is in Toronto.
Pension Plan Puppets: A Toronto Maple Leafs blog and a group therapy session.
Definitely, comfort level cannot be understated. It’s also about fraterniszing with your teamates that don’t speak your native language.
This group seems pretty tight already. They’re sticking up for each other a lot more compared to last year. I want to see the team fully embrace the cast-out underdog mentality.
One thing: Stralman threw a motherfucking hip check?! What is happening to my Maple Leafs?
Also, now Wilson knows what it’s like to coach this team full of malcontents. I think we’ll probably see improvements in bad penalty taking around February.
Lord knows these guys aren’t the quickest on the uptake…
Pension Plan Puppets: A Toronto Maple Leafs blog and a group therapy session.
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