Caps 6 Leafs 4 - This Hurt to Watch
by Chemmy on Oct 3, 2009 9:44 PM EDT
in Game Recaps
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PrintThe Leafs came out completely flat in this game and Vesa Toskala rose to the occasion allowing an Ovechkin wrist shot from the top of the circle to hit him before going in the net. The Leafs allowed only eight shots on net in the first period despite the defensive coverage being pretty horrible yet went to the locker room down 3-0.
In the second period the Monster era began. Gustavsson came off the bench having not warmed up as the starting goalie and having sat cold on the bench for the better part of an hour and a half but acquitted himself well. Gustavsson stepped in behind shaky defense and made a number of big saves. I doubt Gustavsson thinks this was his best game but he looked very solid.
The Leafs scored four goals with Gustavsson on the ice and allowed only three if you're looking for a moral victory. Personally I'm looking for a single reason why Vesa Toskala should even be this team's backup and I'm looking for a reason why our defense has been so godawful.
On top of that, the Leafs don't seem terribly truculent to me. In the first period when they were getting laughed out of the building by Washington it would have been a great time for our big tough team to start throwing hits and change the momentum of the game. Toronto has two days off before hosting the Sens. Let's hope Wilson gets a better effort on Tuesday and our defense settles down. Let's also hope Gustavsson gets the start so that we don't have to hear it from Ottawa fans all week.
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I’m literally playing NHL 10 as I’m typing here. Beatin’ those Capitals, hard. :D
Truculence is Everything.
I'm busy drinking my sorrows away
Chemmy, mad props for getting these out so quick. I don’t know how I would be sober enough to hammer out something coherent after performances like this. I hope PPP is paying you lucratively.
by Hungry Leafs Fan on Oct 3, 2009 9:52 PM EDT up reply actions
Honestly I feel deflated.
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I wouldn’t be deflated. Jonas appears to be legit, so that’s a plus, and everything else will gel and it should be interesting.
"Good crowd out there tonight, boys, let's really try to win this one."
by Bald Pollack on Oct 3, 2009 11:31 PM EDT up reply actions
{———————————————————————————}
This much hurt.
Currently tracking outbreaks of Hogtown Flu, specifically the LS02 strain.
{———————————————————————————————————}
Maybe even this much.
by Van Ryn's Neurologist on Oct 3, 2009 9:47 PM EDT up reply actions
who do you think sucked the most tonight?
i really want to like beauchemin but for me it was either toskala or beauchemin
check out my blog:
www.TrucuLeafs.Blogspot.com
Toskala= done. No excuses now Wilson. He sucks balls. Imagine how the game would have been if he had made a save.
if gustavvson has played both games the full 60 min we would have won both.
check out my blog:
www.TrucuLeafs.Blogspot.com
I’m not sure about this.
The game against the Habs? Yes, I believe we would have but I’m not going to pin this loss on Toskala.
He was left out to try all night (as was Gustavsson). If it wasn’t 6-1 going in to the 3rd, there’s no way of saying how the Caps would have responded. Perhaps they wouldn’t have let off the gas pedal.
I’m as big of a Gustavsson advocate as the next guy but to place this loss on Toskala is absurd.
by Hungry Leafs Fan on Oct 3, 2009 9:50 PM EDT up reply actions
uhhhhhhhhh
Toskala doesn’t let in a softie on the first shot and I’ll entertain that it wasn’t his fault.
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It definitely does set the tone…
But whatever, I’m perfectly fine with never seeing him again!
by Hungry Leafs Fan on Oct 3, 2009 9:53 PM EDT up reply actions
It’s not absurd (oh fuck the habs just won again). Vesa set the tone with a shitty opening goal. Poor defensive coverage is a result of being tentative. If you are not confident in your goalie, you are going to be tentative, and make poor, half-hearted decisions. It’s not just the stats, it’s about the feeling on the ice. I’m sure the Leafs feel more confident with Monster back there. Once they realised it, they started playing with more confidence. Yeah, the Caps backed off, but you play the hand you are dealt. I just think it would be a good move to let the better goalie play. That’s not absurd, really, is it?
by Leaf in Habland on Oct 3, 2009 9:53 PM EDT up reply actions
I’ll buy this for a bit, but not when the whole game showed horrible defensive coverage, even with Gustavsson in net. Confidence doesn’t work when the whole game the players in front of the goalie broke down and didn’t care for back-checking or covering each other’s assignments.
Supporter of the Sergei Berezin "Give and Go" - You give me puck, then you go to hell
Letting Gustavsson play (something I’ve been campaigning-see sig) and saying Toskala lost this game are two totally different things. One is absurd, the other isn’t. There’s no telling what the outcome of the game would have been if The Monster got the nod instead of The Vesa. Sure, the weak opening goal might have shook up the team’s confidence but they had 58 minutes to get it back. I never played hockey at a professional level but even playing street hockey, when the games don’t matter, I would try to get back defensively when the goalies sucked.
BK is totally bang on too. The defensive coverage didn’t look any better when The Monster came in in the second. Especially the Semin goal which looked more like Moses parting the red sea the way everybody just seemed to freeze and give him an open lane to the net.
by Hungry Leafs Fan on Oct 3, 2009 10:04 PM EDT up reply actions
No offense, but I call provisional bullshit on this. The team still sucked when the Monster came in. They either couldn’t or wouldn’t play defence for the entire 2nd period, same as the 1st when Vesa played.
The only time they got their shit together was in the 3rd – when the Caps were home and cooled and stopped even trying.
I could understand it if the team felt nervous playing in front of Vesa. He was crap, but it’s far too early to say that they’re a different team in front of the Monster etc. They didn’t. They need to play better team defence, and fast, regardless of who the goaltender is. The Caps would’ve scored four on a four by six sheet of plywood with the kind of defence the Leafs had tonight.
jrwendelman
The Artist Formerly Known as "Junior", who blogs at heroesinrehab.ca/blog
"But if someone so eager to engage into fist talk, we can always meet after season end in Minsk." (Mikhail Grabovski and a well-meaning but not particularly skillful translator)
Well maybe it took them a while to get their confidence back. I’m not saying they did not play ridiculously bad D. The mystery is why. I think confidence has something to do with it and I think Toskala has something to do with confidence. Ok, maybe not enough to blame him for the loss, but it’s an intangible. It’s pointless to say if Monster had started it would have been a different game, but you can’t prove it’s not true either.
by Leaf in Habland on Oct 4, 2009 12:05 AM EDT up reply actions
Get Joe-Mac in right now. Waive Toskala.
Truculence is Everything.
by Marc Pilgrim on Oct 3, 2009 9:48 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
We need to figure out if MacDonald needs to clear waivers.
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Joey Mac isn’t that good of a goalie. He’s OK. But no one will pick him up off waivers.
by Van Ryn's Neurologist on Oct 3, 2009 9:50 PM EDT up reply actions
Still, he was pretty solid in the preseason, and I’d take anyone than Toskala at this point.
Truculence is Everything.
Fuck. I’d take ME over Toskala – I can’t skate, but at least I can keep a puck out of the fucking net. The first period was a disgrace on all parts of the team. The second period was a disgrace for our defense.
by Blue and White Expat on Oct 4, 2009 12:37 AM EDT up reply actions
I’m starting the petition now:
Blue and White Expat for Leafs goalie.
A Nation of Masochists I can't believe "Stay Truculent!!!1" replaced goodbye.
Considering he was good for the Isles last year, he may be a Craig Anderson-type of find.
by red army line on Oct 4, 2009 4:48 AM EDT up reply actions
The media reported that he had to clear them on the way down…
Bitter Leaf Fan: a life-long Toronto Maple Leafs fan comments on the team, the media and the exasperation...
Lots of players clear on the way down. Joey Mac for half salary is a different story.
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Anyone who could pick him up for $325 would pick him up for $350.
$650K is nothing for a team. That’s Kyle Wellwood’s monthly Frito’s bill.
by Van Ryn's Neurologist on Oct 3, 2009 9:55 PM EDT up reply actions
Right. Thus my worry about him not clearing.
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Who needs a $300K back-up that might put in a claim on Joey Mac?
More importantly, is waiving Toskala at this point in his career a move Burke would make? I don’t know why, but it just doesn’t strike me as something Burke would do when a player is at a low-point.
Bitter Leaf Fan: a life-long Toronto Maple Leafs fan comments on the team, the media and the exasperation...
it’s like all the kickassery and awesomeness of the pre season was eaten by a bear or a cougar
Un ananas (truculent) qui parle? Impossible!
I’m not surprised, actually. After that abortion on Sunday, I kinda expected this. But I’m reserving any serious judgement until 10 games are in our highly-revamped defence gets sorted out.
Beauchemin is a much better player than he’s been playing.
The Monster will be fine, then he will be great.
"We've had an ongoing problem with Grabovski this year." Bob Gainey, 4/04/09
God, Jim Hughson is annoying as fuck.
Take him back, Canucks fans.
by Hungry Leafs Fan on Oct 3, 2009 9:54 PM EDT up reply actions
If Ovechkin played in Toronto...
I’d be the most insufferable person on the planet.
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The rest of the new guys (Beauch and Komi) are hopefully just going through growing pains because they were awful again. White was solid, Schenn was pretty solid, Finger was Finger and Kaby was quiet. Monster was pretty good esp. after coming in cold. The offense is doing good.
Kabby was a little shaky with the puck in the offensive zone. I think he caused a few turnovers.
by Van Ryn's Neurologist on Oct 3, 2009 9:49 PM EDT up reply actions
Also Kabby and defense ugh.
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At this point, he’s not even bad in his own end without the puck. He’s atrocious. Twice he peeled away from the play before goals were scored.
Pension Plan Puppets: A Toronto Maple Leafs blog and a group therapy session.
The valiant, but ultimately fruitless comeback at the end really showed how much this team lacks high-end forwards. I don’t know how many times John Mitchell fell on the ice trying his best to create a scoring chance. He’s a good player, but he’s not what I call an offensive threat. Antropov, long ago traded away, created a presence and an offensive creativity that isn’t really present with the Leafs in current form.
Supporter of the Sergei Berezin "Give and Go" - You give me puck, then you go to hell
I’m going to re-post this link. First year out of SEL, 53 games, 30 wins (12 losses, not 37 and 40 like Raycroft). There is no reason not to let Gustavson play if he’s playing well. Vesa needs to suck it up and not cry if he is the back up. If he can’t handle it, Joey Mac is a better goalie anyway (see save percentage coverage ad nauseum).
One thing that pisses me off is how the leaf forwards always seem to leave the point men open. Wilson, fix this now.
One thing that pisses me off is how the leaf forwards always seem to leave thepoint menopposition open. Wilson, fix this now.
Fixed.
jrwendelman
The Artist Formerly Known as "Junior", who blogs at heroesinrehab.ca/blog
"But if someone so eager to engage into fist talk, we can always meet after season end in Minsk." (Mikhail Grabovski and a well-meaning but not particularly skillful translator)
One thing that pisses me off is how the leafsforwardsalways seem to leave thepoint menopposition open. Wilson, fix this now.
Fixed more.
jrwendelman
The Artist Formerly Known as "Junior", who blogs at heroesinrehab.ca/blog
"But if someone so eager to engage into fist talk, we can always meet after season end in Minsk." (Mikhail Grabovski and a well-meaning but not particularly skillful translator)
screw this
I’m tired and maybe sick, I’m going to bed. Night all
Un ananas (truculent) qui parle? Impossible!
Omg the habs just won again in overtime. I’m so gonna hear it at work on Monday.
Professional cusser causer.
by T is for Truculence on Oct 3, 2009 9:51 PM EDT reply actions
FML Gionta scores in ot to beat Buffalo.
jrwendelman
The Artist Formerly Known as "Junior", who blogs at heroesinrehab.ca/blog
"But if someone so eager to engage into fist talk, we can always meet after season end in Minsk." (Mikhail Grabovski and a well-meaning but not particularly skillful translator)
Does he handle the pressure?
This was a good test for Gustavsson and I’d say he passed. When a goalie has a bad period or lets in a lot of goals it’s important to see how they bounce back. Vesa, I’m sorry to say, looked small in the net on the 3rd goal and even smaller after. Gustavsson was big and stood tall in the 3rd, not an easy thing to do in the face of defeat for a young goalie (Pogge who?). For this reason, I’d start Gustavsson on Tuesday and if he wins I’d start him again on Saturday.
by general borschevsky on Oct 3, 2009 9:51 PM EDT reply actions
It's worth pointing out....
The Monster looked part homo sapien.
He looked really solid. But we should have some real expectations about him.
by Van Ryn's Neurologist on Oct 3, 2009 10:00 PM EDT up reply actions
All I got is; see Zombieland.
It’s amazing.
That is all.
WAC out.
As per new community rules; all signature tags on PPP must contain the word "truculent".
(843): the red head has a bf
(1-843): just because there's a goalie doesn't mean u can't score
by Wrap Around Curl on Oct 3, 2009 9:53 PM EDT reply actions
Drinking Games
After the 1st period I started a solo drinking game to kill the pain. I took a swig of beer every time I heard “Ovechkin”, 2 swigs for “Monster”. Feeling much better now.
Tuesday I’ll try 1 for Heatley, 2 for every Leafs penalty, and a whole bottle if Brian Burke is caught on camera smiling.
by Another Good Kingston Boy on Oct 3, 2009 9:55 PM EDT reply actions
was that purple felt?
Currently tracking outbreaks of Hogtown Flu, specifically the LS02 strain.
by Robot Godzilla on Oct 3, 2009 10:01 PM EDT up reply actions
What in the world are they doing for Edmonton’s home opener? This is atrocious. Circus on ice? What is this, Disney night with the stars?
Supporter of the Sergei Berezin "Give and Go" - You give me puck, then you go to hell
This might be worse than Ottawa.
Currently tracking outbreaks of Hogtown Flu, specifically the LS02 strain.
by Robot Godzilla on Oct 3, 2009 10:01 PM EDT up reply actions
oh wait.
So this is why Heatley didn’t go to EDM.
Currently tracking outbreaks of Hogtown Flu, specifically the LS02 strain.
by Robot Godzilla on Oct 3, 2009 10:03 PM EDT up reply actions
Alfredsson would fit right in though
by Another Good Kingston Boy on Oct 3, 2009 10:05 PM EDT up reply actions
Hey am I the only one who can't see anyone elses comments?
by The Meatriarchy on Oct 3, 2009 10:01 PM EDT reply actions
Refresh. I’m thinking you’re getting the cache of this page. I’m not sure if this even gets through since you can’t read comments…
Supporter of the Sergei Berezin "Give and Go" - You give me puck, then you go to hell
I am refreshing like crazy – page is taking forever to load
by The Meatriarchy on Oct 3, 2009 10:03 PM EDT up reply actions
Honestly…the Edmonton pre-game show…is just so ridiculously over the top. Cirque du Soleil meets some pipe bands wearing Oilers jerseys.
OH THANK GOD IT’S OVER.
This is what happens when the Cirque du Soleil boss goes into space – the whole operation goes to shit.
by Another Good Kingston Boy on Oct 3, 2009 10:07 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
And people in Ottawa can finally breathe a sigh of relief… as they no longer have the worst opening before a game.
Life as a Toronto Sports Fan?... *sigh*... It is what it is...
Johnny, go watch that fat centurion again and come back when you’re done. :)
"We've had an ongoing problem with Grabovski this year." Bob Gainey, 4/04/09
Anyone know where you can find super stats for the game? It used to be on the leafs site but now it’s not.
should I be happy I missed this game? And woo Toskala getting pulled!
"Life is just a place where we spend time between games. Hockey is where we live, where we can best meet and overcome pain and wrong and death." - Fred Shero
by Karina on Oct 3, 2009 10:10 PM EDT via mobile reply actions
You should. Not much to see but hope is not lost.
The Monster didn’t look bad despite giving up three and getting the loss though.
by Hungry Leafs Fan on Oct 3, 2009 10:15 PM EDT up reply actions
Well, I was expecting a loss. Not quite like this, but at least they weren’t asleep in the third period.
Also, the Habs won again, but I believe they lost two more players? Can anyone confirm?
Can it before I drive this truculence through your faceulence and put you in an ambulance.
by Brunswick Bruiser on Oct 3, 2009 10:13 PM EDT reply actions
Any and all are invited
To five for Howling if you’re interested in the Yotes – LA Game. Gamethread at 7:30PT/10:30ET
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by Travis Hair on Oct 3, 2009 10:15 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs
Gustavvson played a good 2 periods and deserves a start. Toskala had a .625 save%.
.625……f’in raycroft plays better than that. Of his fives, i’d say two were a bit difficult and one was good. other than that 3 goals on 8 shots is not good for an AHL tender. Its time to give Gustavvson a shot.
Sorry I'm late to the party...
I’ve never seen the defense out of position so many times in my life. That includes all the times when Kubina would pinch in and that pylon McCabe stood around as two or three forwards rushed passed him.
I hope Beauchemin and Schenn never play together again. That was painful to watch.
Just for me, give the D 10 games, Rob. Then start the cutting.
"We've had an ongoing problem with Grabovski this year." Bob Gainey, 4/04/09
I'll be a little more patient
But I swear this month of Leafs hockey might be the longest in my life if they keep playing like this.
by RobOuttaSoCal on Oct 4, 2009 1:18 AM EDT up reply actions
And the defence was, for the second game in a row, ATROCIOUS. The veterans need to be much better defensively. Constantly making bad pinches. All of them seem to want to play forwards. I thought Schenn and Finger played good games. The other 4 D looked terrible, Especially Beauchemin.
Against the Caps? Not too shabby.
"We've had an ongoing problem with Grabovski this year." Bob Gainey, 4/04/09
Beauchemin admitted in the post-game that he’s pressing and trying to do too much.
Supporter of the Sergei Berezin "Give and Go" - You give me puck, then you go to hell
RT @FriedmanHNIC
Morrison to Knuble on bench: “I haven’t seen this many breakways in three years.”
by Hungry Leafs Fan on Oct 3, 2009 10:28 PM EDT reply actions
You know that sound of something getting sucked into a jet engine?
Currently tracking outbreaks of Hogtown Flu, specifically the LS02 strain.
by Robot Godzilla on Oct 3, 2009 10:39 PM EDT up reply actions
Not saying anything that others haven’t mentioned but our new defense looks suspicously similar to last year’s. Frenchie and Komi have been our worst D although I’m sure XLB would have challenged for that distinction if he had played tonight.
The other part that bugged me is that , for a belligerent team, that simply do not finish their checks with any regularity. This has to change.
Agree completely here. And just as equally bad, the entire team was listless and unresponsive.
Supporter of the Sergei Berezin "Give and Go" - You give me puck, then you go to hell
Finger was his usual self. You didn’t notice him. Which tonight probably meant he played pretty good.
Still overpriced, but a not all-bad pick-up by the Silver Fox.
by Van Ryn's Neurologist on Oct 3, 2009 10:35 PM EDT up reply actions
He did display some surprisingly soft hands on his shot which led to the rebound that produced Poni’s goal.
by Hungry Leafs Fan on Oct 3, 2009 10:38 PM EDT up reply actions
The forwards aren’t truculent. They’re the same group from last year. Aside from Mitchell, Stempniak and the Fourth line, we don’t have the same boom upfront.
Unfortunately I joined sbnation on these terms but what a horrible defensive effort tonight in washington, how many odd man rushes did the caps have?
Curtis
Leafs247
Welcome
Thanks for joining.
Pension Plan Puppets: A Toronto Maple Leafs blog and a group therapy session.
Anyone else feel Tuesday is a must win especially with the next game after that against the penguins
[url]http://www.leafs247.com[/url]
:headdesk:
And what if we do lose? Really? There’s still 79 more to go in the season. Scratch one against the Pens, call it 78 more. Last year the Pens were nowhereseville at midseason, and ended up with the cup.
The only “must win” game is an elimination one in the playoffs / playoff hunt. Everything else is hot air and silliness.
All of which is to say that if we lose the next one it will be an ongoing bad sign at a time of great doubt and uncertainty, so it wouldn’t do any of our mental healths any good… but in terms of will it make a big difference to our winning a cup 2 years from now? Not much, no.
Well
we have to win every game in November, when it matters.
A Nation of Masochists I can't believe "Stay Truculent!!!1" replaced goodbye.
Yeah, points all count, losses now still suck
and yeah, making the playoffs would be great for seasoning our kids… Not saying it doesn’t hurt. It’s just dumb to declare the third game they play as “must win.” I mean, games 4, 5, 9, 38, 51 and 82 aren’t. If every game is “must win”, the word “must” really doesn’t mean much.
Sorry forgot you were new
I was referring to this
A Nation of Masochists I can't believe "Stay Truculent!!!1" replaced goodbye.
dagnabbit! I shoulda knowed that.
Late night humour fail, sorry.
But thanks for the patient explanation :)
haha
No proble, The dictionary has all sorts of other in jokes and comments explained
A Nation of Masochists I can't believe "Stay Truculent!!!1" replaced goodbye.
No
Not at all. What the team needs to do is show that they are learning.
Pension Plan Puppets: A Toronto Maple Leafs blog and a group therapy session.
didn't see the game
But I’m worried about Gustavsson giving up the same amount of goals as Toskala.
And don’t give me the “cold off the bench” excuse. He’s a pro athelete and better be ready to go when he gets the call.
What were the SV% for each of our keepers? Really looking for a positive…
"Sanity is not statistical." - George Orwell, a Leafs fan...
Stalk me here...
by blurr1974 on Oct 3, 2009 11:38 PM EDT via mobile reply actions
I missed one of the goals but the other two I wouldn’t pin on the goalie no matter who was in the net.
To be fair, Toskala was hung out to dry in net as well. The first goal was a weak on as Chemmy remarked but the Leafs D really really really sucked it up during the first 2 periods. The Morrison quote was not far off, every second rush seemed like it was an odd man rush or breakaway. It was rather sad.
Life as a Toronto Sports Fan?... *sigh*... It is what it is...
SV% don’t really matter for one game. They were both terrible.
Toskala was 0.625% in the first.
Jonas was .750% in the second.
Then Washinton stopped pressed and/or the Leafs started playing or both =D And Jonas stopped all 7 shots in the third. Second and Third cumulative… %0.842
But who cares. It was just one game =). Jonas will grow more comfortable the more he plays and hopefully the Leafs won’t leave any goalie out to dry too often.
Breakdown of the goals
Toskala
First Goal: Ovechkin goes one on one against Schenn. Schenn stays in front of him and Ovechkin wires a low shot, glove side from right inside the blue line. Very stoppable
Second Goal: Komisarek in the box. Ovechkin throws the puck at the net from the point. Knuble bangs in the rebound. Better rebound control could have prevented this but I won’t blame this one on Tosk.
Third Goal: Brooks Laich sneaks behind Beauchemin and has a breakaway with Beauchemin just trailing him. Toskala goes down early and totally bites on the fake. Eh, not going to blame Toskala on that one either.
Gustavsson comes in at the beginning of the second
First Goal: Stalberg leaves Semin to pressure the point man. Puck goes down low and Semin is left wide open. Monster makes 2 saves at the side of the net but Semin puts the third one in. Nothing he could do on it.
Second Goal: Brendan Morrison sneaks past the d for a wide open breakaway. Gustavsson gets caught moving back too quickly and Morrison roofs it over his glove hand on the backhand. He read the move but just missed getting the puck.
Third Goal: Ovechkin gets past the blue line and whips a pass to the opposite side to Semin. NOBODY shifts over giving him a clear path to the net. He gets there untouched and beats Gustavsson with the move but loses the puck. It ends up going off Beauchemin and going in.
I’ve never played goalie before but I imagine your mentality and preparation as a back up is different than if you knew you were starting. I know you’re supposed to be a professional and what not but over the years, I have noticed that a lot of times when a goalie (especially one used to starting) gets thrown in off the bench cold, he will tend to do worse than if he started. I don’t know if this is really true or not but it was just something I have noticed over the years from boxscore watching.
Despite giving up three goals, I thought Gustavsson did very well. He played big, was square to the shooter and still made some good saves. There is still a lot to like about The Monster and I wouldn’t be so quick to judge him until I have seen him start some more games.
by Hungry Leafs Fan on Oct 4, 2009 12:40 AM EDT up reply actions
I agree. Love that crazy Russian…except when he plays the Leafs.
Didn’t like his slewfoot on Mayers either.
by Hungry Leafs Fan on Oct 4, 2009 12:43 AM EDT up reply actions
thank you sir
great breakdown.
"Sanity is not statistical." - George Orwell, a Leafs fan...
Stalk me here...
by blurr1974 on Oct 4, 2009 1:21 AM EDT up reply actions
Gustavsson made two big stops in a row on a Washington power play and looked more and more poised as the game went on.
Washington had some good chances in the third but Gustavsson was settled down then and shut the door.
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laich's goal
I wont question that the D was awful. Se Vesa had no help.
But you let him off the hook for Laich’s goal, and that’s where I can’t.
Except for the unquestionably awful opening goal by OVechkin, Laich’s breakaway is the perfect example of what’s consistently wrong with Toskala.
He’s just absolutely inept at 1 on 1s. I think his much-maligned SVP must be closer to about .300 on breakaways.
He goes down far too early and either gets beat high or the skater dekes L or R and slides it in by going around him. It’s also why he’s an absolute liability in shootouts.
I hate the fact that when I see a skater with a breakaway, it’s a goddam goal every time. As soon as the skater gets behind the D, I’m already looking at the clock and gauging how much time there’s left to get it back.
The softie wrist shots are one thing. But I HATE that i have absolutely no confidence in breakaways. Of which there have been a lot in this young abomination of a season.
i'd agree
and point out that Gustavsson did the exact same thing on the Morrison breakaway goal. Went down early, puck in the back of the net…
Goalies shouldn’t be facing breakaways, and if they are, it’s a complete crap shoot. Toskala, unfortunately is more crap than shoot though.
"Sanity is not statistical." - George Orwell, a Leafs fan...
Stalk me here...
by blurr1974 on Oct 5, 2009 1:26 AM EDT up reply actions
True, they gave up the same number of goals
Toskala in 1 period on 8 shots, Gustavson in 2 periods on 18 shots. But that totally doesn’t make a difference does it. Don’t feel bad though, at least we don’t have Brodeur. I looked up his stat line, and he’s given up 2172 goals. That makes Toskala and Gustavson look like gods, right.
:headdesk:
Fuck you Toskala.
Not only did you decide to do this on Mabel’s birthday, but considering the time difference, you did it on mine as well.
You’re dead to me.
"We can categorically state that we have not released man-eating badgers into Iraq"
- Major Mike Shearer
Happy Birthday article1!
Sorry The Vesa decided to crap on it.
by Hungry Leafs Fan on Oct 4, 2009 12:40 AM EDT up reply actions
He did it on Michael Nylander’s birthday too.
by red army line on Oct 4, 2009 4:57 AM EDT up reply actions
so, by the comments here, I am going to assume this was as terrible on TV as it was on the radio
Refusing To Bow To Your Standards Since 2006
by JaredFromLondon on Oct 4, 2009 12:18 AM EDT reply actions
Just watch the 6 minute recap and see :D It was the worst game I’ve seen in a while. Maybe not quite as bad as when the leafs blew a 5-0 lead in the third and lost in OT, but not too far off either.
recap of what the radio sounded like
give up – goal
break away – goal
toskala -sucks
here have a free goal
Gustavsson save save save save, shit goal
random 3 goals out of nowhere
still lose
Refusing To Bow To Your Standards Since 2006
by JaredFromLondon on Oct 4, 2009 12:24 AM EDT up reply actions
I spent the first period
in the collision centre reporting an accident listening to the TV they had in the corner without being able to see it. I got home just in time for the start of the second to see The Monster.
Sad and depressing. Look on the bright side. This has to be an aberration from the norm. After all Stempniak scored a goal and normally that wouldn’t happen either.
A Nation of Masochists I can't believe "Stay Truculent!!!1" replaced goodbye.
joe bowen made it sound like gustavsson was holding back the flood of ovie, semin and backstrom with a redic string of saves and didnt have a chance on any of the goals he let in, especially the one off beauch’s skate.
what the fuck is up with the D? Seriously
Refusing To Bow To Your Standards Since 2006
by JaredFromLondon on Oct 4, 2009 12:27 AM EDT up reply actions
It’s funny. I thought this team’s problem according to the “experts” was supposed to be scoring goals
A Nation of Masochists I can't believe "Stay Truculent!!!1" replaced goodbye.
yeah, its pretty fucking rediculous that this defense is making so many constant mistakes, I mean, except for Schenn they are all multi year veterans, I know its still early but im starting to fucking panic.
of course that could be the sleep deprivation
Refusing To Bow To Your Standards Since 2006
by JaredFromLondon on Oct 4, 2009 12:32 AM EDT up reply actions
I’m hoping it’s due to the fact that they are getting used to Wilson’s system. They should have been ready after the preseason though. I’m already freaking out too. I don’t want to have to regret Burkie giving up the draft picks for Kessel at the end of the year.
A Nation of Masochists I can't believe "Stay Truculent!!!1" replaced goodbye.
the major on I am worried about is Beauchemin, because I KNOW he is an excellent defenseman. This is very unlike him.
Refusing To Bow To Your Standards Since 2006
by JaredFromLondon on Oct 4, 2009 12:42 AM EDT up reply actions
I know
I was happier with his signing than any other signing the Leafs made and it isn’t looking too good thus far.
He needs to stop panicking.
A Nation of Masochists I can't believe "Stay Truculent!!!1" replaced goodbye.
it also sounded like the D did a piss poor job of clearing the crease of both puck and players this game.
And I know some of that is just on the fact that Ovie and Semin are fucking ridiculous players, but still, no one should get three wacks at a rebound
Refusing To Bow To Your Standards Since 2006
by JaredFromLondon on Oct 4, 2009 12:44 AM EDT up reply actions
Maybe this will make you feel better
A Nation of Masochists I can't believe "Stay Truculent!!!1" replaced goodbye.
had a lovely anniversary dinner with the missus. came home and watched the game on PVR and ruined my night. ovie & co are sick, but there’s no excuse for that kind of performance.
silver lining: we’re better than detroit right now.
it was definitely a clusterfuck of a performance.
I went to a 8-1 drubbing 2 years ago and it was against Washington too…
by Hungry Leafs Fan on Oct 4, 2009 12:48 AM EDT up reply actions
fuck it im going to bed
I pray that the leafs demolish the sens, that will make me feel so much better
Refusing To Bow To Your Standards Since 2006
by JaredFromLondon on Oct 4, 2009 12:49 AM EDT reply actions
I'm going out tomorrow
to buy NHL 10 and a new Leafs jersey. First move when I get the game: trading Toskala.
A Nation of Masochists I can't believe "Stay Truculent!!!1" replaced goodbye.
I’m thinking Clark 80s retro.
A Nation of Masochists I can't believe "Stay Truculent!!!1" replaced goodbye.
beating the sens
is even more important than usual because not only would it make me feel 5% confident in this Leaf team, but it would have the added benefit of sending the panic cloud up to Ottawa, instead of over us.
Normally I hope for a 15-0 drubbing. But here, honestly, since the D and G have been so bad?
I’m hoping for a 2-0 win. Air tight defense that gives up very little, with Gustavsson getting the start and making a few — but not too many — big saves. Maybe stop Alfie on a breakaway once or something.
I really don’t want a barnburner. We have $30 million worth of defense, for fuck’s sake. DEFEND SOMETHING.
Toskala: And Toronto thought SARS was bad?
A Nation of Masochists I can't believe "Stay Truculent!!!1" replaced goodbye.
Maybe I’m crazy, but maybe OV’s a superzombie. 
Currently tracking outbreaks of Hogtown Flu, specifically the LS02 strain.
by Robot Godzilla on Oct 4, 2009 1:38 AM EDT reply actions 1 recs
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