Everybody on the team wants to win and wants to be successful," said Gustavsson. "We want the fans to be happy. When we started playing better, everybody’s going to be happy. If we can just continue like this it’s going to be a fun season.

Gotta love him.

I forget which commentator it was, but right after the buzzer went he said something to the effect of “The Leafs got excellent goaltending tonight. What a change for them. And look at the difference it made.”

Needless to say, I was nodding my head in agreement. I recalled all those hundreds of moments I have sat on the edge of my seat, watching the opposing player carry the puck across the Leafs’ blue line and knowing that, no matter what, another goal was going to be scored on Vesa Toskala. This feeling of calm I have watching Gustavsson play is a feeling I had almost forgotten. 2 on 1? Not a problem. That monster stretch of his where he covers the net from post to post with his pads will take care of it. Point shot through traffic? There’s no open net to shoot at, Gustavsson is covering it all. Wrap around? He’s from one post to the other before you realize he has moved. The only things he needs to work on are puck handling outside of the crease and rebound control. But as long as he keeps making 3+ ridiculous game-changing saves per game, those things shouldn’t be too much of a problem.

There are still people that argue that goaltending wasn’t the issue. @evilchris4 is the most adamant. It’s hilarious. The expression ‘blinkered’ was created for those fans.

Toskala routinely lets weak shots through.

Has Toskala ever made a highlight reel for anything other than giving up a 175-footer?

And what kills Tosakala the most is that he never, ever makes the big save. 2-1 down and shorthanded? Toskala isn’t bailing you out. 2-1 up with 5 minutes to play? If you’re lucky, it’s going to overtime.

In the space of eight games The Monster has done all three of these things repeatedly.

The debate – if there ever was one – is over.

i love you guys.

I have Ian White & The Monster in my Fantrax Hockey Pool _

This post looks like my post. Kinda weird. Same wavelength, blurr. You beat me to it but I have more quotes and more sources so nah!

Oh ya. Also, Vesa’s dead.

Have you seen how the defence has stepped it up for The Monster? The Leafs also started finding the back of the net all of a sudden. You guys are crazy to be blaming any of the early losses on Toskala. Even Patrick Roy in his prime couldn’t have won those games.

….WHO AM I KIDDING?!
I’ve been a big advocate of The Monster when the season started and am so glad that the changing of the guard is in full effect. Gustavsson is head an shoulders above Toskala. Toskala is shit, plain and simple. I hope he has played his last game as a Leaf because that shoot out attempt was an embarrassment to say the least. The Monster is not only huge but he plays big. He’s usually out on the white ice making it damn near impossible for shooters to find an opening, unlike Toskala who chooses to hide at the goal line. He also has great lateral speed…probably one of the quickest in the league. The part that has me most giddy is that he still has room to grow!

The dude lost his mother, had a heart procedure and recovered from a strained groin. The Monster for Vezina, Calder and Masterton!

Gustavsson thus far is a better goalie than Tokalol is, HOWEVER, I’m hoping that this isn’t a coming of the Leafs of old (CuJo/Belfour Leafs)…where the defense is semi-porous, but the difference is a world class goalie. I am happy with the fact that he looks like a world-class goalie however, I do not want the defense to think that they can suck and the goalie will save us, responsible D (like tonight’s performance) with world-class goaltending wins championships (not to say we’re gonna win the cup). I just can’t get my hopes up until our D plays like an NHL calibre D should play…it is a different team however I still smell the lackadaisical attitude of the pre-Wilson Leafs…(note: I am drunk and can’t be held accountable for drunk ML85 thoughts..thank you)….and BREATHE

The biggest thing that The Monster gives (besides his hulking frame) is the momentum created off a HUGE save, and that’s something the Leafs have missed for a few years now.

Cam Ward Injured
Carolina looking for outside help
Just saying…

If he never improves his puck handling I wont care, as long as he stops trying to do anything more complicated than stop the puck for his D
His rebound control is what I think he should target,

 Vesa would look good in a hurricanes jersey.

“He’s been great, bottom line. It gives us the confidence to play the game that you need to play to win in this League. You’re just confident in what you’ve got back there so you can make a play and not worry about turning the puck over. He’s been real solid.”

I think some pine riding will do the Vesa some good.