Blue Jackets at Maple Leafs

by Chemmy on Feb 19, 2009 3:52 PM EST in Maple Leafs Game Previews

Next Game

Columbus Blue Jackets
@ Toronto Maple Leafs

Thursday, Feb 19, 2009, 7:30 PM EST
Air Canada Centre

Pre-Game: 6:30 p.m., Leafs TV
Broadcast: 7:30 p.m., Leafs TV, AM640,
Watch With Leafs TV Interactive
Post-Game: 10:00 p.m., Leafs TV
Post Video: mapleleafs.com

Complete Coverage >

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Stevie Franchise is coming to town with stats like this:

	GP	MIN	W	L	T	EGA	GA	GAA	SA	SV	SV%	SO
2008 - Steve Mason	38	2255	22	12	3	5	78	2.08	1019	941	.923	7

Clearly the Leafs have their work cut out for them. 200 feet away from Steve Mason will be Leafs' rookie goaltender Justin Pogge:

	GP	MIN	W	L	T	EGA	GA	GAA	SA	SV	SV%	SO
2008 - Justin Pogge	4	240	1	3	0	0	17	4.25	104	87	.837	0

Assuming both goalies tonight don't change their save percentages, and that the Blue Jackets can get 30 shots on net, the Leafs will have to put sixty four pucks on net to make it a tie game (5-5, ugh). That's the difference between a .923 goalie and a .837 goalie. Somewhat luckily, the Blue Jackets don't have a lot of offense, and they play a very stifling style under Ken Hitchcock. The Leafs have 172 goals for and 210 goals against this season, compared to Columbus' 159 goals for and 161 goals against.

Players to watch out for:

We've already mentioned Steve Mason, but Rick Nash leads the Blue Jackets in scoring with 53 points in 54 games:

	G	A	P	+/-	PIM
2008 - Rick Nash	24	29	53	5	40

Opposition Milestones:

There's nothing like playing the Maple Leafs to help other teams set records, so buy yourself a two four before the game tonight, because Ken Hitchcock is coming to the ACC with 499 career wins.

The Blue Jackets are in the middle of a playoff hunt in the Western Conference. With a Vancouver loss to Ottawa tonight and a Blue Jackets win, Columbus could move into 5th place in the West. I hate to be the bearer of bad news but especially with Pogge in net tonight this is probably going to be an ugly game.

Hopefully Pogge can shake off his mental errors in the first period of the Sabres game and come out playing well from the get go. This is either an extended audition to see if he can settle down and play well or a stopgap measure while surgeons dissect Toskala's destroyed groin, but either way it would be nice to see Pogge steal a game.

Remember your SPG picks, go Leafs go!

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Comments

Mason’s on a tear this year.

Battle of the former-Team-Canada-WJC-starters

"God's in His heaven. All's right with the world." - Robert Browning (1812-1889)

by Winkle on Feb 19, 2009 11:32 AM EST reply actions

Statement Game

Pogge NEEDS this game tonight. He’s already made his home debut, so put those nerves aside. He’s playing the 20th ranked offense in terms of goals scored, and Columbus is playing the second half of a back-to-back.

We’ll see what he’s got tonight.

by Evening News Team on Feb 19, 2009 11:37 AM EST reply actions

The media said game two of the post-lockout season was a “must-win” for the Leafs. Oddly, the outcome of tonight’s game will likely receive the same scrutiny and have about as much long-term impact as that long-ago second game of the season.

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

by mf37 on Feb 19, 2009 11:47 AM EST up reply actions

Never said it was a must win. I’ll take a 3-1 Leafs loss if Pogge plays well. But another game like Tuesday’s against this Columbus team will not do.

by Evening News Team on Feb 19, 2009 11:57 AM EST up reply actions

On second thought, I did say he “needed” this game. I just meant he needed to have a better game than Tuesday

by Evening News Team on Feb 19, 2009 12:05 PM EST up reply actions

I’m calling a 1-0 shootout loss for the Leafs tonight, with 12 rounds of shooters. Mike Commodore scores the winner when he distracts Pogge by throwing a bunch of hundred dollar bills at him.

by lordosis on Feb 19, 2009 11:40 AM EST reply actions

Does that make Commodore Ted DiBiase, or Virgil?

by Godd Till on Feb 19, 2009 11:41 AM EST up reply actions

Ted Dibase’s son is now in the WWE. I’m not old at all, but it certainly didn’t seem that long ago I was getting up early Saturday mornings to catch WWF Superstars in 1991.

Supporter of the Sergei Berezin "Give and Go" - You give me puck, then you go to hell

by bkblades on Feb 19, 2009 5:58 PM EST up reply actions

I miss the days of watching for 2 hours just to hope to catch a glimpse of the Undertaker threaten someone or Pappashongo light some jobber on fire

Because Taking The Leafs Seriously Is Not An Option

by JaredFromLondon on Feb 19, 2009 6:03 PM EST up reply actions

I always thought Paul Bearer was the scariest of them all.

Supporter of the Sergei Berezin "Give and Go" - You give me puck, then you go to hell

by bkblades on Feb 19, 2009 6:04 PM EST up reply actions

Upcoming Schedule

Looking at the Leafs schedule this upcoming week, I can’t help but feel the schedule-makers are retarded. I know NY is very close to TO, but having the Leafs do this is insane and utterly pointless:

Sat – in TO (vs Van)
Sun – in NY (vs Rangers)
Wed – in TO (vs Rangers)
Thurs – in NY (vs Isles)
Sat – in TO (vs ott)

by lordosis on Feb 19, 2009 11:44 AM EST reply actions