Maple Leafs v. The Final Stretch

by PPP on Apr 7, 2009 4:00 PM EDT in Maple Leafs Game Previews

Next Game

Opposition Coverage: In Lou We Trust

Tuesday, Apr 7, 2009, 7:00 PM EDT
Prudential Center

Good news first:

Devils left wing Patrik Elias and defenseman Niclas Havelid both skated lightly this morning, but head coach Brent Sutter said neither will play against the Toronto Maple Leafs Tuesday night at Prudential Center.

- Fire and Ice

Well, I guess that could go one of two ways: the Devils' offence will lose a valuable weapon and they'll stink or the Devils will pick up the slack and beat the Leafs anyway. With Brent Sutter behind the bench I know which one I'll be banking on. Devils' fans want to make sure that their team doesn't take the Leafs' lightly especially in light of their previous matchups:

Even with a different goaltender, there's no reason the same couldn't happen again, really. And even though Toronto's playing for pride and they only won 2 of their last 6 - those two wins came against Washington and Philadelphia, two very good teams that happen to be above and below New Jersey, respectively. Factor into this that New Jersey has not beaten this team in regulation this season: they have lost to Toronto twice in a shootout (10/29/08 and 12/16/08) in addition the aforementioned overtime win. At that point, does it matter that Toronto is the league's worst at stopping goals (an average of 3.54 per game!).

- John Fischer, In Lou We Trust

What happened in those games? I'm glad you asked:

Final - 3.3.2009	1	2	3	OT	Total
New Jersey Devils	1	0	1	1	3
Toronto Maple Leafs	0	0	2	0	2

Complete Coverage >

Final - 12.16.2008	1	2	3	OT	SO	Total
New Jersey Devils	1	1	0	0	0	2
Toronto Maple Leafs	0	2	0	0	1	3

Complete Coverage >

Final - 10.29.2008	1	2	3	OT	SO	Total
Toronto Maple Leafs	0	3	2	0	1	6
New Jersey Devils	2	2	1	0	0	5

Complete Coverage >

Meanwhile, the purveyors of the tanking philosophy have their goal in sight as three losses will likely land the Leafs in 4th in the lottery and a shot at first overall in the draft. Now they're advocating some pretty terrible behaviour:

With only three meaningless regular season games remaining for the Leafs it’s time for the team to do what they probably should’ve been doing all year long. Namely, losing on purpose. Re-inserting the corpse of Lee Stempniak into the line-up would be a good start.

- Canadian Sports Junkie

Well, look at that. Lee Stempniak has been re-inserted into the line-up so that Brad "Habs Destroyer" May can hit his 1000th game in Toronto against the Sabres.

Personally, and I think everyone here is of the same mind, while losses wouldn't be frowned upon I'd rather the team put in a better effort than they have over the last couple of games. At least go down kicking. Well, not exactly kicking. That's more of a senators thing to do.

Poll

Do you trust Lou?

Yes - I also believe that Scott Stevens laid clean hits

26 votes

Why not? - Also, isn't that Bettman guy great?

8 votes

Not at all - Well...about as far as I can throw him

29 votes

63 votes | Poll has closed

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Comments

kill ’em all?

Как хотел я

by sleza on Apr 7, 2009 4:03 PM EDT reply actions

Stepniak

is apparently in so that next game, against Buffao, May can play his 1,000th game.

by Karina on Apr 7, 2009 4:20 PM EDT reply actions

I read this as “Maple Leafs vs. The Final Stench” and thought nothing of it.

"Ninety percent of the game is half mental."
The Left Coast Lock

by blurr1974 on Apr 7, 2009 4:29 PM EDT reply actions

it works equally well

wait who voted for bettman being a great guy?
that shits not even funny to joke about!

Because Taking The Leafs Seriously Is Not An Option

by JaredFromLondon on Apr 7, 2009 4:30 PM EDT up reply actions

Don't worry

That’s one of the trick ones we put in so that we know who to ban.

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

by PPP on Apr 7, 2009 4:56 PM EDT up reply actions

Ha

I meant to put “Devils” in there but it worked out better this way.

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

by PPP on Apr 7, 2009 4:59 PM EDT up reply actions

You think Gerber earned a shot somewhere else in the NHL? He’s been horrible since the suspension.

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

by Chemmy on Apr 7, 2009 4:30 PM EDT reply actions

As long as he keeps the “I’m just happy to be here!” thing going he could be an adequate backup, perhaps.

Gerber power!!!1

by LeafFanInVan on Apr 7, 2009 4:40 PM EDT up reply actions

As a backup?

Yes. You know who else has been terrible since he got back from the suspension? The Leafs.

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

by PPP on Apr 7, 2009 4:56 PM EDT up reply actions

You know who else has been terrible ~~since he got back from the suspension~~? The Leafs

fixed

Because Taking The Leafs Seriously Is Not An Option

by JaredFromLondon on Apr 7, 2009 5:23 PM EDT up reply actions

I’m a little disappointed with Gerber. I had high hopes. I thought he might play better then he’s ever played in his life. That obviously hasn’t happened.

by general borschevsky on Apr 7, 2009 6:33 PM EDT up reply actions