Maple Leafs 0 v. Lightning 4: Blanked

by PPP on Nov 10, 2010 1:01 AM EST in Game Recaps

"I don't understand why it's not happening. There's nothing given in this league. It's a tough league to win in, especially on the road. You need to show up ready. Things might not go your way, that's understandable, and you're not going to win them all but after you lose a few in a row like that, you need to start showing something.

"Tonight we didn't even have a chance."

That is Jean-Sebastien Giguere expressing the same frustration and confusion as fans of the Maple Leafs. It was great to see him continue to fight throughout the game and give the team the kind of goaltending that could have drawn a win if the other 22 players had helped. There's much more in Mirtle's article but that captures the gist. Over the past few games the Maple Leafs have been sunk not by lack of effort but lack of smarts. Tonight's game is a good example. The 5-on-3 showed exactly what happens when players are not scoring and are over-thinking things. Francois Beauchemin was given a perfect feed by Phil Kessel and rather than just blast his cannon he give a touch pass back to Tomas Kaberle who obviously didn't shoot either.

On the first Lightning goal, I don't agree that the Leafs' PK was necessarily at fault. Rather, they faced a powerplay with three huge threats. The set-up is similar to, if not identical to, Toronto's with Martin St. Louis playing the role of Tomas Kaberle, Vinny Lecavalier taking the spot of Beauchemin and Steven Stamkos replacing Phil Kessel. Painful to read right? Where it works is that Lecavalier and Stamkos are one-timer threats. That helps to spread out the penalty killing box and keeps the goalie moving. If you cheat out to the side then St. Louis and the other two Lightning have the centre to play with.

I'll try to break down one of the other goals but you can sum them up pretty easily. On the second Tomas Kaberle made a soft play and coughed up the puck. On the third goal Colton Orr heard footsteps and failed to clear the zone while Kris Versteeg was apparently so eager to see if Dan Ellis was having any problems that Randy Jones had plenty of time to find Dominic Moore for an easy deflection because his damn stick wasn't tied up. On the final goal, Korbinian Holzer didn't tie up Stamkos in front of the net and he was able to bat it in out of midair.

But let's go back to Jean-Sebastien Giguere for the final word on the game:

"this is unacceptable."

The Game in Six is after the jump.

Corsi and Fenwick | EV Face-Offs | H2H Time On Ice

Game Summary | Event Summary | Raw Charge Recap

Sorry, my mistake. The real game in six is below:

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Comments

Seeing how the quote kind of takes in Burke’s picture it makes it seem like he was the one upset. Wonder what he’s thinking right now.

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by PPP on Nov 10, 2010 1:02 AM EST reply actions

Mmm…donuts

by laser358 on Nov 10, 2010 1:21 AM EST up reply actions

No no PPP, you were right the first time! That first video was the real Game in 6! :)

Or at least, that’s what it felt like.

Phil Kessel says YAAAAAAAAAYYYYY!!!1

by LeafBoy on Nov 10, 2010 1:23 AM EST reply actions

I want chowder.

I also want the Leafs to have their next 10 games to be something other than 1-6-3.

Sigh.

Let the Wookie win.

by Kenjamin on Nov 10, 2010 1:30 AM EST reply actions

Man o man o man o man. If Boston gets another top 5 pick… I’m starting to get a bad taste in the back of my throat. Ah crap… anyone know if a keyboard is dishwasher safe?

by bigrubberbiscuits on Nov 10, 2010 2:50 AM EST up reply actions

That second goal was due to some awful play by Tomas Kaberle. Coughs the puck up behind the net and then gets lazy and let’s his man go straight to the net untouched for a wide open rebound.

Negative. I am a meat popsicle.

by birky on Nov 10, 2010 8:17 AM EST reply actions

ya

I’m surprised it hasn’t been mentioned more actually. Kabby gives the puck away to the Tampa forechcker behind the goal and then after the puck is sent to the point man, Kabby goes for a little skate for no reason and allows his man to get away from him. Brutal play. Headscratcher for sure.

(1:33)

There’s another glaring error on the play though and that’s Versteeg #32 set up on the boards to receive Kaberle’s pass but after it’s intercepted his reaction is so slow and delayed. While the Tampa player now has control of the puck, Versteeg maintains his position against the boards covering no one, allowing a free lane for the puck to go back to the point man and then can’t get over fast enough to get in front of the shot either.

Leaf players are taking themselves out of the play for no reason and allowing the other team to do whatever they want. My only explanation is that they’re thinking too much, not anticipating, and reacting too slow.

by general borschevsky on Nov 10, 2010 8:38 AM EST up reply actions

After his botched quasi-breakaway, Versteeg stood at the goal line for a few seconds while the play went the other way. That can’t happen at the NHL level

Negative. I am a meat popsicle.

by birky on Nov 10, 2010 8:43 AM EST up reply actions

Sure they are limited in talent, but do they also have no desire to compete?
We are truly fucked if that is the case.
Giguere’s post game comments also support the idea that whatever Ron Wilson is
selling, its not being bought.

/apathy face

by Future_considerations on Nov 10, 2010 8:49 AM EST up reply actions