Trust and Confidence In Short Supply
by PPP on Dec 1, 2010 3:00 PM EST
in Chemmy's Corner
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From here it is easy to see where the Leafs overtime winner was going to come from. Luke Schenn, after taking a drop pass, correctly identified that a direct shot was going to be blocked. He could slide it through, on his forehand, to Phil Kessel who would take advantage of a pick before rifling a wrist shot over Dan Ellis' shoulder. Failing that, Schenn could have held on to the puck, gone wide, and driven to the net.
As has been so often the case this season, the wrong decision was made and the puck ended up in the Leafs' net. Someday, maybe not Thursday and definitely not Saturday but someday, the tide will change.
Schenn decides to hold the puck for a couple of strides too long and is forced to try to hit Kessel with a backhand. To his credit, as noted in this morning's FTB, the Leafs young defenceman recognizes that he made a critical (and stupid) mistake. Back to the play as Brett Clark, who had been cheating towards the pass and had opened a path to the net for Schenn, deftly picks off the puck and heads up ice. Phil Kessel turns to try to backcheck so things might not be so bad.
Oh great, one of the Leafs' best skaters catches a fucking rut in the Air Canada Centre's shitty ice and now it's a long 2-on-1 between Clark and Simon Gagne on...dammit...Tomas Kaberle.
Here's a classic case of a defenceman trying to do too much. Basic 2-on-1 play is for the defenceman to take the pass away and allow your goalie to handle the shot. Considering how Jonas Gustavsson had played thus far you'd think a teammate would have confidence in leaving him to it. However, it's easy to understand how the cumulative effect of five years of pub-standard goaltending would make your first instinct to try to block the shot.
The end result of this?
A shot deflected off of a shin pad and a stunning loss.
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I thought Kabby played it well. He positioned himself to take away the pass and did his best to block the shot. He was unlucky to have it go off him and past Monster into the net. I think it’s a bit much to give Kabby any part of the blame for the goal; obviously, his first and most critical responsibility is to take away the pass, and he did that. He didn’t make a weak stick-block effort that tipped it past Monster, he tried to get his leg in front of the shot and got unlucky.
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) CERTIFIED GRABBO LOVER
The point remains that it’s no longer Vesa “Coming Soon to the Swiss League” Toskala back there anymore. Gustavsson has made 35 saves to this point and deserves a chance to make the save on his own merit.
Watching it live I thought Gagne had picked a corner top-shelf, but after seeing the reverse angle replay I was annoyed that Kabby tried to block on a 2 on 1 that close in.
Best case scenario he blocks it and it ricochets directly to a backchecking forward and we go 2 on 1 the other way.
Worst case scenario is what happened.
OTHER worst case scenario is it bounces right back to Gagne and Clark has a tap-in since Kaberle and Gustavsson are now down and out.
2 out of 3 possible results of Kbaerle trying to block that shot end up in our net. It’s not a smart play.
Resident Capologist
Сертыфікаваны Grabbo Палюбоўнік
worst part: on the slow-mo replay, the puck is heading straight for Monster’s chest before it’s tipped.
Be an Optimist Prime, not a Negatron. Certified Grabbo Lover!
Адразу Ліфс Перайсці !
by Sergei Puckizin on Dec 1, 2010 3:21 PM EST up reply actions
Yeah, it’s shell shock for Kaberle. In 3 seasons guys won’t even think about blocking that shot because they’ll know it’s going to get stopped.
I know why he did it but it still screwed the team.
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by PPP on Dec 1, 2010 3:32 PM EST up reply actions
He played it wrong and the puck went off him and in to the net. This is a textbook play.
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The interesting is he seems to have done what JTBourne argued in favour of (and I oppose)—aggressively moving at the puck carrier.
I’m guessing Bourne would say Kaberle should have made his move earlier.
"That’s why stats are so important – anecdotal evidence just doesn’t cut it when you’re talking about history." - Bower Power
by The '67 Sound on Dec 1, 2010 4:36 PM EST up reply actions
do one thing well, not two things poorly
Rule #20
by JaredFromLondon on Dec 1, 2010 4:43 PM EST up reply actions
did you mean to say “sub-standard” or “pub-standard”?
Be an Optimist Prime, not a Negatron. Certified Grabbo Lover!
Адразу Ліфс Перайсці !
Oh, I meant pub-standard.
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by PPP on Dec 1, 2010 3:26 PM EST up reply actions
I’d take most of the pub-standard goalies in my league over Toskala
Resident Capologist
Сертыфікаваны Grabbo Палюбоўнік
that’s what i was thinking.
Be an Optimist Prime, not a Negatron. Certified Grabbo Lover!
Адразу Ліфс Перайсці !
by Sergei Puckizin on Dec 1, 2010 3:34 PM EST up reply actions
In the replay video, you see Kaberle commit to Gagne once he drops his left leg to load up the shot. It’s about a full second before he releases the puck and Kaberle knows he’s not passing, yet still half assed-ly tries to cover both the pass and shot. He gets stuck in no man’s land.
Certified Grabbo Lover
I thought the same thing re: Kaberle. Take the pass away and let Gus make the save.
Its a shame for Schenn, he had such a great game and then one play later he is weaing the goat horns
Fairweather fans can go to hell
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Both
Pension Plan Puppets: A Toronto Maple Leafs blog and a group therapy session.
Like reading thoughts confined to 140 characters? I'm on Twitter too.
by PPP on Dec 1, 2010 3:52 PM EST up reply actions
How come you didn’t post the first St. Louis goal here? Damn Leafsnation
Fairweather fans can go to hell
Equal oppurtunity asshole and a proud member of the PPPPP
Follow me on twitter: leafer1984
I tweeted it. You can go find it there. Plus I didn’t want to feed your Komisarek hate.
Pension Plan Puppets: A Toronto Maple Leafs blog and a group therapy session.
Like reading thoughts confined to 140 characters? I'm on Twitter too.
by PPP on Dec 1, 2010 4:30 PM EST up reply actions
I know I saw it.
Also, since when do I hate Komisarek?
Are you on the sauce again?
Fairweather fans can go to hell
Equal oppurtunity asshole and a proud member of the PPPPP
Follow me on twitter: leafer1984
LOL
On it? Never off it.
You should comment there.
Pension Plan Puppets: A Toronto Maple Leafs blog and a group therapy session.
Like reading thoughts confined to 140 characters? I'm on Twitter too.
by PPP on Dec 1, 2010 5:12 PM EST up reply actions
Is “pub-standard” goaltending the type of goaltending that drives us to the pubs in hoardes after a Leafs loss?
Fire Ron Wilson!
by Van Ryn's Neurologist on Dec 1, 2010 4:03 PM EST reply actions
bah. i’m late to this discussion. nvm.
Fire Ron Wilson!
by Van Ryn's Neurologist on Dec 1, 2010 4:03 PM EST up reply actions
sucka!!
Be an Optimist Prime, not a Negatron. Certified Grabbo Lover!
Адразу Ліфс Перайсці !
by Sergei Puckizin on Dec 1, 2010 6:53 PM EST up reply actions
Yes
Pension Plan Puppets: A Toronto Maple Leafs blog and a group therapy session.
Like reading thoughts confined to 140 characters? I'm on Twitter too.
by PPP on Dec 1, 2010 4:30 PM EST up reply actions
How many games do we have to lose on goals deflecting off our d-men’s sticks+legs before it sinks in that taking away the pass is a much better idea than making a half-assed attempt to block a shot?
Fire Ron Wilson!
by Van Ryn's Neurologist on Dec 1, 2010 4:05 PM EST reply actions
What is 10 games for $1000, Alex.
To be honest, I don’t feel like puting all the blame on Tomas. He played the 2-on-1 half-decent. I don’t see NHL defenders completely focus on the passer and ignore the shooter all together anymore. So, at the least, he’s not the only one.
I don’t do “luck” very often, but I feel this was “bad luck”
BS
by MapleLeafMole on Dec 1, 2010 4:14 PM EST up reply actions
Bad teams always have the worst luck. And other defenseman doing it is not a valid excuse. The end point is his effort on that play hurt more than it helped, which is almost always the case when you try to do too much.
"Callgirl! She was a callgirl!"
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yeah…I’m no good at this “positive spin” thing
BS
by MapleLeafMole on Dec 2, 2010 8:49 AM EST up reply actions
Something to ponder
In 4 on 4 hockey with MacArthur and Kessel on the ice, isn’t Kaberle should of redundant if not even unnecessary? Would it be better to have your offensive Dman on the ice with your defensive forwards to give the line balance and security?
Certified Grabbo Lover
Cause the momentum was totally on our side.
The Leafs are my Rushmore
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by Plea From A Cat Named Felix on Dec 1, 2010 4:25 PM EST up reply actions
I saw nothing wrong with those 4 on the ice. The top 2 forwards with the 2 defencemen who were having a great game
Fairweather fans can go to hell
Equal oppurtunity asshole and a proud member of the PPPPP
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Kaberle’s history of OT goals?
"Success consists of going from failure to failure without loss of enthusiasm."
Winston Churchill
by Say *plan the parade one more time*... on Dec 1, 2010 7:56 PM EST up reply actions
Monster said today he would have had it, but it deflected off the defenceman. Hard to see in real time.
Blogging on hockey at The Globe and Mail
Yeah, he clearly had tracked it to his chest.
Pension Plan Puppets: A Toronto Maple Leafs blog and a group therapy session.
Like reading thoughts confined to 140 characters? I'm on Twitter too.
by PPP on Dec 1, 2010 7:22 PM EST up reply actions
Let the goalie make the save.
Monster has played well enough to earn this team’s trust.
Dogshit is still costing this team wins.
The Leafs are my Rushmore
Certified Grabbo Lover and member of the PPPPP
Follow my foray in fancy facial follicles
by Plea From A Cat Named Felix on Dec 1, 2010 7:24 PM EST up reply actions
Gustavsson better get the majority of starts.
I don’t think I have seen him let in one bad goal since he took over.
"Success consists of going from failure to failure without loss of enthusiasm."
Winston Churchill
by Say *plan the parade one more time*... on Dec 1, 2010 7:57 PM EST up reply actions
That picture.
I saw the name Clark beside a player on the ice at the ACC and got really excited for a second. Then reality hit me, and I was sad.
GameNorth.ca - Gaming north of the border.
by NinjasFromSpace on Dec 1, 2010 10:27 PM EST reply actions 1 recs
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