Maple Leafs 4 at Penguins 5 (SO): Sidney Crosby Is Good

by PPP on Mar 28, 2010 11:47 PM EDT in Game Recaps

The Toronto Maple Leafs' incredible run of seven straight wins in overtime or shootouts was snapped as the Penguins scored twice in the shootout to win 5-4. Canadian Hero Sidney Crosby scored two goals to take his tally to 47 while adding the shootout winner. Marc-Andre Fleury and Jean-Sebastien Giguere made a number of incredible saves to keep their respective teams in the game. Colton Orr of all people opened the scoring after Rickard Wallin almost pulled off the Forsberg. Phil Kessel notched his 30th to become the first Leaf other than Sundin to score 30 since Alex Mogilny. Carl Gunnarsson tied things up after errors by Luke Schenn and Tyler Bozak allowed Crosby to put the Penguins ahead.

Tyler Bozak made up for it by giving the Leafs a 4-3 lead when he potted a rebound after a nice three-way passing play between Kessel, Kaberle, and Dion Phaneuf. Viktor Stalberg's failure to clear the zone when he had the puck and then his and Tomas Kaberle's total lack of communication allowed the worst person in the world to tie the game left with about three minutes left. This was a game that saw the Leafs badly outshot at evens. Phaneuf, Fredrik Sjostrom, Francois Beauchemin, and Stalberg were all killed in Corsi.

So the Leafs move to 69 points (hehe) which is 3 short of jumping over two teams but they have the fewest games remaining. Tomorrow night we are Atlanta and Nashville fans as they take on the Hurricanes and the Panthers. The Leafs are going to need every bit of help but there is definitely hope.

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We really could have used the extra point here, but our run had to come to an end eventually. Since it happened against the Stanley Cup champs and not some team directly ahead of us in the standings, I don’t care that much

Just rebound and get ready for the next game, hopefully luck is on our side and the teams ahead of us lose tomorrow

Boo hoo!

by Chris Stoikoff on Mar 29, 2010 12:05 AM EDT reply actions

At this point Im just happy to have a 30 goal scorer in Kessel. I think thats a win.

Looking at Bostons picks from the Leafs its fairly likely that they could get 30+ goals a season combined, but then so does Kessel. Starting to worry me less and less regardless. Deal is done and our boys stood tall against one of the leagues best goalies and offence and as far as I know the Pens are healthy. Just hope this success can continue next year when it matters.

Please.

by BlindSight on Mar 29, 2010 12:27 AM EDT reply actions

Two significant injuries, actually..

Malkin out with a bruised foot and Gonchar was sick.

by leafsfan4life94 on Mar 29, 2010 1:07 AM EDT up reply actions

Just hope this success can continue next year when it matters

… you mean november?

Danny Markov. Crazy before Tucker was crazy.

Toronto Maple Leafs: Blue Chip Dmen

by AkiSchennberg on Mar 29, 2010 1:33 AM EDT up reply actions

Sorry Im encased in finals mode now and think of “next year” in terms of school terms. So that really meant next fall.

Also damn I thought we played a healthy team for once. Well what can you do.

by BlindSight on Mar 29, 2010 2:25 AM EDT up reply actions

also

sixty niiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiine… awwwriiight

this is the only acceptable point total that isn’t 81 for me at this point

Danny Markov. Crazy before Tucker was crazy.

Toronto Maple Leafs: Blue Chip Dmen

by AkiSchennberg on Mar 29, 2010 1:39 AM EDT reply actions

Day's of rest

I checked covers.com and it unfortunately states the thrashers are 8-3-1 with no days of rest, which is when they will play the leafs on tuesday. It also states they are 4-0-0 coming off a win, so if the past is any indicator of the future in this case, these upcoming games seem like a double or nothing!

by brewerm on Mar 29, 2010 2:43 AM EDT reply actions