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Maple Leafs 1 v. Flyers 3: God Loves A Trier

Unfortunately, the NHL standings only love winners and the Leafs are not likely to finish in that category very often over the final 17 games of the season. Right now the Toronto Maple Leafs are the Little Engine That Could before it could. They are the Big Bad Wolf in front of the brick house. They huff and they puff and only win if they play a perfect game. Tonight was far from perfect.

The first period was a gong show in large part because of Colton Orr. After two regular season games and a pre-season game I think it should be very clear that Daniel Carcillo is never going to engage in fisticuffs. Flyers fans can pretend that he was just being smart but Carcillo then tried to fight Jeff Finger later in the game because he knew Orr was stapled to the bench. The Leafs' successfully killed the bogus four minute powerplay but then Orr, on his release, decided that he had not felt enough shame. After creating a 2-on-1 he thought it made sense to plow over Michael Leighton. Combined with Phaneuf's high-sticking penalty it gave the Flyers their second 5-on-3 of the game and a 1-0 when Canadian hero Chris Pronger fed Jeff Carter at the side of the net for an empty net tap-in.

The Leafs tied it up after a neat bit of passing that sent in Nikolai Kulemin. After he was hooked off of the puck (no call of course) the puck came to Carl Gunnarsson who fired it on net. The loose puck fell to Kulemin and he knocked it in. The goal came as a result of the Leafs' forwards creating some chaos with their forecheck and traffic in front of the net. They created more chances along the way but the forwards are not particularly clinical. The difference in the game was that when the Leafs lost their men twice and the Flyers pushed their lead to 3-1.

Corsi and Fenwick | Head-to-Head TOI | EV Face-Offs | Shift Charts
Game Summary | Event Summary | Broad Street Hockey Game Recap

Star-divide

  • Dion Phaneuf, Viktor Stalberg, and John Mitchell led the way for the Leafs in the Corsi/Fenwick stats.
  • Surprisingly, considering how well the Luca Caputi - Stalberg - Christian Hanson line played the other two were almost even on shots.
  • That trio also got more offensive zone starts. For all of their good hustle and pressure they did not do enough to get pucks on the net.
  • Across the ice, the Flyers leaned heavily on Daniel Briere, Scott Hartnell, Jeff Carter, and Lucas Krajicek.
  • I'm not entirely sure why they selected them because the Flyers were getting killed in the face-off circle (64-36 TML). Christian Hanson led the way winning 8 of 9 draws and Tyler Bozak continued his strong play with a 15 of 22 mark.
  • The powerplay goal that the Leafs' allowed in the first period was just their third since the Phaneuf and Giguere trades. They are killing penalties at over 90% efficiency.

Now let's hear waht you have to say about tonight's game. Who stood out for you? Who could have done better?

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Comments

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Can’t put my finger on it, but there’s something really off with Beauchemin. And there’s a possibility the team is having difficulty adjusting to Giguere, P/K improvement notwithstanding. Weird game to watch, had a strong gut feeling we weren’t going to pull it out, unlike last night vs. the diseased Senaturds.

I am Mikhail Grabovski's smirking revenge.

by kidkawartha on Mar 7, 2010 10:45 PM EST reply actions  

I just like having Phaneuf on our team. I was never a fan of his when he was with the Flames, but I like his swagger, and his meanness. He’s quickly shooting to the top of my favourite Leafs list (currently playing for us, that is)

"The only way out is in a body bag. Go Leafs Go." - Blinky

by Karina on Mar 7, 2010 10:50 PM EST reply actions  

Has dion scored yet for TO?

by Rod Blogojevich on Mar 7, 2010 11:10 PM EST via mobile up reply actions  

Just a couple of assists so far.

...rely a bit to heavily on alcohol and irony...

by My Poor Friend Me on Mar 7, 2010 11:16 PM EST up reply actions  

The Leafs feel like you are watching a timbits hockey team scurrying around the ice trying to score goals with plucky determination. When they succeed we feel great, but when they don’t you just sigh, pat them on the back and ponder taking them for ice cream to make them feel better!

Brain: The irony of it all, Pinky. Years of trying to take over the world, and all I had to do was say "truculence".
Follow me I'm Boring!

by blindfolded tank driver on Mar 7, 2010 10:51 PM EST via mobile reply actions  

Love it! Wonder what Johnny Mitchell’s favourite ice cream is?

by Pyramid Power on Mar 8, 2010 3:05 AM EST up reply actions  

Someday these Timbits will grow up! That’s the hope anyway.

Truculence...starting 10/1/09

by LeafBoy on Mar 8, 2010 3:51 AM EST up reply actions  

Can't believe

This recap doesn’t mention the amazingness that was the 2nd period thread.

I laughed out loud repeatedly.

At least a dozen times.

Willing to trade humour for cash, straight up.

by Archimedies on Mar 7, 2010 11:21 PM EST reply actions  

Luca Caputi laughed so hard, he retroactively caused and earthquake in Chile.

Phaneuf Phever, an upgrade in skill and alliteration!

by Shield on Mar 7, 2010 11:22 PM EST up reply actions  

Luca Caputi

Has already written the game recaps for the rest of the season.

Willing to trade humour for cash, straight up.

by Archimedies on Mar 7, 2010 11:24 PM EST up reply actions  

Luca Caputi

was the real winner of tonight’s game. The score of the game is just a placeholder.

by Marc Pilgrim on Mar 7, 2010 11:28 PM EST up reply actions  

Luca Caputi and Wendel Clark got into a fight; this event is now known as the Big Bang.

Phaneuf Phever, an upgrade in skill and alliteration!

by Shield on Mar 7, 2010 11:32 PM EST up reply actions  

Luca Caputi ran so far away and actually got away

by Sonic_Screwdriver on Mar 8, 2010 5:59 PM EST up reply actions  

rec

An absolute must-read.

Willing to trade humour for cash, straight up.

by Archimedies on Mar 7, 2010 11:51 PM EST up reply actions  

Damn

Looks like I missed out.

Good stuff, people. Well done.

leaf fan stuck in ottawa, a localized black hole that will suck everything in that area to oblivion.

by stucky on Mar 8, 2010 12:13 PM EST up reply actions  

The Orr check on Leighton was the best =D

Kinda feel bad for him though. There wasn’t much he could have done to avoid Leighton after he jumped over that Philly player.

by Theodles on Mar 8, 2010 2:18 AM EST reply actions  

Leighton is now Philly’s Best Boy. I laughed hard when Orr nailed him and he did it totally on purpose. He kinda jumped into Leighton and creamed him. Thought Philly fans and players would go wild after that. Disappointed they did not do so.

by Pyramid Power on Mar 8, 2010 2:53 AM EST reply actions  

PPP

I don’t think Orr was feeling any shame whatsoever when he did that. I think he felt it was wonderful! lol I sure did.

Hey, we scored two whole goals this weekend. We are a good hockey team. Can’t wait for the Garbage Bowl against the Oilers!

by Pyramid Power on Mar 8, 2010 3:00 AM EST reply actions  

PPP

Look at this way man. We gotta take lots and lots of penalties so our PK can improve for next year.

by Pyramid Power on Mar 8, 2010 3:02 AM EST reply actions  

Who could have done better? I didn’t see much of the game, but I did see Hanson miss a yawning cage for a tap in goal. Our young dudes are not stepping up and scoring the way I would like them to. Disappointing. Stalberg, Hanson, Caputi and basically everyone. Ouch!

by Pyramid Power on Mar 8, 2010 3:13 AM EST reply actions  

As much pressure as we put on them to perform, they are an entire team of rookie forwards who usually have a veteran presence to help them ween into the NHL.

Stalberg Bozak Hansen Caputi Gunnarsson Gustavsson, ALL rookies.
Mitchell Kulemin Schenn all sophmores

Saying we’re putting them in a rediculous position to perform is the understatement of the century.

Leafs Nation: A drinking team with a hockey problem.

by nhlcheapshot on Mar 8, 2010 6:10 AM EST up reply actions  

They are creating chances at least. I hope the finishing comes but they are in a tough spot for sure.

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 Mar 8, 2010 9:44 AM EST up reply actions  

Orr is taking alot of heat this morning, but I have to admit, watching him go ape shit out there is pretty funny. I just hope he doesnt cost us when the games start to matter again

There is no "I" in team, but there is an "M" and an "E"

by Matt_Roberts on Mar 8, 2010 9:19 AM EST reply actions  

I hope Orr keeps playing like that for the rest of the season. He is the only thing worth watching on this team.

To me, seeing the Flyers being made to look like pussies in their own building was far more entertaining than winning a game that doesn’t really matter.

by Brad Ackerson on Mar 8, 2010 9:33 AM EST reply actions  

I’m starting to think one of the clauses in Danny Briere’s contracts was that Philly has to have as many ugly sob’s as possible, in order for his prettiness to stand out more.

Philly is without a doubt the ugliest team I have seen in some time.

Resident Capologist
Toskala Cap Counter - RIP

by clrkaitken on Mar 8, 2010 10:03 AM EST reply actions  

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