Maple Leafs 1 v. Devils 2 (OT): Kovalchuk Strikes

by PPP on Feb 11, 2011 12:34 AM EST in Game Recaps

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The Toronto Maple Leafs were downed 2-1 by the New Jersey Devils in overtime. They came within 23 seconds of getting the game to a skills competition before Ilya Kovalchuk, revived under Jacques Lemaire of all people, went end to end and managed to sneak a shot in past James Reimer. Optimus Reim had had a great night and his 37 saves played an integral part in getting the Leafs a single point but that goal had a strong odour.

Other Thoughts

Joffrey Zoolander (nee Lupul) had a decent first game as a Maple Leaf. He meshed decently with Tyler Bozak and Clarke MacArthur. He used his speed in the third to create a great chance then he fanned on it. He dangled a few times at the blueline leading to some offsides.
Phil Kessel's on a two-game point streak. He was stoned twice but he outfought his marker to set up Nikolai Kulemin with an empty net. Kessel certainly seems to be rejuvenated playing alongside the Means of Production.
Speak of our Russian Goldfish, that was his fourth game in a with a goal and he has five in the past six. That gives him 21 on the season and puts him at 20th in the NHL in goals. The guy ahead of him in a tie at 16th? Mikhail Grabovski.
Keith Aulie paired up with Dion Phaneuf and were the primary pairing against Ilya Kovalchuk. He was instrumental in keeping him quiet until the unfortunate last goal. He killed some penalties and drove some Devils through the boards.
Mike Komisarek still played almost no minutes. Have to believe he's gone at the end of the year.
James Reimer bumped his save percentage up to .930 with 37 saves. If he had played enough games to qualify he'd have the second best save percentage in the league.

And finally, a few thoughts on James Reimer by Ilya Kovalchuk via Chris Johnston of the Canadian Press

"He played great, this kid. I think we'll see him more often. He's a big guy, covers a lot of space and controls rebounds well."

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Comments

that kovalchuk comment

makes me feel good inside. skeptical about whether reim’s for real or not…kovy’s “praise” still makes me giddy though.

The new guy.

by ButWhatDoesMineSay on Feb 11, 2011 12:45 AM EST reply actions

He’s looked legit to me.
He could use a quicker butterfly recovery, though.

http://ca.movember.com/mospace/718288/

by McCabe the Martyr on Feb 11, 2011 1:11 AM EST up reply actions

he reminds me of Carey Price. His positioning is so good, and he’s pretty good at lateral movement in his butterfly that he doesn’t necessarily need to recover that often. It will hurt him at times, for sure, but I’m not that worried.

And the kid seems legit.

Move along. Nothing to see here...

by Van Ryn's Neurologist on Feb 11, 2011 8:41 AM EST up reply actions

Good comparsion. He’s seems a tad more lively in the net than Price. Price might be a little tighter.
Reimer’s butterfly is really tight, very little gaps. Usually when he moves side to side as well. He got opened up on the winner by a sniper making a nice play moving horizontally, and shooting in the opposite direction. It’s a tough goal to let in, under the arm like that sucks. But I’m impressed.

by MapleLeafMole on Feb 11, 2011 8:53 AM EST up reply actions

Ah, man. Closed comments?

And I was right in the middle of composing a wicked Giguere-for-Blake proposal, rife with jokes about Emery’s necrotic hip and Hiller’s Lohan-esque “exhaustion”.

by Spezzal Teams Playa on Feb 11, 2011 12:46 AM EST reply actions

Kovy

Wow that was a hell of goal by Kovy

by Lesean25 on Feb 11, 2011 12:54 AM EST reply actions

holy crap, I only heard it on the radio. The dude has wheels, how does he fly in so easily and just wire that?
I want him

by Ben Schnell on Feb 11, 2011 1:21 AM EST up reply actions

and for some reason Reimer is looking over his right shoulder on it, even though it goes in past his left one.

I guess Kovy has a long history of making people look stupid though.

Glory glory Man United, AND the other MU, AAAAnd the Leafs. I think I need a drink now.

by Wan Ihite on Feb 11, 2011 2:58 AM EST up reply actions

Hmm, looks to me like it goes in on Reimer’s right, above the pad.

President of the Emotional Hedging club.

by Oafijev on Feb 11, 2011 3:05 AM EST up reply actions

Goes in on the left side.
Maybe thinking of the OT shot off the crossbar? He looked a little lost there.

http://ca.movember.com/mospace/718288/

by McCabe the Martyr on Feb 11, 2011 3:57 AM EST up reply actions

Oh, now I’m doing it. Looked right, shot went in right.

http://ca.movember.com/mospace/718288/

by McCabe the Martyr on Feb 11, 2011 3:58 AM EST up reply actions

“goal scorer’s goal”

by MapleLeafMole on Feb 11, 2011 8:53 AM EST up reply actions

How does the league define being on pace to play 27 games? I assume it is simply a linear model that requires a goalie to have appeared in 1/3 of his team’s games, at a given point.

If Tim Thomas has a few more nights like he had against the Habs, Reimer could end up with the Crozier if he appears in only 14 more games.

by Spezzal Teams Playa on Feb 11, 2011 12:55 AM EST reply actions