Maple Leafs 5 v. Canadiens 4: Phil Kessel'd
by PPP on Feb 25, 2011 1:41 AM EST
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Game Summary | Event Summary | Habs Eyes On The Prize
In the first year after the lockout the Leafs went into Montreal for two huge late-March games that would impact their playoff hopes. Predictably, that team fell flat on their face and lost back-to-back games by four goal deficits first 5-1 and then 6-2. Entering those games the Leafs were in 10th place a mere four points back of 8th place Atlanta. By the end of that fiasco the Leafs were in 12th place and 7 points back of Montreal. The Buds would finish in 9th place 2 points out of 8th and just 3 points back of Montreal in 7th. Their abject capitulation in Montreal saw a veteran-laden team crumble under the pressue of "Ole, Ole, Ole" and a seemingly neverending goal horn.
Tonight the young Maple Leafs could have cashed things in when they saw a 3-1 lead disappear in a scant 20 seconds. Instead, Phil Kessel set up Tyler Bozak on a powerplay soon after to give the Leafs a lead they would not relinquish. On the night, Kessel has two goals to go along with two nice set-ups to the aforementioned Bozak (wonder if Steve Simmons saw the game) and BRETT LEBDA had not only an assist but also his first goal as a Toronto Maple Leaf and he was + 2. It'll be a while before we know if the current Leafs have the testicular fortitude that past editions have lacked but for one night at least they did well. And by 'a while' I mean Saturday night at 10pm because if the Leafs lose to the Wilkes-Barre Penguins they'll have thrown away a valuable opportunity.
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James Reimer was below .900 but he made 27 of 29 saves at even strength for a .931 save percentage in picking up his 10th win of the season in just 17 appearances. Is he for real? Who cares. He's for real right now.
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Phil Kessel has 25 goals which is good for 15th in the NHL. He has six goals in his last 5 games and is back on pace to best last year's 30 goal mark with 33.
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Tyler Bozak ended a 14 game point drought which I assume he just went on because his pal Kessel had one.
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Brett Lebda was a +2. I already said that but it's still incredible.
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The last two minutes of the game were outstanding. Colby Armstrong and Fredrik Sjostrom made yeomen efforts that saw the Habs unable to get past the red line with the puck.
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Darry Boyce tweeted: "Blue and white, blue and white, blue and white till I die" and confirmed that I'll be advocating for him to be re-signed.
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Luke Schenn smoked Andrei Kostitsyn and the other four Habs raced to the scene of the hit. Schenn stood up, pull his bucket off, and suddenly the Habs couldn't remember why they were there anymore.
Game in Six after the jump!
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THANK YOU KESSEL
Price couldn’t even leave the net. That’s how fucking good the Leafs were in the 3rd period.
PLAYOFFS!!!1
Sjostrom
in general has not been good lately, but he had a great couple forechecking shifts at key moments that didnt allow Price to leave. Nice.
We really needed it too because the 5 minutes before that we were hemmed into our own zone in an ugly ugly way
20 miles to Legoland!
by nhlcheapshot on Feb 25, 2011 3:14 AM EST up reply actions
That last minute was insanely satisfying to watch, as Cheesedog and Shoestorm consistently fought off 3 or 4 uninspired backcheckers. Brilliant.
The Belorussian buzz saw only has one setting:
HYPERDEATH!
- Certified Grabbo Lover
by Sergei Puckizin on Feb 25, 2011 11:47 AM EST up reply actions
the habs couldnt even get the puck out long enough to pull price, i was kinda hoping in the back of my mind Kessel would pot an empty netter for the hat trick but Phil still ended up with a great chance with just a couple seconds left anyway
There is no "I" in team, but there is an "M" and an "E"
by Matt_Roberts on Feb 25, 2011 1:36 PM EST up reply actions
yeah! finished with a shot on the montreal goal at the buzzer. couldn’t have been sweeter.
The Belorussian buzz saw only has one setting:
HYPERDEATH!
- Certified Grabbo Lover
by Sergei Puckizin on Feb 25, 2011 1:39 PM EST up reply actions
Four points out
sounds doable, but with our insane month of March I’m not so sure we’ll be able to pull it off:
PIT
@PHI
CHI
@NYI
PHI
BUF
TBL
@CAR
@FLA
BOS
@MIN
@COL
@DET
BUF
@BOS
Out of these I’d say that the NYI, CAR, BUF games are the ones we HAVE to win, and we also have a decent chance of beating MIN and COL. But the rest of out opponents are very good teams that will lay a beating on us unless Optimus Reim bails us out. Someone above said we need to go 14-6-1 to make the playoffs from this point on and I’m not sure we can pull it off with this March schedule.
My inner child beleafs though, GO LEAFS GO
Brett Lebda makes me cry myself to sleep every night
Stoik_Leafs Twitter
I suppose we can add FLA to the list of must wins as well
Oh, and the reason it says " someone above said" is because I was going to post it in the other thread before this one popped up so I just copied and pasted it here instead
Brett Lebda makes me cry myself to sleep every night
Stoik_Leafs Twitter
by Chris Stoikoff on Feb 25, 2011 1:48 AM EST up reply actions
Games they have to win
@NYI
BUF
@CAR
@FLA
@MIN
@COL
BUF
Those are either the shitty teams or the ones they are chasing. 7-0-0.
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.
True, but the worst the Leafs can do in March while still having a shot at the playoffs is go 7-7-1 in the month, and I somehow doubt they’ll beat Buffalo twice or Philadelphia at all. They’ve got some very good teams standing in their way… I can’t remember the last time the Leafs had a month quite this insane
Brett Lebda makes me cry myself to sleep every night
Stoik_Leafs Twitter
by Chris Stoikoff on Feb 25, 2011 1:59 AM EST up reply actions
I'm not sure I'd classify MIN as shitty
They’re 6th in the West right now with 70 points (32-23-6). We want the two points regardless, but we can’t just pass them off as a shitty team.
I'm thinking that when the Leafs win the Cup, I'll lose my drinking problem.
by leafsfan4life94 on Feb 25, 2011 11:16 AM EST up reply actions
Minnesota’s not a dominant team like the ones that I cut out of the mix hence the all-encompassing “shitty”.
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.
Chicago is beatable
and we have a decent chance of splitting the games against the Bruins.
"Callgirl! She was a callgirl!"
"No Cyril, when they're dead, they're just hookers!"
24/02/11: I was there.
And it apparently only takes one testicle’s fortitude to beat the Habs
Brett Lebda makes me cry myself to sleep every night
Stoik_Leafs Twitter
by Chris Stoikoff on Feb 25, 2011 1:50 AM EST reply actions 1 recs
Everyone keeps saying
Leafs have a tough month in March. They always play better against better teams.
Funny tidbit overheard on AM640 during the game
Jonas Siegel:
Well guys James Reimer overcame some stomach trouble on Tuesday night, Clarke Macarthur not so lucky. Just before he scored his career high 18th goal against the Islanders, Macarthur, well he got a little bit sick on the bench. It turns out it’s a bit of a regular thing. Much like the great Glenn Hall, Macarthur says he usually throws up just about every game, it helps him feel better on the bench.
Is this old news? I think it’s awesome!
Heh
Ya we talked about it in the FTB a bit. Apparently Brent Sutter, MacArthur’s old coach, used to do it all the time too.
Hockey players are weird. I can’t imagine throwing up every single game and it just being part of a “routine”. Must be slimming for his figure though.
20 miles to Legoland!
by nhlcheapshot on Feb 25, 2011 3:23 AM EST up reply actions
When did Brent coach ClarkeyMark? He played his junior in Med Hat, not Red Deer.
The Belorussian buzz saw only has one setting:
HYPERDEATH!
- Certified Grabbo Lover
by Sergei Puckizin on Feb 25, 2011 11:51 AM EST up reply actions
could have been. just can’t put him together with a team that uncy-brent was coaching.
The Belorussian buzz saw only has one setting:
HYPERDEATH!
- Certified Grabbo Lover
by Sergei Puckizin on Feb 25, 2011 1:28 PM EST up reply actions
Komisarek may be a defensive liability
But he’s our $4.5 million defensive liability.
Supporter of the Sergei Berezin "Give and Go" - You give me puck, then you go to hell
by bkblades on Feb 25, 2011 3:47 AM EST reply actions 2 recs
Haha he didn’t want Colby Armstrong to have the only good crying .gif
20 miles to Legoland!
by nhlcheapshot on Feb 25, 2011 3:56 AM EST up reply actions
Rec'd
For imitation of Habs and Habs fans.
I'm thinking that when the Leafs win the Cup, I'll lose my drinking problem.
by leafsfan4life94 on Feb 25, 2011 11:22 AM EST up reply actions
To my fellow Leaf fans thinking playoff hockey
Chances for Leafs to make the post-season after the win against the Habs:
6.4% if you consider weighted team records
The weighted method takes the opponents record and home field advantage into account when randomly picking scores, so the better team is more likely to win.
18.6% if you consider 50/50 odds
The 50/50 method gives each opponent an equal chance of winning each game.
Despite our recent string of success, those figures are still NOT in our favour. Long way to go to make up those “measly 4 points”.
20 miles to Legoland!
Alternatively
http://www.coolstandings.com/hockey/hockey_standings.asp?sn=2010&col=&sort=&run=314&sim=s&v=c
http://twitter.com/ItsWags
by McCabe the Martyr on Feb 25, 2011 4:34 AM EST up reply actions
Wow
look at the % difference from Toronto to Buffalo or Carolina – almost a 40% jump in playoff % based on less than 4 points.
Leafs need to find some magical trick* in order to keep this winning streak alive and odds get real good real fast in a short amount of time
*Note: trick could in fact be James Reimer.
20 miles to Legoland!
by nhlcheapshot on Feb 25, 2011 5:04 AM EST up reply actions
they have 2 games at hand on us.
Move along. Nothing to see here...
by Van Ryn's Neurologist on Feb 25, 2011 8:58 AM EST up reply actions
That’s why the Leafs have to win both games against Buffalo.
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.
welp
Brett Lebda makes me cry myself to sleep every night
Stoik_Leafs Twitter
by Chris Stoikoff on Feb 25, 2011 2:23 PM EST up reply actions
alternatively
shut up
Unabashed fan of the surprise 2012 Stanley Cup champs
Never tell me the odds
Professional cusser causer.
by T is for Truculence on Feb 25, 2011 8:26 AM EST up reply actions
holy shit you’re a negative nancy today! and right after winning in habs-town no less!
The Belorussian buzz saw only has one setting:
HYPERDEATH!
- Certified Grabbo Lover
by Sergei Puckizin on Feb 25, 2011 11:52 AM EST up reply actions
Every time we get close to getting back in the mix we screw it up. Once some of those odds are closer to 50% i’ll be the biggest cheerleader on the block.
20 miles to Legoland!
by nhlcheapshot on Feb 25, 2011 12:25 PM EST up reply actions
TEMPERED OPTIMISM FTW!!!1
The Belorussian buzz saw only has one setting:
HYPERDEATH!
- Certified Grabbo Lover
by Sergei Puckizin on Feb 25, 2011 1:35 PM EST up reply actions
Can anybody direct me to footage of Schenn’s hit on Kostitsyn tonight? It’s not in the game in six.
by scrambles the death dealer on Feb 25, 2011 4:23 AM EST reply actions
The refs were ridiculous last night. In addition to the penalty parade, look how clueless they were on Bozak’s first goal. The ref was right behind the net on the replay, puck goes off the back of the net, dude just stands there. Bush league.
Also, I love how Bozak gets pucks up top shelf so quickly from in close.
WE MISS YOU TOMAS
Best part was 4 Habs covering Kessel and no one looking at Bozak. Sneak!
20 miles to Legoland!
by nhlcheapshot on Feb 25, 2011 6:31 AM EST up reply actions
Memory Lane
To add to PPP reminding us about that failed back to back, remember the end of the 06-07 season and the last game of the year when the leafs won and knocked Habs out of the playoff race.
Memories.
Oh ya, fuck Wade Dubielewicz
Fairweather fans can go to hell
Equal oppurtunity asshole and a proud member of the PPPPP
Follow me on twitter: leafer1984
fucking devils.
The Belorussian buzz saw only has one setting:
HYPERDEATH!
- Certified Grabbo Lover
by Sergei Puckizin on Feb 25, 2011 11:53 AM EST up reply actions
1) “Luke Schenn smoked Andrei Kostitsyn and the other four Habs raced to the scene of the hit. Schenn stood up, pull his bucket off, and suddenly the Habs couldn’t remember why they were there anymore.” I noticed that as well. Schenn looked like he was prepared to take on their entire line.
2) Reimer was really deep in his net all game. We’re lucky that we managed to score 5 goals, or this would have been a loss.
Move along. Nothing to see here...
by Van Ryn's Neurologist on Feb 25, 2011 9:07 AM EST reply actions
You know, I’ve done and now you’ve done it but our complaining about how deep in the net seems to go against what Francois Allaire is teaching the goalies.
We’re lucky that we managed to score 5 goals
And when the Leafs only scored 2 he only let in 1!
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.
He was bound to have a game where he lets in more than 2 goals, glad it came in a game where we were able to score five. It’s out of his system now. I don’t doubt that this was the biggest game of his career. He stood tall after the game was tied up.
The Leafs are my Rushmore
Certified Grabbo Lover and member of the PPPPP
by Plea From A Cat Named Felix on Feb 25, 2011 9:20 AM EST up reply actions
he just looked particularly deep last night. i dunno. i understand the benefits (it makes his lateral movements look sooooo smooth and controlled), but I think he’s got to read the play a little better (e.g., the Calamari goal).
And yeah, I don’t really care how we won. I’d just rather build him statues when he deserves it, and just sacrifice virgins for him when we get the win through other means.
Move along. Nothing to see here...
by Van Ryn's Neurologist on Feb 25, 2011 9:49 AM EST up reply actions
Yeah, I’m just surprised that he’s being taught to play deep. I’ve always been told that was a drawback.
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.
but I think he’s got to read the play a little better
If we’re assigning blame for reading the play better, let’s start here.
Reimer never had a chance on Habs goal #2 because it’s a bang-bang play
Komisarek chases Subban behind the net. Now Aulie and Komisarek are both behind the goal line. On a PK.
Bozak covers in front of the net for Komisarek, but he’s watching Subban and never picks up Cammalleri.Goal.
.
Then 10 seconds later on the other PK, Sjostrom clears the puck on the boards to himself (right up the boards to where he would be)
Montreal works it over to Wisniewski, and Schenn half-screens Reimer because he doesn’t get totally out to block the shot.
You can lay blame at Reimer on those ones if you want. Personally, I feel like the bigger culprit was that the Leafs took their foot of the pedal for a minute. Sjostrom got dinged on a marginal call. Komisarek made a bad decision. Grabovski made a worse decision. Sjostrom made another bad decision. Suddenly it’s a tie game.
None of that’s on Reimer and we’re not having a discussion about whether he’s playing too deep in his net or not.
Resident Capologist
Сертыфікаваны Grabbo Палюбоўнік
1) we are having the discussion about whether he’s playing too deep. Or at least PPP and I (both former goalies if I remember correctly) are.
2) it’s kind of a double standard to shit all over Gus for 5-4 wins, but then continue to laud Reimer for the same quality of game. I was always the first to attribute those kinds of breakdowns to skaters when Gus was in net, but was always told that stuff didn’t matter. I’m just applying the same logic here.
Move along. Nothing to see here...
by Van Ryn's Neurologist on Feb 25, 2011 6:07 PM EST up reply actions
BIG props to Bozak
The guy was good positionally the entire game, fantastic on the PK, saved Reimer’s rear at least once, and picked two VERY good moments to get into the lane with no one watching for goals. They were saying that Wilson had called Bozak his best penalty killer and if it weren’t for Tim Brent’s 3 blocked shots on one PK a few weeks ago, I would agree 100%.
I'm thinking that when the Leafs win the Cup, I'll lose my drinking problem.
by leafsfan4life94 on Feb 25, 2011 11:32 AM EST reply actions
After the Schenn hit,
I was looking at who was on the ice for the Habs. Then I laughed when I saw them crowd around OLAS and do nothing of importance.
Eventually Hal lumbered in, which is the only constructive thing he did all night, and grabbed Luke, while Mara and UPS squared off. There was never going to be anything constructive coming out of that scrum!
The Belorussian buzz saw only has one setting:
HYPERDEATH!
- Certified Grabbo Lover
by Sergei Puckizin on Feb 25, 2011 11:43 AM EST reply actions
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