Maple Leafs 5 v. Bruins 2: Future Night At The ACC
by PPP on Mar 20, 2011 4:22 AM EDT
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The Toronto Maple Leafs, fresh off of a dispiriting 4-0 loss to the Florida Panthers, welcomed home Tomas Kaberle and his new teammates. The fans gave a former Leafs hero a standing ovation after a nice tribute video and the Buds showed why he didn't want to leave as they blew the Bruins out of the water with a 5-2 win. On this night, the Leafs' future was on full display.
The scoring started out with a spectacular individual effort by Luke Schenn. Taking a pass at in his own end Schenn cut across the neutral zone before coming upon Adam McQuaid. He blew past him, shrugging him off as he went, before bringing the puck back into the middle of the ice onto his forehand and roofing it past a stunned Tim Thomas. After the Bruins' equalised via a lucky bounce for McQuaid, Nazem Kadri fired a point shot in off of the same defenceman. Quite the eventful first period.
The second period saw Joey Crabb score on a rebound from Kadri's hopeful shot at the net. A short time later Mike Brown outraced Kaberle and fired a wrist shot past Tim Thomas and seemingly end his night. It was pretty funny watching him sitting on the bench with his helmet still on but as it turned out he was still in need of it. Tuukka Rask is famously short-tempered and it was on full display as Keith Aulie picked up his second NHL goal on a screened shot.
After the low of the Florida game, it was a nice reminder of what the Leafs have in their stable. Kadri may be a long way off but two points and his most complete game of his career are harbingers of what may come. Luke Schen is already an established strong defender but that goal was the acme of a year in which he's showed increasing comfort with the puck. Keith Aulie's goal provides another good chuckle and a nice reminder that he was a throw in in the Dion Phaneuf deal. And, as always, James Reimer was spectacular. He stopped 37 of 39 shots including a number of last-ditch efforts and a lovely stop on Tyler Seguin's breakaway.
After the jump, the game in six and highlight videos.
Game In Six Highlights
Luke Schenn's End-To-End Goal
One thing I really liked was that this play began with Keith Aulie laying a stiff check on Nathan Horton. Milan Lucic, for reasons understandable only to someone else that reads large print books, decided that he wanted to intimidate the rookie. Recognizing that there was no need to raise callouses on his knuckles with Lucic's rough face Aulie wisely turned down the invitation to instruct him on why he's referred to as Muhammad Aulie.
Dion Phaneuf Fights Nathan Horton
I am not entirely sure what the history is between Nathan Horton and Dion Phaneuf but it appears to be intense to say the least. The fought in Boston on October 28th of this year and I am sure part of it has to do with Phaneuf sneaking in a punch from the canvas. Apparently Don Cherry had a lot to say about this fight. I didn't hear it but I can pretty much guess that it had to do with Phaneuf's failure to remove his helmet. I'm not sure why he didn't when he did in their first meeting. However, based on the outcome which saw Horton bloodied as his head hit the ice, it's probably a good thing that he kept it on. It was pretty funny to see Phaneuf's reaction to the fight. At first he didn't even seem to understand what bee had gotten into Horton's bonnet.
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DION HUNT MANY MAMMOTH FOR MAKE NICE MAMMOTH SKIN CLOTHES GIVE TO ELISHA. MAMMOTH GO EXTINCT. NOW DION ONLY ABLE HUNT STUPID BRUIN. DION SAD.
No. Not even in the face of Armageddon. Never compromise.
by article1 on Mar 20, 2011 5:15 AM EDT reply actions 2 recs
Luke Schenn, you’ve made me the happiest boy in the world.
20 miles to Legoland!
by nhlcheapshot on Mar 20, 2011 7:05 AM EDT reply actions 2 recs
so, i should see more live games…
1st game i saw this season was canucks/sens (where i was happily cheering against the sens), canucks won 6-2
ottawa/leafs, leafs won 5-1,1st nhl start and win for reimer, statue was being built, etc
and now boston/leafs, leafs won 5-2, future hall of famer scored first goal, etc
:)
MLSE
get this man some season tickets.
20 miles to Legoland!
by nhlcheapshot on Mar 20, 2011 8:19 AM EDT up reply actions
I had a 50% chance of being right! Actually, probably higher statistically for this site but not much.
I have no regrets in blindly guessing gender.
20 miles to Legoland!
by nhlcheapshot on Mar 20, 2011 8:22 AM EDT up reply actions
Five For Fighting
While I enjoy Dion making rivals bleed as much as the next man—that was the exact staged fight the game is trying to get rid of. Dion does nothing and Horton tries to “spark” his team, though there is clearly not enough time left.
If Horton throws down more five feet away before even challenging Dion and then he doesn’t get to taking off his helmets, I’ll put that one on Horton. There was no reason to fight, he didn’t challenge him and he just expects the Leafs captain to fight for no reason? He is lucky he left with just the bruised ego and a little blood.
"WHAM WHAM...KABAM...KABAM... A DOUBLE KABAM! AND IT'S A DOUBLE DION!" - Vintage Pierre McGuire
Phaneuf not taking his helmet off was a weak move. He should have either skated away because we were winning or matched Horton without his helmet.
20 miles to Legoland!
by nhlcheapshot on Mar 20, 2011 8:21 AM EDT up reply actions
Horton wanted to dance, I don’t think Phaneuf has to take his lid off.
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by Chemmy on Mar 20, 2011 8:42 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions
Disagree
He can always walk away instead.
20 miles to Legoland!
by nhlcheapshot on Mar 20, 2011 9:10 AM EDT up reply actions
If Horton doesn’t want to fight with Phaneuf’s lid on don’t instigate.
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It’s not the helmet, it’s the visor. Visors cut hands. Hand cutting doesn’t need to be a point of fights.
This is where a witty signature might go.
This is where a witty signature might go on drugs.
by Bower Power on Mar 20, 2011 12:42 PM EDT up reply actions
visors also cut faces, just look at schenn’s nose
Rule #20
by JaredFromLondon on Mar 20, 2011 12:50 PM EDT up reply actions
I understand this.
I’m just saying Phaneuf’s under no real obligation to remove his helmet because he’s not the instigator and I’m having a hard time getting worked up about it.
Pension Plan Puppets*
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He tried. Horton kept at him until he finally threw down. At that point Horton’s on him and I’m guessing he wasn’t thinking about his helmet.
The Belorussian buzz saw only has one setting:
HYPERDEATH!
- Certified Grabbo Lover
by Sergei Puckizin on Mar 20, 2011 11:37 AM EDT up reply actions
Why would he want to do Horton or Boston any favors? In a 5-1 game, if Horton wants to challenge Phaneuf, the fight is on Phaneuf’s terms.
"Callgirl! She was a callgirl!"
"No Cyril, when they're dead, they're just hookers!"
24/02/11: I was there.
Pretty much. If Horton doesn’t want to fight someone with a visor then don’t fight Phaneuf.
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I'm with Chemmy on this one.
It’s not Phaneuf’s problem if Horton wants to fight. Why should Phaneuf have to take off his helmet, visor or not?
Sometimes I wish the refs would penalize players who try to start fights when another team especially when the other player is not interested. At 5 to 1 late in the third period the game was effectively finished and the jarring by guys like thornton and horton serves no purpose aside from causing trouble. I don’t see why the refs would not call an unsportsmanlike penalty and take the game away from goon squad.
I would love an explanation as to why the instigator penalty wasn’t called on Horton there.
The Belorussian buzz saw only has one setting:
HYPERDEATH!
- Certified Grabbo Lover
by Sergei Puckizin on Mar 20, 2011 11:37 AM EDT up reply actions
Yeah, there really was no reason not to give him an instigator. Could it be more obvious?
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maybe the ref took pity because he got fed his lunch and bled all over himself?
Rule #20
by JaredFromLondon on Mar 20, 2011 5:24 PM EDT up reply actions
the kaberle tribute was too short though
i think maybe 4-5 pics slideshow but kaberle was wonderfully awkward during the standing ovation (and also i didnt hear boos from where i sat anyways)
You should’ve tried to start a ‘we love you Kabby’ chant in your section as the game ended. That would have been awesome
"Ironic isn't it, that the very strings I played then are made from the very gut of the animal this song is about" - David McGahan
Would have been hard to hear over all the “Rei-mer, Rei-mer” chants.
The Belorussian buzz saw only has one setting:
HYPERDEATH!
- Certified Grabbo Lover
by Sergei Puckizin on Mar 20, 2011 11:38 AM EDT up reply actions
Lebda seems to put a together a of couple games of acceptable play which earns him a few more minutes of ice time. Than he uses that extra time do something completely stupid which earns him a seat in the press box for a few games..
He's sneaky.
He did it in only 11 minutes of play too.
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.
Reimer making Lebda look gooooooooooooooooood not the worst defender in NHL history.
20 miles to Legoland!
by nhlcheapshot on Mar 20, 2011 11:24 AM EDT up reply actions
Kid deserves it
And more
"Playin hurt, baby that don't faze me. I don't got time for pain. The only pain I've got time for is the pain I put on fools who don't know what time it is!"
NM's Chief Lady Pleaser. Just ask eightyseven.
My first time flying solo at the ACC (although I had friends in the building) and I was stuck right between 4 bruins fans. Thank god the game went the way it did, or it could have been pretty f-ing annoying. I was surprised how much I enjoyed watching by myself though, and I also learned that I apparently don’t need to be with anyone to get drunk and yell shit at players.
The Kabby tribute, and crowd response, was nice, but I think it could have been done better. A few pictures with ‘Where the Streets have no name’ playing, and only one stat posted (878 games played as a maple leaf)? Lame. I’ve seen better stuff on youtube. They should have just played the kaberle song, that would have been amazing. Still, it was great to see the crowd on their feet, and Kabby reacted exactly as I expected him to.
It was awesome listening to the Bruins fans get more and more sour as the night went on. By the third they were discussing whether Julien should be fired and what a ‘little bitch’ Seguin is.
What a game by Reimer, the chants were well deserved. There was a dude a couple rows in front of me sporting an Optimus Reim shirt. Was that anyone from around here? (Sec 320?)
That’s likely my last live game of the season, so a good way to end it. Already looking forward to next season.
WE MISS YOU TOMAS
was also at the game sitting in 318, thoroughly enjoyed listening to the Bruins fans as the game went on as well. I was over at RealSports Bar before the game and the amount of smack talk going on by Bruins fans was ridiculous. I told them they would end up eating their words before the night was over and was I ever happy to be right.
I was also pretty disapointed in the Kaberle tribute… for the same reasons you stated above. The guy deserved better than that…. but I guess its not really a big deal.
Seeing Schenn, Aulie and Kadri score was great, this team has such a bright future ahead of it. Cant wait to see these guys in a couple seasons from now, I think we’ll all be in for a treat
There is no "I" in team, but there is an "M" and an "E"
by Matt_Roberts on Mar 21, 2011 11:48 AM EDT up reply actions
Flew in from Cape Breton for that bad boy. First live Leafs win and what a game to be at. I’ve only seen three live Leafs games… one was Kadri’s first NHL game and now his first goal. Went directly to Real Sports and bought his jersey after the game. Amazing. Looking forward to the next game I attend to see Kadri break Sittler’s record.
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