Maple Leafs 2 v. Capitals 3 (SO): Maple Leafs Eliminated
by PPP on Apr 6, 2011 12:52 AM EDT
in Game Recaps
Email
Print
Corsi and Fenwick | EV Face Offs | H2H Time On Ice
Game Summary | Event Summary | Japers Rink Recap
Those three words will give the majority of hockey fans the kind of thrill that they cannot find in their own fandom. After 80 games, the playoff dream is official over. It became official once Thomas Vanek potted an empty net goal to complete their 4-2 win over the Tampa Bay Lightning but the Leafs and Capitals continued to play their game nonetheless until Washington emerged victorious in the shootout. It was a moment that was a long time coming for the Maple Leafs. They had put it off as much as possible even as veterans like Francois Beauchemin and Tomas Kaberle moved on and human chemistry Colby Armstrong was lost for the year to injuries. The single biggest reason? A groin injury to Jean-Sebastien Giguere that opened the door for James Reimer:
On a night when the Leafs were grossly outshot he was once again the hero. Whether he is the white knight that we've yearned for or simply the player that allowed Leafs fans to recognize all of the good that exists on the team. In particular, there was one save that drew a standing ovation from the crowd and a bit of understanding from Bruce Arthur:
That was the Leafs this season, in a nutshell. Down and out, then reaching, reaching, reaching. No, they didn’t grasp the ledge, but moments like that mean something. Players like Reimer mean something. It wasn’t enough this season, no, and there’s no guarantee it will mean enough next season, either.
It's not a passionate defence of Leafs fans but it's miles ahead of most of his colleagues. Ultimately, there are no guarantees for next year. Mikhail Grabovski could regress (not likely), Clarke MacArthur could return to his pre-Leafs form (please no), and James Reimer may be more Jim Carey than Felix Potvin. But for the past three months they've given us more than just hope but hope that even the media and opposition fans have to acknowledge. And that's something.
21 comments
|
2 recs |
Do you like this story?
Comments
We didn’t get fucking eliminated. We completed an integral step to the rebuild. That step is the suck for part of the year, sell off the parts that get us good returns, then use returns/Marlies to boost us. Oh and discover one hell of a fucking goaltender.
We didn’t get eliminated, we’re just following the plan, is all.
Popped a Colboner - Certified Joe Colborne Fanboy
03/08/2011 - I saw THE Wookie score his 1st NHL goal.
03/19/2011 - Watched Kadri's 1st NHL goal from the West Bank
Twitter me this.
by happiergilmore on Apr 6, 2011 1:04 AM EDT reply actions 2 recs
I like that.
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 Apr 6, 2011 1:12 AM EDT up reply actions
Completely agree...
This playoff push wasn’t ever (really) about a playoff push, rather, about a team that was making strides, as a team, and illustrating that the rebuild was succeeding.
There were lots of people calling for Burke/Wilson to be canned earlier this season (and I suppose there will always be a a contingency that opposes what management does), but in watching this season play out, it’s comforting to see that there are a lot of pieces already present on the team.
Don’t get me wrong — I am fully in the camp of people who think that much of the success the Leafs have had these past few months is a direct result of Reimer. However, Reimer can’t score for us, too. [Well, maybe he can, someone get him some non-Goalie skates, just to see…] Playing hockey (or any sport for that matter) when you can count on your “last line of defense,” gives you that much more confidence. My feeling is that the Leafs’ skaters were able to play with even the slightest more confidence (than had Giggy or Jonas been in net). It’s nothing against our other goalies, but when the goalie (Reimer) bails his skaters out every other period, it can really motivate the skaters to skate a little harder… play a little more aggressively in the corner… passion begets passion.
Reimer plays with passion, ergo the Leafs play with passion.
"Do not ask yourself what the world needs. Ask yourself what makes you come alive, and then go do that. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive." - Howard Thurman
by Jeremiah Stanghini on Apr 6, 2011 2:28 AM EDT up reply actions
This team has a future, by look of it. But for now
by Wan Ihite on Apr 6, 2011 1:12 AM EDT reply actions 3 recs
The picture is so sad…so accurate…it gets a rec from me.
I'm thinking that when the Leafs win the Cup, I'll lose my drinking problem.
by leafsfan4life94 on Apr 6, 2011 1:21 AM EDT up reply actions
We have a lot to look forward to. Personally, I’m interested (and excited) to see how Nazem Kadri does as a full-time NHLer. Just a few things I’m looking out for as well:
1) Jonas Gustavsson: tough year for the Monster. Maybe he can regain the form and confidence that made him such an effective goaltender earlier this year. He’ll probably be a backup, but if we have an on-his-game Gustavsson as our backup, then we’re not doing too bad.
2) Offence from the defence: Kaberle’s gone. No one will be able to replace what he brought to this team. How the Leafs respond to the drop in offensive talent on the blueline is of great interest to me. Jake Gardiner and Jesse Blacker look like good kids, but they’re not here yet. Maybe Matt Lashoff gets a little more time up here, I don’t think there’s a lot of quality offensive D going UFA but I may be mistaken. Anything but Brett Lebda.
3) The hunt for a #1 centre: Barring the end of the world, another blockbuster, or Brad Richards signing with us, I would assume that our opening night first-line centre is Mikhail Grabovski. If MGK sticks together, we still don’t have the centre Phil Kessel needs. Unless Kadri really focuses on winning faceoffs this off-season, we’re looking at Bozak and Kessel together again, presumably with Lupul. Joe Colborne isn’t ready for #1 duties yet imo, but I could see him taking an NHL job next season.
4) Free Agents: According to capgeek, we have 8 guys going RFA (Mac, Bozak, Boyce, Rosehill, Schenn, Gunns, and Optimus) in addition to Irwin, Scrivens, Caputi, Brunnstrom, and Hanson + some filler with the Marlies. We also have 6 UFAs (Brent, Crabb, Sjostrom, Giggy, Voros, and Zigomanis). Who stays and who goes is going to make for some interesting discussion this offseason.
5) Phil Kessel. Whenever I watch him play all I can say is ‘wow.’ He’s such a deadly offensive weapon. With the improvements in his defensive game this year, he’s becoming a more complete player without losing any of the offense that prompted ‘the trade.’ For my money, he’s the most exciting player to watch on this team. Everyone has their moments, obviously, but when Kessel’s on, sit back and watch the red light flash.
6) That inevitable moment when Montreal gets bounced from the playoffs.
7) That inevitable moment when some Sens fan attempts to laugh at me tomorrow morning because my team got bounced from the playoffs.
8) The Leafs hoisting the Stanley Cup.
I'm thinking that when the Leafs win the Cup, I'll lose my drinking problem.
In my head I’ve tried to give Gus every benefit of the doubt but i doubt he can sustain a SV% of .915 next year meaning that hes not going to be doing the job we need him to do to win us games (it took Reimer .922 to get us this far). I have all but given up faith in Gus and it sucks to say.
Follow me on Twitter.. @phoking_awesome
Heres to the 2011-2012 season!
by pho king awesome on Apr 6, 2011 2:19 AM EDT up reply actions
Optimus Reim
Just a quick number showing how much better the Leafs have been with James Reimer in goal.
In James Reimer’s starts, the Leafs are 19-8-5 and have a +11 goal differential. That would be a 110 point pace if the Leafs kept up that kind of play all season.
In games where the Leafs started another goalie, the Leafs are 18-24-6 and have a -39 goal differential…this would be a 72 point pace.
The Leafs goal per game differential is just over one goal per game better when Reimer starts than when he does not!
I hope Optimus Reim can keep up this level of play next season :)
1/1/11: Saw the beginning of the Optimus Reim era. And it was glorious!!!1
Oh...and Phil Kessel says YAAAAAAYYYY!!!1
I guess i knew it was coming but it was heartbreaking to finally have it happen
There is always next year (again) just cross our fingers that this is the team that shows up in October!
Follow me on Twitter.. @phoking_awesome
Heres to the 2011-2012 season!
by pho king awesome on Apr 6, 2011 2:21 AM EDT reply actions
Then take me disappearin’ through the smoke rings of my mind
Down the foggy ruins of time
Far past the frozen leaves
The haunted, frightened trees
Out to the windy beach
Far from the twisted reach of crazy sorrow
Yes, to dance beneath the diamond sky with one hand waving free
Silhouetted by the sea
Circled by the circus sands
With all memory and fate
Driven deep beneath the waves
Let me forget about today until tomorrow
I used to think that the day would never come
I’d see delight in the shade of the morning sun
My morning sun is the drug that brings me near
To the childhood I lost, replaced by fear
I used to think that the day would never come
That my life would depend on the morning sun…
No. Not even in the face of Armageddon. Never compromise.
by article1 on Apr 6, 2011 8:31 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
User Tools
Related FanPosts on Pension Plan Puppets
Related FanShots on Pension Plan Puppets
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
Recent FanPosts
In Association With
Latest Puck Daddy - NHL from Yahoo! Sports
- Eulogy: Remembering the 2011-12 New York Rangers
- Stanley Cup Final: 5 keys for New Jersey Devils and Los Angeles Kings
- Friday’s Three Stars: Devils head to Final; Brodeur, Kovalchuk the difference in Game 6
- Devils eliminate Rangers in Game 6, ending fear of the past, setting course for the future
- Adam Henrique sends New Jersey Devils to Stanley Cup Final with OT goal vs. Rangers (VIDEO)
SBNation.com Recent Stories
StatCounter
