[Recap] Leafs 4/2 v/at Sabres/Devils 2/3: Weekend Update
Well, thankfull that streak is over. The Leafs stretched their winning streak to three games with a 4-2 win over the Sabres before falling 3-2 against the Devils. Despite the three wins the Leafs remain entrenched in 28th place in the NHL. Thankfully the teams around them in the basement were also winning games in a futile effort to make the playoffs.
I am actually happy that the Leafs beat the Sabres since it was Leukemia awareness night and Jason Blake's wife gave a nice interview about some of the events that were taking place throughout the night. That the insurance marker came off of the stick of Jason Blake was about as scripted as it could get. Seeing him streak down the wing and rip a wrist shot past Miller gave fans a glimpse of what Blake is capable of doing. Certainly it is what was expected of him rather than bouncing pucks in off of goalies and fist pumping down the ice.
It was certainly frustrating to see a team that had just beat the Thrashers 10-1 play so poorly but it's shouldn't be a surprise considering the Leafs always look terrible after blowing someone out. A friend tried to assuage my rage when the score was 3-1 by reminding me that that was a good score "Two goals right? The Leafs always blow two goal leads." Unfortunately, Saturday night they decided to go against the grain.
Sunday's game was obviously on the backburner as the AFC Championship was being played. Anyone think that Belichick might be able to learn how to coach hockey? In a shocking move, Raycroft got the start. When I realized that he was getting ANOTHER chance I was initially angry because the Leafs were starting to suck me back in but I quickly realized that Raycroft would be a boon to our Slide/Drive/Blow Up hopes and he didn't disappoint. The first goal came on a Classic Raycroft Blunder when he gave out a huge rebound, the second came when he cheated on a two-on-one which opened his five-hole for a puck that deflected off of Ian White's skate, and the third came courtesy of the kind of goal that only victimises cursed goaltenders.
While I was glad to see Raycroft in net it did bring into question Paul Maurice's decision making once again. Usually it's his use of timeouts but once again it's his use of his goalies that leaves me questioning his logic. Assuming that the Leafs are actually serious about making the playoffs why would you start Andrew Raycroft when you have already had Toskala play back-to-back games twice this year. Especially when you consider that Toskala just came off a long rest and wouldn't be as over-worked as he would be otherwise. Rest received such little consideration when you were throwing VeTo in against the Kings less than a week after his return from a groin strain. Sure, he has to do it Wednesday-Thursday this week but again, he's not tired, and last year you had Raycroft start 41 of the last 42 games of the year.
Just kidding, I know the answer. The two times that Toskala has played in both ends of a back-to-back situation he has given up 7 goals on 55 shots. The first time was the Phoenix debacle that Raycroft actually started and the latter was the Montreal disaster that I attended. Both losses were due more to the Leafs' terrible play in the second game and maybe Maurice wanted to protect Vesa from the egg that he anticipated that the Leafs would lay. Or maybe he should have worked harder at getting the Leafs ready for the Devils because with VeTo in net last night the Leafs would have been returning home with a four-game winning streak. So, actually, thank God for Maurice's lack of faith in his motivational skills.
Steen won player of the game honours for Thursday's game against the Bruins and I'll leave it to you folks to pick a player of the weekend in the comments to ensure that defensive prowess isn't given short-thrift by me.
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Raycroft
I think playing Raycroft was a clever move on Maurice's part to throw the game while avoiding speculation. Under the guise of protecting The Tosk's groin he gets the Leaf's loosing streak back on track and can keep some sort of speculation about him being a decent coach and maybe keeping his job and getting a shot at Stamkos.
Atleast thats what I hope he was thinking.
by jaredolondon on Jan 21, 2008 12:12 PM EST 0 recs
Sneakiness
The second game was the perfect game down the stretch. The Leafs played well but still lost. That way teams think our players are good but not getting the bounces/needing a new environment/could flourish elsewhere but the Leafs stick around in 28th.
by Maple Leaf Blue on
Jan 21, 2008 1:04 PM EST
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Wheeling and Dealing
Yeah, it'll definitely help when stripping contracts if the players have been playing well.
Not that the Leafs will be dealing from a position of strength either way.
by PPP on
Jan 21, 2008 1:08 PM EST
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Sundin
Just read on ESPN (who sourced the Ottawa Sun) the Flyers are rumored to be offering Jeff Carter and a first round pick for Sundin.
Good enough?
Seems to me they could get more.
by Evening News Team on Jan 21, 2008 1:31 PM EST 0 recs
Decent
It's a decent return on a player that will definitely be coming back to the Leafs. I would want the Leafs to snag a defenceman as well (Coburn?) or an extra pick (1st next year or 2nd this year) but I would be ok with that return on a rental Sundin.
It's decent but I would expect that some other teams could put together a better package.
by PPP on
Jan 21, 2008 1:45 PM EST
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Sundin leaving
I don't think he'd go for it. He's insisted multiple times that he wants to end his career in Toronto (although I don't know how that would work in a rental type situation.) So, I figure he won't agree to a trade, he'll just hang up the skates. Something tells me that once he retires/leaves, the captaincy will probably fall on...Bryan McCabe(better with press, people know him, etc.), and that scares the hell out of me.
by loser domi on
Jan 21, 2008 2:44 PM EST
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No-Trade Mats
See I feel like Mats wants to wait until the last possible second and he'll likely need to be convinced and guaranteed that
a. it's the only time they'll do it. No "come on Mats let's waive that NTC clause again" next year. b. He will be re-signed.
The second one will be tough to do since I would imagine it's against the CBA but I would imagine it'll beat the forefront of Mats' decision.
by PPP on
Jan 21, 2008 2:49 PM EST
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Ditto
The Hat spoke about the second instance and that article about Doug Weight in The Star makes that first clause very likely.
Mats will want that very clear. It's a one-shot deal. But he'll also want to make sure that the Leafs' goose is cooked before he heads out.
by Maple Leaf Blue on
Jan 21, 2008 2:52 PM EST
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Player of the Weekend
Reply to this topic and make your cases.
by PPP on Jan 21, 2008 2:49 PM EST 0 recs
Pavel Kubina
1 goal, 1 assist, +1, 6 minutes total of SH TOI, and 17ish Total TOI each night. The team's PK went 5 for 5 in 5:57 of time short-handed.
That's the kind of play that you might pay $5M a year for. Plus, if he keeps playing like that maybe someone will take his contract off of our hands...
by Maple Leaf Blue on
Jan 21, 2008 2:55 PM EST
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