number17
Mod Squad
3 games into the season, and the Leafs have not looked good IMO but we're 1-2 thanks to a gift wrapped 2 points from King Henry.
Tonight's game should go a long way in telling us, how good (or bad) the Leafs really are in this early season.
The Aves are also 1-2, losing the first 2 games to the Wild (both shutouts) and then beating the Bruins 2-1 just last night. The Aves are kinda like the Leafs in some ways - a lot of skilled, young players still developing their games. Having played the night before though, the Leafs have to realize this is a beatable team and jump on them early with our speed.
The Aves have beat the Leafs in their last 4 visits to ACC.
The Leafs have plenty of question marks regarding our roster tonight. Gardiner was removed from lineup to make room for Franson last game, and Franson provided instant result with 1G and 1A, and he made the PP so much better. I don't think Carlyle will take him out (despite Frason, as his usual bipolar self, also drove the coach nuts with his turnovers). If there's 1 Leaf d-man who is to take a seat tonight to make room for Gardiner who will it be? It won'e be Percy who has point in all 3 games early in the season. Will it be the young Rielly? Or the 37 year old Robidas who has struggled thus far in the first 3 games?
Also in question is who starts in goal? Reimer won the game for the Leafs and despite leaving early after being hit in the head, he participated in full practice yesterday and declared himself 100% ready. Bernier, OTOH, pegged 1A but has struggled in both starts thus far. He also complained of a 'slight pinch in his knee' but said he's 100% fine.
Some Leafs like Clarkson and Kessel finally got the monkey off their back scoring vs. the Rangers (thanks again Lundqvist) so we'll see how they do tonight.
And the Leafs have been outshot in all 3 games thus far, Carlyle's 'new system' looks pathetically similar to the old system that made TO the highest SA team in recent history ... will we see the same tonight?
Tonight's game should go a long way in telling us, how good (or bad) the Leafs really are in this early season.
The Aves are also 1-2, losing the first 2 games to the Wild (both shutouts) and then beating the Bruins 2-1 just last night. The Aves are kinda like the Leafs in some ways - a lot of skilled, young players still developing their games. Having played the night before though, the Leafs have to realize this is a beatable team and jump on them early with our speed.
The Aves have beat the Leafs in their last 4 visits to ACC.
The Leafs have plenty of question marks regarding our roster tonight. Gardiner was removed from lineup to make room for Franson last game, and Franson provided instant result with 1G and 1A, and he made the PP so much better. I don't think Carlyle will take him out (despite Frason, as his usual bipolar self, also drove the coach nuts with his turnovers). If there's 1 Leaf d-man who is to take a seat tonight to make room for Gardiner who will it be? It won'e be Percy who has point in all 3 games early in the season. Will it be the young Rielly? Or the 37 year old Robidas who has struggled thus far in the first 3 games?
Also in question is who starts in goal? Reimer won the game for the Leafs and despite leaving early after being hit in the head, he participated in full practice yesterday and declared himself 100% ready. Bernier, OTOH, pegged 1A but has struggled in both starts thus far. He also complained of a 'slight pinch in his knee' but said he's 100% fine.
Some Leafs like Clarkson and Kessel finally got the monkey off their back scoring vs. the Rangers (thanks again Lundqvist) so we'll see how they do tonight.
And the Leafs have been outshot in all 3 games thus far, Carlyle's 'new system' looks pathetically similar to the old system that made TO the highest SA team in recent history ... will we see the same tonight?
