GDT Toronto Maple Leafs vs Columbus Blue Coats
- Thread starter trujaysfan
- Start date
blacksheep
New member
It's clear that Clarkson loves being a hometown Leaf fan playing for his hometown team. The problem is his desire to play at home hasn't translated into a single good thing for us on the ice thus far. We thought we'd get a hometown boy to play with passion, but all we got was a pylon wasting a roster spot.
Preston_Mizzi
Banned
Wow great call dude!
Preston_Mizzi
Banned
[video=youtube;mzJj5-lubeM]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mzJj5-lubeM[/video]
number17
Mod Squad
Man we deserved better fate the way we dominated the first and 2nd half of the 3rd but that's what happens when you let your foot off the pedal for 3 minutes and that could be the game.
I'd be ok with a game like this if this wasn't the 3rd straight loss after the Olympics break. I think we did play better in every game, but here in the stretch run there's no space for moral victory.
I also think our blueline overall has played like crap since the break. Phaneuf had a (another) bad game. The way he had Nathan Horton blew by him to a breakaway in the 2nd is unacceptable. It's not a matter of being not reacting fast enough, or Horton's speed - it's a matter of not nearly being physical enough.
The blueline's gotta do a lot more, the 3rd and 4th line gotta do a better job too. They are so soft.
That's the last game before the trade deadline ... let's see if Nonis does a shakeup move just to get these guys going again.
I'd be ok with a game like this if this wasn't the 3rd straight loss after the Olympics break. I think we did play better in every game, but here in the stretch run there's no space for moral victory.
I also think our blueline overall has played like crap since the break. Phaneuf had a (another) bad game. The way he had Nathan Horton blew by him to a breakaway in the 2nd is unacceptable. It's not a matter of being not reacting fast enough, or Horton's speed - it's a matter of not nearly being physical enough.
The blueline's gotta do a lot more, the 3rd and 4th line gotta do a better job too. They are so soft.
That's the last game before the trade deadline ... let's see if Nonis does a shakeup move just to get these guys going again.
Metalleaf
New member
Guaranteeing 2 wins, because it's so leafs.
Pronger84
Active member
I've said this before and I'll say it again the Leafs are a one line wrecking team with good (but not great goaltending) and little else to offer up. This team is in serious trouble down the stretch because teams now are tightening up and they know now that if they nullify the top line it's an easy win for the opposition, we have no second scoring line and we are horrid at playing defense too and lets face it while goaltending is good it needs to be great if this team wants any chance of not just getting wins but actually making some noise in the playoffs.
I'll always cheer for the Leafs win or lose, but really the way this team is built leaves a lot to be desired.
I'll always cheer for the Leafs win or lose, but really the way this team is built leaves a lot to be desired.
leafman101
Well-known member
This game could have been over in the first. The Leafs had pucks bouncing over sticks, stopping on the goal line, going just wide of wide open nets. It was a better game than the last two. Just weren't getting any bounces.
Fenwick was 50/50 and Corsi was 51/49 for Columbus.
Fenwick was 50/50 and Corsi was 51/49 for Columbus.
MindzEye
Wayward Ditch Pig
Yep...where we struggle is 3rd and 4th line production. If you consider our legitimate 2nd line to be Lupul-Kadri-Raymond, then our forwards from 7 onward have scored a total of 34 goals on the season...and frankly, most of those have come from a mixture of Kulemin when he was on the 2nd line, and a collection of players that Randy wouldn't have on our bottom 6 without injuries forcing them on him. Holland & Smith have combined for 9 of those 34 goals. In comparison, the Habs are roughly 45, the Bruins ~55. Even the Pens, renown for being the most top heavy line up in the league, has gotten 37 goals from their depth forwards this season.
Yet another major way in which David Clarkson is ****ing us this season.
We need a serious infusion of hockey players in our bottom 6.
leafman101
Well-known member
And the blueline too. That run before the Olympics was due to getting secondary offense from the back end.
zeke
Well-known member
Well the blueline hasn't slowed - they have 2gls/5pts in the 3gms since the break. Though they still have a ways to go to make up for their first half uselesness.
And the third liners (kuly, clarkson, bolland plus smith/holland fill-ins) have combined for a 40gl pace, which is solid 3rd line production. Though i guess with the near 2nd line minutes they should probably score more.
Kind of weird all this fretting about offense suddenly. Leafs have scored 8gls in 3gms since the break, 4 of those from the top line, and 4 from the rest of the team.
And the third liners (kuly, clarkson, bolland plus smith/holland fill-ins) have combined for a 40gl pace, which is solid 3rd line production. Though i guess with the near 2nd line minutes they should probably score more.
Kind of weird all this fretting about offense suddenly. Leafs have scored 8gls in 3gms since the break, 4 of those from the top line, and 4 from the rest of the team.
Volcanologist
Well-known member
They have a top line that is playing well but they're not getting a lot from the bottom half of the team. Wouldn't mind at all if Nonis was able to add a skilled forward.
worm
Well-known member
I do wonder if players ever thing they are going to sign contracts that actually take them out of the NHL. Finger, Komi, Redden...and I am sure Clarkson if they didnt change the rules.
MindzEye
Wayward Ditch Pig
Yep, but you can never really score "enough" goals. If there's room for improvement, you strive for it. A Leaf team with a few solid 2 way additions wins the Isles & Habs games back to back and probably goes to OT last night.