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GDT - Make it 7 Devils @ Leafs 7:30PM EST TSN

number17

number17

Mod Squad
Let me get the GDT started as well ... I seem to be on a roll just like the buds are.

With the big W over the Stars, the Leafs' point streak hit 6 (5-0-1) and we can make it 7 by a W over the Devils tonight. The Devils are a very beatable team (9-12-4), which traditionally was the kinda team the Leafs have problem beating ... but in this recent trend we seems to have got rid of that bad habit, and manage to pound on weaker foes early and often ... so let's hope that continues tonight.

There were PLENTY of bad habits that popped up its ugly head in the win over Dallas though, and as Bernier has put it himself - "This was the worst game we've played since (the 9-2 loss to Nashville)" ... Carlyle said they'd take the 2 points, but it's time to get back to the drawing board and get back to the basics cause we did a lot of things wrong vs. the Stars.

Let's see if that happens tonight.

The Devils score 2.28G per game, 25th in the league, and their defense is not as good as before either, ranking 20th out of 30th teams (still better than us, sitting at 8th worst in league) ... so again it is a very beatable team. The question is if we work hard tonight instead of try to rely on our talent to win the game.

Komarov didn't practice with the team yesterday so not counting on him to play in this one, should be same lineup as last game.


Go Leafs Go!!!
 
Metalleaf referred to the Devils as "The Island of misfit toys" recently, and that's a pretty apt nickname. Their forward group in particular is an old, odd assortment of castoffs, journeymen and players that you sort of forget are even still playing in the NHL:

Jaromir Jagr
Dainius Zubrus
Patrik Elias
Michael Ryder
Tuomo Ruutu
Mike Cammalleri
Martin Havlat
Steve Bernier
Ryane Clowe
Jordin Tootoo
Scott Gomez (yes, Scott Gomez)

Predictably, that mix of players hasn't paid huge dividends for Godfather Lou. The Devils are seven points behind the Leafs, and only the Hurricanes, Jets, Blue Jackets, Panthers and Sabres have scored fewer goals than the Devils. So, if our scorers keep bringing it, and we play anything resembling good defensive hockey, this is a very winnable game.
 
Will likely be a snoozefest. Hope we come out on top but could get ugly if the Devils somehow score first.
 
Jagr may be out, and a good sneeze should knock Havlat and Ruutu from the game.
 
zeke said:
no Leo tonight.
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No surprise. It looks like they're following the standard concussion protocol with Leo, which means he has to be symptom-free for seven days. Since he apparently felt fine the day after Ovechkin's cheap-shot, he'll probably be cleared to play Saturday's game, provided he's still feeling no after-effects.
 
Wow very depleted line-up for the Devils, should be 2 points for the Leafs but lets hope that they don't put on a stinker
 
number17 said:
Agreed, and agreed.

Winning a game despite all kinds of bad habits in the Dallas game is usually sign of a bad loss in the following game ... hope I'm wrong.
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Yep. Combine that with playing against a weaker team that we should beat, and that's the usual recipe for a Leafy disappointment.

On the flip side, that also makes this game a good test for the team. If they can avoid playing down to the level of the opponents, and follow up their effort against Dallas with a tighter game, that'd be a nice sign of growth.
 
Feeling pretty good about tonight.. which is never a good thing. Still I think it's going to be a 2-1 game until the final minute, empty-netter to make it 3-1.
 
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