Montreal Canadiens (1-0-0-0) @ Toronto Maple Leafs (0-1-1-0) - 7PM CBC/AM640

[cw]

Having been up against Ottawa’s and Montreal’s PP’s (two of the best in the league last year and showing signs of being good again this year) and coming away with a 90.5% PK is an encouraging sign.

Sundin, Maurice and a number of the other players observed that this was the Leafs poorest performance of the three games. I agree with them. It just goes to show a team that plays well doesn’t always get rewarded. Both Carbonneau & Maurice felt that as a third game in four nights, the Leafs were lacking some energy and jump and that affected their performance. Maurice felt they gave everything they had in those Ottawa games and it took a little out of them for last night but they didn’t quit.

That’s another illustration of how these guys are not robots. The games can take their toll and provide a roller coaster of what they have to work with on a given night. It has nothing to do with a coach getting them up for a game, little to do with conditioning (because we know how hard they’ve worked at that) or how hard the players are willing to try (make an effort) on a given night. No team is going to play 82 games and be in perfect shape and with peak energy for all of them. What is a good sign is that in spite of that, they found a way to win last night. If they’re going to win a playoff berth, they’ll need a number of games like last night.

So far, I generally remain encouraged by what I see.

[cw]

The only problem with McCabe on that play was that he let the puck get out the Habs zone in the first place.

I agree to a point. McCabe's hand eye co-ordination in those situations has never been the greatest. He gets caught in those more than a number of point men. He’d probably be better off to be a little more conservative and back off sometimes because it isn’t a strength. He can’t back off as easily though when the clock is ticking down and they need a goal (not the case last night). Having said that, the puck can take some funny bounces or play pin ball with the best of dmen so it can be tricky to judge sometimes.

On that play though, he recovered to knock the puck with his stick when he dove which upset the Habs 2 on 1 chance – effectively killed it. And then he got back to help out. So he made a good enough recovery to thwart the play if Blake or whoever had done their part.

[pmrules]

My 10 cents:

1.  Antropov - Give that guy a star too...beautiful penalty killing late in the 3rd and in OT.  That dive...was a playoff maneouvre in the 3rd game of the season.  LOVE IT!!!

2.  Toskala - It has been 3 full years since I've had full confidence in a goalie (1 yr of lockout/Belfour/Raycroft).  What a difference confidence in a goalie can make.  He starts on Tuesday once again in my opinion.  That first goal was quite weak...but he turned around and made the KEY saves when called upon.  That's the difference...

3.  Tucker - Still unimpressive.  I don't know what Cherry is smoking.  Cherry gets more and more annoying as the years go on.  So much so, I'm bordering on dislike of him.

4.  Sundin - Leading the league in points!!!  Woo Hoo!  Is this the season we finally see a 90+ point performance from the big Swede...it's been ages!!!

5.  Markov/Komisarek - What punks...would not want them ever to play on my team.

6.  Higgins - Exact opposite of point number 5.

7.  Maurice - Got to give the man props for re-uniting the Sundin/Antro/Poni Line.  I didn't think he would ever do that.  Welcome back Poni...we've missed ya the last 2.5 games.

8.  Steen/Stajan - Would anybody be interested in a Wellwood/Steen/Stajan line when Welly comes back?   I think, with the way they are playing so far, I would find it hard to not play Stajan in the top 9 when Welly and Bell come back.  What to do?!?!?!  Can we shift him over to the wing?

9.  Blake - So now what do we do with him?  He was brought in to work with Sundin...and that didn't work for 2.5 games.  And it is quite obvious that Sundin/Antro/Poni is a line that works and will give 80% of the teams out their, just true fits playing against.  Where does that leave Blake?  I'm confused...did we need a first line winger or not???  Welly/Blake/Steen?   Bell/Stajan/Tucker?  Pohl/Dev/Kilger

10.  Woz - another meh performance.  So far, the score on the Woz 1 great game and 2 mediocre to bad games.

[Omallley]

Omallley: did you ever figure out your sound problem?  I was wondering if you were watching the game in HD and perhaps your receiver was having some kind of problem with the dolby digital signal..that's the only thing i could figure ....

No, never got it fixed. The audio problem is really weird. My non-digital cable tv (no receiver) had volume on CBC (I discovered this after the game).

[Omallley]

9.  Blake - So now what do we do with him?  He was brought in to work with Sundin...and that didn't work for 2.5 games.  And it is quite obvious that Sundin/Antro/Poni is a line that works and will give 80% of the teams out their, just true fits playing against.  Where does that leave Blake?  I'm confused...did we need a first line winger or not???  Welly/Blake/Steen?   Bell/Stajan/Tucker?  Pohl/Dev/Kilger

I think you play him with Wellwood once he's back.

Right now though, I think you play him with Stajan and Steen. It might be a small line, but you could play them with Gill/Woz to counter that.

[Phaneuf]

My 10 cents:

1.  Antropov - Give that guy a star too...beautiful penalty killing late in the 3rd and in OT.  That dive...was a playoff maneouvre in the 3rd game of the season.  LOVE IT!!!

2.  Toskala - It has been 3 full years since I've had full confidence in a goalie (1 yr of lockout/Belfour/Raycroft).  What a difference confidence in a goalie can make.  He starts on Tuesday once again in my opinion.  That first goal was quite weak...but he turned around and made the KEY saves when called upon.  That's the difference...

3.  Tucker - Still unimpressive.  I don't know what Cherry is smoking.  Cherry gets more and more annoying as the years go on.  So much so, I'm bordering on dislike of him.

4.  Sundin - Leading the league in points!!!  Woo Hoo!  Is this the season we finally see a 90+ point performance from the big Swede...it's been ages!!!

5.  Markov/Komisarek - What punks...would not want them ever to play on my team.

6.  Higgins - Exact opposite of point number 5.

7.  Maurice - Got to give the man props for re-uniting the Sundin/Antro/Poni Line.  I didn't think he would ever do that.  Welcome back Poni...we've missed ya the last 2.5 games.

8.  Steen/Stajan - Would anybody be interested in a Wellwood/Steen/Stajan line when Welly comes back?   I think, with the way they are playing so far, I would find it hard to not play Stajan in the top 9 when Welly and Bell come back.  What to do?!?!?!  Can we shift him over to the wing?

9.  Blake - So now what do we do with him?  He was brought in to work with Sundin...and that didn't work for 2.5 games.  And it is quite obvious that Sundin/Antro/Poni is a line that works and will give 80% of the teams out their, just true fits playing against.  Where does that leave Blake?  I'm confused...did we need a first line winger or not???  Welly/Blake/Steen?   Bell/Stajan/Tucker?  Pohl/Dev/Kilger

10.  Woz - another meh performance.  So far, the score on the Woz 1 great game and 2 mediocre to bad games.

2. Imagine how the players on the team feel? Imagine what it is like to know that even when you aren't playing your best your goalie will always give you a chance to win? Awesome!

8. Steen/Stajan - obviously these two worked hard in the off season. I am impressed by them both.

9. Blake will look great with Wellwood - how fast will that line be?

10. I disagree on Woz. I think he is playing well with size and speed. He is far more physical than most other Leafs D.

[Skippy]

Man, Sundin is leading the league in scoring with what Simmons describes as a torn hip labrum. Imagine if he were healthy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

When healthy, and Bell back, I go with these lines.

Antro/Sundin/Poni - They just seem to click. Why break them up?
Blake/Welly/Tucker
Steen/Stajan/Bell
Devereaux/Pohl/Newbury

[raycroftrebounds]

McCabe has been so horrible.   What is going to make him play better.    Does he need to be benched for a couple games.    Will he plays better when Carlo returns to be paired with him.   Or is he just going through a rough patch and will get out of it soon.

[Skippy]

McCabe has been so horrible.   What is going to make him play better.    Does he need to be benched for a couple games.    Will he plays better when Carlo returns to be paired with him.   Or is he just going through a rough patch and will get out of it soon.

I think he played great last night. He has some problem with bigger forwards, I find, so Montreal isn't really a problem.

[raycroftrebounds]

McCabe has been so horrible.   What is going to make him play better.    Does he need to be benched for a couple games.    Will he plays better when Carlo returns to be paired with him.   Or is he just going through a rough patch and will get out of it soon.

I think he played great last night. He has some problem with bigger forwards, I find, so Montreal isn't really a problem.

You thought he played great?!?!  Well I would guess you are in the minority about that.   

[Skippy]

McCabe has been so horrible.   What is going to make him play better.    Does he need to be benched for a couple games.    Will he plays better when Carlo returns to be paired with him.   Or is he just going through a rough patch and will get out of it soon.

I think he played great last night. He has some problem with bigger forwards, I find, so Montreal isn't really a problem.

You thought he played great?!?!  Well I would guess you are in the minority about that.   

Thanks for the indepth discussion. If you read around here, you'll find that being in the minority is not a bad thing.

[bustaheims]

Man, Sundin is leading the league in scoring with what Simmons describes as a torn hip labrum. Imagine if he were healthy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

When healthy, and Bell back, I go with these lines.

Antro/Sundin/Poni - They just seem to click. Why break them up?
Blake/Welly/Tucker
Steen/Stajan/Bell
Devereaux/Pohl/Newbury

I'd flip Bell and Tucker, just to get some size on the 2nd line, but otherwise, that works for me.

[LeafLifer]

If you read around here, you'll find that being in the minority is not a bad thing.

the truth.

[Skippy]

Man, Sundin is leading the league in scoring with what Simmons describes as a torn hip labrum. Imagine if he were healthy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

When healthy, and Bell back, I go with these lines.

Antro/Sundin/Poni - They just seem to click. Why break them up?
Blake/Welly/Tucker
Steen/Stajan/Bell
Devereaux/Pohl/Newbury

I'd flip Bell and Tucker, just to get some size on the 2nd line, but otherwise, that works for me.

Not a bad idea, but I kind of like how Welly and Tucker play together...

[pmrules]

Man, Sundin is leading the league in scoring with what Simmons describes as a torn hip labrum. Imagine if he were healthy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

When healthy, and Bell back, I go with these lines.

Antro/Sundin/Poni - They just seem to click. Why break them up?
Blake/Welly/Tucker
Steen/Stajan/Bell
Devereaux/Pohl/Newbury

Kilger?