Avalanche @ Leafs - Oct. 8th, 7:00pm - TSN, SN 590

[Kin]

So I didn't watch tonight. How'd things go? Anyone disagree with any of the decisions Carlyle made?

 

[Stickytape]

So I didn't watch tonight. How'd things go? Anyone disagree with any of the decisions Carlyle made?

I was a little distracted during the game (friends were chatty tonight) but my take, as short as I can keep it:

Bernier looked good, only let in one that ordinarily you'd think he'd get, but it was a nice shot and the Leafs just let the guy walk in like he had a VIP pass.  Otherwise he was pretty calm and steady as we're coming to expect.

I think the problem is that these injuries and absences are adding up.  McClement was out expecting a baby, so that's another man out.  Carlyle was swapping guys around all over the place, but it wasn't doing the trick.  You can't expect Dave Bolland to carry the team every night.

The Leafs were pretty sloppy, and just couldn't put together much on the rush or when getting out of the zone; at one point they got pinned in their own zone during a PP.  Ugh. 

Honestly, though, this game was pretty winnable, as they had a couple chances that just didn't go in the net; Lupul and Bozak each missed one or two beauties into half-empty nets.  Had even one of those gone in, I'm confident we would have been looking at a point or two.

Lupul still isn't quite himself, but he played better than most tonight and picked up a goal on 5 shots.  Kessel had 7 shots, but nothing too dangerous.  Bolland and Phaneuf had good games.  Kadri was invisible and only played 13 mins on the 3rd line.  Gardiner/Ranger are still not working out, but they weren't awful?

I think it's going to be rough going until the end of the month, when a bunch of guys should be back in the lineup.  Really missed Kuli, Frasier, and McClement tonight.

 

[mr grieves]

TOI, for the forwards:

T. Bozak 23:35
J. van Riemsdyk 23:13
P. Kessel 20:59
M. Raymond  20:43
D. Bolland 19:21
J. Lupul  18:38
N. Kadri 13:00
C. Ashton 9:28
C. Orr 9:13
T. Smith 5:16
T. Bodie 5:03
J. Devane 4:51

That's with one top 6 winger, one second/third-line winger, and a bottom line center out. They've got some depth issues, I think.

 

[Sudafederov]

So I didn't watch tonight. How'd things go? Anyone disagree with any of the decisions Carlyle made?

I didn't like the fact that he put out Kadri for the final face-off with 10 seconds to go with the goalie pulled. Love Nazem, but he's terrible on the draws.

 

[WhatIfGodWasALeaf]

This blew, I did goto the Sharks game afterwards and saw them put 9 past the Rags.

Teenage mutant ninja Hertl scored 4.

 

[drummond]

This blew, I did goto the Sharks game afterwards and saw them put 9 past the Rags.

Teenage mutant ninja Hertl scored 4.

Yep, Hertl is making some headlines. For 19year old he is damn good. Finally a great product from Czech Republic after many years of rather mediocre players. Smart move by Sharks to let him play with Joe Thronton instead of burrying him on the fourth line. Back home he was considered generational talent, glad to see he is treated that way.

As far as the Avs game is concerned, I think Gardiner settled a little bit, he was skating very good, made some great passes and was not trying to be everywhere. Dave Bolland is a workhorse. I like the Marlies kids, but it was obvious that the Leafs need some bodies back. Bernier was very good.

 

[CarltonTheBear]

I didn't like the fact that he put out Kadri for the final face-off with 10 seconds to go with the goalie pulled. Love Nazem, but he's terrible on the draws.

LK mentioned last night that Kadri was the only Leaf to be over 50% on the draw in the game. Bozak had a bit of a rough night going just 39%. And so far this season Bozak's winning percentage in less than 1% higher than Kadri's.

 

[BlueWhiteBlood]

If the Leafs had a full line-up last night, I think they would have won that game. Missing role players are hurting right now, I believe they got lucky in the first three games.

Goaltending continues to be solid, good thing, because there are short comings with defensive zone coverage (this is a recording), but I think they did as good as they could with the injuries, suspensions and births.

Rielly was outstanding last night, he's going to be a beast when he reaches his prime.

 

[CarltonTheBear]

That's with one top 6 winger, one second/third-line winger, and a bottom line center out. They've got some depth issues, I think.

I think that says a bit about our prospect depth too. Guys like McKegg, Ross, D'Amigo, and Biggs were passed over for Abbott, Devane, and Smith. Some were hoping at least one of those guys could be counted on to play a 3rd line role on this team next season but I don't see it.

As for the guys we did see, Abbott looked ok but it's clear that he probably won't ever be more than an AHL scorer. Smith didn't really make an impression one way or another, but he obviously received very limited ice-time. Devane's a prospect whose play I was happy with but he tops out as a 4th liner. Ashton's been pretty disappointing after earning a spot in training camp. It's almost as if it's kinda foolish to make decisions based on a two-week practice session. Colborne was our only prospect who could have slid into the top-6 and we gave him away for nothing to keep a waiver eligible 4th liner.

 

[BlueWhiteBlood]

Ashton's been pretty disappointing after earning a spot in training camp. It's almost as if it's kinda foolish to make decisions based on a two-week practice session.

I agree, but I thought he was better last night, it was his best game of the season so far. That rush to cut into the middle in front of the net, was what I want to see from him all the time, he's quick when he wants to be and I also think he can score if he gets the chance. He's maybe spending too much time focusing on defensive play, which I can't really fault him for a whole lot, being Carlyle is probably harping on it pretty good.

Colborne was our only prospect who could have slid into the top-6 and we gave him away for nothing to keep a waiver eligible 4th liner.

Yeah, I would have kept him also, but what can you do, he hurt himself with the camp he had.

 

[Bullfrog]

I have a feeling that 4th line won't get much ice tonight...

Devane - Abbott - Orr

Sadly, you were wrong.

Colton Orr TOI: 9:13
Nazem Kadri TOI: 13:00 (due to some power play time)

 

[Bullfrog]

Kadri sets up a nice rush with our two best scoring wingers, and is immediately put back out with Orr and Ashton.

Unbelievable when I saw that. They instantly create a good scoring chance and then off the wingers go. I'm just going through the thread now, so I'm sure it's been said, but Randy WTH?

 

[pmrules]

Brutal giveaway by Orr on the eventual gwg.  Caught the defenseman off guard.

That's 1 game that Orr has cost us.

I'm pretty sure it had nothing too with it, but the fight seemed to turn the avs fortunes around. 

 

[GhostofPotvin29]

That's with one top 6 winger, one second/third-line winger, and a bottom line center out. They've got some depth issues, I think.

I think that says a bit about our prospect depth too. Guys like McKegg, Ross, D'Amigo, and Biggs were passed over for Abbott, Devane, and Smith. Some were hoping at least one of those guys could be counted on to play a 3rd line role on this team next season but I don't see it.

Although it could be that those are still the better overall players and it's just the team philosophy to bring up the "grittiest" Marlies players - or that's what it seems like anyways.  I know Trevor Smith earned it with his play thus far.

 

[Bullfrog]

No doubt, not having Kulemin, McClement, and Clarkson didn't help, but overall, I thought it was our defensemen that were the biggest problem (besides the coach, that is.) They were constantly crossing over each other and chasing the puck like it was a peewee game.

On a positive note: Rielly's good enough to stay in my opinion. Ya, he's going to make a tonne of mistakes, but his offense and skating are ridiculous.

However, why he was given the green light to attack and Kadri has "to earn his way" is beyond me. I felt so bad watching Kadri play with Orr and Ashton. Give Kadri some real wingers and give him a chance to succeed.

 

[CarltonTheBear]

Although it could be that those are still the better overall players and it's just the team philosophy to bring up the "grittiest" Marlies players - or that's what it seems like anyways.  I know Trevor Smith earned it with his play thus far.

Smith definitely earned a NHL game with the weekend he had on the Marlies, which is fine by me. He's obviously up here on a very temporary basis with McClement's situation. And Ashton and Bodie earned their spots in training camp, although I would very much be in favour of sending Ashton (or Devane) down when we can and call up a Brennan or Liles to give Ranger a break.

But it's the Abbott and Devane call ups that I think show the weakness of our system. Abbott was an odd call up right off the bat since he was called up to fill a top-6 role but anybody who knew anything knew that Carlyle wouldn't trust him with those minutes. And Devane's spot could have just as well gone to a Biggs/Ross/D'Amigo, all of whom have that toughness factor and have more potential than Devane.

I'm not trying to bash those individual prospects here. They aren't ready yet but with the exception of D'Amigo they are still very young. But it is a cause for concern when you consider the depth in the organization. When injuries hit the only players we can really turn to right now are likely career 4th liners (Ashton, Devane, Bodie).

 

[GhostofPotvin29]

Although it could be that those are still the better overall players and it's just the team philosophy to bring up the "grittiest" Marlies players - or that's what it seems like anyways.  I know Trevor Smith earned it with his play thus far.

Smith definitely earned a NHL game with the weekend he had on the Marlies, which is fine by me. He's obviously up here on a very temporary basis with McClement's situation. And Ashton and Bodie earned their spots in training camp, although I would very much be in favour of sending Ashton (or Devane) down when we can and call up a Brennan or Liles to give Ranger a break.

But it's the Abbott and Devane call ups that I think show the weakness of our system. Abbott was an odd call up right off the bat since he was called up to fill a top-6 role but anybody who knew anything knew that Carlyle wouldn't trust him with those minutes. And Devane's spot could have just as well gone to a Biggs/Ross/D'Amigo, all of whom have that toughness factor and have more potential than Devane.

I'm not trying to bash those individual prospects here. They aren't ready yet but with the exception of D'Amigo they are still very young. But it is a cause for concern when you consider the depth in the organization. When injuries hit the only players we can really turn to right now are likely career 4th liners (Ashton, Devane, Bodie).

Has Colborne's trade been discussed in these forums yet?

 

[Deebo]

I didn't like the fact that he put out Kadri for the final face-off with 10 seconds to go with the goalie pulled. Love Nazem, but he's terrible on the draws.

LK mentioned last night that Kadri was the only Leaf to be over 50% on the draw in the game. Bozak had a bit of a rough night going just 39%. And so far this season Bozak's winning percentage in less than 1% higher than Kadri's.

Naz was 8/10 against rookie Mackinnon and 0/5 against everyone else.

 

[Highlander]

Orr has to go and we gave up Colborne for him..Devane is better than or and does the same job

 

[Zee]

Orr has to go and we gave up Colborne for him..Devane is better than or and does the same job

Yeah Orr sucks.  We really need players on the 4th line that can actually play.