Moot Point
New member
Very good team effort, solid D (after the 1st period), scoring from a 4th line player, rookies looked comfortable.
Game 1 - Habs @ Leafs - Thursday Oct 6th 2011 - 19:00 EST - 2-0 Win
- Thread starter Leafaholic99
- Start date
It is great to win and I hate to be a downer but this game doesn't make feel terribly confident in the leafs. It does make me think Montreal is going to be on the outside looking in when the playoffs role around. Montreal just doesnt look like they have any players who are offensive threats right now. The leafs also didn't look very dangerous except kessel and grabbo briefly. I was please with Komo and Phaneuf and Steckel and Lombardi. Frattin seems to have good hockey sense. Anyway, let's hope we take the Ottawa game and then get reinforcements in the form of Connolly and MacCarthur.
maplesyrup
New member
I haven't gone through this thread so forgive me if anyone has already commented similarly but apart from the obvious great play of Reimer, Steckel, Phaneuf, and Lombardi, I thought (gulp) Komisarek stood out as having a terrific game. Back to Lombardi... Hats off to him and good for us. I'm thrilled he didn't opt for #9. I would have been confusing him for Russ Courtnall al season long. - He really is that good of a skater.
What a start to the season.... Woo hoo!
Edit: Oh, and I'm sorry but those third jerseys rock!
What a start to the season.... Woo hoo!
Edit: Oh, and I'm sorry but those third jerseys rock!
Guilt Trip
Well-known member
Armstrong wears #9........Floyd said:
maplesyrup
New member
Guilt Trip said:
Oh c'mon... I know.
Peter D.
Moderator
Solid first game all around.
- Reimer was solid, even though I thought he didn't stand out (which is a good thing).
- Phaneuf was solid, and it's nice to see him get a slap shot on net -- what a bullet.
- Loving what Lombardi brings to the team with his speed; it was nice to see him get that goal. He will certainly help on the PK. Him and Brown, if together, could make up two-thirds of a tough checking/forechecking line. Speed to burn.
- I didn't think much of the Steckel deal, but his value showed in the faceoff dot last night. A few critical draws won could lead to an extra win or two. Him and Dupuis also did a good job on the PK.
- Schenn's lack of foot speed still concerns me. He's going to get beaten wide and to the net quite a bit I fear.
- The Grabovski line had a few chances, but it wasn't their best game. Can't wait 'til MacArthur's back.
- I really hope Connolly comes back soon -- Kessel's talent is being wasted playing with inferior talent and playmakers.
Great to start the year with 2 points. Let's keep it going against Ottawa and bag those points.
- Reimer was solid, even though I thought he didn't stand out (which is a good thing).
- Phaneuf was solid, and it's nice to see him get a slap shot on net -- what a bullet.
- Loving what Lombardi brings to the team with his speed; it was nice to see him get that goal. He will certainly help on the PK. Him and Brown, if together, could make up two-thirds of a tough checking/forechecking line. Speed to burn.
- I didn't think much of the Steckel deal, but his value showed in the faceoff dot last night. A few critical draws won could lead to an extra win or two. Him and Dupuis also did a good job on the PK.
- Schenn's lack of foot speed still concerns me. He's going to get beaten wide and to the net quite a bit I fear.
- The Grabovski line had a few chances, but it wasn't their best game. Can't wait 'til MacArthur's back.
- I really hope Connolly comes back soon -- Kessel's talent is being wasted playing with inferior talent and playmakers.
Great to start the year with 2 points. Let's keep it going against Ottawa and bag those points.
BlueWhiteBlood
New member
Just to add to that Peter..
I thought Lupul was way better last night, than any other time I've seen him in pre-season. He was all over the net last night and hasn't been mentioned too much in this thread. I thought he was complimenting Kessel again last night, like he was last season.
I thought Lupul was way better last night, than any other time I've seen him in pre-season. He was all over the net last night and hasn't been mentioned too much in this thread. I thought he was complimenting Kessel again last night, like he was last season.
scott evil
New member
I liked how calm the team was in the final 5 - 10 minutes. Calm in front of Reimer. Just taking care of business keeping loose pucks away from the net. Overall the team didn't look panicked or desperate during the final minutes, even when playing 4 on 6. Huge change from the past couple seasons.
SE
SE
hockeyfan1
New member
According to Wilson...
Quote
"Up front, we've got to do a better job... We turned over too many pucks. But considering that's
the first time this whole
group - the one we had on the ice - has actually played a
game together and we won, I don't have any complaints."
Source: Sportsnet
Well said. For the record, by the way, Steckel won 18 out of 25 faceoffs he took, which makes him a very important cog in the Leafs machinery, so to speak.
The Leafs were plenty speedy, not perfect yet, and "Optimus Reim" was well, at his "Optimus" best. As always.
Quote
"Up front, we've got to do a better job... We turned over too many pucks. But considering that's
the first time this whole
group - the one we had on the ice - has actually played a
game together and we won, I don't have any complaints."
Source: Sportsnet
Well said. For the record, by the way, Steckel won 18 out of 25 faceoffs he took, which makes him a very important cog in the Leafs machinery, so to speak.
The Leafs were plenty speedy, not perfect yet, and "Optimus Reim" was well, at his "Optimus" best. As always.
hockeyfan1
New member
AlmosGirl said:
I, too, liked the jerseys very much. Now, they look like the Maple Leafs the way they should be. Proudly worn!
Leafaholic99
New member
After the first period, I was really surprised with the Leafs last night, they turned the puck over more then I liked, but when they didn't have the puck they seemed to be able to take it away a low, block the shooting lanes, block shots.
Reimer, wow, this kid is picking up where he left off, which I expected him too, he has a good head on his shoulders. He is rarely caught out of position and there was a few times last night that he got down really low when screened to see the puck and was able to stop it easily.
Steckel, you're making me eat my words, if you play all year like last night, I will be fine with trading that pick for you!
I hope this team can keep this play up all year, with a few tweaks, they will be in the playoff hunt!
Reimer, wow, this kid is picking up where he left off, which I expected him too, he has a good head on his shoulders. He is rarely caught out of position and there was a few times last night that he got down really low when screened to see the puck and was able to stop it easily.
Steckel, you're making me eat my words, if you play all year like last night, I will be fine with trading that pick for you!
I hope this team can keep this play up all year, with a few tweaks, they will be in the playoff hunt!
Chev-boyar-sky
New member
Saint Nik said:
Can't say I noticed it too much.
I did however notice the players #'s on the front of the helmet. Is this new? Not sure I'm a fan.
Pucken Chronic
New member
Chev-boyar-sky said:
Yep, new this year. It takes some getting used to. I guess it makes players easier to identify from pics? I don't mind it.