Game 14 - Bruins @ Leafs - Saturday November 5th, 2011 - 19:00 EST - 7-0 L

[#1PilarFan]

And if Lucic did go after Kessel, then the best response isn't to go after Lucic, but is to take out the knees of Seguin or Bergeron or perhaps try to give Thomas an elbow to the head and to do it when Lucic isn't on the ice.

And that's why Rosehill is in the line-up tonight. It's not about direct retribution - it never has been. It's about knowing there's a guy on the other team who will take out one of your best players if they feel like you've gone out of your way to do so to one of theirs. It's more of a Cold War type situation - both parties have the weapons, so that they hope to avoid a situation where they feel that they have to use them.

Wendel Clark was the master of this approach.

 

[WAYNEINIONA]

It's not Lucic or Thorton I worry about. It's Chara and his cheap shots behind the net. He's already taken Grabs out once and so9mething tells me he's not worried about Brown, Rosehill or Orr.

 

[mustacheman]

It's not Lucic or Thorton I worry about. It's Chara and his cheap shots behind the net. He's already taken Grabs out once and so9mething tells me he's not worried about Brown, Rosehill or Orr.

You got a point there since Chara has never dropped the gloves with a true heavyweight

 

[DK2]

  Not Boston again... noooooooooo

 

[WAYNEINIONA]

It's not Lucic or Thorton I worry about. It's Chara and his cheap shots behind the net. He's already taken Grabs out once and so9mething tells me he's not worried about Brown, Rosehill or Orr.

You got a point there since Chara has never dropped the gloves with a true heavyweight

His last 3 fights were Jay Harrison, Chris Neal and Michael Rupp. Not much danger involved there.

 

[Kessel Run]

I never have a good feeling against the Bruins.

 

[leafplasma]

It's not Lucic or Thorton I worry about. It's Chara and his cheap shots behind the net. He's already taken Grabs out once and so9mething tells me he's not worried about Brown, Rosehill or Orr.

You got a point there since Chara has never dropped the gloves with a true heavyweight

His last 3 fights were Jay Harrison, Chris Neal and Michael Rupp. Not much danger involved there.

Yeah Chara is big and strong and can manhandle McCabe like a rag doll but I don't give him much of a chance with a true heavyweight.

 

[freer]

If Ben can play similar to the game in Columbas we will be fine. Go leafs Go

 

[maplesyrup]

8)

 

[Zee]

Schenn out?  Scrivens starting? I can't believe Wilson is actually coaching this season. Instead of the tried and true "don't change the lineup after a win" he's actually moving out players who aren't playing well and rewarding those who are. I'm impressed.

 

[princedpw]

And if Lucic did go after Kessel, then the best response isn't to go after Lucic, but is to take out the knees of Seguin or Bergeron or perhaps try to give Thomas an elbow to the head and to do it when Lucic isn't on the ice.

And that's why Rosehill is in the line-up tonight. It's not about direct retribution - it never has been. It's about knowing there's a guy on the other team who will take out one of your best players if they feel like you've gone out of your way to do so to one of theirs. It's more of a Cold War type situation - both parties have the weapons, so that they hope to avoid a situation where they feel that they have to use them.

But that still doesn't make sense to me. Why is it necessary to have a guy who can fight heavy-weights like Rosehill around?  Anybody can take out Seguin or Bergeron.  They are small.  Brown can do it.  So could Dupuis or Komisarek or ...

 

[princedpw]

LOL @ compairing The War in Iraq to icing an enforcer. Are you serious you would rather " Take out the knees of Seguin " than have an enforcer hold another enforcer liable for his actions. I would not want any part of your NHL that for sure. I am certain that Lucic or Thorton would think twice about doing anything stupid with Our talent knowing full well that in a later part of the game Orr would be lined up across from them at the faceoff.

Of course, in terms of seriousness, there's no comparison between between Iraq and icing enforcers. 

But truly, honestly, I really don't understand the logic behind the enforcer-who-plays-2-minutes strategy.

In the NHL I would prefer, nobody takes out anybody's knees.  However, I don't understand the logic that "the only thing stopping Lucic from taking out Kessel's knees is Orr possibly waiting to fight him at some point later in the game."  That can't be the real deterrent.  Because in my mind, it is simply no deterrent at all.  That's the point I was trying to make.  It is no deterrent at all because you can pretty much always avoid a fight if you want to, except in the extraordinarily rare case that you actually get attacked from behind on the ice, which Bertuzzi aside, just about never happens.  And the guys who do get in fights often don't seem to be particularly afraid of them.  They fight pretty often.  Look at it from the other side:  Is Brown thinking -- I had better not take out Seguin's knees because that means I'll probably get in to 4 fights this week instead of only 3?  I mean really?

 

[bustaheims]

But that still doesn't make sense to me. Why is it necessary to have a guy who can fight heavy-weights like Rosehill around?  Anybody can take out Seguin or Bergeron.  They are small.  Brown can do it.  So could Dupuis or Komisarek or ...

Because teams don't want to risk lengthy suspensions for players that actually contribute otherwise. Rosehill is essentially playing the role of a potential sacrificial lamb. It's also that some one like Rosehill could potentially hurt anyone on the other team, not just a smaller guy. He could go after Chara's knees and make a significant impact there, or run Lucic from behind or whatever. Not that I'm condoning these actions - like you, I'd rather see guys like this removed from the league entirely, but, until they are, they are a necessary evil at times, and, playing a team like the Bruins is one of those times.

 

[cujo4ever]

I like the fact that Scrivens is starting. I was impressed by his play in preseason, and the game against the Blue Jackets was quite a goaltending performance. Not that I dislike Gus, but I think Scrivens will turn out to be the better goalie in the long run.

I don't like the fact that Rosehill is in. I feel Dupuis would be more useful as a penalty killer. Rosehill can fight but he can't do much else.

Go Leafs Go!

 

[cujo4ever]

8)

These are awesome! Two really cool masks tonight.

 

[azzurri63]

A game we can definitely win but we must tighten up defensively. Haven't been overly happy with the way we have played the last few games but we are getting results albeit with the PP and PK where they are. Once we get everyone back and the specialty teams improve should only help matters. As far as the Bruins they are off to a terrible start and have have scored 27 goals in 11 games and 6 of those coming against us. If we tighten up tonight it will be another win. I think we will play a little better defensively. 4-3 Leafs is my guess.

 

[scott evil]

hello, any links to a good CBC Leafs feed that works in USA?

Thanks

SE

 

[Kin]

I think starting Scrivens is probably the better decision from a media savvy sense. If he started Gus and Gus got shelled
Really, because when Gus got shelled by them, it was a sign that he is terrible and he can only win against bad teams.  Maybe that should be the case for Scrivens.  If he loses tonight, he's useless and we need a new #3 goaltender.

Looking for logic or the fair application of a consistent standard from the Monster-baiters is like looking for Bigfoot. If it was going to be found, we'd have made a rug out of it already.

 

[Kin]

I know you hate intangibles but I think there is one here to add. The team played poorly in front of Scrivens but Scrivens saved them and the Leafs got the win. Do they owe him a better effort? Do they owe it to him to not let him hang out to dry again this time?

You're absolutely right. I do hate intangibles.

 

[lc9]

princedpw throwing some knowledge around.  Rosehill will play maybe 5 minutes, eliminates an effective checker and PKer.  All so the other team is theoretically intimidated?  Give me a break, Rosehill makes no sense to be in the line-up, ever.