Game 14, Carolina at Toronto 7PM Eastern, on Leafs TV and TSN radio

[ZBBM]

do we HAVE to pick a MotM and or HM tonight?

Yes, you do.  Democracy only works when you take part on rainy days as well as the soft summer afternoons of Leafland victories.

 

[pnjunction]

Without Frattin, I'd try Naz between JVR and Phil, stick Bozie with McClement and Komarov as a real shutdown line and pray that Grabo, Kooly and Mac find their magic.

You still have the same problem where we really only have one scoring line, assuming the Grabo group doesn't turn things around immediately. Kadri also still isn't good enough on the draw to be on the top line. There's no point in having him with Kessel if it means the other team starts with the puck most of the time.

Shuffle the rest around however we want with 11.5M of payroll on that line to provide secondary scoring if they don't get something done with Lupul and Frattin out we're screwed.

 

[Strangelove]

Grabo doesn't have it right now.  I'd put Kadri on the second line with Kulemin to play a Van Reimsdyk sort of role alongside Mac until Frattin comes back.  Kadri's skill is being wasted with a guy like McLennan (sp?), and Kulemin's skill plays aren't being utilized by his linemates.

I think it'd also be worthwhile mixing in a few Kadri/Kessel shifts throughout the game.  Get the best skill guys working together every once in while.

 

[WhatIfGodWasALeaf]

Without Frattin, I'd try Naz between JVR and Phil, stick Bozie with McClement and Komarov as a real shutdown line and pray that Grabo, Kooly and Mac find their magic.

You still have the same problem where we really only have one scoring line, assuming the Grabo group doesn't turn things around immediately. Kadri also still isn't good enough on the draw to be on the top line. There's no point in having him with Kessel if it means the other team starts with the puck most of the time.

I think at least part of the issue for the Grabo line is they are constantly matched against the best players on the other team as our shutdown line, it is hard to get the offence going when you are almost always on the back foot against these superstars trying to play d.

In my idea we'd have Bozie, McClement and Komarov against the top players who are all pretty d orientated Guys. It might give the Grabo line and the Kadri/JVR/Kessel line a better shot at generating offense.

I agree on the Kadri faceoffs being a potential issue, but if he is starting against other teams 2nd or 3rd line we might have a better shot, I'd also encourage him to cheat everytime as JVR seems like a decent faceoff stand-in in a pinch. 

I mean I'm not saying this is the answer, just something I'd like to see them try.

 

[Bonsixx]

That game could be used as video to support the IOC dropping ice hockey from the next Olympics.

Wow.

 

[Zee]

That game could be used as video to support the IOC dropping ice hockey from the next Olympics.

Wow.

That bad huh?  Glad I couldn't watch it.  LOL

 

[Andy007]

Always a good sign when our best players get hemmed in by Drayson Bowman and Tim Wallace.. sorry if I misspelled a name or two.

The top line has really been hemmed consistently in its own end for the majority of the last few games I've watched. In Philly I thought they were the only line that gave up consistent quality scoring chances.

It could be that the team's two worst defencemen this year (Liles and Kostka) have been paired with them but I don't know, I think they have to change it up.

I still think putting Grabs with Kessel wouldn't hurt and would help both players.

 

[Bullfrog]

So, I shouldn't be all that upset about missing last night's game?

I'd like to see JvR-Grabovski-Komarov as a line. Then maybe Kulemin-Bozak-Kessel; MacArthur-Kadri-McClement?

Just thinking maybe if we give Kulemin a chance to score he might turn it around?

 

[TML fan]

I wouldn't count on Kulemin ever scoring 30 again. He's a solid, reliable two way forward.