Game 28: Penguins @ Leafs - Mar. 14th, 7:00PM - Sportsnet, Fan 590

[freer]

Please just win... We need to get out of this funk!!

Go Leafs Go

3-1 tor Grab's with a pair

 

[Corn Flake]

Maybe it's the helium I've been sucking in all day but I almost would feel better if they didn't win but gave up less than 3 goals.  It's the defensive issues that are scaring me right now more than winning these games by outscoring (or not).

Ok fine.. at least a loser point again. 

 

[Zee]

Shutout for Scrivens calling it now.










LOL...no.

 

[Frank E]

Caroline Cameron ‏@SNCaroline
In the dressing room Komisarek yelled- "you've graduated! I'm like a proud papa" to Liles who is back in the lineup. #Leafs

Pretty funny. I'm glad Komisarek is still in good spirits. He always seemed like a good guy and teammate. I still hope that when Lupul returns Holzer gets sent down and Komi gets a shot.

I think you're crazy. 

That is all. 

 

[Frank E]

One of the areas that has really been hurting them is the PP such as the 5 on 3 in the Jets game. they score there and it's a whole different game.  Phaneuf is QB'ing the PP which isn't working. They need someone who can run the PP better and Liles can do that if he's given the chance. 

How is the PP an area that's been hurting them?  Going into the Jets game it was at 18.6%, in the top half of the league.

Here's the rules:  After you don't score on a 5-3, your powerplay is declared broken.

Well yeah, basically..that was nearly a full 2 minute one too.. especially how that particular one went.  Kessel was going out of his mind trying to get Phaneuf's attention.. Kessel was wide open off the left side of the net.  Phaneuf just kept shooting.  A good PPQB gets Kessel that puck.

I hear you, but I'm just saying that (as Potvin pointed out) they're pretty OK at the special teams stuff this year.

I think they were just due for a bit of a slump.  Hopefully they can power through it, even with average goaltending, and maintain a playoff position.

 

[Zee]

Caroline Cameron ‏@SNCaroline
In the dressing room Komisarek yelled- "you've graduated! I'm like a proud papa" to Liles who is back in the lineup. #Leafs

Pretty funny. I'm glad Komisarek is still in good spirits. He always seemed like a good guy and teammate. I still hope that when Lupul returns Holzer gets sent down and Komi gets a shot.

I think you're crazy. 

That is all.

Komisarek only played in 4 games, didn't look out of place and was a +2.  Holzer in 20 games is a -8 and looking like he doesn't belong in the NHL on some nights.  I understand that they have no future plans for Komisarek and want to get rid of him in the off season, but if they truly want to win games NOW, you have to play Komisarek ahead of Holzer.  Does development of Holzer outweigh winning games and potentially making the playoffs?  I guess management's answer to that is yes.

 

[AlmosGirl]

Free Liles/Gardiner.  Banish Kostka/Holzer. 

Also please stop playing Colton Orr 8-10 minutes a night.  He can't play hockey.  Thanks.

Awesome LK!  My daughter will be very excited that Liles is back in tonight.

 

[freer]

I was wondering why coach had not been playing Lilies. I have been deployed for awhile and have been able to see very many games. BTW as much as people don't want to play Orr IMO he has not caused our recent fall, I don't think he has been playing bad

 

[Corn Flake]

I think they were just due for a bit of a slump.  Hopefully they can power through it, even with average goaltending, and maintain a playoff position.

I think so too. Not seeing the reason to jump off a tall bridge, not yet at least. A defense with 3 AHL defenders on it is going to have its rough patches.  There are many teams in far far worse condition than Toronto.  Most are below them in the standings, which is good.

 

[BermudaBudsFan]

The last game against Winnipeg was important, but I get the sense this could be huge for the Leafs.  It will provide a boost of confidence if they win and will have ended the mini-slump.  I'm concerned that a loss will almost certainly lead to another against the Jets on Saturday and then there is real trouble.

 

[Bender]

It's. About. Time.

Now please don't have Orr and McLaren out there all night please. No one to fight on the Penguins.

It's interesting how quick some people get on a coach.

Most felt this team had no business talking about a playoff spot at the start of the season, and now the team is firmly in contention to make the playoffs.

Looking at the roster, Carlyle has certainly got quite a bit of production out of it, in my opinion.  I'm not going to be too critical of his lineup decisions...I'm not a big fan of the 'tough guy' fourth line, but I will admit that I'm very surprised at how well this team has done so far this season.  Maybe that fourth line has created an atmosphere that is more conducive to winning hockey games...maybe.

I'm surprised with the success as well, but in the recent losses can you really say that Holzer and Kostka were playing well enough to stay in the lineup, and that Liles and maybe even Komisarek were that bad to be scratched every night?

After a loss you can usually say that something went wrong, so mix it up a little. Give some rest, use your depth.

Many of us, me included, have been lobbying for 'playing the kids', to see what they're made of.

They're doing just that.  These guys are very inexperienced NHLers, so they're going to have some off games.

I would keep inserting them into the lineup to see if they're re-sign material or not.  I mentioned yesterday that I think Liles has been informed of what the Leafs are doing here, and he's easy to take out of the lineup because he's got himself a good contract already.  He can be inserted anytime, like they're doing tonight.

Komisarek is a diferent thing altogether...I doubt he sees another minute of ice-time as a Leaf.  He's not in the plans, so there really isn't much point in trying to build up a team with him in the lineup.

To me the main problem is none of us can agree on what is a happy medium between keeping the lines together and changing things up.

Its easy to be constantly critical when there's no consensus at all and no way to prove one way or the other.

Exampel: Ron Wilson's an idiot, how are the lines supposed to get going when he juggles them all the time? How can the goalies get in a groove when they get yanked after only one bad game?

Example 2: Randy Carlyle's an idiot, he gives people too many chances when they play a bad game and now we're on a losing streak. Also, why did they go back to Reimer when he had an off game.

Basically I think Bustaheims' frequent phrase of "rabble rabble" sums this up quite nicely.

 

[bustaheims]

Basically I think Bustaheims' frequent phrase of "rabble rabble" sums this up quite nicely.

Credit where credit is due - I got that from South Park.

 

[Kin]

"Best player in the league in my opinion"
- Greg Millen on Sidney Crosby

Be careful that limb you're out on doesn't break there, Greg.

 

[Coderaspberry]

"Best player in the league in my opinion"
- Greg Millen on Sidney Crosby

Be careful that limb you're out on doesn't break there, Greg.

"Oxygen - most breathable gas in the world in my opinion."

 

[Kin]

I don't know about Kris Letang. I see all the points and hear all the acclaim but I can't say I've ever watched a Penguins game and really come away impressed with what he can do.

 

[BlueWhiteBlood]

Pittsburgh is not nearly as strong without Malkin in the line up.

 

[bustaheims]

I don't know about Kris Letang. I see all the points and hear all the acclaim but I can't say I've ever watched a Penguins game and really come away impressed with what he can do.

He's very good at threading passes to some very good players and he's a good skater, but, other than that, yeah, he doesn't really stand out in terms of anything.

 

[Kin]

I don't know about Kris Letang. I see all the points and hear all the acclaim but I can't say I've ever watched a Penguins game and really come away impressed with what he can do.

He's very good at threading passes to some very good players and he's a good skater, but, other than that, yeah, he doesn't really stand out in terms of anything.

Yeah, I'm not saying he's terrible or anything. I just don't know about the consensus all-star/member of Team Canada thing.

 

[Zee]

Any hope of a win tonight based on what you're seeing? Admittedly I'm not watching the game.

 

[bustaheims]

Any hope of a win tonight based on what you're seeing? Admittedly I'm not watching the game.

Hard to say. Leafs looked like the better team in the 1st, but neither team had much by way of quality chances.