Game 46: Leafs @ Lightning - Apr. 24, 7:00pm - TSN, TSN 1050

[CarltonTheBear]

@

25-15-5, 55 points | 17-24-4, 38 points

Projected Lines

JVR-Bozak-Kessel Lupul-Kadri-Kulemin McClement-Grabovski-Komarov MacArthur-Colborne-Frattin Gunnarsson-Phaneuf Liles-O'Byrne Fraser-Franson Reimer​

Purcell-Stamkos-St. Louis Malone-Lecavalier-Tyrell Panik-Pyratt-Killorn Labrie-Thompson-Crombeen Carle-Brewer Hedman-Salo Aulie-Gudas Bishop ​

Line-up Notes

TOR
?James Reimer will likely start for Toronto.
?McLaren, Hamilon, and Orr skated on a line at practice. I'm praying that's the 5th line, but it's difficult to say for sure.

TB
?Ben Bishop is the likely starter for Tampa Bay.

Statistical Leaders

Kadri/van Riemsdyk - 18 Kessel - 32 Kessel - 48 Fraser - +18 Orr - 155 Reimer - 18 Reimer - 2.41 Reimer - .926​

G A P +/- PIM W GAA SA%​

28 - Stamkos 42 - St. Louis 55 - St. Louis +10 - Pouliot 112 - Crombeen 10 - Bishop/Lindback    2.70 - Bishop .920 - Bishop

Season Overview

TOR 25 15 5 55 138 124 19.2% 87.0% 12-7-3 Won 1 6-3-1​

W L OT P GF GA PP% PK% Away | Home Streak L10​

TB 17 24 4 38 140 141 19.9% 80.1% 11-9-2 Lost 6 2-6-2

Injuries

TOR
No injuries to report

TB
Benoit Pouliot - Undisclosed - Questionable Wednesday
Mattias Ohlund - Knee - Out indefinitely

Hot or Not

TOR
Phil Kessel - 14 pts in last 8 GP
Cody Franson - 5 pts in last 5 GP
James Reimer - 3-1-0, 1.76, .955 in last 4 GPI
Nazem Kadri - 1 pt in last 4 GP
Tyler Bozak - 1 pt in last 4 GP
Nikolai Kulemin - 1 pt in last 4 GP
Mikhail Grabovski - 1 pt in last 8 GP
Clarke MacArthur - 0 pts in last 5 GP
Matt Frattin - 0 pts in last 6 GP

TB
Martin St. Louis - 12 pts in last 10 GP
Teddy Purcell - 0 pts in last 4 GP
Ryan Malone - 0 pts in last 11 GP

Stream Options

http://www.ourleafs.blogspot.ca/
http://www.firstrow1.eu/sport/ice-hockey.html
http://atdee.net/index.html
​

 

[CarltonTheBear]

If those lines stick, it took Carlyle 46 games to ice the best possible forward lines this organization could provide. If they stick.

 

[pnjunction]

MacArthur-Colborne-Frattin

McLaren, Hamilon, and Orr skated on a line at practice. I'm praying that's the 5th line, but it's difficult to say for sure.

Seems just as, if not more, likely that Mac-Colborne-Frattin all sit and the tough guys play given Carlyle's previous decisions.

 

[CarltonTheBear]

MacArthur-Colborne-Frattin

McLaren, Hamilon, and Orr skated on a line at practice. I'm praying that's the 5th line, but it's difficult to say for sure.

Seems just as, if not more, likely that Mac-Colborne-Frattin all sit and the tough guys play given Carlyle's previous decisions.

Positive thoughts man.

 

[Rebel_1812]

good to see Aulie has made the team with Tampa.  The leafs could use a dman like him this year.  It is unforetunate that the leafs traded Aulie.

 

[princedpw]

I looked at the stats in the first post in this thread and I thought:  "Weird, Toronto really does have significantly more points that some other teams."  It's not something I'm used to seeing.

 

[nutman]

I can't wait for game time, its been a long wait since the sat game.

 

[Kaberle15]

With Bishop in goal, they should think is an Ottawa game at scotiabank and hammer the Bolts.

 

[Corn Flake]

With Bishop in goal, they should think is an Ottawa game at scotiabank and hammer the Bolts.

Yep.  Note to players: "just avoid the giant pylon blocking the goal and there won't be any scoring issues."

 

[The Red Polar Bear]

With Bishop in goal, they should think is an Ottawa game at scotiabank and hammer the Bolts.

Yep.  Note to players: "just avoid the giant pylon blocking the goal and there won't be any scoring issues."

Wait, so we *are* putting Phaneuf in front of the net on the powerplay?

;D

 

[iwas11in67]

Leafs beat the Bolts.

 

[Champ Kind]

If those lines stick, it took Carlyle 46 games to ice the best possible forward lines this organization could provide. If they stick.

I hesitantly start down this path again, but I guess this depends on how you define "best".  Does best = most skilled?  Then I agree.  Does best = most effective?  I'm not sure about that.  It's hard to argue the success the team has had this year.  I suppose we could debate all day long whether or not dressing McLaren and Orr have contributed to that success or have, in fact, been detrimental. 

This is what we know: the Leafs' season has been exciting and surprising, exceeding most people's expectations.  McLaren and Orr have dressed for most, if not all, of those games. 

 

[cw]

Big game if they want home ice in the first round

 

[Zee]

Grabovski has more offensive skill than Bozak, he's just not showing it this season, so as far as the "best possible lines", I don't see it.  Bozak shouldn't be a #1 center.

 

[freer]

Grabovski has more offensive skill than Bozak, he's just not showing it this season, so as far as the "best possible lines", I don't see it.  Bozak shouldn't be a #1 center.

We have been having this discussion all year. Whether or not you like it or not. He is the Number one center, and no one on this team is good enough to replace him. Being a #1 center does not all depend on offensive skills. He should be the all around best person in that postion which makes Bozak the best choice hands down. It doesnt really matter now, they are going into the playoff's with him there.

 

[Zee]

Grabovski has more offensive skill than Bozak, he's just not showing it this season, so as far as the "best possible lines", I don't see it.  Bozak shouldn't be a #1 center.

We have been having this discussion all year. Whether or not you like it or not. He is the Number one center, and no one on this team is good enough to replace him. Being a #1 center does not all depend on offensive skills. He should be the all around best person in that postion which makes Bozak the best choice hands down. It doesnt really matter now, they are going into the playoff's with him there.

I know he's the #1 center, but we don't know how well Grabovski would play with Kessel since we've never seen them play together, or at least I don't recall them getting any significant time together.  We've seen Grabovksi dominate games offensively in the past, so it would be interesting to see if he could play top line.

 

[freer]

Grabovski has more offensive skill than Bozak, he's just not showing it this season, so as far as the "best possible lines", I don't see it.  Bozak shouldn't be a #1 center.

We have been having this discussion all year. Whether or not you like it or not. He is the Number one center, and no one on this team is good enough to replace him. Being a #1 center does not all depend on offensive skills. He should be the all around best person in that postion which makes Bozak the best choice hands down. It doesnt really matter now, they are going into the playoff's with him there.

I know he's the #1 center, but we don't know how well Grabovski would play with Kessel since we've never seen them play together, or at least I don't recall them getting any significant time together.  We've seen Grabovksi dominate games offensively in the past, so it would be interesting to see if he could play top line.

I am sorry if I came across as a jerk. Bozak has been beaten up season by the fans for not being the classic #1 center. IMO am glad we did not waste money on a "Richards" huge contract center. Bozak is doing this job well enough to keep the job and is ever improving his game. Look he even taugh Kessel how to pass the puck LOL

 

[Derk]

Here's hoping the Leafs win - it would be nice for them to cement the 4-5 matchup with the Habs with the Isles one point back. Of course, Boston keeps pace with Montreal losing as the Habs lose, so who knows.

 

[Kaberle15]

Here's hoping the Leafs win - it would be nice for them to cement the 4-5 matchup with the Habs with the Isles one point back. Of course, Boston keeps pace with Montreal losing as the Habs lose, so who knows.

5th is huge, even if that means face the Bruins and not Montreal. Leafs need 4 points to secure the 4th place, as they have the 2nd most ROW (25) in the East. Or any combination of Leafs points + Isles, Rangers and Ottawa losses.

Let the Caps and Isles kill each other, they're 2 of the hottest team latelly.

 

[Stronger Than All]

Here's hoping the Leafs win - it would be nice for them to cement the 4-5 matchup with the Habs with the Isles one point back. Of course, Boston keeps pace with Montreal losing as the Habs lose, so who knows.

5th is huge, even if that means face the Bruins and not Montreal. Leafs need 4 points to secure the 4th place, as they have the 2nd most ROW (25) in the East. Or any combination of Leafs points + Isles, Rangers and Ottawa losses.

Let the Caps and Isles kill each other, they're 2 of the hottest team latelly.

I'd be scared of the Caps, but I think sicking Komorov and/or Grabovski on Tavares all series could help us beat the Isles.