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The "Mr. T" Man of the Match Thread, 2011-12

Zanzibar Buck-Buck McFate said:
Sarge said:
Motm: Gardiner.
HM: Phaneuf.

You merit a good banning for that HM vote.  :P :o

I knew someone would give me a ribbing for that but I have an explanation prepared. If we were fighting for a playoff spot or jockeying for position, you just know he'd be getting the votes here for that goal. 
 
Sarge said:
Zanzibar Buck-Buck McFate said:
Sarge said:
Motm: Gardiner.
HM: Phaneuf.

You merit a good banning for that HM vote.  :P :o

I knew someone would give me a ribbing for that but I have an explanation prepared. If we were fighting for a playoff spot or jockeying for position, you just know he'd be getting the votes here for that goal.

He almost -- almost -- deserves an accolade just for having the monumental cluelessness to pull a Jason Blake there.
 
Looks like Gardiner is MotM.  Anyone care to break the tie between Scrivens and Captain Peanut for the HM?
 
Game #71, TOR vs. TBL: Leafs 3-1.  MotM: Reimer.  HM: Gardiner.  Others receiving votes (in order): none.
Game #72, TOR vs. OTT: Leafs 3-1.  MotM: Kessel.  HM: Grabovski.  Others receiving votes (in order): Gardiner, Reimer, Phaneuf. Connolly.
Game #73, TOR vs. BOS: Bruins 8-to-freaking-0.  MotM: Rosehill.  HM: Komisarek.  Others receiving votes (in order): Lombardi.
Game #74, NYI vs. TOR: Isles 5-2.  MotM: Bozak.  HM: Lombardi.  Others receiving votes (in order): Reimer.
Game #75. TOR vs. NJD: Leafs 4-3 SO.  MotM: Kadri.  HM: Reimer.  Others receiving votes (in order): Bozak, Crabb.
Game #76, NYR vs. TOR: Rangers 4-3 SO.  MotM: Connolly.  HM: Steckel.  Others receiving votes (in order): Crabb, Hamilton.
Game #77, CAR vs. TOR: Canes 3-0.  MotM: Rynnas.  HM: Gardiner.  Others receiving votes (in order): Gunnarsson.
Game #78, PHI vs. TOR: Flyers 7-1.  MotM: Grabovski.  HM: Brown.  Others receiving votes (in order): Franson.
Game #79, BUF vs. TOR: Leafs 4-3.  MotM: Crabb.  HM: MacArthur.  Others receiving votes (in order): Liles.
Game #80, TOR vs. BUF: Sabres 6-5 OT.  MotM: Bozak (wins because got one more HM vote than Kessel).  HM: Kessel.  Others receiving votes (in order): Gardiner, Frattin.
Game #81, TBL vs. TOR: Leafs 3-2 OT.  MotM: Gardiner.  HM: Phaneuf.  Others receiving votes (in order): Scrivens.
Game #82, TOR vs. MTL:

motm-81.jpg


Only the second time all season a d-man has been voted MotM in a win.  I'd have to go back and look, but I bet it was also one of the few times -- maybe the only time -- that d-men took both accolades in a single game. 
 
Game #71, TOR vs. TBL: Leafs 3-1.  MotM: Reimer.  HM: Gardiner.  Others receiving votes (in order): none.
Game #72, TOR vs. OTT: Leafs 3-1.  MotM: Kessel.  HM: Grabovski.  Others receiving votes (in order): Gardiner, Reimer, Phaneuf. Connolly.
Game #73, TOR vs. BOS: Bruins 8-to-freaking-0.  MotM: Rosehill.  HM: Komisarek.  Others receiving votes (in order): Lombardi.
Game #74, NYI vs. TOR: Isles 5-2.  MotM: Bozak.  HM: Lombardi.  Others receiving votes (in order): Reimer.
Game #75. TOR vs. NJD: Leafs 4-3 SO.  MotM: Kadri.  HM: Reimer.  Others receiving votes (in order): Bozak, Crabb.
Game #76, NYR vs. TOR: Rangers 4-3 SO.  MotM: Connolly.  HM: Steckel.  Others receiving votes (in order): Crabb, Hamilton.
Game #77, CAR vs. TOR: Canes 3-0.  MotM: Rynnas.  HM: Gardiner.  Others receiving votes (in order): Gunnarsson.
Game #78, PHI vs. TOR: Flyers 7-1.  MotM: Grabovski.  HM: Brown.  Others receiving votes (in order): Franson.
Game #79, BUF vs. TOR: Leafs 4-3.  MotM: Crabb.  HM: MacArthur.  Others receiving votes (in order): Liles.
Game #80, TOR vs. BUF: Sabres 6-5 OT.  MotM: Bozak (wins because got one more HM vote than Kessel).  HM: Kessel.  Others receiving votes (in order): Gardiner, Frattin.
Game #81, TBL vs. TOR: Leafs 3-2 OT.  MotM: Gardiner.  HM: Phaneuf.  Others receiving votes (in order): Scrivens.
Game #82, TOR vs. MTL: Habs 4-1.  MotM: Phaneuf (wins tiebreaker with Brown).  HM: Brown.  Others receiving votes (in order): Gardiner, Kessel.

motm-82.jpg


 
Final top-10 points standings:

Kessel 35
Grabovski 30
Gustavsson 30
Bozak 25
Lupul 25
Reimer 19
Gardiner 18
Phaneuf 11
Brown 9
Kulemin 9

This tells you a lot about the problems with the team.  You would expect your top line to dominate the points rankings, and they did.  Grabovski also performed well as 2C center.  But the big dropoff (among forwards) after Lupul and Bozak at 25 points shows how badly the rest of the forwards (Brown excepted) played.

Also, on a winning team you would want to see the goalies racking up more points than they did.

BIGGEST DISAPPOINTMENTS
Armstrong  -- completely invisible
Connolly -- had a few decent defensive games, but mostly a flop
Reimer --  hoping for real deal, now left to wonder if he's a flash in the pan
Kulemin -- didn't get it done, last season looking like a 1-hit wonder
Komisarek -- simply awful most nights
Liles -- was OK before injury, horrible afterward
Phaneuf -- you know how I feel about him, but objectively, he wasn't good
Schenn -- hockey IQ seriously in question at this point

MILDER DISAPPOINTMENTS
MacArthur -- he played better than most us gave him credit for, but pretty meh most mights
Kadri -- showed some flashes, but time is running out on him -- next year is do or die
Gustavsson -- way too inconsistent
Frattin -- ended up getting lots of ice for a rookie, but never really found scoring touch we would have liked

PERFORMED AS EXPECTED, BUT NOTHING SPECTACULAR
Boyce
Brown
Lombardi
Rosehill
Steckel
Gunnarsson
Franson

PLEASANT SURPRISES
Gardiner -- hands-down
Lupul -- we can only hope he keeps it up

MVP
To me, the only debate is whether it's Grabs or Kessel.  Grabs gets consideration only because he brings it every single game and plays somewhat better defense than Kessel.  But ... even though I don't like Phil (and still would like to see him dealt for a good return), I think it's pretty clear he's the MVP of this squad.  He scored almost as many goals as most people wanted (didn't quite make it to 40) but even more important showed he's a fine passer.  He definitely helped boost Lupul (and vice versa).


 
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