Game 2: Sabres at Leafs - Sportsnet 7:00 PM

[GhostofPotvin29]

I think it comes down to the 5 on 3.  That is a golden chance to move the puck around, screen the goalie and get quality chances that are hard or impossible to save.  Instead Miller got visibility on long shots.

If we didn't have the long 5 on 3 I might agree we were powerless to take this game from Miller.

Even on that there were a number of good, hard screened shots (one hit Miller in the shoulder I think) and one that rang off the post or crossbar.  I thought they had a number of real good chances that you might expect one of which to go in typically.

 

[Bullfrog]

I don't understand why this team is so bad at 5-on-3s. Pass, pass, pass, but nobody's moving, particularly those closest to the goal.

This is where you need Jason Blake/Spezza to skate circles around the whole offensive zone.

 

[Kin]

Agreed they have to buried those 5-3s, but do you really expect Scrivens with just a handful of NHL games under his belt to out-goaltend Miller?

It's not about my expectations, it's just the reality of the club having had sub-par goaltending for years now.

 

[CarltonTheBear]

Is it too early to start complaining about the lines? Because if not I'd change everything except the top line. Send down Fraser and Holzer, call-up Frattin, go with:

Lupul-Bozak-Kessel
JVR-Grabovski-Kulemin
MacArthur-Kadri-Frattin
Brown/Orr-McClement-Komarov

The moves are all done with the sole purpose of giving Kadri some more offensive linemates to play with. JVR and Komarov are holding him back I think. Komarov has been playing alright but I think Kadri needs a goal scorer on his wing and Mac and Frattin are the teams two best options after Kessel and Lupul. If JVR and Kulemin don't step up soon I'd swap one of them with Leo.

 

[WhatIfGodWasALeaf]

I think saying Kessel ran Miller is overstating the point, he collided with him seemingly unintentionally.

In that case attacking him when he is one the ground did seem a little excessive.

No matter, I'm a Leafs fan and I don't care if Kessel had come into the zone and shot Miller in the head, if Kaleta touches him, I want him dealt with.

 

[cw]

They couldn't finish, were a little snake bit and Miller was great. On top of out shooting Buffalo 35-20, Buffalo had to block 19 other shots. So they generated some offence.

But in the wake of this loss, I'm kind of encouraged by something. It was the second game where they've played played pretty well defensively. Now, Montreal was out of sync or not very good. And the Sabres were in the 2nd of a back to back. But in spite of that, they've had two games of 20 and 22 shots against and they have reduced the scoring chances significantly from previous seasons. And the key is that they were able to do that AND generate a bunch of offensive chances even though Miller stoned them. To play good defence and generate chances like that will win you more games than you'll lose. Now it's only two games in and teams are rusty so I don't want to read too much into it but I'm a little encouraged or hopeful.

 

[LeafsStanleyCup13]

hello all, i am the poster formerly known as roadhockeyJoe, now have a new moniker but the same Leaf fan as always, havent been here in quite a while, such changes!!

Anyways, watching the Leafs play, they're 100% improved from last season, dont change a thing, its only 2 games, let the boys play!! Go Leafs!!

8) ;D

 

[Redleaf]

They couldn't finish, were a little snake bit and Miller was great. On top of out shooting Buffalo 35-20, Buffalo had to block 19 other shots. So they generated some offence.

But in the wake of this loss, I'm kind of encouraged by something. It was the second game where they've played played pretty well defensively. Now, Montreal was out of sync or not very good. And the Sabres were in the 2nd of a back to back. But in spite of that, they've had two games of 20 and 22 shots against and they have reduced the scoring chances significantly from previous seasons. And the key is that they were able to do that AND generate a bunch of offensive chances even though Miller stoned them. To play good defence and generate chances like that will win you more games than you'll lose. Now it's only two games in and teams are rusty so I don't want to read too much into it but I'm a little encouraged or hopeful.

Agreed. Some encouraging signs moving forward. Maybe. Maybe Riemer and Gardiner can make a difference as well!

 

[Bender]

Is it too early to start complaining about the lines? Because if not I'd change everything except the top line. Send down Fraser and Holzer, call-up Frattin, go with:

Lupul-Bozak-Kessel
JVR-Grabovski-Kulemin
MacArthur-Kadri-Frattin
Brown/Orr-McClement-Komarov

The moves are all done with the sole purpose of giving Kadri some more offensive linemates to play with. JVR and Komarov are holding him back I think. Komarov has been playing alright but I think Kadri needs a goal scorer on his wing and Mac and Frattin are the teams two best options after Kessel and Lupul. If JVR and Kulemin don't step up soon I'd swap one of them with Leo.

I think you have to give them a few days to gel together. I think JVR could have what it takes but he does look pensive out there, but he's playing with a brand new team and linemates and had Komisarek almost derail his season. He definitely needs to move his feet more.

 

[ZBBM]

hello all, i am the poster formerly known as roadhockeyJoe, now have a new moniker but the same Leaf fan as always, havent been here in quite a while, such changes!!

Anyways, watching the Leafs play, they're 100% improved from last season, dont change a thing, its only 2 games, let the boys play!! Go Leafs!!

8) ;D

Welcome back man, I remember having seen your posts many times.

 

[cw]

They couldn't finish, were a little snake bit and Miller was great. On top of out shooting Buffalo 35-20, Buffalo had to block 19 other shots. So they generated some offence.

But in the wake of this loss, I'm kind of encouraged by something. It was the second game where they've played played pretty well defensively. Now, Montreal was out of sync or not very good. And the Sabres were in the 2nd of a back to back. But in spite of that, they've had two games of 20 and 22 shots against and they have reduced the scoring chances significantly from previous seasons. And the key is that they were able to do that AND generate a bunch of offensive chances even though Miller stoned them. To play good defence and generate chances like that will win you more games than you'll lose. Now it's only two games in and teams are rusty so I don't want to read too much into it but I'm a little encouraged or hopeful.

Agreed. Some encouraging signs moving forward. Maybe. Maybe Riemer and Gardiner can make a difference as well!

I think Scrivens has made the stops he should have. No softies and Pominville's was so point blank, it's hard for me to argue that was something he should have had most of the time - though some nights, a goalie would stop him from there.

A thing lacking for the talent on this roster is the transition. Maybe that's a product of the defence they're playing to some extent. But their D hasn't been springing them with outlet passes as much as I think they could. Gardiner may well help them in that area.

Phaneuf playing on the left side and Gunnarsson tonight playing some on the RHS may have had something to do with that - that might be a factor - aside from them shaking off rust.

My concern with Gardiner added to the mix is how they'll play defensively.

Phaneuf playing with Kostka has reminded me of when McCabe played with Lumme. It's like they're paired with an offensive dman so they know their role is to be more defensive with that pairing. McCabe played really well defensively with Lumme - he had to with the way that plug skated at the end of his career. Playing with Kostka might be having that effect on Phaneuf which may not be such a bad thing.

I get the feeling that they plan to pair Gardiner with Phaneuf. Dion will really need to play the defensive role with Gardiner because Gardiner has bigger holes in his defensive game than Kostka - who I thought played another decent game.

 

[pnjunction]

Is it too early to start complaining about the lines? Because if not I'd change everything except the top line. Send down Fraser and Holzer, call-up Frattin, go with:

Lupul-Bozak-Kessel
JVR-Grabovski-Kulemin
MacArthur-Kadri-Frattin
Brown/Orr-McClement-Komarov

The moves are all done with the sole purpose of giving Kadri some more offensive linemates to play with. JVR and Komarov are holding him back I think. Komarov has been playing alright but I think Kadri needs a goal scorer on his wing and Mac and Frattin are the teams two best options after Kessel and Lupul. If JVR and Kulemin don't step up soon I'd swap one of them with Leo.

What about simply swapping Bozak and Kadri?  Why not put the guy who is best right now in the #1 spot? 

Bozak is likely still better than Kadri defensively, I wonder if the 3rd line with JVR and Bozak could be used against the other top line instead of the 2nd line which is struggling to start and got scored on both times tonight.

Edit: Bozak did win the draws tonight though....  Kadri was better tonight at 54% but would still be at a disadvantage in this consideration I guess.

 

[Bonsixx]

Is it too early to start complaining about the lines? Because if not I'd change everything except the top line. Send down Fraser and Holzer, call-up Frattin, go with:

Lupul-Bozak-Kessel
JVR-Grabovski-Kulemin
MacArthur-Kadri-Frattin
Brown/Orr-McClement-Komarov

The moves are all done with the sole purpose of giving Kadri some more offensive linemates to play with. JVR and Komarov are holding him back I think. Komarov has been playing alright but I think Kadri needs a goal scorer on his wing and Mac and Frattin are the teams two best options after Kessel and Lupul. If JVR and Kulemin don't step up soon I'd swap one of them with Leo.

What about simply swapping Bozak and Kadri?  Why not put the guy who is best right now in the #1 spot? 

Bozak is likely still better than Kadri defensively, I wonder if the 3rd line with JVR and Bozak could be used against the other top line instead of the 2nd line which is struggling to start and got scored on both times tonight.

Edit: Bozak did win the draws tonight though....  Kadri was better tonight at 54% but would still be at a disadvantage in this consideration I guess.

As someone mentioned in the MotM thread, Bozak's faceoff dominance was the sole reason the Leafs had any chance at all in the final three or four minutes.

 

[hockeyfan1]

The Sabres goaltender Ryan Miller has had more success against the Leafs than perhaps against any other NHL squad.

''It's time to get back at them,'' Miller said. ''We're in one of the biggest cities for hockey, it's great to come and play in front of these fans. It's a big compliment to Buffalo that we've got great fans and in the area. I feel like this is the whole hockey area - a big hotbed - so we come and just try to enjoy yourself and have some fun and it's fun to win here.''

Leafs had their best chance on that 5 on 3 powerplay, but...

''I didn't think there was any lack of effort with our group,'' Leafs coach Randy Carlyle said. ''I thought we were out of sorts in the first period and it showed in the execution of our power play.

''When you have an extended, almost a full 2-minute 5-on-3, you're expected to provide some offense, you've got to score. And I think that came back to haunt us later in the game. We had our fair share of chances, but we just didn't execute to the highest level that was required to win the hockey game.''

Still, another good effort by the Leafs.  Too bad it didn't translate into a win.

Source: Yahoo! Sports

 

[nutman]

Was it just me or was the acc lacking in both fans and noise. more so the lower bowl was full of empty seats. this sucks when so many fans out here would jump at a chance to fill them seats.

 

[Boston Leaf]

Nazem Kadri is arriving.. just saying

 

[armche123]

Nazem Kadri is arriving.. just saying

+1

 

[Fanatic]

Nazem Kadri is arriving.. just saying

His development is certainly a good sign of things to come. Kadri, Gardiner, Reilly - these are the guys that you want to see developing towards top tier players.

 

[Tigger]

That was a decent effort, one of those games they probably should have won but that usually evens itself out at some point.

 

[drummond]

Miller was spectacular, but what worries me a bit is that the urgent need to shore up defensive mistakes the Leafs completely lost the capability to produce offensively. 3 GA after 2 games is very encouraging, however 3 GF is worrying at the same time. I strongly believe that the best defense is your offence. Heck, if you socre 5 goals per game, who cares that your goalie has 4 GAA. I know it is old school and the hockey world has changed substantially from the 80?s. However, even in todays hockey world if the Leafs score a goal or two per game it will not carry them anywhere.

I know Randy preaches defense first, but let?s go guys and score some goals. Pens game has a certain potential to be a wild one. Time to rediscover some offense!