Game 44: NYR @ TOR - Jan. 14 - 7:00pm - CBC

[ZBBM]

You know, except for the first 4 mins of this period we are acquitting ourselves well.  The Rags D is very very efficient.  There's a reason they are in 1st.

 

[GhostofPotvin29]

It's like Kessel keeps trying to avoid contact. GET to the dirty spots and fight for the puck!

If he can avoid contact, he'll avoid it.  I would think any player would avoid contact if they could.  Kessel manages to avoid it and he manages to stay healthy.  He makes up for it in his offense.  He's a small guy, I don't want him bumping with those guys much bigger than him - look how that turned out for Liles.

6'-0", 202 lb isn't that small. It does seem like Kessel is going out of his way to avoid contact a bit more than usual today.

Well the average NHLer as of last season was 6'1/2", and 204 lbs, so he's below average in both regards, and not particularly strong/stocky from what I can tell.

 

[L K]

The Leafs D is really missing Liles/Gardiner right now.  Not enough offensive ability from Komisarek/Aulie/Schenn and even Gunnarsson is more of a guy who handles himself with the offensive side of the game, but doesn't really create much. 

The defensive play is better but in physical games like this I think the Leafs need more of the rush to start from the blueline.

 

[Arn]

Gus is playing really well again, though.

 

[GhostofPotvin29]

It's like Kessel keeps trying to avoid contact. GET to the dirty spots and fight for the puck!

If he can avoid contact, he'll avoid it.  I would think any player would avoid contact if they could.  Kessel manages to avoid it and he manages to stay healthy.  He makes up for it in his offense.  He's a small guy, I don't want him bumping with those guys much bigger than him - look how that turned out for Liles.

There's been more than a few replays where the puck was lost or he wouldn't compete for it because he was going to have to take a hit. Hitting is part of the game and sometimes you just have to eat it.

So is scoring.  Some guys hit a lot and don't score, some guys score a lot and don't hit.  Some do both, and they are rare.

 

[GhostofPotvin29]

Turnovers is literally the only thing Glenn Healy EVER talks about.  Every HNIC.

EDIT:  That darned goal post.

 

[drummond]

Kessel hits the post...

 

[sneakyray]

GET.THE.PUCK.OUT.

 

[Zee]

All these missed chances are gonna come back to bite us

 

[Propellertop]

It's like Kessel keeps trying to avoid contact. GET to the dirty spots and fight for the puck!

If he can avoid contact, he'll avoid it.  I would think any player would avoid contact if they could.  Kessel manages to avoid it and he manages to stay healthy.  He makes up for it in his offense.  He's a small guy, I don't want him bumping with those guys much bigger than him - look how that turned out for Liles.

There's been more than a few replays where the puck was lost or he wouldn't compete for it because he was going to have to take a hit. Hitting is part of the game and sometimes you just have to eat it.

So is scoring.  Some guys hit a lot and don't score, some guys score a lot and don't hit.  Some do both, and they are rare.

Then score. When not scoring, play hard on the puck.

 

[GhostofPotvin29]

We've looked good when we've got our speed going.  The period has become much more even, we might even be taking it to them the last little bit.

 

[ZBBM]

Man.  Too bad on that.

In fairness to Healy, he has a right to yammer on about our turnovers.  It was 15-4 awhile ago.

 

[azzurri63]

MacArthur. I honestly think he doesn't have a clue what he's doing when the pucks on his stick.

 

[GhostofPotvin29]

Man.  Too bad on that.

In fairness to Healy, he has a right to yammer on about our turnovers.  It was 15-4 awhile ago.

For sure, but it's the same thing, every night.  Change it up man.

 

[drummond]

All these missed chances are gonna come back to bite us

it reminds me yesterdays game, also winnable, goalpost, crossbar...

 

[ZBBM]

Man.  Too bad on that.

In fairness to Healy, he has a right to yammer on about our turnovers.  It was 15-4 awhile ago.

For sure, but it's the same thing, every night.  Change it up man.

True.  He sounds like he's harping on the Leafs too often.

 

[GhostofPotvin29]

Good on Phaneuf, they let a borderline hit on Boyce go, so respond with one on them.  Good for the refs letting it go after the first one.

 

[Zee]

Game over.

 

[ZBBM]

That may be all she wrote.

 

[lc9]

Right back to bad leafs.