Game 9: Hurricanes @ Leafs 7:00PM Monday on SportsNet

[Bullfrog]

Looking for an online feed? Try here: http://ourleafs.blogspot.ca/

For HS:

Yahoo: Hurricanes @ Mapleleafs Preview

Team Comparison

Team G W L OTL Pts Standings GF GA Road/Home
Toronto 8 4 4 0 8 4th Northeast 21 23 1-3-0 Home
Carolina 7 3 4 0 6 3rd Southeast 18 23 1-2-0 Road

Projected Lines per Ice Chips:


Forwards:
van Riemsdyk - Bozak - Kessel
Kulemin - Grabovski - McClement
Frattin - Kadri - Komarov
McLaren - Steckel - Orr
MacArthur

Defence:
Phaneuf - Kostka
Liles - Komisarek
Fraser - Franson
Holzer

Goaltenders:
Reimer
Scrivens

Reimer with another start, Gunnarsson out again. Possible return for MacArthur and Holzer might get some action. Gunnarsson had MRIs: no damage, just needs some rest.

Jeff Skinner has five goals and 25 shots in his last five games.
Phil Kessel has zero goals and 21 shots in his last five games. He's averaging 4.5 shots/game.

 

[Chev-boyar-sky]

Hoping Phil breaks the donut tonight so everyone (the talking heads that is) can stop talking about it.

Fantasy conundrum. Do I start Reimer or Ward? Ward's been garbage and I figure he's due to get going but Reimer's been good, and Kessel's also due to get going. What to do???

 

[Heroic Shrimp]

For HS:

Yahoo: Hurricanes @ Mapleleafs Preview

Team Comparison

Team G W L OTL Pts Standings GF GA Road/Home
Toronto 8 4 4 0 8 4th Northeast 21 23 1-3-0 Home
Carolina 7 3 4 0 6 3rd Southeast 18 23 1-2-0 Road

Projected Lines per Ice Chips:


Forwards:
van Riemsdyk - Bozak - Kessel
Kulemin - Grabovski - McClement
Frattin - Kadri - Komarov
McLaren - Steckel - Orr
MacArthur

Defence:
Phaneuf - Kostka
Liles - Komisarek
Fraser - Franson
Holzer

Goaltenders:
Reimer
Scrivens

Reimer with another start, Gunnarsson out again. Possible return for MacArthur and Holzer might get some action.

Woot!  Let the tailgate begin!

 

[Bullfrog]

Some quotes from around the twitterverse:

Colorado Avalanche
@Avalanche
PA Parenteau has 6 Even-Strength Goals this season, which is tied for 1st in the NHL with Carolina's Eric Staal. #GoAvsGo

Jonas Siegel
@jonasTSN1050
There's a chance Clarke MacArthur returns tonight from a finger injury. Carlyle wouldn't reveal whether Holzer gets in on defence.

Paul Hendrick
@HennyTweets
Korbinian holzer looks like the odd man out on the blueline for the leafs tonight. #tmltalk

Jonas Siegel
@jonasTSN1050
Gunnarsson has a hip problem. Requires rest according to Carlyle.

Paul Hendrick
@HennyTweets
Carl gunnarson has a hip irritation that'll require on going treatment. Macarthur is available for tonight. #tmltalk

 

[Redleaf]

Too bad about Gunnar. I'd like to see Holzer in action tonight, and of course, a breakout game from Kessel. Go Leafs go!

 

[sickbeast]

The Leafs should win this one handily so long as they don't mail it in.  Is Maurice still the coach for Carolina?

 

[louisstamos]

The Leafs should win this one handily so long as they don't mail it in.  Is Maurice still the coach for Carolina?

Kurk Muller.

 

[Heroic Shrimp]

The Leafs should win this one handily so long as they don't mail it in.

You realize the Leafs are at home, don't you?

 

[Redleaf]

The Leafs should win this one handily so long as they don't mail it in.  Is Maurice still the coach for Carolina?

I wouldn't attach the phrase 'win handily' to any of the Leafs games coming up this season. Every team in the league has good and poor nights. Hopefully the Leafs don't turn in the latter this evening.

 

[Zee]

I am not looking forward to this game.  Eric Staal seems to love playing in Toronto, and now he has his brother to join in the fun.  If Semin feels like playing tonight it could be bad for the Leafs.

 

[Zee]

The Leafs should win this one handily so long as they don't mail it in.  Is Maurice still the coach for Carolina?

I've heard a few people thinking this will be an easy win and I don't get why.  I see Staal, Skinner, Staal and Semin, all 4 of who would probably play on the Leafs top 2 lines.  How is this an easy game?

 

[GhostofPotvin29]

I am not looking forward to this game.  Eric Staal seems to love playing in Toronto, and now he has his brother to join in the fun.  If Semin feels like playing tonight it could be bad for the Leafs.

I don't know, Staal doesn't seem to significantly put up more points against Toronto than other teams.  Most of his stats against teams are around the 1.0 PPG, a little above that against Toronto and some other teams, and a little below against others.

Not impressive scoring on Raycroft, Toskala, and Gustavsson.  8)

 

[Kin]

I've heard a few people thinking this will be an easy win and I don't get why.  I see Staal, Skinner, Staal and Semin, all 4 of who would probably play on the Leafs top 2 lines.  How is this an easy game?

Yeah, I don't think there's a team in the league the Leafs should consider an easy win.

 

[cw]

I've heard a few people thinking this will be an easy win and I don't get why.  I see Staal, Skinner, Staal and Semin, all 4 of who would probably play on the Leafs top 2 lines.  How is this an easy game?

Yeah, I don't think there's a team in the league the Leafs should consider an easy win.

I looked at their schedule a week or two ago and came to the same conclusion. With a number of the teams below them that were expected to do better and a number of the teams ahead of them doing better than expected, it appears to be a very competitive league - from top to bottom.

I guess the upside after keeping Boston to a 1 goal difference or them beating the Pens & Montreal who are ahead of them, is that they seem capable of winning on any given night (now that Reimer has stabilized goaltending some - if that continues).

I expected after they added Staal and Semin that the Hurricanes would be better this season. I haven't seen them play much but Cam Ward's .867 save% raised my eyebrows some (though obviously it's too early to put much faith in that number).

 

[ZBBM]

I've heard a few people thinking this will be an easy win and I don't get why.  I see Staal, Skinner, Staal and Semin, all 4 of who would probably play on the Leafs top 2 lines.  How is this an easy game?

Yeah, I don't think there's a team in the league the Leafs should consider an easy win.

Indeed.  Didn't anyone learn anything from the Isles game?

 

[Boston Leaf]

Im pretty sure there was a game when Ward stood on his head ot be at us last year. I say 4 -2 Carolina...Hope Im wrong

 

[GhostofPotvin29]

I've heard a few people thinking this will be an easy win and I don't get why.  I see Staal, Skinner, Staal and Semin, all 4 of who would probably play on the Leafs top 2 lines.  How is this an easy game?

Yeah, I don't think there's a team in the league the Leafs should consider an easy win.

Indeed.  Didn't anyone learn anything from the Isles game?

They've typically played us tough, not sure why anyone would consider the Isles an easy victory.

 

[Kin]

They've typically played us tough, not sure why anyone would consider the Isles an easy victory.

In stark contrast, mind, to the teams the Leafs have just thoroughly and consistently demolished in recent years.

 

[cw]

Globe & Mail, Preview by Mirtle
Speaking of possible lineup changes, Carlyle said Clarke MacArthur, who has missed the last three games after his pinkie finger was shattered in New York eight days ago, is available to play. MacArthur was skating on the fourth line in the morning skate, however, and it?s hard to say where he fits in exactly.

- One move that doesn?t appear to be as likely as you?d first expect is shifting Jay McClement down the lineup to get MacArthur back with his usual linemates, as Carlyle has really liked what he?s seen from that second unit so far.

Here was the coach on McClement on Monday: ?He?s been a nice addition [to the second line]. Almost seamless. He?s given that line another dimension. I think he?s helped in their overall game. If there was a player that we want our players to replicate it would be the work ethic of Jay McClement. That?s what this team needs more of.

?We?re going to ask if we put MacArthur [back] there that he take a page out of McClement?s book.?
...
Leafs lineup (projected)

JVR - Bozak - Kessel
McClement - Grabovski - Kulemin
MacArthur - Kadri - Frattin
McLaren - Steckel - Komarov

Phaneuf - Kostka
Liles - Komisarek
Holzer - Franson

Reimer

I had seen some reports suggesting Holzer (RHS) would be a healthy scratch - meaning Fraser, who usually plays the LHS, would play.

Paul Hendrick ‏@HennyTweets
Korbinian holzer looks like the odd man out on the blueline for the leafs tonight. #tmltalk


Interesting quotes above on McClement & MacArthur.

 

[GhostofPotvin29]

Although we were 5-1-2 against them in the last couple seasons.