Game 9 - Leafs @ Rangers - Thursday Oct 27th 2011 - 19:00 EST - 4-2 Win

[Tigger]

For me, at this point, I don't think Goose will be well served in the A for a whole season, when he came over for sure but now I think it's mostly counter productive, he needs to play in the NHL and determine his fate, one way or the other ( and for those keeping score, it's not a certainty on both faces )

Well, I'm obviously less concerned about what is best for Gustavsson and more concerned about what is best for the Leafs, and, that might be Gustavsson being sent to the AHL and someone else holding the backup role - whether it be Scrivens or someone outside the organization, I don't know.

Ok, I'll buy that from the Leafs perspective if Goose doesn't hold his own by the 20-ish-y game mark, fair?

I appreciate your patience, and this team is still 5-3, but if sucks all the way to 20 games, the Leafs could be on the outside looking in.

Unfortunate health issues granted, I would still think that the Leafs' patience with him may be wearing pretty thin.  Wilson has got to make the playoffs this year, so there really isn't any time for patience with a back up goalie.

Absolutely, a point that has been well made many times however I honestly am going by remarks I've heard from Burke, "re-evaluate after camp", and something along the lines of 'We're going with this group on a short leash'.

That includes Goose.

By your own logic, why is Wilson playing him tonight, why didn't he pull him after a softie?

 

[Arn]

Missed the firs - how did Connolly look?

Also, is he wearing an A?

 

[GhostofPotvin29]

Missed the firs - how did Connolly look?

Also, is he wearing an A?

He took a bad penalty, but otherwise I think he's looked pretty good considering the circumstances.  He made a nice pass to Kessel on a 2 on 1 that he fanned on.

 

[Frank E]

Unfortunate health issues granted, I would still think that the Leafs' patience with him may be wearing pretty thin.  Wilson has got to make the playoffs this year, so there really isn't any time for patience with a back up goalie.

That would be a fair position for Wilson to have given the pressures on him but if there really isn't any organizational patience with Gus they were crazy not to go out and find an established back up goalie this summer.

Better the devil you know?

 

[Kessel Run]

Not good seeing both Kessel and Grabovski limping off.

 

[Kin]

Better the devil you know?

But Gus hasn't shown he can do the job and is coming off a ten month layoff from competitive hockey. So sticking with him is inherently more of a gamble.

 

[Frank E]

For me, at this point, I don't think Goose will be well served in the A for a whole season, when he came over for sure but now I think it's mostly counter productive, he needs to play in the NHL and determine his fate, one way or the other ( and for those keeping score, it's not a certainty on both faces )

Well, I'm obviously less concerned about what is best for Gustavsson and more concerned about what is best for the Leafs, and, that might be Gustavsson being sent to the AHL and someone else holding the backup role - whether it be Scrivens or someone outside the organization, I don't know.

Ok, I'll buy that from the Leafs perspective if Goose doesn't hold his own by the 20-ish-y game mark, fair?

I appreciate your patience, and this team is still 5-3, but if sucks all the way to 20 games, the Leafs could be on the outside looking in.

Unfortunate health issues granted, I would still think that the Leafs' patience with him may be wearing pretty thin.  Wilson has got to make the playoffs this year, so there really isn't any time for patience with a back up goalie.

Absolutely, a point that has been well made many times however I honestly am going by remarks I've heard from Burke, "re-evaluate after camp", and something along the lines of 'We're going with this group on a short leash'.

That includes Goose.

By your own logic, why is Wilson playing him tonight, why didn't he pull him after a softie?

I suppose that would depend on your definition of patience.  I speculate that he's got another 2 or 3 starts...if he stinks it up, he's waived. 

 

[GhostofPotvin29]

Frattin should have scored there - if you put it in, you don't get a penalty.

 

[maplesyrup]

Frattin... If you can't avoid hitting him, you might as well hit him, you know what I mean?

 

[azzurri63]

This goal on Price is very amusing.

That's why I get a kick listening to some of the commentators. They don't know any more than the rest of us. Start of the season someone on HNIC I believe said he was the best goalie in the NHL. Why because he had one good season, 38 wins, club record. Man he played in 72 games lost 28. Credit he had some good stats and in my opinion a good season but best gaolie in the NHL. same thing on here ragging on Gus all the time. Has he struggled. Yeah I would be the first to say so. He let's in some soft goals but he has shown in the past he is more than capable albeit with some health issues. I'm not completely sold on Reimer yet. The Leafs need to tighten their defensive play. I've always said goalie is only as good as the guys in front of him.

 

[BlueWhiteBlood]

Frattin should have scored there - if you put it in, you don't get a penalty.

He's doing all the right things, just been unlucky with the result so far. Unfortunately.

 

[GhostofPotvin29]

There's the feisty Grabovski.

 

[BlueWhiteBlood]

I'm so glad we have at least Komisarek hitting guys hard out there. He's been solid so far IMO.

 

[maplesyrup]

Not good seeing both Kessel and Grabovski limping off.

... but nice to see then both back on the ice.

 

[Bender]

Connolly's looking pretty slick out there.

 

[Kin]

Connolly has made some nice passes.

 

[GhostofPotvin29]

Connolly has made some nice passes.

He certainly seems to have better natural vision with the puck than just about anyone else on the team.

 

[Frank E]

Better the devil you know?

But Gus hasn't shown he can do the job and is coming off a ten month layoff from competitive hockey. So sticking with him is inherently more of a gamble.

That's why I said 'devil'.  And I suppose that would depend on what was available to the Leafs in terms of cheapish backup goaltending.

 

[ZBBM]

I like Gunnarsson.  He can play defense.

 

[bustaheims]

Connolly has made some nice passes.

Yeah. Just a matter of time before some of them end up in the back of the net.