Islanders @ Leafs - Jan. 7th, 7:00pm - TSN, SN 590

[Andy007]

I think someone a few game day threads ago said it would be nice if our best player could prove it and take over the game at critical moments, like great players do.

Who would you say our best player is?  Not that it makes any difference to your comment, which I agree with completely.

I think Kessel is paid to be our gamebreaker.

I'm afraid you're in for disappointment.  Phil Kessel couldn't take over a kindergarten class even if he had a platoon of marines backing him up.

Heh. I think perhaps other teams have targeted him as Toronto's only consistent scoring threat, and are taking away his space more so than ever before. But he's not fighting through tight checking or driving to the net, because quite frankly that's not the type of player he is.

Its frustrating, but he'll always be a complementary player. We're just missing the second and third and fourth threat to take the pressure off him. Oh, and and about 2 decent defensemen. But all good apart from that.

Or an actual bona fide number one centre and not these border line 3rd liners that he is continually stuck with.

 

[GhostofPotvin29]

I think someone a few game day threads ago said it would be nice if our best player could prove it and take over the game at critical moments, like great players do.

In the last 5 games, the Leafs have all of 3 goals from forwards not named Kessel, JvR, Bozak or Lupul - one of which is from a guy Carlyle has mind-bogglingly demoted to the 4th line. The best players aren't really the issue. It's everyone else that isn't contributing.

Kessel on pace for a career high in goals on a team that's had trouble scoring this season but he still gets ripped on same as he ever was.

It's at the whatever point now - he'll continue to go out there and score at an elite level (what was he, 4th in goals the last 3 seasons?).

 

[freer]

I think someone a few game day threads ago said it would be nice if our best player could prove it and take over the game at critical moments, like great players do.

Who would you say our best player is?  Not that it makes any difference to your comment, which I agree with completely.

I think Kessel is paid to be our gamebreaker.

I'm afraid you're in for disappointment.  Phil Kessel couldn't take over a kindergarten class even if he had a platoon of marines backing him up.

But he doesn't have a platoon of marines backing him up; he has a Boy Scout in training centre-man and the Invisible boy on his wing. And yet he still stands to score near 40 goals and 70-75 points despite those limitations.

The boy scout in training centre-man has 7 pts in 4 games since returning.  Other then Lupul, Bozak is the only forward that has come to play over the last two games.

 

[Jeremiad]

Gleason was better than I thought he'd be, so there's that.

And Tavares didn't get injured, so that's a positive.

True. Leaf fans will take refuge in the Olympics or whatever works.

 

[Tigger]

For some reason I think of Bozak as Phil's butler, like he totaled his car and couldn't pay...

 

[Jalili]

I don't agree with bad-mouthing Kessel like some others might do, but at some point I've grown weary of the "blame his linemates" argument. He's not playing with Joey Crabb anymore, guy has good linemates to play with.

One thing I've noticed is that we're not seeing his signature "streak down the side and snipe" move that we used to see so often. Probably opposing defensive systems keying in on him, I guess.

 

[Stronger Than All]

Didn't watch any of the game and prolly won't see highlights until tomorrow but I don't get why Reimer didn't start.

 

[moon111]

Didn't watch any of the game and prolly won't see highlights until tomorrow but I don't get why Reimer didn't start.

Because they're trading him and don't want to see him get hurt.

 

[hockeyfan1]

Good game by the Islanders, another one for Tavares, who with his three assists on the night, extended his point streak to 7 games.  The Isles with this win have made it two-in-a-row.  They certainly are tryIng for a playoff spot.  Good for them. 

As for our Leafs, they too want to be in the playoffs (who doesn't), but the end results aren't justifying the means of getting there, not at the current rate of play.

 

[freer]

I think someone a few game day threads ago said it would be nice if our best player could prove it and take over the game at critical moments, like great players do.

Who would you say our best player is?  Not that it makes any difference to your comment, which I agree with completely.

I think Kessel is paid to be our gamebreaker.

I'm afraid you're in for disappointment.  Phil Kessel couldn't take over a kindergarten class even if he had a platoon of marines backing him up.

But he doesn't have a platoon of marines backing him up; he has a Boy Scout in training centre-man and the Invisible boy on his wing. And yet he still stands to score near 40 goals and 70-75 points despite those limitations.

The boy scout in training centre-man has 7 pts in 4 games since returning.  Other then Lupul, Bozak is the only forward that has come to play over the last two games.

 

[Andy007]

I think someone a few game day threads ago said it would be nice if our best player could prove it and take over the game at critical moments, like great players do.

Who would you say our best player is?  Not that it makes any difference to your comment, which I agree with completely.

I think Kessel is paid to be our gamebreaker.

I'm afraid you're in for disappointment.  Phil Kessel couldn't take over a kindergarten class even if he had a platoon of marines backing him up.

But he doesn't have a platoon of marines backing him up; he has a Boy Scout in training centre-man and the Invisible boy on his wing. And yet he still stands to score near 40 goals and 70-75 points despite those limitations.

The boy scout in training centre-man has 7 pts in 4 games since returning.  Other then Lupul, Bozak is the only forward that has come to play over the last two games.

Well you quoted and said the exact same twice so I guess I have to answer..

Bozak has been very average since returning. He had a good game at the Winter Classic and that was it. His 3 point night game was a farce; he had absolutely nothing to do with any of those goals and was making awful passes all night. Yesterday he passed the puck twice, away into the corner, while being alone in the slot. He made that awful blind pass that killed the Leafs' tying attempt in the 3rd. He also made other poor attempts with the puck, notably on the PP and in his own end. His skillset is that of a decent 3rd line centre and I fully credit Kessel (and JVR, to a lesser extent) for the brunt of Bozak's point totals.

 

[Andy007]

I don't agree with bad-mouthing Kessel like some others might do, but at some point I've grown weary of the "blame his linemates" argument. He's not playing with Joey Crabb anymore, guy has good linemates to play with.One thing I've noticed is that we're not seeing his signature "streak down the side and snipe" move that we used to see so often. Probably opposing defensive systems keying in on him, I guess.

The Joey Crabb thing is a whole other argument. He was scoring 30 goals and 60 points with non-nhl calibre linemates. Ever since getting "good" (not great) linemates, Kessel's totals have climbed to 35-40 goal, 70-80 point pace. I'm not sure what else this guy is supposed to do.

 

[GhostofPotvin29]

he had absolutely nothing to do with any of those goals

That's not really true - I remember clearly on the Ranger goal that Bozak dove to knock the puck away from a Carolina player and back to Range at the point for the shot.  I don't remember the other assists as clearly (think one was a face-off win?) but it's wrong to say he had nothing to do with any of the goals.

 

[Andy007]

he had absolutely nothing to do with any of those goals

That's not really true - I remember clearly on the Ranger goal that Bozak dove to knock the puck away from a Carolina player and back to Range at the point for the shot.  I don't remember the other assists as clearly (think one was a face-off win?) but it's wrong to say he had nothing to do with any of the goals.

Yea that's just me exaggerating. He made that diving poke to just barely touch the puck and on the 2nd goal he won the faceoff and then Kessel took the puck, took two shots and scored on an awful goal from almost behind the net. The third goal was a tic tac toe b/w Kessel and JVR that Bozak got the 2nd assist and was nowhere near the play.

I don't mean to say he's been awful, I'm just combating the idea that he has been the Leafs' best player since he's been back because he certainly hasn't.

 

[Zee]

Just saw the highlites from last night.  Bernier weak as a wet noodle.  Unbelievable.

 

[Bullfrog]

Congratulations everyone who loves Reimer. He'll be starting again. You get your wish!

\o/ \o/ \o/ \o/ \o/

 

[moon111]

Maybe some former goalie can chime in.  But I don't think people are appreciating how hard a shot like the one Dion tipped in is to stop.

If that came off a 80 miles/hour slapshot.
422400 feet/hour
422400 feet/60minutes
422400 feet/3600second

Blue to net ->64 feet /1.833 seconds.  (Goalie has to come out of net, so it's actually less then 64 feet) 
In <two seconds there's no way Bernier can re-adjust to that deflection.  So he would of already had to make himself cover more of the upper net.  He was down low in a butterfly, already reading the shot was going low.  The fact the deflection was so 'early' as Gord Miller announced, just gave the puck more range to change direction.
On the faceoff, McClement takes the draw like a robot programmed at the GM plant in Oshawa.  The only way he could of won is if the puck luckily fell on his stick blade.  Give credit to Dion Phaneuf, because he immediate sees the play developing, but then, instead of trying to block the shot, decides to do nothing.  And for doing so, he does the perfect deflection by getting his stick in the shooting lane.  Then everyone blames Bernier.

 

[GhostofPotvin29]

And for doing so, he does the perfect deflection by getting his stick in the shooting lane.  Then everyone blames Bernier.

He didn't even do that, he was just there and the shot happened to go right where his stick was.  It wasn't like he put it out there to try and block it/deflect it.  It was just where he was holding his stick and where the shot ended up going.

 

[moon111]

And for doing so, he does the perfect deflection by getting his stick in the shooting lane.  Then everyone blames Bernier.

He didn't even do that, he was just there and the shot happened to go right where his stick was.  It wasn't like he put it out there to try and block it/deflect it.  It was just where he was holding his stick and where the shot ended up going.

Phaneuf should of gone down to block the shot.  He skated over and didn't commit.  But I don't blame him, as all that would do is ruin his summer vacation plans.

 

[Heroic Shrimp]

Congratulations everyone who loves Reimer. He'll be starting again. You get your wish!

My wish is that the Islanders game be replayed with Reimer in net.