Kings @ Leafs - Dec. 11th, 7:30pm - TSN, TSN 1050

[Bates]

Maybe explain first penalty to Holland for me and also show me one where King player was cross checked in offensive zone with no penalty ala Kadri.

Sure didn't get any help from the refs tonight.  I have no idea what's a penalty most nights.  I thought the Kings would have been sent to the box several times in the 3rd yet nada.  Leafs first penalty just didn't look that way to me.

The refs called the game the same way for both teams tonight, so, while I agree that there's a maddening amount on inconsistency across the league when it comes to the officiating, it was very consistent in terms of how things were called tonight.

 

[Andy007]

LA finishing every check, mostly with those of the punishing variety, is something the Leafs are lacking this year. I really miss Komarov.

Otherwise, great all-around game. PK and brief lazy back checking buried them.

 

[CarltonTheBear]

Jeff Veillette ‏@Jeffler 2m
This is the first time the Toronto Maple Leafs outshot their opponent in all three periods since beating Washington on January 31st

 

[Kin]

Well, I think being able to maintain their improvements in the areas they were able to be successful tonight should lead to them being able to improve in those other areas, as well. Rome wasn't built in a day, as they say.

Well, I suppose I'd be less optimistic about that considering I'd attribute the failings to the talent level of the club but, well, I suppose that's the debate of the season.

 

[Bender]

THAT'S more like the Ron Wilson hockey I've been pining for.

They essentially made 2 mistakes that cost them. It happens. LA is a good team. They're going to bury you on mistakes like that more often than not. It's better than sitting back and waiting for the inevitable.

I don't disagree with you, but I don't think moral victories are worth more than actual victories.

 

[bustaheims]

Maybe explain first penalty to Holland for me and also show me one where King player was cross checked in offensive zone with no penalty ala Kadri.

The first penalty was a poor call, but it was pretty run of the mill human error. And, while I can't come up with any specific incidents since I wasn't really watching for them, but I'm sure if you went back through the video, you'll find a few potential calls that could have gone against the Leafs that went unpunished. The refs are never perfect, but, tonight, as far as I'm concerned, they were fair to both teams.

 

[bustaheims]

Well, I suppose I'd be less optimistic about that considering I'd attribute the failings to the talent level of the club but, well, I suppose that's the debate of the season.

Yeah, and that's a debate we're clearly on different sides of. I'm not necessarily optimistic they'll keep it up, either, but, largely because I question the leadership and coaching rather than the talent.

 

[Bates]

I am not saying the refs were terrible or that they cheated but the first Leaf penalty and the Kadri no call were both very important aspects of this game.  Kings scored on first PP and Leafs had sustained pressure when they should have had a PP late in 3rd.  They had previous 11 straight shots on net.  Instead of PP Kings scored on the same play. 

 

[moon111]

Is there ever a game that Rielly doesn't end up a '-'? 

 

[Kin]

I'm not necessarily optimistic they'll keep it up, either, but, largely because I question the leadership and coaching rather than the talent.

Well, so long as Phaneuf is catching most of the blame, I suppose I can live with it.

 

[mr grieves]

THAT'S more like the Ron Wilson hockey I've been pining for.

They essentially made 2 mistakes that cost them. It happens. LA is a good team. They're going to bury you on mistakes like that more often than not. It's better than sitting back and waiting for the inevitable.

I don't disagree with you, but I don't think moral victories are worth more than actual victories.

Yeah, but what's being called a 'moral victory' is 60 minutes of good play, which they hadn't mustered (except in one Pittsburgh game) all season. If it's a sign of things to come, it makes actual victories more probable outcomes in future games than, say, letting your goalie get shelled and converting on a few rushes.

 

[bustaheims]

Well, so long as Phaneuf is catching most of the blame, I suppose I can live with it.

Enh. I don't put leadership on to a specific individual. His qualifications as captain are certainly in question, but, he's only one piece of a leadership group that has a lot to answer for so far this season.

 

[Stickytape]

So that's what that feels like.

 

[TML fan]

THAT'S more like the Ron Wilson hockey I've been pining for.

They essentially made 2 mistakes that cost them. It happens. LA is a good team. They're going to bury you on mistakes like that more often than not. It's better than sitting back and waiting for the inevitable.

I don't disagree with you, but I don't think moral victories are worth more than actual victories.

Neither do I, but you can't win every game. A loss isn't always the result of being a crappy team. Sometimes you make mistakes and sometimes the other team makes you pay for it. Particularly if the other team is good.

 

[Kin]

Well, so long as Phaneuf is catching most of the blame, I suppose I can live with it.

Enh. I don't put leadership on to a specific individual. His qualifications as captain are certainly in question, but, he's only one piece of a leadership group that has a lot to answer for so far this season.

Yeah, that was more what people in my culture would call a "joke".

 

[bustaheims]

Yeah, that was more what people in my culture would call a "joke".

When it comes to Phaneuf, you're hard to read these days.

 

[Kin]

When it comes to Phaneuf, you're hard to read these days.

I'd like to think my opinion has remained pretty constant regarding Phaneuf the last few years, I just sometimes think it's funny.

 

[L K]

I think the three worst players for the Leafs tonight were Ranger, Fraser and Bernier to be honest. 

Bernier was by no means bad, but he really wasn't able to step up his game in the 3rd period and make the big saves that Jones was giving LA.  Based on scoring chances alone the Leafs outplayed LA and Jones made more timely saves.

Ranger's pinch led directly to a goal.
Fraser got walked around 3-4 times tonight.  He's slow and bad.  Bring back Liles.

 

[L K]

Well, I think being able to maintain their improvements in the areas they were able to be successful tonight should lead to them being able to improve in those other areas, as well. Rome wasn't built in a day, as they say.

Well, I suppose I'd be less optimistic about that considering I'd attribute the failings to the talent level of the club but, well, I suppose that's the debate of the season.

Given what the last month and a half has provided, I will gladly take their overall performance from tonight.  I'll agree with you if they continue to play with more aggression and continue to lose that it doesn't mean much, but I'm going to take some small victories at this point.

I think that the effort they showed tonight provides better results on most nights to be honest.  They came up against an extremely hot goaltender who made several highlight reel saves.

 

[Kin]

Given what the last month and a half has provided, I will gladly take their overall performance from tonight.  I'll agree with you if they continue to play with more aggression and continue to lose that it doesn't mean much, but I'm going to take some small victories at this point.

Like I said, I'd have more confidence in that if it weren't for the fact that, of late, they've had similar chances in the third and been similarly unable to convert them.