Leafs @ Penguins - Nov. 27th, 7:30pm - TSN, SN 590

[CarltonTheBear]

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  14-9-1, 29 points | 15-9-1, 31 points 

Projected Lines

JVR-Bozak-Kessel Raymond-Kadri-Clarkson McClement-Holland-Kulemin McLaren-Smithson-Orr Gunnarsson-Phaneuf Gardiner-Rielly Fraser-Franson Bernier​

Kunitz-Crosby-Dupuis Jokinen-Malkin-Neal   Ebbett-Sutter-D'Agostini  Sill-Vitale-Adams Letang-Orpik Maatta-Niskanen Bortuzzo-Engelland Fleury ​

Scratches

Trevor Smith Paul Ranger​

Tanner Glass ​

Line-up Notes

?Bernier likely starts against Pittsburgh for the 1st time in his career ?Lines listed above are from Tuesday's practice​

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?Fleury likely starts for Pittsburgh
?D'Agostini was put on waivers Tuesday and it's unknown if he'll be around to play
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Injuries

?Joffrey Lupul - Groin - Will miss next 3 games ?Dave Bolland - Ankle - Out indefinitely​

?Tomas Vokoun - Blood clot - Out indefinitely ?Rob Scuderi - Ankle - Out indefinitely ?Chuck Kobasew - Lower Body - Questionable Wednesday ?Beau Bennett - Wrist - Out indefinitely ?Paul Martin - Undisclosed - Out Wednesday ?Tanner Glass - Hand - Out indefinitely ​

Statistical Leaders

Kessel - 12 Franson - 12 Kessel - 21 Phaneuf - +11 Orr - 68 Smithson - 60.1% Phaneuf - 24:06 Bernier - 8 Bernier - 2.16   Bernier/Reimer - .934​

G A P +/- PIM FO% TOI/G W GAA SA%​

13 - Crosby 23 - Malkin 31 - Crosby +11 - Kunitz/Niskanen 38 - Glass 56.4% - Vitale 13 - Fleury 2.05 - Fleury .919 - Fleury​

Season Overview

14 9 1 29 66 60 24.3% 81.5% 26.2 35.6 47.6% 5-5-1 4-5-1 Lost 1​

W L OT P GF GA PP% PK% S/G SA/G FO% A | H L10 Streak​

15 9 1 31 72 58 22.1% 85.9% 31.2 25.6 52.8% 10-3-0 4-5-1 Lost 2​

Stream Options

http://www.ourleafs.blogspot.ca/
http://www.firstrow1.eu/sport/ice-hockey.html
http://atdee.net/index.html
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[freer]

Lets hope they come out and play this evening

 

[Stickytape]

Yeah, hopefully the Leafs come out angry and with something to prove.  The Pens have been struggling, too, though, so honestly anything goes.

 

[Highlander]

I'd like to see Leivo on the third line or Abbot,

 

[drummond]

The Leafs usually play very well against Pens, hopefully that tradition will continue.

 

[ZBBM]

This is the kind of game you expect them to get blown out, but then they somehow win.  To do that, they'll need what they always need: interstellar goaltending.

 

[nutman]

So what is the deal with Smith. Did he piss in Carlyles cheerios or something. No way we tangle with pitt with the twin punchers holding down the fourth line.

 

[bustaheims]

jonasTSN1050: Seems like Gardiner could be out tonight. Carlyle having chat with him now. Gunnarsson/Rielly practice with second PP unit.

 

[Zee]

jonasTSN1050: Seems like Gardiner could be out tonight. Carlyle having chat with him now. Gunnarsson/Rielly practice with second PP unit.

Damn.  Jake getting a message sent.

 

[Deebo]

I know most of the team was bad on Monday, but Gardiner was among the worst IMO.

 

[Erndog]

I know most of the team was bad on Monday, but Gardiner was among the worst IMO.

But for Ranger/Fraser? 

One one hand Carlyle says it 'boggles his mind they can't play with pace'... yet on the other he sits Gardiner in favour of Fraser.  I don't get it.

And why Smith is not playing in favour of 2 face punchers is beyond me.

I'm losing it here boys!

 

[CarltonTheBear]

Ridiculous. I didn't watch Mondays game, but there's no way it could justify sitting your 3rd best defenceman this season.

I mean come on, if you want Ranger back in go with 7 defencemen for crying out loud.

 

[Erndog]

Ridiculous. I didn't watch Mondays game, but there's no way it could justify sitting your 3rd best defenceman this season.

I mean come on, if you want Ranger back in go with 7 defencemen for crying out loud.

Carlyle clearly alienates certain players.  He did it with Lupul in Anaheim.  He wasn't too fond of Grabovski and obviously isn't too fond of Gardiner now (or Trevor Smith it looks like). 

Stuff like this is normal I guess, and happens with the vast majority of coaches.  But dammit, it sucks.

 

[bustaheims]

I don't necessarily disagree with the idea of sitting Gardiner - he was pretty bad against Columbus. The issue is more that there's no one worth putting in to replace him. So, instead of having one guy who shouldn't be in the lineup on the blue line in Fraser, there's now going to be 2.

 

[CarltonTheBear]

Yup. I hope nobody bought a 51 Leafs jersey.

 

[CarltonTheBear]

I don't necessarily disagree with the idea of sitting Gardiner - he was pretty bad against Columbus. The issue is more that there's no one worth putting in to replace him. So, instead of having one guy who shouldn't be in the lineup on the blue line in Fraser, there's now going to be 2.

And one of those guys are going to be playing against Malkin all night. 

 

[Deebo]

obviously isn't too fond of Gardiner

I don't think that's the case.

Gardiner has lead the team in ice time a few times and 3rd in TOI/g from the defense and 1st in ESTOI/g.

 

[Erndog]

I don't necessarily disagree with the idea of sitting Gardiner - he was pretty bad against Columbus. The issue is more that there's no one worth putting in to replace him. So, instead of having one guy who shouldn't be in the lineup on the blue line in Fraser, there's now going to be 2.

And one of those guys are going to be playing against Malkin all night.

 

[CarltonTheBear]

obviously isn't too fond of Gardiner

I don't think that's the case.

Gardiner has lead the team in ice time a few times and 3rd in TOI/g from the defense and 1st in ESTOI/g.

Which makes scratching him after one bad game where the entire team struggled even more puzzling.

 

[Erndog]

obviously isn't too fond of Gardiner

I don't think that's the case.

Gardiner has lead the team in ice time a few times and 3rd in TOI/g from the defense and 1st in ESTOI/g.

Which makes scratching him after one bad game where the entire team struggled even more puzzling.

Also, first in benchings, first is "discussions after practice", first name in the rumour mill, first to be singled out after the game, etc.