Leafs @ Wild - Nov. 13th, 7:30pm - TSN, SN 590

[Stickytape]

The offense just isn't coming up with anything.  So badly missing Bolland.

I feel like Kadri is looking at a suspension for the first hit; I suspect they converted the second one to 5 mins and a game because the refs felt bad about only giving him 2 mins for the first one.

Frustrating loss, but I'll take the damn point I guess.

 

[hockeyfan1]

The offense just isn't coming up with anything.  So badly missing Bolland.

I feel like Kadri is looking at a suspension for the first hit; I suspect they converted the second one to 5 mins and a game because the refs felt bad about only giving him 2 mins for the first one.

Frustrating loss, but I'll take the damn point I guess.

Yep.  Without Bolland, the team's lines chemistry has been usurped somewhat.  One would have to wonder why a player like Clarkson isn't taking up the torch, so to speak.  Oh, because as be's been known to utter that he's playing a shutdown role?

Also, what's with Kadri in this game, with his elbowing 'head' hits?! 

 

[Highlander]

You know I love Kessel, but last night he looked like a bonehead on that giveaway, he seemed to be skating in a dream and made that pass without any mustard on it, it was picked up and then he ends up kicking it in his own net.. He has to pick it up with so many guys out and know it looks like Kadri is gone for at least a couple.

 

[mc]

gotta say I have been disappointed with Clarkson's game so far. nothing he had done made me go ' that's why we signed ya!'. I keep saying 'why did ya sign here?'.

 

[Chev-boyar-sky]

gotta say I have been disappointed with Clarkson's game so far. nothing he had done made me go ' that's why we signed ya!'. I keep saying 'why did ya sign here?'.

I think he'll be a good player yet. Not worth the 5M by any means but a guy who'll chip in and make this team better.

He was good on the PP yesterday, controlled the puck along the boards a couple times in the night, and looked like a difference maker on a rush towards the end of the game which ultimately led to him being flattened by Spurgeon behind the net.

He'll get there, but the pressure might cause things to take longer than any of us would like.

At some point players will realize that signing a max contract (or better put, more money than they should get), ultimately makes their work life more difficult or leads to their career effectively being finished (Liles, Finger, Komi to name a few). I hope Clarkson doesn't fall into this category in the end.

 

[gunnar36]

before Kessel's shootout 'attempt' (if you can call it that) I told my wife I would buy her jewellery if he scored....I have that much confidence in his shootout ability.

He has never looked relaxed and comfortable with the puck during the shootout....his stick seems to be gripped so tightly I'm surprised the shaft doesn't fatigue while stickhandling

 

[mc]

before Kessel's shootout 'attempt' (if you can call it that) I told my wife I would buy her jewellery if he scored....I have that much confidence in his shootout ability.

Funny I used to tell my wife the same thing when Jason Allison lined up at centre. Albeit for different reasons.

 

[Stickytape]

I always wonder if Kessel's shy personality factors in during the shootout.  He really does look uncomfortable most of the time.

It's one thing to be playing on a team in front of millions of people; it's another to have all eyes on you, with the better part of a point on your stick.

 

[GhostofPotvin29]

I think maybe he lost a pet when he was young and ever since then he's had abandonment issues that manifest themselves when it is his turn for the shootout.

Or maybe a luck driven skills contest has just been unlucky for him.

Nah, #1 sounds more realistic.

 

[Bullfrog]

I always wonder if Kessel's shy personality factors in during the shootout.  He really does look uncomfortable most of the time.

It's one thing to be playing on a team in front of millions of people; it's another to have all eyes on you, with the better part of a point on your stick.

Hard to say. Did you see the video they showed of Kessel showboating after a goal in one of his college games?

 

[GhostofPotvin29]

I always wonder if Kessel's shy personality factors in during the shootout.  He really does look uncomfortable most of the time.

It's one thing to be playing on a team in front of millions of people; it's another to have all eyes on you, with the better part of a point on your stick.

Hard to say. Did you see the video they showed of Kessel showboating after a goal in one of his college games?

I noticed that too ha.  Couldn't imagine him doing that now.

 

[L K]

I always wonder if Kessel's shy personality factors in during the shootout.  He really does look uncomfortable most of the time.

It's one thing to be playing on a team in front of millions of people; it's another to have all eyes on you, with the better part of a point on your stick.

Hard to say. Did you see the video they showed of Kessel showboating after a goal in one of his college games?

I noticed that too ha.  Couldn't imagine him doing that now.

Don Cherry must have called him out on CC and that is why he sucks in the shootout now.

 

[GhostofPotvin29]

Some other players around Kessel's 27.8% shootout rate:

Henrik Zetterberg, Steven Stamkos, Jeff Carter, Nathan Horton, Joffrey Lupul, Patrick Marleau, Taylor Hall, Bobby Ryan, Jarome Iginla, Mike Cammalleri, Ryan Kesler, Vincent Lecavalier, Patrick Sharp

Jeff Carter (28.1%) and Nathan Horton (27.9%) are the only ones among that group higher than Kessel's career SO %.

A lot of shy star players around the league I guess.

 

[gunnar36]

when you possess a wrist shot as lethal as Kessels has, the least you can do is make the goalie make a good save which doesn't seem to be happening on most of his attempts

 

[GhostofPotvin29]

when you possess a wrist shot as lethal as Kessels has, the least you can do is make the goalie make a good save which doesn't seem to be happening on most of his attempts

Which other attempts?

 

[Stickytape]

Some other players around Kessel's 27.8% shootout rate:

Henrik Zetterberg, Steven Stamkos, Jeff Carter, Nathan Horton, Joffrey Lupul, Patrick Marleau, Taylor Hall, Bobby Ryan, Jarome Iginla, Mike Cammalleri, Ryan Kesler, Vincent Lecavalier, Patrick Sharp

Jeff Carter (28.1%) and Nathan Horton (27.9%) are the only ones among that group higher than Kessel's career SO %.

A lot of shy star players around the league I guess.

For the record, I didn't say that Kessel sucks, or that he doesn't have a good record on the shoot-out - I only wondered if his personality factors in.

 

[GhostofPotvin29]

Some other players around Kessel's 27.8% shootout rate:

Henrik Zetterberg, Steven Stamkos, Jeff Carter, Nathan Horton, Joffrey Lupul, Patrick Marleau, Taylor Hall, Bobby Ryan, Jarome Iginla, Mike Cammalleri, Ryan Kesler, Vincent Lecavalier, Patrick Sharp

Jeff Carter (28.1%) and Nathan Horton (27.9%) are the only ones among that group higher than Kessel's career SO %.

A lot of shy star players around the league I guess.

For the record, I didn't say that Kessel sucks, or that he doesn't have a good record on the shoot-out - I only wondered if his personality factors in.

I know.  He doesn't have a good record in shootouts, but shootouts aren't really indicative of much.  For some reason some are good at it, some aren't.

 

[Bullfrog]

when you possess a wrist shot as lethal as Kessels has, the least you can do is make the goalie make a good save which doesn't seem to be happening on most of his attempts

I've always wondered why he doesn't try a backhand on occasion. Given how good his shot is, I'm sure he could freeze a goalie with a faked wrist shot.

 

[Highlander]

He should float like a butterfly?sting like a bee!