R1G1: Leafs @ Bruins - May 1st, 7:00pm - CBC, TSN 1050

[Kin]

Probably, though Marchand has much more of a track record for people to back up that assessment of him with.

Well, yeah, he has a track record of doing things like this.

 

[BermudaBudsFan]

Do we have a verdict in respect of the Ference hearing yet?

 

[Zee]

Do we have a verdict in respect of the Ference hearing yet?

Twitter is mum.  One of the sports guys would tweet something if they heard.

 

[GhostofPotvin29]

Do we have a verdict in respect of the Ference hearing yet?

Twitter is mum.  One of the sports guys would tweet something if they heard.

If he does get suspended, it's not like it would be a totally insignificant blow to the Bruins either. He routinely plays around 20:00 per game, about 4th most on their D, and 4th most on the PK for D.  Always helps to have the opposition forced into using other options.

 

[Zee]

Do we have a verdict in respect of the Ference hearing yet?

Twitter is mum.  One of the sports guys would tweet something if they heard.

If he does get suspended, it's not like it would be a totally insignificant blow to the Bruins either. He routinely plays around 20:00 per game, about 4th most on their D, and 4th most on the PK for D.  Always helps to have the opposition forced into using other options.

Agreed, it gets magnified especially if Chara takes a penalty and suddenly 2 other d have to be out there killing it.

 

[cw]

Toronto Maple Leafs
The Leafs are without Phil Kessel, Cody Franson and Mike Kostka at today's practice

I can see Kostka or Franson, but Kessel? Didn't look like Phil got injured.

Oh dear. I think something is awry.

I did see him taping his wrist and one point, but I figured that maybe it was something relatively standard (like how some football players tape their fingers or wrists to avoid sprains)

Thanks for this. Maybe maintenance? Hmmm

During the American broadcast last night, they mentioned Kessel looked physically hurt twice, once he hurt his leg going into the net and the other time they said he took a vicious slash, he had his head planted on the boards in pain when he came back to the bench after the slash.

He only played 13+ mins and only 3:19 in the 3rd which is uncharacteristically low for him

 

[Highlander]

Looks like Frattin and Gardiner are in as per my earlier post..now just put in Colbourne and let the lads play.

 

[Bonsixx]

@jonasTSN1050

Kostka suffered a broken bone in one of his fingers and is out. One or both of Jake Gardiner and Ryan O'Byrne will step in.

Also Carlyle says the 4th line "earns its ice-time" so doesn't sound like they're changing on that front.

I thought Orr was good. Around the 10-minute mark of the first period he broke up two Bruins' offensive chances created by his linemates, then powered the puck through two Bruins and across centre, dumping it in to get a line change.

I think they should get McLaren out of there though. Put in Colbourne, see if he's motivated to stick it to the Bruins.

EDIT: And I'm happy Kostka is hurt. I'm a terrible person.

 

[Derk]

Pretty solid write up from Mirtle on the issues facing the Leafs, some of which could be helped by personnel changes: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/hockey/leafs-beat/mirtle-leafs-central-weakness-exposed-by-bruins/article11675693/

I liked that article. It articulated quite nicely what I have been concerned about for the last month with the Leafs listless play and why I was worried that the Leafs played even worse than their record indicated.

 

[GhostofPotvin29]

@jonasTSN1050

Kostka suffered a broken bone in one of his fingers and is out. One or both of Jake Gardiner and Ryan O'Byrne will step in.

Also Carlyle says the 4th line "earns its ice-time" so doesn't sound like they're changing on that front.

I thought Orr was good. Around the 10-minute mark of the first period he broke up two Bruins' offensive chances created by his linemates, then powered the puck through two Bruins and across centre, dumping it in to get a line change.

I think they should get McLaren out of there though. Put in Colbourne, see if he's motivated to stick it to the Bruins.

EDIT: And I'm happy Kostka is hurt. I'm a terrible person.

But that's literally the extent of Orr's capabilities.  He struggles to control the puck enough to dump it in.  Not a threat to score, not anything special defensively, doesn't hit noticeably more than others.  Like I've said to annoying levels, I'd just rather someone who can skate well, pass well/shoot well in there instead, to at least give the illusion of contributing something.

 

[Zee]

The funny thing is, if Ference gets suspended they probably put in Dougie Hamilton, another of the "Kessel deal" guys.  It would be just the Leafs fortune for him to come in and have a 3 point night.

 

[oakl0008]

The funny thing is, if Ference gets suspended they probably put in Dougie Hamilton, another of the "Kessel deal" guys.  It would be just the Leafs fortune for him to come in and have a 3 point night.

Good point.

Jesus effing hates us all.  :'(

Being dramatic here.

 

[cw]

http://toronto.ctvnews.ca/kessel-others-missing-during-maple-leafs-practice-1.1264068
Kessel is having "a maintenance" day after he reportedly received some treatment on his wrist from the trainer during Wednesday's game.
...
Ryan Hamilton skated on Toronto's top line with Tyler Bozak and James van Riemsdyk in Kessel's place at practice at a Boston University rink.

That's encouraging to see Hamilton there as it suggests he's just a place holder until Kessel resumes practice with that line.

 

[princedpw]

Pretty solid write up from Mirtle on the issues facing the Leafs, some of which could be helped by personnel changes: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/hockey/leafs-beat/mirtle-leafs-central-weakness-exposed-by-bruins/article11675693/

I liked that article. It articulated quite nicely what I have been concerned about for the last month with the Leafs listless play and why I was worried that the Leafs played even worse than their record indicated.

Yup.  It's not a surprise and it's not "crumbling under the pressure of the playoffs" or "inexperience" that plagues the leafs.  It's that they've been playing terribly for a long time.

 

[bustaheims]

mirtle: One game suspension for Andrew Ference. There's one top four defenceman down for Boston for Saturday.

 

[Omallley]

mirtle: One game suspension for Andrew Ference. There's one top four defenceman down for Boston for Saturday.

Meh, I wasn't expecting a suspension, but I'm glad he got something for it. Likely worth a game or two more, but I don't think I'm ever really in agreement with this things...

 

[L K]

mirtle: One game suspension for Andrew Ference. There's one top four defenceman down for Boston for Saturday.

So the Leafs hopefully gain a two defenseman advantage for Saturday night:

1 - No Ference
2 - No Kostka

 

[Jalili]

Nice, that's good news. (about Ference, not Kostka)

Hopefully Gardiner enters the fray and provides some much needed skill and mobility from the back-end.

 

[crazyperfectdevil]

Pretty solid write up from Mirtle on the issues facing the Leafs, some of which could be helped by personnel changes: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/hockey/leafs-beat/mirtle-leafs-central-weakness-exposed-by-bruins/article11675693/

I liked that article. It articulated quite nicely what I have been concerned about for the last month with the Leafs listless play and why I was worried that the Leafs played even worse than their record indicated.

Yup.  It's not a surprise and it's not "crumbling under the pressure of the playoffs" or "inexperience" that plagues the leafs.  It's that they've been playing terribly for a long time.

on the other hand i keep hearing how the sample size of half a season is too small to gauge anything..but now apparently this one game of playoff hockey is now more than enough to justify everything from ...wonder what would have happened had they won...

 

[Joe S.]

Looks like Frattin and Gardiner are in as per my earlier post..now just put in Colbourne and let the lads play.

Colborne has shown nothing at the nhl level yet to justify him being put into the lineup.