Stars @ Leafs - Dec. 5th, 7:00pm - LeafsTV, SN 590

[Bonsixx]

It's just entertainment. If you can't find joy in the victories, no matter how they come, what's the point?

But watching my favourite team keep their butt kicked for 50 minutes isn't entertaining for me.

The fact that they won doesn't make the last 3 hours any easier to stomach.

As a Denver Broncos fan, it kind of reminds me of the Tebow season.

But I still enjoyed it!

 

[Andy007]

That's not his fault, wait I said I forgo, nevermind.

That doesn't mean his play is above reproach. A significant portion of blame is on Carlyle for using him inappropriately, yes, but McClement still has to be held responsible for his own play.

I said forgo!!!!

Honestly though, Jay has been fine in my opinion, he's an offensive black hole but he works his ass off most nights, no complaints from me.

He was responsible for both goals against tonight and was 7-18 on faceoffs. He hasn't been that great all year, regardless of how hard you perceive him to be working. Oh, and the penalty kill is 29th.

 

[L K]

Ummm wow.  So two wins with 50 shots against this season.  I think Carlyle deserves an extension.

 

[mc]

A win is a win. But getting outshot 50-24 at home is downright embarrassing and pathetic. But this has been the story for this Leafs time all season. Get outplayed, out chanced and outshot every game.

 

[Tigger]

That's not his fault, wait I said I forgo, nevermind.

That doesn't mean his play is above reproach. A significant portion of blame is on Carlyle for using him inappropriately, yes, but McClement still has to be held responsible for his own play.

I said forgo!!!!

Honestly though, Jay has been fine in my opinion, he's an offensive black hole but he works his ass off most nights, no complaints from me.

He was responsible for both goals against tonight and was 7-18 on faceoffs. He hasn't been that great all year, regardless of how hard you perceive him to be working. Oh, and the penalty kill is 29th.

He wasn't responsible for both goals, jeebus, I've watched most of the year and, like I said, for a 4th line specialist he's fine.

7 for 18 in a game, oh no's!

 

[GhostofPotvin29]

Like, how is this even possible?

@mirtle

Leafs had 13 offensive zone faceoffs and 33 defensive zone ones tonight. Phaneuf had a 13% zone start. McClement had 5%.

 

[Leafaholic99]

Like, how is this even possible?

@mirtle

Leafs had 13 offensive zone faceoffs and 33 defensive zone ones tonight. Phaneuf had a 13% zone start. McClement had 5%.

Outshot 50-24 would mean double the cover ups by Bernier on avg, double the face offs. Maybe more, they really need to work on puck possession.

 

[Heroic Shrimp]

Wow, it's not every day you see a team get outshot 50-24 and still have all 3 game stars.  ???

 

[WIGWALS_wifey]

It would be nice to have another guy exactly like Gunnarsson, but you're right, Liles would be a whole lot better than what we're seeing from Fraser right now. If we could get Fraser playing like he was in the playoffs or for a lot of last season, this point would be moot right now.

He was pretty bad in the playoffs. It's not really a coincidence that the Leafs started playing a lot better after he got hurt and Gardiner came in.

It's a little disturbing how everyone vacated the zone when Gardiner was trying to get away from the forechecker.  How about a little puck support?

Caught the game late but saw this happen live and couldn't believe they left a man behind. I got so irritated.  Watched the game in six and didn't feel elated after their win. I feel bad for feeling that way cause I love the team but even a newbie like me can see they aren't utilizing their players to their full potential, and that is disheartening. 

Also, they look so sluggish in the third. Hope the momentum picks up or they do some crazy cardio exercises a l? "Miracle" style to keep up with other teams.

 

[dappleganger]

It would be nice to have another guy exactly like Gunnarsson, but you're right, Liles would be a whole lot better than what we're seeing from Fraser right now. If we could get Fraser playing like he was in the playoffs or for a lot of last season, this point would be moot right now.

He was pretty bad in the playoffs. It's not really a coincidence that the Leafs started playing a lot better after he got hurt and Gardiner came in.

Fraser was a +1 with one point in 4 games in the post-season. Was he really that bad?

 

[crazyperfectdevil]

Wow, it's not every day you see a team get outshot 50-24 and still have all 3 game stars.  ???

yay home ice

 

[hockeyfan1]

Bernier earned praise from Stars coach Lindy Ruff.

"I give their goalie a lot of credit. I give their team a lot of credit. They found a way to win," Ruff said. "Kudos to them."

http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=438310

 

[CarltonTheBear]

He wasn't responsible for both goals, jeebus, I've watched most of the year and, like I said, for a 4th line specialist he's fine.

He was covering Erik Cole right up to the point when Cole skated away from him and scored the first goal, and he took a stupid and lazy tripping penalty that the Stars capitalized on while he was in the box. He's maybe not directly responsible but I'd say that's just as bad as Rielly's -3 that got him benched.

As for the 4th line specialist comment, he's averaging 12:39 of even-strength ice time this season. Last season he averaged 11:31. Those are 3rd line minutes, not 4th. And he's being used in key situations like taking faceoffs on the top line. Jerred Smithson was a 4th line specialist. McClement is a key part of the teams top-9.

 

[moon111]

Maybe McClement plays less if say Bozak and Bolland are in the line-up?

 

[CarltonTheBear]

Maybe McClement plays less if say Bozak and Bolland are in the line-up?

In October Bolland averaged 16:57 of ice-time. McClement got 16:30. I don't have the even-strength splits but Bolland's powerplay and penalty kill ice-time combined adds up to about a minute less than McClement's PK time, so they must have been pretty close at even-strength too.

I don't think Bozak's injury really effects McClement's ice-time, it's Kadri/Smith/Holland that see a bump in his absence.

 

[Corn Flake]

Bernier earned praise from Stars coach Lindy Ruff.

"I give their goalie a lot of credit. I give their team a lot of credit. They found a way to win," Ruff said. "Kudos to them."

http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=438310

Of course this gets ignored by Leafs nation.

 

[Corn Flake]

It would be nice to have another guy exactly like Gunnarsson, but you're right, Liles would be a whole lot better than what we're seeing from Fraser right now. If we could get Fraser playing like he was in the playoffs or for a lot of last season, this point would be moot right now.

He was pretty bad in the playoffs. It's not really a coincidence that the Leafs started playing a lot better after he got hurt and Gardiner came in.

Fraser was a +1 with one point in 4 games in the post-season. Was he really that bad?

No he really wasn't that bad. He and Franson were a reasonably stable pair for the most part. 

And Gardiner came in for Kostka after the first game.  Not Fraser.

 

[GhostofPotvin29]

Kadri had trouble keeping his emotions together during the game against the Stars, especially when veteran forward Ray Whitney skated up to him and passed along his condolences. That was the last thing he expected to hear from a competitor.

http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/24-7/leafs-kadri-has-optimistic-road-ahead/

I like reading stuff like that.

 

[CarltonTheBear]

Whitney's a class act.

 

[Arn]

Any good bars to watch this in in the downtown Toronto area?

Real Sports is the best. Get there early though.

Watched here, was good fun thanks.

Probably should have won the game in regulation, but a win's a win at this stage... Pumped for Sunday night now!