Game 18 - Yotes @ Leafs - 11-15 - 7PM SportsNet

[LittleHockeyFan]

Encouraging - Schenn logged over 20 minutes.

oh, that's good news! *happy dance*

 

[bustaheims]

Even with the disappointing result and poor start from Scrivens, tonight was one of the best games the Leafs have played all season, and definitely the best they've played recently.

 

[Bill_Berg]

It was a two on one and a screen shot that scored on Scrivens. I'm more inclinded to be annoyed by all the odd man rushes tonight than goaltending, so far anyway.

So if a goaltender is in position, he is not obliged to, you know, make a save?

If you can name a guy who has saved every shot ever taken at him then I will concede your point. But until then I'll blame the Leafs' defense for the score tonight, not Scrivens' goaltending, maybe his puck handling, but that's a rookie mistake not a bad goaltending mistake.

When do people start saying it's the goaltender's fault. When their SV% is below .800? .700? I mean, honestly. 2/3 shots went in. The first he should've saved as he was in position but blew the save like Raycroft.

Secondly, he made an idiotic play and was screened due to a dumb play. Decent goaltending would have it at a 0-0 game.

If Phoenix had our goaltending we'd be up 4-0 by now.

Give up three two on ones in a period and even Smith might have let one in.

I missed the second and third, but it seemed that Scrivens had a good game by the end. Better defense in the first and we might have won 2-1.

And yes, it was a poor play by Scrivens on the clearing attempt, but again, it's a forgivable mistake by a rookie.

 

[BlueWhiteBlood]

Even with the disappointing result and poor start from Scrivens, tonight was one of the best games the Leafs have played all season, and definitely the best they've played recently.

I agree. They need to have that effort on a nightly basis and I think they will win a lot of games. I particularly liked, as cw said, that they didn't quit after they got down in the game.

 

[Mikhail Bloodnovsky]

I'm turning into a Bozak hater. The man has absolutely no right to be near the top line.

 

[Bender]

It was a two on one and a screen shot that scored on Scrivens. I'm more inclinded to be annoyed by all the odd man rushes tonight than goaltending, so far anyway.

So if a goaltender is in position, he is not obliged to, you know, make a save?

If you can name a guy who has saved every shot ever taken at him then I will concede your point. But until then I'll blame the Leafs' defense for the score tonight, not Scrivens' goaltending, maybe his puck handling, but that's a rookie mistake not a bad goaltending mistake.

When do people start saying it's the goaltender's fault. When their SV% is below .800? .700? I mean, honestly. 2/3 shots went in. The first he should've saved as he was in position but blew the save like Raycroft.

Secondly, he made an idiotic play and was screened due to a dumb play. Decent goaltending would have it at a 0-0 game.

If Phoenix had our goaltending we'd be up 4-0 by now.

Give up three two on ones in a period and even Smith might have let one in.

I missed the second and third, but it seemed that Scrivens had a good game by the end. Better defense in the first and we might have won 2-1.

And yes, it was a poor play by Scrivens on the clearing attempt, but again, it's a forgivable mistake by a rookie.

Sure, it's forgivable, but if we're assessing blame for the loss my eyes tell me that there's more responsibility on the goaltender on at least that first goal. Rookie or not that first softie goal cost us the game. It's so hard to generate anything when you're afraid of taking a risk where the consequence could be that your goaltender might not be able to stop a stoppable shot, I think that's part of why it took so long to comeback - the two goals had a "here we go again" feel to them for sure. But good on the team and Scrivens to battle back. Hopefully this is a corner turned.

And you must've missed the two times Kessel streaked in alone and was stoned by Smith, and was robbed again on the shootout. I think we should just say Smith played very well and bailed his team out!

 

[Bender]

I'm turning into a Bozak hater. The man has absolutely no right to be near the top line.

Good thing he'll likely be on the third line on Thursday

I wonder what happens if Grabbo and Mac are out though. Lombardi centring the 2nd line?

 

[BlueWhiteBlood]

Good thing he'll likely be on the third line on Thursday

I wonder what happens if Grabbo and Mac are out though. Lombardi centring the 2nd line?

Well, I think Lombardi is another player that has to improve on his game. He's showing no ill effects of his concussion, so he needs to start putting points on the board. Of course I'm making an assumption, based on not hearing any bad news about his health, but his skating seems very good and he's getting chances, just not scoring much like the rest of the team as a whole.

 

[Tigger]

I imagine Lombardi is hitting a bit of a wall in terms of conditioning but he still seems to be in the game most nights. It's been pretty handy having Bozak available when Connolly has been out too.

 

[BlueWhiteBlood]

I imagine Lombardi is hitting a bit of a wall in terms of conditioning but he still seems to be in the game most nights. It's been pretty handy having Bozak available when Connolly has been out too.

Agreed. While Bozak is not a world beater, he is effective. He's much better defensively from what I can see most nights, but he needs to sharpen up his offensive play, which I think he is capable of.
Bozak's biggest downfall I think, is his physicality. He gets pushed around a lot. He can usually throw a good hit to take the puck, but he struggles to get through checking from bigger players.

 

[Tigger]

I imagine Lombardi is hitting a bit of a wall in terms of conditioning but he still seems to be in the game most nights. It's been pretty handy having Bozak available when Connolly has been out too.

Agreed. While Bozak is not a world beater, he is effective. He's much better defensively from what I can see most nights, but he needs to sharpen up his offensive play, which I think he is capable of.
Bozak's biggest downfall I think, is his physicality. He gets pushed around a lot. He can usually throw a good hit to take the puck, but he struggles to get through checking from bigger players.

Yeah he's not a big physical kind of centre but he's not shy either. I like his effort this year and he seems generally more aware of the play.

Gardiner really needs work as a contrast example, many times last night and in previous games I thought he looked like a forward trying to play defence, which isn't really far off the mark given his body of work as a defenceman, lucky for him he has a pretty high level of athleticism that helps him make up for some shortcomings/inexperience right now.

 

[Bender]

I imagine Lombardi is hitting a bit of a wall in terms of conditioning but he still seems to be in the game most nights. It's been pretty handy having Bozak available when Connolly has been out too.

Happy to see Connolly back for Thursday. He's a pretty shifty puck distributor.

 

[BlueWhiteBlood]

Gardiner really needs work as a contrast example, many times last night and in previous games I thought he looked like a forward trying to play defence, which isn't really far off the mark given his body of work as a defenceman, lucky for him he has a pretty high level of athleticism that helps him make up for some shortcomings/inexperience right now.

I've been pretty okay with Gardiner's game, however lately, he seems to be a bit lazy with his play. He's not exploding when he gets the puck, like he was in preseason and early on in the regular season. He'll have to be a bit quicker with his play or opposing forechecking will strip him of the puck I think.

Generally, I think it's a product of being a rookie in the league, so he'll have to be careful. I'm definitely not worried about him, as I'm confident he'll be a very good player in this league for a long time.

 

[Edeagle]

Gardiner really needs work as a contrast example, many times last night and in previous games I thought he looked like a forward trying to play defence, which isn't really far off the mark given his body of work as a defenceman, lucky for him he has a pretty high level of athleticism that helps him make up for some shortcomings/inexperience right now.

I've been pretty okay with Gardiner's game, however lately, he seems to be a bit lazy with his play. He's not exploding when he gets the puck, like he was in preseason and early on in the regular season. He'll have to be a bit quicker with his play or opposing forechecking will strip him of the puck I think.

Generally, I think it's a product of being a rookie in the league, so he'll have to be careful. I'm definitely not worried about him, as I'm confident he'll be a very good player in this league for a long time.

Jake "slap it off the boards" Gardiner has looked a lot like a rookie lately. It's not fair to judge his poor decisions now just because he was making great plays early in the season. Rooks will be rooks! I agree with ya, he's going to be amazing.

 

[Bender]

Gardiner really needs work as a contrast example, many times last night and in previous games I thought he looked like a forward trying to play defence, which isn't really far off the mark given his body of work as a defenceman, lucky for him he has a pretty high level of athleticism that helps him make up for some shortcomings/inexperience right now.

I've been pretty okay with Gardiner's game, however lately, he seems to be a bit lazy with his play. He's not exploding when he gets the puck, like he was in preseason and early on in the regular season. He'll have to be a bit quicker with his play or opposing forechecking will strip him of the puck I think.

Generally, I think it's a product of being a rookie in the league, so he'll have to be careful. I'm definitely not worried about him, as I'm confident he'll be a very good player in this league for a long time.

Jake "slap it off the boards" Gardiner has looked a lot like a rookie lately. It's not fair to judge his poor decisions now just because he was making great plays early in the season. Rooks will be rooks! I agree with ya, he's going to be amazing.

I think he's definitely going to be gassed some going forward, adjusting to the NHL schedule coming from NCAA.

 

[cw]

I think he's definitely going to be gassed some going forward, adjusting to the NHL schedule coming from NCAA.

I do as well. If they want to give Franson a shot at his previous club, fine. Give Gardiner the time off.

 

[Edeagle]

Gardiner really needs work as a contrast example, many times last night and in previous games I thought he looked like a forward trying to play defence, which isn't really far off the mark given his body of work as a defenceman, lucky for him he has a pretty high level of athleticism that helps him make up for some shortcomings/inexperience right now.

I've been pretty okay with Gardiner's game, however lately, he seems to be a bit lazy with his play. He's not exploding when he gets the puck, like he was in preseason and early on in the regular season. He'll have to be a bit quicker with his play or opposing forechecking will strip him of the puck I think.

Generally, I think it's a product of being a rookie in the league, so he'll have to be careful. I'm definitely not worried about him, as I'm confident he'll be a very good player in this league for a long time.

Jake "slap it off the boards" Gardiner has looked a lot like a rookie lately. It's not fair to judge his poor decisions now just because he was making great plays early in the season. Rooks will be rooks! I agree with ya, he's going to be amazing.

I think he's definitely going to be gassed some going forward, adjusting to the NHL schedule coming from NCAA.

Yeah no doubt.. what do they play, around 35ish games? This guy needs Gary