Game #37 - TOR @ CAR - Dec. 29th - 7:00pm - LeafsTV

[bustaheims]

It was a fast rising one timer, that was not an easy save to make for any goalie.

Sometimes, I feel like some people forget that NHL players are still, you know, human. Like you said, that was a tough save for any goalie. Can't really blame Reimer for any of the goals tonight. On the 1st, his own teammate provided a textbook screen, the 2nd was a breakaway from the blue line to a very skilled player, the 3rd, his defence allowed the Canes to whack at the puck around the crease without impedance and the 4th we've already covered. Failure to convert on the PP and some soft, shoddy defensive play is what cost the Leafs the game tonight, not goaltending.

 

[Stickytape]

It feels like about half of the goals going by Reimer are under his glove arm.  And that third goal was a mess - the defense just sat there while Carolina got how many whacks at it?  Unreal.

I'm getting tired of the pattern:  giving up an early goal, then seemingly dominating the rest of the 1st and 2nd periods without much to show for it on the score board, followed by a weak 3rd period that utterly collapses about midway through.  They were okay on the PK (mostly thanks to Carolina playing a stinky game) until OT, at least.  What a stupid penalty to take, though.

Still a little too much passing and cycling.  They do it so well, but it means nothing without some shots and second efforts on the rebound.  How is it possible that they were out-shot 34-24?  Kadri has the right attitude, and it's clearly paying off for him.

Frustrating to say the least.

 

[Tigger]

Still a little too much passing and cycling. 

There's a complaint you wouldn't have heard last year, I mean hey, they actually have a cycle now and can pass a bit. 

Carolina had 18 blocked shots ( Toronto with 11 ), fwiw, it sure seemed like Phaneuf had a lot blocked against him but still managed 6 shots on net.

Frustrating loss for sure.

 

[Tigger]

It was a fast rising one timer, that was not an easy save to make for any goalie.

Failure to convert on the PP and some soft, shoddy defensive play is what cost the Leafs the game tonight, not goaltending.

Yep. Kessel was half asleep tonight too.

 

[freer]

We cant blame Kessel. We need our goalie to stop the easy shots

 

[lamajama]

It was a fast rising one timer, that was not an easy save to make for any goalie.

Sometimes, I feel like some people forget that NHL players are still, you know, human. Like you said, that was a tough save for any goalie. Can't really blame Reimer for any of the goals tonight. On the 1st, his own teammate provided a textbook screen, the 2nd was a breakaway from the blue line to a very skilled player, the 3rd, his defence allowed the Canes to whack at the puck around the crease without impedance and the 4th we've already covered. Failure to convert on the PP and some soft, shoddy defensive play is what cost the Leafs the game tonight, not goaltending.

Well I sure can't argue about the shoddy defensive play - and it should be noted that that happens virtually every game. It's just been minimized somewhat by the Leafs improved ability to score this season. As far as the goals go goaltending did cost the game tonight (in my opinion) as Reimer needed to come up with even one of those as a save and we would have won. Yes I remember the nice save in the 3rd. We just need more of them. These goals seem to blow right through Reimer. When they go in, more often than not he doesn't even move in terms of reacting to the shot and I struggle to know what that means. Is this his style - just to let the puck hit him and if that fails then he'll look like a statue as it goes past him? I think I understand Allaire's style somewhat but I'm failing to see what he's done for the team in almost 4 years.

The whole point is that we need average goaltending at minimum - and we haven't seen that. I hate to say even this but if we had "average" goaltending I'm sure we'd even rocket up the PK standings some notches. Remember we were facing the 30th overall PP (and let them score) and
the 27th ranked PK (and went o'fer "25"  ).

It just seems to be the same old things - shoddy D like you said, shoddy goaltending and shoddy special teams (tonight the PP too).

It's just so frustrating seeing the slippery slope the Leafs are now on.

 

[Bullfrog]

It was a fast rising one timer, that was not an easy save to make for any goalie.

Sometimes, I feel like some people forget that NHL players are still, you know, human. Like you said, that was a tough save for any goalie. Can't really blame Reimer for any of the goals tonight. On the 1st, his own teammate provided a textbook screen, the 2nd was a breakaway from the blue line to a very skilled player, the 3rd, his defence allowed the Canes to whack at the puck around the crease without impedance and the 4th we've already covered. Failure to convert on the PP and some soft, shoddy defensive play is what cost the Leafs the game tonight, not goaltending.

I don't understand how a goalie either makes a great save or is awful and let in a weak one. On occasion, the player shooting the puck just plain makes a good shot or move.

 

[Zee]

I can't believe people are letting Reimer off the hook last night.  "Tough save for any goalie", "no defensive support", yeah that's all part of being an NHL goalie.  The great goalies make the tough saves when they're needed.  The difference between Reimer of last season and this season is he's letting in all the shots that are deemed "tough".

This is the NHL, you're going to face many tough shots game in game out.  You have to save a good percentage of them to be considered a starting goalie.  Right now Reimer's not doing the job.

 

[hockeyfan1]

Thought I saw Kadri say in the post-game interviews that he blamed the loss on "brain-dead errors."

 

[hockeyfan1]

I can't believe people are letting Reimer off the hook last night.  "Tough save for any goalie", "no defensive support", yeah that's all part of being an NHL goalie.  The great goalies make the tough saves when they're
needed.  The difference between Reimer of last
season and this season is he's letting in all the shots
that are deemed "tough".

This is the NHL, you're going to face many tough shots
game in game out.  You have to save a good percentage
of them to be considered a starting goalie.  Right now
Reimer's not doing the job.

I was having a conversation with a family member on the Leafs goaltending situation, and they believe that a good (or great) goaltender should be ready any time to be called upon to make the necessary saves, whether he has played a lot or not. 

It is the responsiblity of the goaltender himself to be prepared or to prepare oneself and be ready and available.  Someone who is shaky or not very alert is either not prepared yet is being bothered by some other thing or, is just not plain good enough for the team's needs. 

I do remember all the great Leaf goaltenders of the past who took it upon their shoulders, so to speak, to carry the team.  And those Leaf teams of the past did not necessarily sport better defence either.  The Leafs current state of their goaltending is beginning to sound tiresome and inexcusable, to say the least.

 

[Zee]

I do remember all the great Leaf goaltenders of the past who took it upon their shoulders, so to speak, to carry the team.  And those Leaf teams of the past did not necessarily sport better defence either.  The Leafs current state of their goaltending is beginning to sound tiresome and inexcusable, to say the least.

You are correct.  A great goalie can make his defense look better by "bailing them out" when they make a mistake.  If you save a breakaway nobody remembers the blunder from the players that initially gave up the breakaway.  The Leaf goalies of the recent past, notably Cujo and Belfour were routinely playing like superstars on a nightly basis and making the rest of the team better.

I'd like to add that for the most part, Reimer played that way from Jan 1st-April of last season which was so encouraging for us as fans.  He hasn't played like that this season though.

 

[L K]

Honestly, I think Kadri has been one of the most defensively responsible players on the team, while being one of our better forwards offensively.  I wish the guys would start to recognize that he can actually pass the puck.  He's had so many good chances that go for naught because guys aren't ready to shoot the puck.  I'd really like to see him with Lupul and Kessel for a stretch, because those two seem to be the only ones who are constantly ready to make plays with the puck in the offensive zone.  It might be a bad defensive line, but maybe try using it when the team is trailing.

 

[Stronger Than All]

Just watched the highlights.  Pretty frustrating obviously to lead by 2 over Carolina then lose in OT.  I can't believe there was another clear cut breakaway after an important goal.  Also, Connolly's OT penalty was beyond unnecessary in the offensive zone.  Of course, I don't think it would go to OT if Reimer stops a few pucks. 

I guess it's encouraging we're still in a playoff spot after sucking for a while now, but clearly some things need to change.

 

[BlueWhiteBlood]

Just watched the highlights.  Pretty frustrating obviously to lead by 2 over Carolina then lose in OT.  I can't believe there was another clear cut breakaway after an important goal.  Also, Connolly's OT penalty was beyond unnecessary in the offensive zone.  Of course, I don't think it would go to OT if Reimer stops a few pucks. 

I guess it's encouraging we're still in a playoff spot after sucking for a while now, but clearly some things need to change.

I don't think the Connolly penalty should have been called at all. I won't argue any of the points being made by people about the Leafs play, because there were a lot of questionable efforts on certain plays, but the officials decided that game late, with that stupid call. Connolly got called when he was making a play on the puck and got tripped just as much as he tripped the other player. The ref should have let both go IMO.

 

[bustaheims]

Yep. Kessel was half asleep tonight too.

Yeah, though, with all he's done so far this season, I can't begrudge him having an off night for, really, the first time this season, and he still set up a goal and almost set up some others. There's lots of blame to go around for last night, but, as far as I'm concerned, Kessel gets a bit of a reprieve.

 

[bustaheims]

I don't understand how a goalie either makes a great save or is awful and let in a weak one. On occasion, the player shooting the puck just plain makes a good shot or move.

Well, yeah, that as well. Opposing players never seem to get much, if any, credit for anything that isn't a highlight reel type goal. Some people are always looking for someone to blame for a goal (and, usually, it's the goalie) when frequently, it's not about who screwed up, but who created something that worked.

 

[nutman]

It was a fast rising one timer, that was not an easy save to make for any goalie.

Failure to convert on the PP and some soft, shoddy defensive play is what cost the Leafs the game tonight, not goaltending.

Yep. Kessel was half asleep tonight too.

Half !!!  I would say with no shots, and at least three blatent give aways, would mean more than just half asleep.

 

[Stickytape]

It was a weak penalty to call half-way through an OT, but it was also pretty careless of Connolly to give them an excuse to call something.  You have to really watch yourself when you know your team is 30th by a mile on the PK.

EDIT:  I watched it again (here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hMcisTdAmT8&t=5m ) and Connolly clearly makes a motion for the puck that could only result in a trip.  Watch the replay from the second, higher angle.

 

[Tigger]

Yep. Kessel was half asleep tonight too.

Yeah, though, with all he's done so far this season, I can't begrudge him having an off night for, really, the first time this season, and he still set up a goal and almost set up some others. There's lots of blame to go around for last night, but, as far as I'm concerned, Kessel gets a bit of a reprieve.

Yeah, that more of an add on than any real blame for the loss.

 

[Derk]

After watching that replay a few times, I take back my earlier comment. Connolly tripped over his own feet and then tripped Sutter.

I also looked to see if it was a dive, but Sutter's back foot was in the air when Connolly took out the other one. Looks like that one was all on Tim.