Game 7 - Leafs @ Habs - Saturday Oct 22nd 2011 - 19:00 EST - 5-4 Win

[puckinthehead]

Grabovski should have a great year this year.  I think I predicted him for a drop off in another thread but I think last year might have been just the beginning.

I thought alot of our D played well on the offence side tonight.  Phaneuf, Liles, Gardiner, and Gunnarson all looking good.

It would be nice to see that line off to a faster start, but I keep hearing that they were slow out of the gate last year as well. Hopefully it doesn't translate to losses due to lack of immediate offense.

I rememebr that slow start too. Seems the work horses take longer to warm up, but then they go like a train.

Maybe it's a typical slow start. But I'm not expecting as much from them this season. After what they did last season, opponents can't ignore them. They'll be out against opponents top D a little more than they were last year.

If Kessel's line continue's to roll that will help but Kessel's line will probably get the premier ice time which may nibble a few points.

The big thing for me, and we saw it in preseason in my opinion, is that generally, that line looked like it was ready to continue more or less where it left off. With Kessel's line going, that's big because both of those lines won't be facing the top opponents all night.

To Wilson's credit, he's letting them go more than attempting the stifling defence that killed their offence to start the season last year. I think that's where the heart of the talent on this roster lies. So that will help their pts totals some as well.

Cool. I didn't notice the coaching shift.

Bonus too that Kessel is playing better D now. Complete rounded player is what he is showing everyone. After listening to that trade crap for over a year, his response is great. Only trade I regret is Rask and Buke wasn't here for that.

 

[Madferret]

http://www.torontosun.com/2011/10/21/home-game-for-lombardi-dupuis
O CANADA

The Leafs enter Saturday?s game in Montreal undefeated in their first four against Canadian-based teams (4-0). The most recent time that had happened was the season Toronto won its last Cup, starting 3-0-1 against the Habs in 1966-67.

  (j/k)

The 1-4-2 Habs are apparently off to their worst start in 70 years - occupying the basement in the East. They've had a fairly similar schedule (slightly tougher) to the Leafs. The difference being they played the Sabres & Pens while the Leafs played the Bruins and Sens.

In fairness, they've had a number of injuries (to their D in particular). But they're not that strong of a team when healthy in my opinion that they can crawl out of a deep hole. Markov, Campoli and Spacek won?t be back any time soon. If they continue their slide, this club could be buried for the playoffs by the end of the month.

Too funny. It amazes me how short term the TO media's memory is.

 

[Madferret]

Really looking forward to the next several Leaf games here.

When is the last time you heard yourself say that? lol Is a good time in Leaf land.

lol - I'm anxious for the smoke & mirrors show to break / dissipate. That Bruins game was pretty telling about how they are going to stack up against the better teams in the league IMO.

So the Leafs are better than the sens, got it.

Great response.

 

[Palmateer29]

Grabovski should have a great year this year.  I think I predicted him for a drop off in another thread but I think last year might have been just the beginning.

I thought alot of our D played well on the offence side tonight.  Phaneuf, Liles, Gardiner, and Gunnarson all looking good.

It would be nice to see that line off to a faster start, but I keep hearing that they were slow out of the gate last year as well. Hopefully it doesn't translate to losses due to lack of immediate offense.

I rememebr that slow start too. Seems the work horses take longer to warm up, but then they go like a train.

Maybe it's a typical slow start. But I'm not expecting as much from them this season. After what they did last season, opponents can't ignore them. They'll be out against opponents top D a little more than they were last year.

If Kessel's line continue's to roll that will help but Kessel's line will probably get the premier ice time which may nibble a few points.

The big thing for me, and we saw it in preseason in my opinion, is that generally, that line looked like it was ready to continue more or less where it left off. With Kessel's line going, that's big because both of those lines won't be facing the top opponents all night.

To Wilson's credit, he's letting them go more than attempting the stifling defence that killed their offence to start the season last year. I think that's where the heart of the talent on this roster lies. So that will help their pts totals some as well.

Cool. I didn't notice the coaching shift.

Bonus too that Kessel is playing better D now. Complete rounded player is what he is showing everyone. After listening to that trade crap for over a year, his response is great. Only trade I regret is Rask and Buke wasn't here for that.

It would have been a completely different trade had it been for Pogge instead of Rask. Of course hindsight is 20/20

 

[Tigger]

Great response.

Couldn't top Potvin, what can I say, I considered a 'stirring your expensive pot' retort but that was better.

 

[Madferret]

Great response.

Couldn't top Potvin, what can I say, I considered a 'stirring your expensive pot' retort but that was better.

Haven't you been reading my posts in the complaint thread?

 

[Tigger]

It would have been a completely different trade had it been for Pogge instead of Rask. Of course hindsight is 20/20

IIRC many here called it what it was at the time, regardless of Pogge.

 

[Tigger]

Great response.

Couldn't top Potvin, what can I say, I considered a 'stirring your expensive pot' retort but that was better.

Haven't you been reading my posts in the complaint thread?

Just...

 

[Hank Yarbo]

That was a highlight reel goal by Grabbo. Now if we can only get Kessel to play as well against Boston as Grabbo does against the Habs. Night and day the way each player approaches his play against his old team. Grabbo gets fired up and is extra fiesty while Kessel seems to fade into the background playing Boston, especially in their building.

 

[bustaheims]

lol - I'm anxious for the smoke & mirrors show to break / dissipate. That Bruins game was pretty telling about how they are going to stack up against the better teams in the league IMO.

Careful. With all those painkillers you're going to need, I'm not sure you'll be able to tell what's real and what's not.