Preseason GDT 1: Leafs vs Sens W4-2
- Thread starter McPwnage
- Start date
Zee
Well-known member
Bender said:
I worry about Gustavsson. I remember last season the way he'd freak out after giving up a goal, he seems way too high strung or something. Even last night after the goal he took his mask off and looked like he was about to lose it. That and the way he moves around so much in the net, he just doesn't seem to play a classic Allaire style, I hope he proves me wrong.
A few notes (with a big caveat that it was only one preseason game):
I didn't mind Grabbo's line. Their timing was a little off but they all looked like they were ready to pick up from where they left off. Grabbo was still bouncing back up when he got knocked down. MacArthur showed his brand of grit trying to go to some tough places and had a nice steal.
I was a little surprised how easily an Ottawa winger outraced Liles to a puck in the first. For a dman who likes to join in in the offensive zone, I hope that demonstration of his skating speed was an aberration.
Late in the game, Neil hit Phaneuf. It looked to me like Dion hurt his shoulder some on the play ... Otherwise, Dion looked like the Dion of recent Leafs seasons past, a bad pinch or some out of positioning along with some good hits and some shooting threats from the point.
Ryan deserves some credit for doing everything he could when he got the chance.
Of the rookies/young guys, ignoring his points, Gardiner impressed me the most. Not so much in the offensive zone because I kind of expected that from him. And I expected his skating to be good - it's what he's known for. But I thought he handled himself pretty well in the D zone - he didn't panic with the puck and made some nice passes. He and Schenn might make a really nice pairing some day soon as I think they compliment each other.
Bozak & Armstrong obviously carried on from where they left off last season. They seem to play well together. Not sure about Kadri yet.
The goaltending by either goalie didn't bother me. They stopped what they should have stopped and looked fine to me.
One other thing stood out: the PP. Wilson had them rotating more on the point and sideboards to help get shooting lanes. That was encouraging as was some players tending to go to the net.
I didn't mind Grabbo's line. Their timing was a little off but they all looked like they were ready to pick up from where they left off. Grabbo was still bouncing back up when he got knocked down. MacArthur showed his brand of grit trying to go to some tough places and had a nice steal.
I was a little surprised how easily an Ottawa winger outraced Liles to a puck in the first. For a dman who likes to join in in the offensive zone, I hope that demonstration of his skating speed was an aberration.
Late in the game, Neil hit Phaneuf. It looked to me like Dion hurt his shoulder some on the play ... Otherwise, Dion looked like the Dion of recent Leafs seasons past, a bad pinch or some out of positioning along with some good hits and some shooting threats from the point.
Ryan deserves some credit for doing everything he could when he got the chance.
Of the rookies/young guys, ignoring his points, Gardiner impressed me the most. Not so much in the offensive zone because I kind of expected that from him. And I expected his skating to be good - it's what he's known for. But I thought he handled himself pretty well in the D zone - he didn't panic with the puck and made some nice passes. He and Schenn might make a really nice pairing some day soon as I think they compliment each other.
Bozak & Armstrong obviously carried on from where they left off last season. They seem to play well together. Not sure about Kadri yet.
The goaltending by either goalie didn't bother me. They stopped what they should have stopped and looked fine to me.
One other thing stood out: the PP. Wilson had them rotating more on the point and sideboards to help get shooting lanes. That was encouraging as was some players tending to go to the net.
