Leafs 5 - Senators 4 -- Four Points Out
Last night the Leafs went toe to toe with a high ranked Ottawa Senators, the Sens are a shadow of themselves from the start of the year, but still have the talent and winning experience to pose a threat to the injury riddled, young Maple Leafs. Without Sundin and Antropov, Colaiacovo and Devereaux to boot, this team now lead by Pavel Kubina, Darcy Tucker, Stajan, Steen and as always Vesa Toskala, did the unthinkable and batted back from a one goal, and then from a two goal deficit in the third. It was a very exciting game that had everything, proof was to how the emotions came spilling out after the final buzzer, Ottawa themselves having to deal with injury to a few starters that night had given it there all, but there were out all played by the Maple Leafs.
The power play was clutch last night for the blue and white as it has been for the last few games, the PK was tested by a very talented PP, the Leafs stood tall, but were clearly feeling the effects of the second game of a back to back stretch in the schedule. The crowning moment for last nights special teams came from none other then Pavel Kubina using his strong presence to clear bodies from in front of the goal in the final seconds preventing Fisher from tying the game.
Just like Kubina, Darcy Tucker has taking their game up a notch. Darcy Tucker has been clutch for the past month or so, but he has been epic since Sundin went down. Tucker has scored some big goals and points at big moments of the game to ensure that his team would not die. Last nights goal late in the second period was as big as his assist for the Stajan goal, honourable mention to Kubina for having the sense and skill to go end to end and split the 5 opposition on the ice. Tucker scored the game winner the previous night, and versus the Islanders he, along with his line played great defensively to preserve the win. Even last night, Tucker foiled a Jason Spezza end to end rush with a quite poke check in the neutral zone.
Tucker has truly been a leader for this team, in the past he lead through his emotion, but at times the spectacle was distracting to his own and teams game, it out did its merit. This season, all season when healthy has been the first time Tucker has been able to walk the line consistently, his emotions are utilized constructively, he is not preoccupied with how unfairly the refs are treating him, and as a result is fighting through all hooks and holds, all in all he plays the game smarter, the injury riddled start may have had something to do withy that.
Uri Tlusty, what a battle he had last night with one of the elite wingers in the game Danny Heatley. The Sens coach tried to match his top line versus the inexperienced Tlusty every chance he got. What the Senators didn’t know was the only part of Tlustys game that has been consistent his rookie season has been his balance, strength, and his defensive responsibilities. Not only did he keep Heatley of the score sheet 5on5, he was a thorn in his side the entire game, Tlusty scoring the tying goal in Heatley face to start the third was even more impressive, it was a huge goal, and that now makes 7 for the rookie. What followed was a shift that Tlusty almost took Heatleys head off away from the play, followed by another shift of Heatley taking a diving penalty, clearly flustered at the way he was being contained.
Kronwall, after a great return in his first game, it looks as though the reality set in as he hasn’t seen real action since the new year, his timing was off as his missed a speedy Fisher crossing the blueline during the first. In the second after a poor effort by White to quickly attack his man in the corner, both White and Krnowall left their mark alone in front of for a goal against. That said, Kronwall got stronger as the game progressed, he had a strong third period as he utilized his reach and size to close the time and space for incoming forwards, Kronwall at times successfully thwarted rushes as he would push up to the center line, he only got caught not getting back in time as the puck was pushed passed him once, but with time he will perfect his timing and that that ability to cover both the neutral and defensive zone with ease will be utilized and become a great assest for the Maple Leafs going forward. Plus you gotta love the fight after he smoked McAmmoned with a crushing hit.
Kaberle has been his great self, while McCabe is playing the best down low hockey of his career. Blake has been good as he has been all season long, he point production doesn’t equate to everything he does on that ice for this team. Ponikarovsky has been solid and efficient; he has more in the tank and much similarly to his career has yet to hit his full potential. What Poni and the rest of the critics have to do is take his size out of his hockey equation. Just because he is big doesn’t mean he has to go out there and be a bone crusher or mix it up every shift. This guy has to know and feel comfortable to play his game which is a speed and skill game, his size and strength will better utilize his assets with a game he can be effective and comfortable with. Steen has been a leader at both ends of the ice, and has taken on the center role with great success.
Up next are two games versus the Bruins, the Leafs sit four points back of beantown and regulation wins are what is needed, the games get bigger from each game to the next, there is no better hockey to watch which is just another positive to not ‘tanking the season’.
The power play was clutch last night for the blue and white as it has been for the last few games, the PK was tested by a very talented PP, the Leafs stood tall, but were clearly feeling the effects of the second game of a back to back stretch in the schedule. The crowning moment for last nights special teams came from none other then Pavel Kubina using his strong presence to clear bodies from in front of the goal in the final seconds preventing Fisher from tying the game.
Just like Kubina, Darcy Tucker has taking their game up a notch. Darcy Tucker has been clutch for the past month or so, but he has been epic since Sundin went down. Tucker has scored some big goals and points at big moments of the game to ensure that his team would not die. Last nights goal late in the second period was as big as his assist for the Stajan goal, honourable mention to Kubina for having the sense and skill to go end to end and split the 5 opposition on the ice. Tucker scored the game winner the previous night, and versus the Islanders he, along with his line played great defensively to preserve the win. Even last night, Tucker foiled a Jason Spezza end to end rush with a quite poke check in the neutral zone.
Tucker has truly been a leader for this team, in the past he lead through his emotion, but at times the spectacle was distracting to his own and teams game, it out did its merit. This season, all season when healthy has been the first time Tucker has been able to walk the line consistently, his emotions are utilized constructively, he is not preoccupied with how unfairly the refs are treating him, and as a result is fighting through all hooks and holds, all in all he plays the game smarter, the injury riddled start may have had something to do withy that.
Uri Tlusty, what a battle he had last night with one of the elite wingers in the game Danny Heatley. The Sens coach tried to match his top line versus the inexperienced Tlusty every chance he got. What the Senators didn’t know was the only part of Tlustys game that has been consistent his rookie season has been his balance, strength, and his defensive responsibilities. Not only did he keep Heatley of the score sheet 5on5, he was a thorn in his side the entire game, Tlusty scoring the tying goal in Heatley face to start the third was even more impressive, it was a huge goal, and that now makes 7 for the rookie. What followed was a shift that Tlusty almost took Heatleys head off away from the play, followed by another shift of Heatley taking a diving penalty, clearly flustered at the way he was being contained.
Kronwall, after a great return in his first game, it looks as though the reality set in as he hasn’t seen real action since the new year, his timing was off as his missed a speedy Fisher crossing the blueline during the first. In the second after a poor effort by White to quickly attack his man in the corner, both White and Krnowall left their mark alone in front of for a goal against. That said, Kronwall got stronger as the game progressed, he had a strong third period as he utilized his reach and size to close the time and space for incoming forwards, Kronwall at times successfully thwarted rushes as he would push up to the center line, he only got caught not getting back in time as the puck was pushed passed him once, but with time he will perfect his timing and that that ability to cover both the neutral and defensive zone with ease will be utilized and become a great assest for the Maple Leafs going forward. Plus you gotta love the fight after he smoked McAmmoned with a crushing hit.
Kaberle has been his great self, while McCabe is playing the best down low hockey of his career. Blake has been good as he has been all season long, he point production doesn’t equate to everything he does on that ice for this team. Ponikarovsky has been solid and efficient; he has more in the tank and much similarly to his career has yet to hit his full potential. What Poni and the rest of the critics have to do is take his size out of his hockey equation. Just because he is big doesn’t mean he has to go out there and be a bone crusher or mix it up every shift. This guy has to know and feel comfortable to play his game which is a speed and skill game, his size and strength will better utilize his assets with a game he can be effective and comfortable with. Steen has been a leader at both ends of the ice, and has taken on the center role with great success.
Up next are two games versus the Bruins, the Leafs sit four points back of beantown and regulation wins are what is needed, the games get bigger from each game to the next, there is no better hockey to watch which is just another positive to not ‘tanking the season’.
posted by LEAFER at
3:55 PM
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