Stajan scores 3...er I mean 2
TOR vs NYI (04/13/06)
Well, this game could've been over in a hurry. Aubin stopped at least two sure goals on the first shift of the game. I don't get why people doubt this guy so much. He played two solid seasons on a horrible Penguins team. He was a good soldier for the Marlies all year. If anything, this guy has taken his lumps and has become a solid professional in the process. I think that counts for something. Besides, the Leafs don't need a save-your ___ in net. The skaters need to be winning the games, not the goaltender, especially in this new NHL.
Tucker opened the scoring shortly thereafter, and it looked like the Leafs would take a one goal lead into the break. Then in the final minute of the first, McCabe decides to start a rush deep in his own end with the Islanders fore-checking hard. Steen slips a blind pass from along the boards into McCabe's feet, which he can't handle and results in turn-over at the Leafs' blue line and the Islanders tying the game. What? Does he have some sort of points bonus threshold to hit? Be clock aware! If the Leafs had gone on to lose this game, I'd have much more to say about this decision by McCabe.
The Isles took the lead on a gorgeous little play by Trent Hunter, faking a pass, drawing the puck back and roofing the shot. Very nice hands. Stajan appeared to tie it, but the referee's wind-powered signal had been prematurely discharged prior to the puck crossing the line. No worries. Sundin was left alone briefly in the slot on the powerplay, and scored with what is becoming a familiar snap shot to the top netting. Sundin in the past three games is shooting the puck at an uncanny percentage. 6 goals on 14 shots for 43%. Just awesome stuff. The Swede, the Swede, the Swede is on fire.
Stajan then scored his first off a rare helper on the rush from sniper operandi O'Neill. The Islanders tied it up mid way through the period. The Leafs then turned it on, going for the win in regulation. To me, it looks more like fear of the shoot out, which I have no problem with. Kilger let go one heavy shot that Garth Snow just got a piece of. But no regulation win for the Leafs, and still no regulation losses for Aubin.
Stajan put the game away after a great shift where he worked the puck back and forth with Tucker deep in the right win corner, then going behind the net and coming out on his back hand. Stajan seemed to lose the puck, but it deflected back to him off the back of Yashin's skate. He then just let go a back hand that fooled Snow.
Snap Shots - Domi barely played. Tucker was, and I quote the Islanders broadcast team, " the best Leaf forward". He was shooting the puck from everywhere. Steen seems to have found a strong second wind. His play is aggressive. I can't wait to see what he does next year having gained so much experience this year. Wellwood needs to look for his shot more. Same with Poni and Antro. But I suppose when Mats is this primed it would be hard to not try and get him the puck.
And though this run has been great, the real test comes this weekend. Win, and we might actually make it in. Lose, and it was all for naught. Let's go boys!
Leaf Lines
Poni-Sundin-Antro
Kilger-Wellwood-Tucker
Steen-Stajan-O'Neill
Domi-Wilm-Ondrus
Leaf Pairs
Kaberle-McCabe
Luke-White
Berg-Belak
Poni-Sundin-Antro
Kilger-Wellwood-Tucker
Steen-Stajan-O'Neill
Domi-Wilm-Ondrus
Leaf Pairs
Kaberle-McCabe
Luke-White
Berg-Belak
Well, this game could've been over in a hurry. Aubin stopped at least two sure goals on the first shift of the game. I don't get why people doubt this guy so much. He played two solid seasons on a horrible Penguins team. He was a good soldier for the Marlies all year. If anything, this guy has taken his lumps and has become a solid professional in the process. I think that counts for something. Besides, the Leafs don't need a save-your ___ in net. The skaters need to be winning the games, not the goaltender, especially in this new NHL.
Tucker opened the scoring shortly thereafter, and it looked like the Leafs would take a one goal lead into the break. Then in the final minute of the first, McCabe decides to start a rush deep in his own end with the Islanders fore-checking hard. Steen slips a blind pass from along the boards into McCabe's feet, which he can't handle and results in turn-over at the Leafs' blue line and the Islanders tying the game. What? Does he have some sort of points bonus threshold to hit? Be clock aware! If the Leafs had gone on to lose this game, I'd have much more to say about this decision by McCabe.
The Isles took the lead on a gorgeous little play by Trent Hunter, faking a pass, drawing the puck back and roofing the shot. Very nice hands. Stajan appeared to tie it, but the referee's wind-powered signal had been prematurely discharged prior to the puck crossing the line. No worries. Sundin was left alone briefly in the slot on the powerplay, and scored with what is becoming a familiar snap shot to the top netting. Sundin in the past three games is shooting the puck at an uncanny percentage. 6 goals on 14 shots for 43%. Just awesome stuff. The Swede, the Swede, the Swede is on fire.
Stajan then scored his first off a rare helper on the rush from sniper operandi O'Neill. The Islanders tied it up mid way through the period. The Leafs then turned it on, going for the win in regulation. To me, it looks more like fear of the shoot out, which I have no problem with. Kilger let go one heavy shot that Garth Snow just got a piece of. But no regulation win for the Leafs, and still no regulation losses for Aubin.
Stajan put the game away after a great shift where he worked the puck back and forth with Tucker deep in the right win corner, then going behind the net and coming out on his back hand. Stajan seemed to lose the puck, but it deflected back to him off the back of Yashin's skate. He then just let go a back hand that fooled Snow.
Snap Shots - Domi barely played. Tucker was, and I quote the Islanders broadcast team, " the best Leaf forward". He was shooting the puck from everywhere. Steen seems to have found a strong second wind. His play is aggressive. I can't wait to see what he does next year having gained so much experience this year. Wellwood needs to look for his shot more. Same with Poni and Antro. But I suppose when Mats is this primed it would be hard to not try and get him the puck.
And though this run has been great, the real test comes this weekend. Win, and we might actually make it in. Lose, and it was all for naught. Let's go boys!
posted by mike @ 9:50 AM
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