Tucker leads Leafs over Isles
TOR vs NYI (04/05/06)
AUBIN
Notes - Tying the game twice and then finally taking the lead? I don't have the stats, but that is a rare feat for the 05-06 Leafs. Especially when taking so many dumb penalties. Even if it was against the blown-up-at-the-trade-deadline Islanders.
Again, White had an impressive game. If this guy isn't in the top 4 next year, I'll be surprised. Aubin was solid as well, though he lost sight of the puck on both goals; the first a left post wrap-around which deflected to the right side of the goal mouth. Aubin froze at the left side. The second came off a pass redirect to Satan who was wide and near the goal line at the time. I can understand the first, but the second could've been saved. But hey, I'll take it.
Tucker answered his league-wide critics who think he is merely a pest with a pair last night. The first, after White dispossessed two Isles of the puck as the lone guy back then turning the play around and finding Wellwood, who then centered for Tucker. The second, after a questionable call on Campoli though Kilger's hustle was probably being rewarded, came from the rightwing half boards quickly after a face-off win, which was a surprise shift of pace from the usual three or four passes needed before the Leafs look for a scoring play.
The game winner came courtesy of what my girlfriend has dubbed, 'the twins'; Poni from Antro after a nice criss-cross on the rush.
O'Neill regressed last night. Steen looks like he hit the rookie wall 20 miles back at times. In particular, after a decent cycle he got the puck near the blue line and slapped the puck at the net as if he was tired and didn't want to try anymore. Very disappointing. But he gets a bye having played so much this year (He is only behind Ovechkin and Crosby in rookie forwards TOI). Ondrus has slowed down the hitting quite a bit the last few games. Perhaps he needs reminding it is his intensity that is his strongest asset. Domi and Wilm weren't much better. I guess it is tough to be the energy line with such a slim chance of these games meaning anything this year. Sundin has really let off the shooting pedal.
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
AUBIN
Notes - Tying the game twice and then finally taking the lead? I don't have the stats, but that is a rare feat for the 05-06 Leafs. Especially when taking so many dumb penalties. Even if it was against the blown-up-at-the-trade-deadline Islanders.
Again, White had an impressive game. If this guy isn't in the top 4 next year, I'll be surprised. Aubin was solid as well, though he lost sight of the puck on both goals; the first a left post wrap-around which deflected to the right side of the goal mouth. Aubin froze at the left side. The second came off a pass redirect to Satan who was wide and near the goal line at the time. I can understand the first, but the second could've been saved. But hey, I'll take it.
Tucker answered his league-wide critics who think he is merely a pest with a pair last night. The first, after White dispossessed two Isles of the puck as the lone guy back then turning the play around and finding Wellwood, who then centered for Tucker. The second, after a questionable call on Campoli though Kilger's hustle was probably being rewarded, came from the rightwing half boards quickly after a face-off win, which was a surprise shift of pace from the usual three or four passes needed before the Leafs look for a scoring play.
The game winner came courtesy of what my girlfriend has dubbed, 'the twins'; Poni from Antro after a nice criss-cross on the rush.
O'Neill regressed last night. Steen looks like he hit the rookie wall 20 miles back at times. In particular, after a decent cycle he got the puck near the blue line and slapped the puck at the net as if he was tired and didn't want to try anymore. Very disappointing. But he gets a bye having played so much this year (He is only behind Ovechkin and Crosby in rookie forwards TOI). Ondrus has slowed down the hitting quite a bit the last few games. Perhaps he needs reminding it is his intensity that is his strongest asset. Domi and Wilm weren't much better. I guess it is tough to be the energy line with such a slim chance of these games meaning anything this year. Sundin has really let off the shooting pedal.
posted by mike @ 9:20 AM
4 Comments:
At 1:04 AM,
Taylor said…
I'm not sure I agree with you on Sundin not shooting the puck...granted, he only had one shot against the Islanders, but he's got 15 shots in his last 4 games (including 7 against Boston tonight).
If I had one beef with Sundin's shooting, it would be that he seems to take quite a few low-percentage shots. Of course, when you're trying to teach "The Twins" to be power forwards, the best way to get them to the net is to create rebounds.
At 11:18 AM,
mike said…
You're right. Just the Isles game was a disappointing shooting performance.
I think the low-percetange shots you mention have alot to do with getting offensive zone face-offs and a line change. But then again, Sundin could rip it from the blue line before he switched to a composite stick, so maybe he is trying to score.
At 5:00 PM,
Anonymous said…
Steen really did hit the wall a while back. but what i'm most impressed with about this late season is that your girlfriend is still watching.
At 11:31 AM,
mike said…
That makes two of us, cy. No doubt, she's a keeper.
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