Blogs | Toronto Maple Leafs Hockey News and Views

Dec. 31: Leafs 2 at Jets 3

James Reimer takes the loss in front of hometown fans
Leafs scorers: MacArthur (11), Kessel (21)
Jets scorers: Bogosian (3), Ladd (12), Wheeler (6)
Links: Box Score | Discussion boards

Forward lines:Lupul-Connolly-Kessel, Kulemin-Grabovski-Frattin, MacArthur-Lombardi-Kadri, Crabb-Steckel-Boyce
Defence pairings: Phaneuf-Aulie, Gardiner-Franson, Gunnarsson-Schenn
Goaltenders: Reimer (Loss 58:42 minutes played, 32 saves, 3 GA), Gustavsson (0:00)

Recap
While the second half of 2011 has provided evidence of marked improvements for the Maple Leafs, one thing remains abundantly clear. The penalty-kill is pathetic. Horribly so.

If Ron Wilson’s New Year’s resolution is anything but a turnaround for that facet of Toronto’s special teams, the contract extension that he was granted on Christmas Day will be worth less than the Red Rider BB gun that he also gleefully received, according to his famous tweet.

Blue And White Beat: Leafs top stories of 2011

It has been 364 days since James Reimer made his first career start in a New Year’s day matchup against Ottawa. Over the past twelve months, 2011 has been a year of highs and lows for the Toronto Maple Leafs.

The coaching staff welcomed assistants Scott Gordon and Greg Cronin, while the Hockey Hall of Fame opened its doors to fan favourites Doug Gilmour, Joe Nieuwendyk and Ed Belfour. Phil Kessel received a dose of infamy by being the last player selected at the All-Star draft in Carolina. However, by autumn those images on Alex Ovechkin’s cell phone were erased quicker than Fabian Brunnstrom’s Leaf career, as Kessel positioned himself among the league’s scoring leaders. Continue Reading…

Bulldogs overpower Marlies at ACC

Dec. 26: Marlies 3 vs. Bulldogs 6

Goaltender Ben Scrivens struggled against division rivals
Marlies scorers: D’Amigo (8), Colborne (11), Hamilton (11)
Bulldogs scorers: Fortier 2 (5), Schultz (2), Palushaj (5), DeSimone (7), Engqvist (7)
Links: Box Score | Discussion boards

Forward lines:Mueller-Colborne-Scott, Hamilton-Zigomanis-Mitchell, D’Amigo-Acton-Caputi, Wilson-Caruana, Neuber
Defence pairings: Blacker-Holzer, Engel-Finger, Mikus-Gysbers
Goaltenders: Scrivens (Loss, 57:53 minutes played, 24 saves, 5 GA), Rynnas (0:00), empty net (1 GA)

Recap:
When the Toronto Marlies vaulted to a 3-0 lead over the Hamilton Bulldogs in a Boxing Day matchup at Air Canada Centre, the home team appeared on their way to a blowout.

Instead, the rivals from down the Queen Elizabeth Way responded by finding an extra gear, responding with six unanswered goals – including an empty-netter – on route to a 6-3 Hamilton win.

“A different team came on the ice,” said Marlies coach Dallas Eakins. “I thought we played so well in the first period, and we were dictating the game. We were dominating the game. I think we thought Hamilton was going to roll over and die. But these games are 60 minutes long, and Hamilton did not roll over and die.”
Continue Reading…

Blue And White Beat: Leafs weaknesses exposed in game versus Canucks.

(pictured: Joffrey Lupul is fifth in the NHL scoring race)
Toronto’s 5-3 loss to the Vancouver Canucks on Saturday was a near-perfect representation of both the team’s strengths that propelled them to the top of the NHL standings in October, and the club’s weaknesses that has seen their playoff position slip to a perilous eighth-place in the Eastern Conference.
Continue Reading…

Leafs defensive lapses costly vs. Canucks

Dec. 17: Leafs 3 vs. Canucks 5

Tyler Bozak has 3 points in losing effort
Leafs scorers: Lupul (15), Bozak (7), Kessel (19)
Canucks scorers: Higgins (9), Raymond (3), D. Sedin (13), Burrows (11), Hansen (10)
Links: Box Score | Discussion boards

Forward lines:Lupul-Bozak-Kessel, Frattin-Grabovski-Kulemin, Armstrong-Connolly-MacArthur, Crabb-Dupuis
Defence pairings: Gunnarsson-Phaneuf, Gardiner-Schenn, Liles-Franson, Aulie
Goaltenders: Gustavsson (Loss, 59:14 minutes played, 31 saves, 5 GA), Reimer (0:00)

Say what you will about the Vancouver Canucks, who rose to the heights of unpopularity during their Stanley Cup final run last season that ended with a Game 7 defeat and infamous riot in the city streets. Their 5-3 win over the Leafs on Saturday night was a clear separation of the contenders versus the pretenders, and exposed how far Toronto – as improved as they are from last season – still has to go in terms of placing themselves in the former category.

Reading Royals Review

The Royals Review

(December 13)

READING, Pa. – Maple Leafs’ fans who take a glance at the ECHL standings may be concerned that their team’s Class AA affiliate is languishing near the bottom of the Atlantic Division and Eastern Conference heaps. But the big picture, at least as Toronto is concerned, is considerably brighter.

While just two players under contract to the Leafs are on the Reading Royals’ roster, both of them have been playing well and may be the best players in the club as 2011 comes to an end.
Continue Reading…