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Vaillancourt’s persistence pays off for Canada

April 8, 2013 in Blogs, Women's Hockey - Inside the CWHL 0

The International Ice Hockey Federation doesn’t have the equivalent of the NHL’s Bill Masterton Award for perseverance and dedication to hockey.

But if it did – Team Canada’s Sarah Vaillancourt would have to be the 2013 odds-on favourite to win. The Sherbrooke, Que. native has overcome numerous injuries to earn a spot on roster that is attempting to defend its gold medal at the Women’s World Hockey Championship.

Vaillancourt is tied for second in team scoring with six points (2 goals, 4 assists) in three preliminary round games. Canada faces Russia in Monday night’s semi-final (7:30pm ET, TSN)
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Leafs grab much-needed two points against Devils

April 7, 2013 in Blogs, Leafs Game Recaps 0

(pictured: Tyler Bozak had the game-winner)

Apr. 6: Leafs 2 at Devils 1

Leafs scorers: Komarov (2), Bozak (11)
Devils scorers: Clarkson (13)
Links: Box Score | Discussion boards

Forward lines: van Riemsdyk-Bozak-Kessel, MacArthur-Kadri-Kulemin, McClement-Grabovski-Komarov, Orr-Hamilton-Colborne
Defence pairings: Phaneuf-Gunnarsson, Liles-Gardiner, Franson-Fraser
Goaltenders: Reimer (Win), 59:53 minutes played, 27 saves, 1 GA), Scrivens (0:00)

Recap by Pamela Yap

The Leafs were hoping to rebound from a sloppy effort against the Flyers on Thursday during their Saturday match up against the New Jersey Devils. With just 11 games left in the regular season and an injured Joffrey Lupul out of the line up, the playoff hungry team was hoping to get a much-needed two points against the Devils.

The Leafs were able to set the tone early with Leo Komarov scoring the games first goal just 3:49 into the game. But they would need to stay on their toes throughout the first as there were numerous penalties taken throughout by both teams. Mark Frazer, Nikolai Kulemin, James van Riemsdyk and Clarke MacArthur were all given minor penalties. Reimer proved he was on his game after stopping 10 shots in the first period, an improvement from the previous game against the Flyers where he surrendered a goal in the first minute.
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Lupul leaves game as sloppy effort costs Leafs

April 4, 2013 in Blogs, Leafs Game Recaps 0

(pictured: James van Riemsdyk had a goal versus Philadelphia, his former team)

Leafs scorers: Kulemin (7), Liles (2), van Riemsdyk (15)
Flyers scorers: Gagne (4), Voracek (16), B. Schenn (7), Rosehill (1), L. Schenn (3)
Links: Box Score | Discussion boards

Forward lines: van Riemsdyk-Bozak-Kessel, Lupul-Kadri-Kulemin, McClement-Grabovski-Frattin, McLaren-Hamilton-Orr
Defence pairings: Phaneuf-Gunnarsson, Liles-Kostka, Franson-Fraser
Goaltenders: Reimer (Loss, 58:54 minutes played, 26 saves, 4 GA), Scrivens (0:00), (empty net, 1 GA)

Heading into Thursday’s matchup against the Flyers, the Maple Leafs were riding a three-game winning streak on the strength of winger Joffrey Lupul, the NHL’s First Star of the Week and scorer of each of the game-winning goals over that stretch.

But the loss of Lupul to an upper body injury he sustained in just his third shift of the game didn’t absolve the team from their lethargic showing in their 5-3 defeat to Philadelphia. Lupul was crushed between two Flyers players – Adam Hall and Jay Rosehill – and woozily headed to the Leafs dressing room with just over 12 minutes to go in the opening period.

In Lupul’s absences this season the Leafs players have generally shown some resolve. Tonight nobody did.
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Avalanche prospect Hishon resumes career

April 4, 2013 in Blogs, Miscellaneous 0

(pictured: Joey Hishon missed nearly 2 years of hockey – photo credit: MileHighHockey.com)

On Wednesday afternoon, Lake Erie Monsters’ forward Joey Hishon was all smiles as his team skated off the ice on the winning end of a 3-2 overtime decision versus the Toronto Marlies.

It was just his sixth game of the season. For the past two years, there were doubts about his future in hockey.

Nearly two years ago, Hishon was an alternate captain on the Owen Sound Attack, the Ontario Hockey League champions who drew the Kootenay Ice of the Western League in their opening game of the Memorial Cup. Late in the third period, Brayden McNabb of Kootenay charged into Hishon with an elbow to the head. Hishon left the game at Mississauga’s Hershey Centre with his nose bleeding.
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Nonis’ best deadline moves were the ones he didn’t make

April 3, 2013 in Blogs, Off The Post 0

(pictured: Ben Scrivens – still a Leaf)

Were there really 45 kilometre per hour gusts of winds in Toronto on April 3? Or was that simply the collective sigh of relief among Leafs fans that general manager Dave Nonis refused to bite on potential deals for either of the two highest profile goalies at the trade deadline – Roberto Luongo or Mikka Kiprusoff?

The Leafs head into the final quarter of the NHL season with James Reimer and Ben Scrivens as their tandem between the pipes. And with optimism abound regarding Toronto’s chances of finally appearing in the playoff for the first time since 2004, there seemed little reason to tinker with the team’s chemistry.

Neither Reimer nor Scrivens will be nominated for this year’s Vezina Trophy. But they have played consistently well enough to give the team a chance to win on most nights (yes, even against Boston). Such confidence in the Leafs was not evident a year ago at this time.
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Leafs need to stay sharp during long break

April 2, 2013 in Blogs 0

By Pamela Yap – guest writer

With this year’s shortened NHL season, most teams find themselves playing four games in 7 nights on more than one occasion. The Leafs will have played on back-to-back evenings on 9 occasions by the time this season is over. But this week, they won’t play again until Thursday, April 4th, the end of a five-day layoff. With the Leafs currently sixth in the East and only 12 games remaining, what could a long stretch between games mean for the team?

The Leafs have had been on an impressive run as of late and have not had a regulation loss since March 14th against the Pittsburgh Penguins. They have had only one day off in between each of their last 7 games. But with such little time between games, the Leafs have not shown any real signs fatigue. It seems as though the NHL’s compressed schedule has actually benefited the team. The frequent games have helped them develop a rhythm that has seen them beat both Boston and Ottawa, two teams that they are chasing in the standings.
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