Feb. 18: Leafs 2 at Canucks 6
(Kulemin ends scoring slump)
Leafs scorers: Phaneuf (9), Kulemin (6)
Canuckscorers: Burrows 2 (22), Malhotra (6), D. Sedin (25), Salo (7), Bieksa (6)
Links: Box Score | Discussion boards
Forward lines:Lupul-Bozak-Kessel, Lombardi-Connolly-Armstrong, Kulemin-Grabovski-MacArthur, Boyce-Steckel-Brown
Defence pairings: Phaneuf-Aulie, Liles-Franson, Gardiner-Schenn
Recap, by S-Mo
The Toronto Maple Leafs were their own worst enemy in a largely one-sided affair against the Vancouver Canucks at Rogers Arena, losing 6-2.
Once again defensive lapses cost the Leafs dearly, leaving sophomore James Reimer in the lurch, and seeing him chased after 4 goals on 18 shots. The Sedin brothers Daniel and Henrik feasted on turnovers, producing 4 points each.
Canucks goalie Roberto Luongo was tested with 26 shots, making a couple notable saves, but had the benefit of a mainly perimeter game from the Leafs. Vancouver’s defence nullified much of Toronto’s speed, and the Leaf forwards didn’t seem willing to go to the net and pay the price.
Forward Nikolai Kulemin ended a 16-game scoring slump with 20 seconds to go in the game, a personal victory for him but far too little and too late for the Leafs.
Losing 5 of their last 6 games the Leafs head back to Toronto for a 4-game homestand starting with a tilt against the New Jersey Devils next Tuesday February 21st. This will be a crucial set of games, with the Leafs in dire need having just a one-point cushion on Washington and two points over Winnipeg. Looming large, next Saturday the Leafs host the Capitals who currently have one game in hand.
S-Mo is a Leafs fan and hockey homer in the form of an aggregate artist/writer/human being.
