Feb. 23: Leafs 1 vs. Sharks 2
(Reimer takes the loss in 23-save effort)
Leafs scorers: Gardiner (4)
Sharks scorers: Marleau 2 (25)
Links: Box Score | Discussion boards
Forward lines:Lupul-Bozak-Kessel, Kulemin-Grabovski-MacArthur, Lombardi-Connolly-Crabb, Boyce-Steckel-Brown
Defence pairings: Phaneuf-Gunnarsson, Liles-Franson, Gardiner-Schenn
Goaltenders: Reimer (Loss 58:41 minutes played, 23 saves, 2 GA), Gustavsson (0:00)
Recap:
If the Leafs playoff chances can be at best labeled borderline, the team dipped below the threshold with a 2-1 loss to San Jose on Thursday night.
The loss – Toronto’s seventh defeat in its last 8 games – combined with a Winnipeg win over Tampa Bay, slipped the Leafs into ninth place in the Eastern Conference.
The Leafs undoing before their home fans at Air Canada Centre was a tentative mindset, as if they were playing not to lose, rather than going for a win. The end result was a lack of willingness to drive the net and generate traffic in front of Sharks netminder Antti Niemi.
“We didn’t get to the front of the net, we didn’t get in front of their goalie,” said coach Ron Wilson after the game. “We allowed ourselves to be pushed off.”
The Leafs struggled offensively with their only goal being a third period marker from defenceman Jake Gardiner, the team’s best player on the evening. Gardiner logged 26:50 in ice time, the most of any skater on either team, and beat Niemi to the far side to notch his fourth goal of the year.
“They got a couple of goals on us, but in the third we definitely outplayed them,” said Gardiner. “We weren’t sitting back (in the third period), we went on the attack and everyone wanted to score.”
Both San Jose goals were scored by Patrick Marleau.
Toronto goalie James Reimer appeared to be down way too early on Marleau’s opening goal of the game early in the second period, but had little chance on the power-play marker that gave the visitors a two-goal lead. Reimer did manage to keep his team close by making a few point-blank saves in between the San Jose goals.
“The result wasn’t what we wanted, but as far as my personal game, I felt I was handling the puck well and seeing it for the most part,” said Reimer.
The Leafs next two games are at Air Canada Centre against teams with whom they’ll be jostling in the fierce playoff race: Washington (Saturday) and Florida (Tuesday).
Although a quarter of the season still remains, the phrase “must-win” isn’t too much of a stretch.
