Mar. 24: Leafs 3 vs. Rangers 4 (SO)

(Connolly’s game-tying goal gets Toronto one point)
Leafs scorers: Franson (5), Crabb (10), Connolly (12)
Rangers scorers: Gaborik 2 (37), Dubinsky (9), shootout winner – Callahan
Links: Box Score | Discussion boards

Forward lines:: Ashton-Bozak-Kessel, Kadri-Grabovski-Hamilton, Connolly-Steckel-Crabb, Armstrong-Lombardi-Rosehil
Defence pairings: Gardiner-Phaneuf, Gunnarsson-Franson, Liles-Schenn
Goaltenders: Gustavsson (Loss, 64:29 minutes played, 30 saves 3 GA) Reimer (0:00)

Recap:
Where has this effort been from the Leafs, since the second week of February?

In particular, why haven’t the patrons at Air Canada Centre – who pay the highest ticket prices in the league – bore any witness to a sense of commitment from the players they shelled out their dollars to see, prior to Saturday night’s game?

From the first row platinum seats to the last row purples, Toronto fans have gotten accustomed to a squad led by either Randy Carlyle or Ron Wilson mail in (shall we say Fedex?) the two points, resulting in a home winless streak that has now reached nine games.

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Mar. 23: Leafs 4 at Devils 3 (SO)

((Kadri wins game with some nifty shootout moves)
Leafs scorers: Bozak (16), Kadri (5), Steckel (8), shootout winner – Kadri
Devils scorers: Josefson (1), Parise (29), Henrique (16)
Links: Box Score | Discussion boards

Forward lines:: Lombardi-Bozak-Kessel, Kadri-Grabovski-Hamilton, Connolly-Steckel-Crabb, Ashton-Rosehill
Defence pairings: Gardiner-Phaneuf, Gunnarsson-Franson, Liles-Schenn, Komisarek
Goaltenders: Reimer (Win, 65:00 minutes played, 43 saves 3 GA) Gustavsson (0:00)

Recap:
I had Paul Simon’s “You Can Call Me Al” stuck in my head last night. Watching the Leafs lose the battle at centre, the lyrics “Why am I soft in the middle when the rest of my life is so hard” took on new meaning for me. In spite of this, the Leafs managed to scrape out an undeserved win at the Prudential Center against the New Jersey Devils 4-3 in a shootout.

Before tonight’s game the Leafs had four wins in their last 21 games. Let that sink in for a second. If they could have just managed .500 hockey in that stretch they would be in a playoff spot now and we wouldn’t have to endure another round of Tank Nation.
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Mar. 20: Leafs 2 vs. Islanders 5

(Lombardi’s goal one of few bright spots)
Leafs scorers: Kessel (36), Lombardi (8)
Islanders scorers: Bailey (11), Ullstrom (3), Moulson 2 (32), Parenteau (16)
Links: Box Score | Discussion boards

Forward lines: : MacArthur-Bozak-Kessel, Ashton-Grabovski-Frattin, Connolly-Steckel-Crabb, Rosehill-Lombardi-Armstrong
Defence pairings: Gunnarsson-Phaneuf, Liles-Komisarek, Gardiner-Schenn
Goaltenders: Reimer (Loss, 59:34 minutes played, 29 saves, 4 GA) Gustavsson (0:00), empty net (1 GA).

Recap:
The writers have run out of metaphors.

The players and fans are frustrated.

The fans have found new ways to voice their displeasure (how about booing when the home coach calls a timeout?)

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Mar. 19: Leafs 0 vs. Bruins 8

(Starter James Reimer hung out to dry)
Leafs scorers: (none)
Bruins scorers: Kelly (18), Campbell (8), Pouliot 2 (12), Marchand (24), Chara (10), Rolston (6), Seguin (26)
Links: Box Score | Discussion boards

Forward lines: : MacArthur-Bozak-Kessel, Ashton-Grabovski-Frattin, Connolly-Steckel-Crabb, Rosehill-Lombardi-Armstrong
Defence pairings: Gunnarsson-Phaneuf, Liles-Komisarek, Gardiner-Schenn
Goaltenders: Reimer (Loss, 12:42 minutes played, 5 saves 4 GA) Gustavsson (46:42 minutes played, 11 saves, 4 GA)

Recap:
The Toronto Maple Leafs may as well have decided to go for a skate at the Boston Commons Frog Pond. Or better yet, lay down and let the grass grow up around them. Such was the performance Monday night at the TD Garden that saw the Leafs lose 8-0 to the Boston Bruins.

Where to begin with an epic one sided loss like this?
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Mar. 17: Leafs 3 at Senators 1

(Mikhail Grabovski exchanges punches with Chris Neil)
Leafs scorers: Connolly (11), Kessel (35), Phaneuf (10)
Senators scorers: Greening (16)
Links: Box Score | Discussion boards

Forward lines: : MacArthur-Bozak-Kessel, Ashton-Grabovski-Frattin, Connolly-Steckel-Crabb, Rosehill-Lombardi-Armstrong
Defence pairings: Gunnarsson-Phaneuf, Liles-Komisarek, Gardiner-Schenn
Goaltenders: Reimer (Win, 60:00 minutes played, 29 saves, 1 GA) Gustavsson (0:00)

Recap:
Did yez ever know a Bella-Irishian that didn’t love to fight?

It was Ottawa coach Paul MacLean’s comments Saturday morning that led to a robust response from the incoming enemies in the battle of Ontarians – Albertans, Belarusians, even Americans On the day when all are Irish the old trope, the belligerent Leprechaun, seemingly raised its head and transformed a Leafs ‘squad’ into a band of brothers.
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Mar. 15: Leafs 3 vs. Lightning 1

(Jake Gardiner and Leafs chase neophyte netminder)
Leafs scorers: Liles (6), Crabb (9), Gardiner (5)
Lightning scorers: St. Louis (23)
Links: Box Score | Discussion boards

Forward lines: : MacArthur-Bozak-Kessel, Ashton-Grabovski-Frattin, Connolly-Steckel-Crabb, Armstrong-Lombardi
Defence pairings: Gunnarsson-Phaneuf, Liles-Franson, Gardiner-Schenn, Komisarek
Goaltenders: Reimer (Win 60:00 minutes played, 34 saves, 1 GA) Gustavsson (0:00)

Recap:
Mary Shelley’s monster was induced by electricity to bring it alive. The Leafs season may still be written on the prophet’s wall but they were brought back to life for a day as a result of taking the Lightning in stride. The Leafs beat Tampa 3-1.

Let’s be clear here though, Leaf faithfuls. Toronto started the game against 22-year-old Dustin Tokarski, a former teammate of Carter Ashton’s in Norfolk of the AHL. It was his fifth NHL game, brought up for the injured Mathieu Garon.
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