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Leafs light up the lamp against Lightning

January 4, 2012 in Leafs Game Recaps 0

Jan. 3: Leafs 7 vs. Lightning 3

Joffrey Lupul has a four-point night, including 300th in career
Leafs scorers: Lupul (18), Gunnarsson (2), Grabovski (11), Boyce (1), Frattin (5), Phaneuf (6), Kessel (22)
Lightning scorers: Lecavalier (14), Stamkos (27), Kubina (3)
Links: Box Score | Discussion boards

Forward lines:Lupul-Connolly-Kessel, Kulemin-Grabovski-Crabb, MacArthur-Lombardi-Frattin, Kadri-Steckel-Boyce
Defence pairings: Phaneuf-Aulie, Gardiner-Franson, Gunnarsson-Schenn
Goaltenders: Gustavsson (Win 59:38 minutes played, 21 saves, 3 GA), Reimer (0:00)

Recap
It wasn’t a mere New Year’s resolution for the Leafs to shape-up their penalty-killing. It was a realization that – with 9 of their next 12 games at home – the month of January will be pivotal towards their playoff drive.

Toronto ended their three-game losing slide with a 7-3 victory over the Tampa Bay Lightning on Tuesday, getting goals from seven different scorers. Just as important as their balanced output was their efficiency in killing all 5 of Tampa’s power-play opportunities, including a 5-on-3 advantage.

Leafs PK is M.I.A in loss to Jets

January 1, 2012 in Blogs, Leafs Game Recaps 1

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.

Hurricanes storm back to beat Leafs

December 29, 2011 in Leafs Game Recaps 0

Dec. 29: Leafs 3 at Hurricanes 4 (OT)

Nazem Kadri gets his third goal in four games
Leafs scorers: Kadri (3), Kulemin (4), Lupul (17)
Hurricanes scorers: Sutter (8), Staal 2 (9), Dalpe (1)
Links: Box Score | Discussion boards

Forward lines:Lupul-Bozak-Kessel, Kulemin-Grabovski-Frattin, MacArthur-Connolly-Kadri, Crabb-Steckel-Boyce
Defence pairings: Phaneuf-Aulie, Gardiner-Franson, Gunnarsson-Schenn
Goaltenders: Reimer (Loss 62:57 minutes played, 30 saves, 4 GA), Gustavsson (0:00)

Recap
Thursday’s game at Raleigh’s RBC Center was a matchup that neither team deserved to win. Yet it appeared that the Maple Leafs would steal two points from the Carolina Hurricanes when they scored twice in a 40-second span to take a 3-2 lead midway through the third period. But Toronto’s cushion evaporated quickly as the team faltered to a 4-3 overtime loss.

Carolina’s comeback was sparked by their captain Eric Staal, who has played far below his Triple Gold Club member status (Stanley Cup, World Championship, Olympic Gold), but scored twice including the overtime winner.

Goaltending, mental mistakes costs Leafs

December 28, 2011 in Leafs Game Recaps 0

Dec. 27: Leafs 3 at Panthers 5

Grabovski scores a pair in Toronto defeat
Leafs scorers: Grabovski 2 (10), Phaneuf (5)
Panthers scorers: Gudbranson (2), Thomas (1), Garrison (11), Versteeg (17), Fleischmann (13)
Links: Box Score | Discussion boards

Forward lines:Lupul-Bozak-Kessel, Kulemin-Grabovski-Frattin, MacArthur-Connolly-Kadri, Crabb-Steckel-Boyce
Defence pairings: Phaneuf-Aulie, Gardiner-Franson, Gunnarsson-Schenn
Goaltenders: Reimer (24:13 minutes played, 5 saves, 3 GA), Gustavsson (33:34 minutes played, 16 saves, 2 GA)

Recap
Coming off the Christmas break, the Leafs missed a chance to take advantage of an injury-riddled Florida team, dropping a 5-3 decision to the Panthers at BankAtlantic Center on Tuesday.

Toronto particularly struggled in a 4-minute, 25-second stretch in the second period in which they surrendered three goals. James Reimer was pulled after having an off-night, giving up 3 goals on 8 shots before giving way to Jonas Gustavsson. Reimer looked particularly weak in attempting to stop Florida’s Bill Thomas on a breakaway.

Bulldogs overpower Marlies at ACC

December 27, 2011 in Marlies News, Marlies Report 0

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.”
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Leafs head into Christmas on winning note

December 23, 2011 in Leafs Game Recaps 0

Dec. 23: Leafs 5 at Islanders 3

Defenceman Carl Gunnarsson gets his first goal of the year
Leafs scorers: MacArthur (10), Kadri (2), Gunnarsson (1), Crabb (6), Lupul (16)
Islanders scorers: Okposo (6), Nielsen (5), Tavares (11)
Links: Box Score | Discussion boards

Forward lines:Lupul-Bozak-Kessel, Kulemin-Grabovski-Frattin, MacArthur-Connolly-Kadri, Crabb-Steckel-Boyce
Defence pairings: Phaneuf-Aulie, Gardiner-Franson, Gunnarsson-Schenn
Goaltenders: Reimer (Win, 60:00 minutes played, 30 saves, 3 GA), Gustavsson (0:00)

Notes
Defenceman John-Michael Liles was a scratch due to a neck injury suffered in Thursday’s game against Buffalo following a hit from Paul Gaustad. Ron Wilson says he expects Liles to play on Tuesday against Florida…Nazem Kadri scored his second goal in as many games since being recalled from the Marlies…Goaltender James Reimer earned his first road win of the year…The highlight goal of the evening came on a 2-on-1 between Joey Crabb and Tyler Bozak, who played give-and-go for a shorthanded tally to put the Leafs up 4-2…Phil Kessel’s assist on Joffrey Lupul’s empty net goal moved him to within two points of Claude Giroux, who sits atop the NHL’s scoring race with 43 points…The Islanders’ John Tavares scored just his 3rd goal in the last 22 games.