Wednesday, January 31, 2007
Leafs - Hurricanes Highlights
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Game 51 - Leafs 4 Hurricanes 1
1st Period Summary Toronto Goal - Bates Battaglia (8), from John Pohl and Ian White at 14:00.
Carolina Goal - Ray Whitney (21), from Dennis Seidenberg and Rod Brind`Amour at 16:06.
Penalties
7:03 Carolina Glen Wesley - 2 minutes for holding
10:28 Toronto Kris Newbury - 2 minutes for high-sticking
17:22 Toronto Wade Belak - 2 minutes for roughing
17:22 Carolina Craig Adams - 2 minutes for boarding
17:22 Carolina Tim Gleason - 2 minutes for roughing
2nd Period Summary
No Scoring
Penalties
5:01 Toronto Kris Newbury - 2 minutes for tripping
13:52 Carolina Niclas Wallin - 2 minutes for hooking
3rd Period Summary
Toronto Goal - Nik Antropov (7), from Mats Sundin and Tomas Kaberle at 0:37.
Toronto Goal - Nik Antropov 2 (8), from Bryan McCabe at 16:00.
Toronto Empty-Net Goal - Tomas Kaberle (9), from Chad Kilger and Bates Battaglia at 19:40.
Penalties
1:42 Carolina Glen Wesley - 2 minutes for holding
5:21 Toronto Alexei Ponikarovsky - 5 minutes for fighting
5:21 Carolina David Tanabe - 5 minutes for fighting
7:35 Toronto Pavel Kubina - 2 minutes for delay of game
Shots on Goal 1 2 3 Total
Toronto 14 10 14 38
Carolina 4 17 8 29
Team Power Play
Toronto 0 of 4
Carolina 0 of 3
Toronto Goaltending
Player SA GA Saves SV% TOI
Andrew Raycroft 29 1 28 .966 60:00
Carolina Goaltending
Player SA GA Saves SV% TOI
Cam Ward 37 3 34 .919 57:55
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Monday, January 29, 2007
Trade Deadline Approaching
The NHL trade deadline is February 27th. The Leafs have until then to decide what to do with captain Mats Sundin and Darcy Tucker. The Leafs hold a team option on Mats Sundin at $4.56 million for next season, but $6.33 will count against the salary, as that is the average yearly salary for his current contact. It is reported that the Maple Leafs will pick up this option. I don't see why the Leafs would do this. Why not decline the option, and then sign him to a multi-year deal at a lesser yearly average. It's pretty obvious that the Leafs want Mats to retire as a Leaf, so why not lower his 'cap' number. I'm not exactly sure if there is some league stipulation that would not allow the Leafs to alter his contract in this fashion. Sundin has a no-trade clause in his current contract and has said that he would not waive it to go to a Stanley Cup contender. The Toronto Star is reporting that there are teams that would be interested in acquiring Sundin, with the Anaheim Ducks being one of the teams that would be interested.
Darcy Tucker's name is also being thrown around rumor mill. The gritty winger will be an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season and will be looking for a nice raise from the $1.596 million he's making this season. Even though he's been out for about a month, and no time-table on his return, he's drawing interest from several west coast clubs. Edmonton, Calgary, Dallas and San Jose have all shown interest in Tucker. It was reported that the Leafs and Tucker were discussing a 5 year, $17.5 million contract.
Leaf management has some tough decisions to make before the trade deadline. If Sundin continues to refuse to waive his no-trade clause, there isn't much they can do with him. Tucker's situation will definitely cause some problems. If the Leafs playoff hopes fade by the trade deadline, I think it would be in the best interest of the organization to trade Tucker and hope that Sundin will decide to waive his no-trade clause. If they want to bring both players back next year, offer them a deal similar to what the Penguins did for Recchi and the Blues did for Weight. Both clubs dealt them to a contender with the promise that they would bring them back the following season. This enable the team to get some assets back in return that would help the team in the following seasons. Both Sundin and Tucker could bring valuable assets back to the Leafs if they were able to come up with a deal like this. The risk for Sundin would be that the team he was dealt to would pick up the 'team option', but I'm sure some sort of arrangement could be made where they wouldn't pick it up.
Sunday, January 28, 2007
Game 50 - Leafs 4 Canadiens 1
1st Period Summary Toronto Power-Play Goal - Pavel Kubina (3), from Alexander Steen and Matt Stajan at 13:29.
Toronto Power-Play Goal - Jeff O`Neill (17), from Pavel Kubina and Carlo Colaiacovo at 14:48.
Penalties
11:41 Montreal Guillaume Latendresse - 2 minutes for hooking
14:37 Montreal Chris Higgins - 2 minutes for holding
14:58 Toronto Matt Stajan - 2 minutes for tripping
2nd Period Summary
Montreal Power-Play Goal - Tomas Plekanec (9), from Craig Rivet at 6:06.
Toronto Power-Play Goal - Mats Sundin (19), from Tomas Kaberle and Bryan McCabe at 17:18.
Penalties
2:11 Montreal Tomas Plekanec - 2 minutes for hooking
4:23 Toronto Bates Battaglia - 2 minutes for interference
11:56 Toronto Boyd Devereaux - 2 minutes for holding stick
14:24 Montreal Maxim Lapierre - 2 minutes for roughing
14:24 Montreal Mathieu Dandenault - 2 minutes for roughing
14:24 Toronto Travis Green - 2 minutes for goalie interference
14:24 Toronto Bryan McCabe - 2 minutes for roughing
14:24 Toronto Alexei Ponikarovsky - 2 minutes for unsportsmanlike conduct
15:21 Montreal Sheldon Souray - 2 minutes for boarding
18:12 Montreal Sheldon Souray - 2 minutes for roughing
18:12 Toronto Hal Gill - 2 minutes for roughing
3rd Period Summary
Toronto Goal - Pavel Kubina (4), from Matt Stajan and Jeff O`Neill at 3:29.
Penalties
9:11 Toronto Pavel Kubina - 2 minutes for holding
13:00 Toronto Bryan McCabe - 2 minutes for interference
16:11 Toronto Hal Gill - 2 minutes for tripping
Shots on Goal 1 2 3 Total
Montreal 9 5 14 28
Toronto 11 12 6 29
Team Power Play
Montreal 1 of 7
Toronto 3 of 4
Montreal Goaltending
Player SA GA Saves SV% TOI
Cristobal Huet 29 4 25 .862 60:00
Toronto Goaltending
Player SA GA Saves SV% TOI
Andrew Raycroft 28 1 27 .964 60:00
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Friday, January 26, 2007
Things Not Looking Up for Tucker
There doesn't appear to be any good news on the Darcy Tucker injury front, actually, it regressed. He showed up today to practice wearing a cast. No timetable has been set on his expected return to the lineup. This new scenario hurts the Leafs in 2 ways. Firstly, he's one of the top players on the team, who desperately need his scoring touch and grit. If they are to get into the playoffs, they need him healthy and in the lineup. The second way it hurts the Leafs, if they choose to go this route, is that his trade value is decreasing. The trade deadline is approaching and if he is out for an extended period of time, teams may not want to chance giving up prospects or high draft picks.
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Wednesday, January 24, 2007
Surgery for Wellwood
So I've questioned in the past the people that the Maple Leafs hired to make the ice at both the ACC and the Lakeshore Lions Arena. There have been at least 3 injuries that have occurred as a result of bad ice. Now I'm calling into question the doctors that the Leafs have hired. A month ago Kyle Wellwood was injured, he's barely skated since, and now will be out for another 6 to 8 weeks. His original diagnosis was a groin/hip injury, but a month later it has been determined that a sports hernia and will undergo surgery today. A month to figure this out! So if these doctors determined this injury when Wellwood was originally hurt, he'd be returning in a couple. Instead, he'll miss most of their remaining 33 games.
Posted by Mark in
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Friday, January 19, 2007
Suglobov Placed On Waivers
The Maple Leafs have placed Aleksander Suglobov on waivers. It is not known if he'll be sent to the Toronto Marlies if he clears waivers. I doubt any team will pick him up as he's been unproductive this season. He is still fairly young, so there is a chance that someone might take a chance on him. Sublobov was held pointless in 14 games this season, was a minus 6 and averaged 7:25 minutes per game.
Leafs Hang On
The Leafs sure can make things interesting. After entering the second period intermission 3-0, the Panthers scored a fluke goal as Campbell's shot took a funny bounce off of McCabe's skate that bounced past Raycroft. I was left shaking my head, thinking 'here we go again, another third period meltdown'. At around the 10 minute mark, another bad bounce resulted in Peltonen closing the gap to 3-2. But in the end the Leafs hung on in front of Raycroft's solid goaltending. Raycroft made 39 saves on the night, 14 in the second period and 16 in the third. If it wasn't for Raycroft, the Leafs would have blown another third period lead. His play the last 2 games should silence his critics for at least a few days. If the Leafs have any hope of making it into the playoffs, they currently site in 9th, he has to continue to play well. The play of Pohl, Battaglia, Kilger and recent call up Devereaux has been encouraging. They all have played solid as their roll has expanded over the past month or so with all the injuries that have occurred. Devereaux, Kilger and Pohl each scored last night. If someone told me that Devereaux would have 8 points after his first 10 games with the Leafs, I would have laughed at them.
There is a chance that Darcy Tucker could return to the lineup tomorrow against Pittsburgh, but more than likely he'll wait to return after the All-Star break. Wednesday was his first full practice and there was still some swelling on his left foot. There is no need to rush him back tomorrow, the extra days off would really help him. But everyone knows how much of a gamer Tucker is, so I wouldn't be surprised if he was back in the lineup.
Game 48 - Leafs 3 Panthers 2
1st Period Summary Toronto Goal - Boyd Devereaux (2), from Chad Kilger and Bates Battaglia at 12:14.
Penalties
5:50 Florida Chris Gratton - 2 minutes for hooking
8:08 Florida Gregory Campbell - 4 minutes for high-sticking
15:12 Toronto Bates Battaglia - 2 minutes for tripping
2nd Period Summary
Toronto Goal - Chad Kilger (8), from Matt Stajan and Wade Belak at 5:59.
Toronto Goal - John Pohl (8), unassisted at 10:41.
Penalties
17:47 Toronto Wade Belak - 5 minutes for fighting
17:47 Florida Bryan Allen - 5 minutes for fighting
3rd Period Summary
Florida Goal - Gregory Campbell (4), from Joel Kwiatkowski at 1:12.
Florida Goal - Ville Peltonen (7), from Stephen Weiss and Bryan Allen at 10:08.
Penalties
4:02 Toronto Chad Kilger - 2 minutes for tripping
20:00 Toronto John Pohl - 2 minutes for holding
Shots on Goal 1 2 3 Total
Toronto 10 4 5 19
Florida 9 14 18 41
Team Power Play
Toronto 0 of 3
Florida 0 of 2
Toronto Goaltending
Player SA GA Saves SV% TOI
Andrew Raycroft 41 2 39 .951 60:00
Florida Goaltending
Player SA GA Saves SV% TOI
Ed Belfour 5 0 5 1.000 19:11
Alexander Auld 14 3 11 .786 40:00
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Thursday, January 11, 2007
Holiday Time
I probably not get a chance to post anything until mid next week as I'll heading to Florida for a little R&R. May catch the Panthers-Capitals game on the weekend. I'll miss the Leafs-Panthers game next week by a day or two, go figure.
Wednesday, January 10, 2007
Another Leaf Goes Down
Ian White is the latest Maple Leaf to go down with an injury. He was chasing after a potential icing call, battling for position with a Hurricane player, tripped and crashed into the boards, injuring his shoulder. He lay on the ice for several seconds before skating off, holding his arm to keep it from further doing damage to shoulder. After the game, White said he had a mild shoulder separation, with further tests being conducted today to determine the extent of it. White's injury brings up 2 issues. First is the ice surface at the ACC (and their practice facility). As White was getting close to the boards in his own end, his skate caught a rut, causing him to tumble over.
"I haven't seen a tape but guys said my skate was in a rut," said White. "I was going straight and all of a sudden, I guess the rut turned a little bit and I didn't do so well."White wasn't the only one to hit a rut in the ice last night, Colaiacovo bailed after hitting one, the same goes for several Hurricane players. How many players have to get hurt at the ACC and at practice? White joins Antropov, Ponikarovsky and Wellwood who have been injured this season (all out because of it at the moment) by catching a rut. MLSE makes tons of money and could easily afford to put in better ice. But why do they sit back and watch Leaf after Leaf get hurt because of bad ice? McCabe has been vocal all season about how bad it is.
The second issue I have with regards to White's injury and is something that could have prevented the injury, no-touch icing. I'm obviously not the first person to bring this up, as it's mentioned every time a player crashes into the boards heavily while trying to get the icing call, or negate it. Some ankles have been broken, concussions, shoulder injuries, all as a result of touch icing. Shouldn't the league be trying to protect its players? What if Sidney Crosby broke his leg while trying to negate an icing? Would the NHL consider it then? I don't see the point of waiting to find out. Is the 2 seconds of excitement at the end of the chase worth losing a star play? The answer is simple, No! Gary Bettman and NHL executives should poll every player in the league to see if they want to have 'no-touch icing'. If the majority says they want it, you add it. Don't leave the decision up to people who are not playing the game, some of which who've probably never played hockey before.
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Leafs Add Green
The Leafs have just claim centerman Travis Green off waivers from the Anaheim Ducks. Green played with the Leafs from 2001-03. He played 2 seasons with the Bruins before signing with the Ducks in August. Green played in 7 games with the Ducks this season, recording 1 goal and 1 assist with a +3 rating.
Leafs - Hurricanes Highlights
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Game 44 - Leafs 1 Hurricanes 4
1st Period Summary Toronto Goal - Bryan McCabe (9), from Alexander Steen and Jeff O`Neill at 15:24.
Penalties
15:35 Toronto Andrew Raycroft - 2 minutes for served by Newbury delay of game
16:28 Toronto Bench - 2 minutes served by Devereaux too many men
2nd Period Summary
Carolina Goal - Scott Walker (13), from Chad LaRose and David Tanabe at 1:51.
Carolina Power-Play Goal - Eric Belanger (8), from Rod Brind` Amour and Ray Whitney at 2:51.
Carolina Power-Play Goal - Eric Staal (19), from Ray Whitney and Cory Stillman at 18:17.
Penalties
2:24 Toronto Ben Ondrus - 2 minutes for boarding
5:20 Toronto Jeff O`Neill - 2 minutes for high-sticking
11:27 Carolina Chad LaRose - 2 minutes for holding the stick
16:31 Toronto Pavel Kubina - 2 minutes for elbowing
17:54 Toronto Mats Sundin - 2 minutes for hooking
3rd Period Summary
Carolina Empty-Net Goal - Justin Williams (21), from Cory Stillman and Eric Staal at 19:44.
Penalties
12:44 Carolina Anton Babchuk - 2 minutes for holding
Shots on Goal 1 2 3 Total
Carolina 10 12 7 29
Toronto 13 7 10 30
Team Power Play
Carolina 2 of 6
Toronto 0 of 2
Carolina Goaltending
Player SA GA Saves SV% TOI
Cam Ward 30 1 29 .967 60:00
Toronto Goaltending
Player SA GA Saves SV% TOI
Andrew Raycroft 28 3 25 .893 59:21
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Leafs Take on the Hurricanes
Andrew Raycroft will be between the pipes tonight when the Leafs take on the Carolina Hurricanes. None of the injured Leafs will be back in the lineup tonight. Rookie Erik Westrum will be playing in his second consecutive game since being recalled late last week. He played just over 3 minutes on Saturday.
Nik Antropov has skated the last couple of days but is still at least a week away from returning.
There is a chance that Alexei Ponikarovsky could return to the lineup on Saturday.
Kyle Wellwood isn't back on skates yet, as he continues to nurse a hip injury.
Darcy Tucker still isn't able to skate since cracking a bone in his foot, but should the be next to return to the lineup after Ponikarovsky, barring any set backs.
After tonight's game, 9 out the Leafs next 11 games will be on the road. This could be a make or break stretch for the Leafs quest in making the playoffs. The Leafs are currently holding down the last playoff spot but have played more games than almost all the teams that are trailing them. The 14th ranked team in the division, the Florida Panthers, are only 5 points behind (have played 1 more game than the Leafs.
Jeff O'Neill has scored 6 goals and recorded 6 assists in his last 14 games.
Alex Steen has 8 points in his last 6 games. Steen has been hounded the majority of the this season for not being able to put up similar numbers from his rookie campaign last year. Strange coincidence that since being moved up to play with Sundin that his numbers have improved. He played almost all of last season Sundin. It's hard to expect any sophomore to put up the same or better numbers when he's taken off the top line and rotated between the 2nd and 4th lines.