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Toronto Maple Leafs Blogger • Fan 590 •
TORONTO (Oct. 29) – It may not have been the sportiest move of all time, but the acting skill of Mike Ribeiro played a significant role in the Dallas Stars 4-3 overtime victory over the Maple Leafs Wednesday night. Just more than 90 seconds into the third period – with the score deadlocked, 1-1, and the visitors playing a man short [Alexei Ponikarovsky was off for interference] – Ribeiro duped referees Dan O’Rourke and Gord Dwyer into giving Michael Komisarek a high-sticking penalty, creating a 55-second 5-on-3 powerplay for Dallas.
While skating beside the net, Komisarek jostled with the ex-Montreal forward and his stick came up about two-thirds of the way toward Ribeiro’s face. The Dallas player either anticipated getting hit by the stick, or felt he could make it look good for the officials. He instinctively threw back his head – not nearly with as much force as a player that actually gets clipped, but enough to make it seem as if Komisarek had struck him in the facial area. The whistle immediately sounded and off went the Toronto blue-liner. A television replay from ice level clearly showed that Komisarek’s stick never came close to striking Ribeiro and that Ribeiro “sold” the call with his little head routine.
On the TSN telecast, analyst Pierre McGuire lauded Komisarek for arguing the phantom penalty, and he did not approve of Ribeiro’s theatrics. He and broadcast partner, Gord Miller, seemed rather disgusted with Ribeiro for a cheap ploy, but it turned into a brilliant tactical maneuver. While playing with two extra men, the Stars took a 2-1 lead on Brad Richards’ second goal of the night, just 20 seconds after the Komisarek infraction. Even amateur lip-readers could see the Leafs’ defenseman shrugging from the box and telling the referee “I didn’t even touch him.” Behind the visitors’ bench, coach Ron Wilson glared at the official and said “that was a bad call” several times. Komisarek and Wilson were entirely accurate, but the damage had already been done.
Without Richards’ powerplay tally, Dallas would not have withstood consecutive Toronto goals by Lee Stempniak and Nikolai Kulemin later in the period. Instead, the Stars had to fight back from just a one-goal deficit in the waning moments of regulation time, and they succeeded when Ribeiro (who else?) knotted the score, 3-3, with 2:45 left on the clock.
The Leafs held on for a point in the standings and appeared to have Dallas in a vulnerable position.
Coming into the match, the Stars had already lost four overtime/shootout decisions this season. But, sloppy defensive coverage by Kulemin allowed Whitby native James Neal to deposit a fat rebound behind Jonas Gustavsson at 2:57 of the extra frame, and the Maple Leafs’ win streak ended at one.
The Toronto goalie was visibly upset after the goal, stomping off the ice in disgust. He was either ticked off at the rebound he allowed or – more likely – at stumbling ever-so slightly while moving from left to right in his crease to try and cover Neal’s shot. Whatever the case, the Leafs were unable to preserve a one-goal lead with less than three minutes to play and have garnered just four of 20 available points in the Eastern Conference standings with a 1-7-2 record.
As such, this season has quickly become one of evaluation for general manager Brian Burke and his staff. Though he wouldn’t admit to it on his death-bed, Burke understands the Leafs’ eight-game winless streak to start the schedule destroyed virtually any chance of the club ending its four year playoff drought. From this point on, the 2009-10 campaign is a 72-game audition for those that wish to return to the hockey team next year.
The overwhelming majority of players would be wise to steer clear of long-term mortgages.
On the plus side for the Maple Leafs, early indications point to Gustavsson firmly solidifying the club in goal. The Swedish import is a calming presence between the pipes – effectively using his size and square-to-the-puck positioning. Of the 12 goals that have been scored on him in the NHL, just about all have been prime chances for the opposition. He did take a penalty for playing the puck outside the restricted area behind the net, then later said he was "vaguely" aware of the rule - rather odd, given the Leafs have two goalie coaches. But, you live and learn. I was impressed with the way he reacted to the overtime goal. A bit of emotion after a tough loss is essential, and Gustavsson clearly was pissed off. It stood in contrast to the apparent indifference of Vesa Toskala, who is also a competitor, but almost never shows he’s upset after a bad goal or a loss.
There isn’t a player on this club that shouldn’t be disgusted at allowing another season to go down the drain so quickly.
E-mail howardlberger@gmail.com
While skating beside the net, Komisarek jostled with the ex-Montreal forward and his stick came up about two-thirds of the way toward Ribeiro’s face. The Dallas player either anticipated getting hit by the stick, or felt he could make it look good for the officials. He instinctively threw back his head – not nearly with as much force as a player that actually gets clipped, but enough to make it seem as if Komisarek had struck him in the facial area. The whistle immediately sounded and off went the Toronto blue-liner. A television replay from ice level clearly showed that Komisarek’s stick never came close to striking Ribeiro and that Ribeiro “sold” the call with his little head routine.
On the TSN telecast, analyst Pierre McGuire lauded Komisarek for arguing the phantom penalty, and he did not approve of Ribeiro’s theatrics. He and broadcast partner, Gord Miller, seemed rather disgusted with Ribeiro for a cheap ploy, but it turned into a brilliant tactical maneuver. While playing with two extra men, the Stars took a 2-1 lead on Brad Richards’ second goal of the night, just 20 seconds after the Komisarek infraction. Even amateur lip-readers could see the Leafs’ defenseman shrugging from the box and telling the referee “I didn’t even touch him.” Behind the visitors’ bench, coach Ron Wilson glared at the official and said “that was a bad call” several times. Komisarek and Wilson were entirely accurate, but the damage had already been done.
Without Richards’ powerplay tally, Dallas would not have withstood consecutive Toronto goals by Lee Stempniak and Nikolai Kulemin later in the period. Instead, the Stars had to fight back from just a one-goal deficit in the waning moments of regulation time, and they succeeded when Ribeiro (who else?) knotted the score, 3-3, with 2:45 left on the clock.
The Leafs held on for a point in the standings and appeared to have Dallas in a vulnerable position.
Coming into the match, the Stars had already lost four overtime/shootout decisions this season. But, sloppy defensive coverage by Kulemin allowed Whitby native James Neal to deposit a fat rebound behind Jonas Gustavsson at 2:57 of the extra frame, and the Maple Leafs’ win streak ended at one.
The Toronto goalie was visibly upset after the goal, stomping off the ice in disgust. He was either ticked off at the rebound he allowed or – more likely – at stumbling ever-so slightly while moving from left to right in his crease to try and cover Neal’s shot. Whatever the case, the Leafs were unable to preserve a one-goal lead with less than three minutes to play and have garnered just four of 20 available points in the Eastern Conference standings with a 1-7-2 record.
As such, this season has quickly become one of evaluation for general manager Brian Burke and his staff. Though he wouldn’t admit to it on his death-bed, Burke understands the Leafs’ eight-game winless streak to start the schedule destroyed virtually any chance of the club ending its four year playoff drought. From this point on, the 2009-10 campaign is a 72-game audition for those that wish to return to the hockey team next year.
The overwhelming majority of players would be wise to steer clear of long-term mortgages.
On the plus side for the Maple Leafs, early indications point to Gustavsson firmly solidifying the club in goal. The Swedish import is a calming presence between the pipes – effectively using his size and square-to-the-puck positioning. Of the 12 goals that have been scored on him in the NHL, just about all have been prime chances for the opposition. He did take a penalty for playing the puck outside the restricted area behind the net, then later said he was "vaguely" aware of the rule - rather odd, given the Leafs have two goalie coaches. But, you live and learn. I was impressed with the way he reacted to the overtime goal. A bit of emotion after a tough loss is essential, and Gustavsson clearly was pissed off. It stood in contrast to the apparent indifference of Vesa Toskala, who is also a competitor, but almost never shows he’s upset after a bad goal or a loss.
There isn’t a player on this club that shouldn’t be disgusted at allowing another season to go down the drain so quickly.
E-mail howardlberger@gmail.com
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