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Toronto Maple Leafs Blogger •
It is an undeniable fact that the Toronto Maple Leafs are playing a more complete game since the 5 game road trip began in Vancouver last Saturday. That night, they fell victim to the best goalie in the NHL, managing to get only one puck past Roberto Luongo. On Monday, thanks mostly to numerous power play opportunities given by an unhinged Anaheim Ducks team, they were able to net 6 goals and also benefited from stable and competent goaltending from Jonas Gustavsson. On Wednesday, the Leafs outplayed the Dallas Stars in the opening frame, outshooting the home team by double digits, but were unable to beat Marty Turco for the first goal. The resilience shown by the Leafs in Dallas was encouraging. After each of the Brad Richards goals, the Leafs managed to respond in kind rather quickly, with goals from Nikolai Kulemin and Lee Stempniak. The Leafs even took the lead with less than 7 minutes to go on another tally by Kulemin, but a perfect deflection by Mike Ribeiro late in the 3rd tied up the game and seemed to deflate the Leafs. In the overtime, the Stars carried the play, outshooting the Leafs 6-2 and scoring the winning goal on a rebound from Gustavsson right on to the stick of James Neal. The Swedish netminder has played 3 quality games so far and is making Brian Burke look good. His composure, competiveness and size are all impressive and it will be difficult for Vesa Toskala to unseat Gustavsson.
Vesa Toskala, who was injured on Oct 12th versus the New York Rangers, was given medical clearance to return to the lineup. Joey MacDonald was returned to the AHL Marlies, but he did not go alone. Viktor Stalberg, who has managed only one assist in 8 games playing on one of the top 2 lines, was also sent to the AHL. Stalberg has looked a bit tentative on the ice since the hit he received from the Senators’ Anton Volchenkov . Stalberg does have NHL caliber abilities and will likely be back soon. Jiri Tlusty has been called up to take Stalberg’s place. Tlusty, the former 1st round pick, has scored 10 points with the Marlies this season, building on the success that he had last year in the AHL. The 21 year old Czech has yet to prove that he can play effectively and consistently in the NHL, but will get another chance.
It is fitting that on the eve of Halloween, the Leafs return to their own personal House of Horrors, the Hot Sauce and Blue Cheese Arena to face the red-hot Buffalo Sabres. The Sabres have started the season as if shot out of a cannon, with a 7-1-1 record, currently 3rd in the Eastern Conference. They are getting stellar goaltending from Ryan Miller, who is vying for the top goalie spot for the US Olympic team in Vancouver next February, but just as responsible for their success is the balanced scoring they are getting from their forwards. Four players, Derek Roy, Jason Pominville, Tim Connolly and Clarke MacArthur are tied for the team lead in points with 7 and Thomas Vanek, who was slightly injured earlier in the season, leads the team in goals with 4. The most impressive Sabre so far this season has been 19 year old behemoth Tyler Myers. At 6’7”, his physical presence is imposing on the ice, but his skating, offensive and defensive abilities are just as impressive. Barring injuries, Myers appears to be a potential No. 1 defenseman.
The Leafs all – time record in Buffalo is a pitiful 25-52-6-1, with almost every game(most of them losses) since 1979 attended by myself, which might explain my sunny disposition when it comes to the Maple Leafs. It is shameful that the Leafs fail to play better in Buffalo, since the arena is usually packed with diehard fans who cannot manage to get tickets to games at the ACC. It does not seem to matter how good or bad the Sabres are when the Leafs play in Buffalo, they just seem to always win. To go along with the Halloween theme, the Leafs are starting “The Monster” in net for his 3rd consecutive start. Hopefully, he will give the Sabres nightmares tonight.
From the desk of Mike “In Buffalo” Augello
Vesa Toskala, who was injured on Oct 12th versus the New York Rangers, was given medical clearance to return to the lineup. Joey MacDonald was returned to the AHL Marlies, but he did not go alone. Viktor Stalberg, who has managed only one assist in 8 games playing on one of the top 2 lines, was also sent to the AHL. Stalberg has looked a bit tentative on the ice since the hit he received from the Senators’ Anton Volchenkov . Stalberg does have NHL caliber abilities and will likely be back soon. Jiri Tlusty has been called up to take Stalberg’s place. Tlusty, the former 1st round pick, has scored 10 points with the Marlies this season, building on the success that he had last year in the AHL. The 21 year old Czech has yet to prove that he can play effectively and consistently in the NHL, but will get another chance.
It is fitting that on the eve of Halloween, the Leafs return to their own personal House of Horrors, the Hot Sauce and Blue Cheese Arena to face the red-hot Buffalo Sabres. The Sabres have started the season as if shot out of a cannon, with a 7-1-1 record, currently 3rd in the Eastern Conference. They are getting stellar goaltending from Ryan Miller, who is vying for the top goalie spot for the US Olympic team in Vancouver next February, but just as responsible for their success is the balanced scoring they are getting from their forwards. Four players, Derek Roy, Jason Pominville, Tim Connolly and Clarke MacArthur are tied for the team lead in points with 7 and Thomas Vanek, who was slightly injured earlier in the season, leads the team in goals with 4. The most impressive Sabre so far this season has been 19 year old behemoth Tyler Myers. At 6’7”, his physical presence is imposing on the ice, but his skating, offensive and defensive abilities are just as impressive. Barring injuries, Myers appears to be a potential No. 1 defenseman.
The Leafs all – time record in Buffalo is a pitiful 25-52-6-1, with almost every game(most of them losses) since 1979 attended by myself, which might explain my sunny disposition when it comes to the Maple Leafs. It is shameful that the Leafs fail to play better in Buffalo, since the arena is usually packed with diehard fans who cannot manage to get tickets to games at the ACC. It does not seem to matter how good or bad the Sabres are when the Leafs play in Buffalo, they just seem to always win. To go along with the Halloween theme, the Leafs are starting “The Monster” in net for his 3rd consecutive start. Hopefully, he will give the Sabres nightmares tonight.
From the desk of Mike “In Buffalo” Augello
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