Case in point, the Leafs played a team that's usually pretty scrappy tonight and instead, Philly acted like a very well behaved kids table at a wedding. Honestly, I wouldn't be surprised if they saw the highlights from Saturday and decided they didn't want any of that to start off their road trip.

On a sort of related note, Orr's attempt to kill Plekanec might have accomplished something odd that he hadn't intended or considered. Guys like Colton are expected to show up for their 2 minutes a game, fight the other team's tough guy, and call it a night. Skating full speed down center ice towards a skill player with bad intentions is kind of a weird thing for an "enforcer" to do. He's probably got a few teams wondering.
- Jeffmt

Philly hasn't been tough for 3-4 years now. Analysts still like to call them gritty, and we have it in our heads they are cause they always have been. But seriously, that's not a tough team. Even moreso with Hartnell hurt.

Pens are the tough team in their division

No loud cheering.

Your mom has the early shift at Walmart tomorrow morning.
- Atomic Wedgie

How was the atmosphere inside the arena tonight wedgie.

Case in point, the Leafs played a team that's usually pretty scrappy tonight and instead, Philly acted like a very well behaved kids table at a wedding. Honestly, I wouldn't be surprised if they saw the highlights from Saturday and decided they didn't want any of that to start off their road trip.

On a sort of related note, Orr's attempt to kill Plekanec might have accomplished something odd that he hadn't intended or considered. Guys like Colton are expected to show up for their 2 minutes a game, fight the other team's tough guy, and call it a night. Skating full speed down center ice towards a skill player with bad intentions is kind of a weird thing for an "enforcer" to do. He's probably got a few teams wondering.
- Jeffmt

You've gotta wonder if a guy like Kessel or Kadri get more space when Orr is going full-on crazy.

Cherry's right on when he says that everybody on this team is a foot taller this year.

tonight... McClement played with Grabo 4 or 5 games in a row
- Big_Lightnin

And Saturday. Watch the games

Phaneuf pretty much made Giroux invisible. Funny how he's been doing that this year...
- Leeman4Gilmour

I've been really impressed with how he's handled other team's stars so far this season. I don't think we've really been lit up by any of the usual suspects so far.

You've gotta wonder if a guy like Kessel or Kadri get more space when Orr is going full-on crazy.

Cherry's right on when he says that everybody on this team is a foot taller this year.
- Leeman4Gilmour

Orr going full potato is a good thing.

You seem to be under the impression that enforcers have to match, minute for minute, the ice time of the other team's pest to be effective.
- OBGYN Kenobi

You seem to be under the impression that a rat is going to be on the ice at the same time. It's really easy for the rat to just avoid the 4th line and avoid the fight with a guy he doesn't want to fight with. If Orr jumps him, he gets his team a PP. Who wins that exchange?

Point is, it's still good to have a middleweight who can not only keep up with pests but also deal with them if and when others can't.

Not for the past two games that we've blown out teams. I'm pretty sure McClement will stay on the 4th and Komarov on the 2nd for the time being.
- Pen15

point was - you said "can't have McClement on 3rd line C with Kadri there."

clearly that's not an issue

It was over .....that's the only reason the refs thru the 10's at them. I like Brown though ....let him, McLaren and Orr rotate on the 4th line around McLement.
- The Law

Shouldn't have to even deal with him, regardless of the situation. A rotation on the 4th line wouldn't be so bad depending on the opposition.

I think Mac goes ....not because of Brown ...but because when Lupul comes back (assuming they're healthy) they have Lupul, Kessel, JVR, Kulemin, Frattin, Komarov and Mac looking for minutes on those top 3 lines.

MacArthur should have been traded when he had 60 points two years ago. But he's a pending UFA and the Leafs have no room for him. Better to get some picks for him.

brown wont draw back in until carlyle decides to mix up the 4th line

i'd bet on it.

and lupul is still 4 and half weeks away.. no need to even consider him yet.. there will be other injuries along the way
- Dozzer

Agreed.

I think MacA is being massively overlooked on these boards though. Either way, I'm glad to see the line dominate tonight.

It's been a while since I've thoroughly enjoyed watching the Leafs in 2 games straight. Haven't seen them play like this in over a decade.

And Saturday. Watch the games
- SameOld

saturday they split time.

read the whole conversation or (frank) off

point was - you said "can't have McClement on 3rd line C with Kadri there."

clearly that's not an issue
- Big_Lightnin

It was an issue. The line wasn't effective. You had two C's on one line.

You seem to be under the impression that a rat is going to be on the ice at the same time. It's really easy for the rat to just avoid the 4th line and avoid the fight with a guy he doesn't want to fight with. If Orr jumps him, he gets his team a PP. Who wins that exchange?

Point is, it's still good to have a middleweight who can not only keep up with pests but also deal with them if and when others can't.
- Two_For_Truth

So this rat you speak so highly of that gets 15 minutes of ice each game is going to suddenly dart off the ice for the bench every time Orr or another heavy weight steps on the ice?

Mission accomplished! Thanks for proving our point!

saturday they split time.

read the whole conversation or (frank) off
- Big_Lightnin

Komarov was with the 2nd and McClement was on the 4th the whole game against mtl

No loud cheering.

Your mom has the early shift at Walmart tomorrow morning.
- Atomic Wedgie

Didn't know Wal-Mart hired the dead.

It was an issue. The line wasn't effective. You had two C's on one line.
- Pen15

The line was a checking line, and was very effective at that...

You seem to be under the impression that a rat is going to be on the ice at the same time. It's really easy for the rat to just avoid the 4th line and avoid the fight with a guy he doesn't want to fight with. If Orr jumps him, he gets his team a PP. Who wins that exchange?

Point is, it's still good to have a middleweight who can not only keep up with pests but also deal with them if and when others can't.
- Two_For_Truth

We do.

Philly hasn't been tough for 3-4 years now. Analysts still like to call them gritty, and we have it in our heads they are cause they always have been. But seriously, that's not a tough team. Even moreso with Hartnell hurt.

Pens are the tough team in their division
- Big_Lightnin

Maybe tough isn't the right word, but they do tend to be a little chippy. Usually the Leafs get pushed around by them. I didn't even really see them try to do that tonight.

Komarov was with the 2nd and McClement was on the 4th the whole game against mtl
- Pen15

Carlyle swapped them a few times actually

So this rat you speak so highly of that gets 15 minutes of ice each game is going to suddenly dart off the ice for the bench every time Orr or another heavy weight steps on the ice?

Mission accomplished! Thanks for proving our point!
- OBGYN Kenobi

Or maybe the rat avoids a fight with Orr which forces Orr to either take an instigating penalty by jumping him or do nothing as he watches the rat get two or three times as many shifts as him where he can't do anything about it at all.

Didn't know Wal-Mart hired the dead.
- Two_For_Truth

We do.
- Pen15

By having to kill a penalty? Rats are looking to either take more talented players off their game, off the ice or draw a penalty. Forcing guys like Orr to take an instigating penalty just gives the rats team an advantage.

How was the atmosphere inside the arena tonight wedgie.
- LeafMan

Ha ha ha - pretty quiet and angry after 38 seconds.

1st period was pretty subdued - even after they tied it. Nobody believed

2nd period was like Mardi Gras. We mocked Breezy until they pulled him.

Good times - until Reimer went down.

We didn't get any update, so the 3rd was more subdued than usual.

I'll ask again: what happened to Reimer?

The line was a checking line, and was very effective at that...
- Big_Lightnin

On a team with no true #1C, and in reality, no true #1 line, you need as much scoring depth as you can get.

In addition, Kadri and Frats back-checking this year really made McClement's spot on that line redundant.

Fact is, RC made that one change to the lines, and we have outscored our competition 11-2 over the past 2 games.

Or maybe the rat avoids a fight with Orr which forces Orr to either take an instigating penalty by jumping him or do nothing as he watches the rat get two or three times as many shifts as him where he can't do anything about it at all.
- Two_For_Truth

why not just let fraser or kostka fight the rat then?

brown simply does not warrant a lineup change.. the fact that he fights middleweights is being grossly over-valued here... last year i would agree with you.. but there is lots of mid ranged grit on this team now.