I hate to say this but the D should not throw the puck up the boards on Kessels side, we get hemmed in, he is starting to bail out on the plays a lot, it's like he has an injury or something
- LeafMan

Yeah, it almost seemed that way. Our whole top 6 just seemed nervous and sluggish.

At one point I wondered if the flu was going around or something. Even in past losses, we rarely looked that deflated and hesitant.

Tonight we'll find out what kind of stuff the Leafs are made of. Stop the losing streak at 1 game.

Never said they played poor....I just didn't really like their game OVERALL. They were hemmed in their zone for extended periods, which is becoming a theme for this team once again. Like what has already been said, Toronto desperately needs someone that can make that first pass out of the zone, they've been having major issues with it the past few games, and especially last night.
- blahman20

Yesterday I definitely started to see the Kostka that didn't become an NHLer before this season. He seems to react to passes directed at him more after the fact, rather than read the play and be in the right place to accept the pass. At the very least, keep moving to give the puckhandler a better target to pass at...

I hate to say this but the D should not throw the puck up the boards on Kessels side, we get hemmed in, he is starting to bail out on the plays a lot, it's like he has an injury or something
- LeafMan

i wish it was an injury

kessel always goes through a phase during the season where he avoids body contact like plague

he's never going to dish it out.. but he has to be okay with taking it so he can get into the better shooting lanes

very allison-esque

the Reichel would of been better
- dragus84

If given the choice between skating in very slowly and attempting the deke, or just skating in hard and ripping a shot from 15 feet out (not Reichel's 40 footer, ha ha), I'd prefer just to take the shot.

i wish it was an injury

kessel always goes through a phase during the season where he avoids body contact like plague

he's never going to dish it out.. but he has to be okay with taking it so he can get into the better shooting lanes
- Dozzer

there was one single play that kessel looked good on.

he came over the blue line, drew both defenders to him and slid the puck to bozak... who shot it dead center in the chest of price.

If given the choice between skating in very slowly and attempting the deke, or just skating in hard and ripping a shot from 15 feet out (not Reichel's 40 footer, ha ha), I'd prefer just to take the shot.
- Leeman4Gilmour

The odd thing is grabs usually come with speed. He has moves, but coming in slow like that and not making any moves is very perplexing.

i wish it was an injury

kessel always goes through a phase during the season where he avoids body contact like plague

he's never going to dish it out.. but he has to be okay with taking it so he can get into the better shooting lanes
- Dozzer

I'm more concerned that he is not using his speed effectively. Too often he crosses the blue line and then just circles back into the middle slowing up the play. He has to try to blow by the defence and cut into the net or use the space he creates to find one of his linemates

there was one single play that kessel looked good on.

he came over the blue line, drew both defenders to him and slid the puck to bozak... who shot it dead center in the chest of price.
- dragus84

Bozak is killing that line. Can't get open, can't convert when given the chance. He is dragging them down.

Yesterday I definitely started to see the Kostka that didn't become an NHLer before this season. He seems to react to passes directed at him more after the fact, rather than read the play and be in the right place to accept the pass. At the very least, keep moving to give the puckhandler a better target to pass at...
- p_zub

I fear that the rest of the league has caught up to Kostka's conditioning now. He's lost his advantage in that regard.

He's still been decent, but not so good that I couldn't see him in the press box for Liles or Gardiner.

And I hate him on the PP. That second unit has been useless. We pretty much just get 1 minute power plays.

there was one single play that kessel looked good on.

he came over the blue line, drew both defenders to him and slid the puck to bozak... who shot it dead center in the chest of price.
- dragus84

at least he hit the (frank)ing net

man oh man.. the leafs need to focus on taking something off their shots and just putting it on the net..

i dont know.... have franson teach them all hows it done.. they're all trying to shoot cannons

I'm more concerned that he is not using his speed effectively. Too often he crosses the blue line and then just circles back into the middle slowing up the play. He has to try to blow by the defence and cut into the net or use the space he creates to find one of his linemates
- Canada Cup

exactly.. he is trying to play without getting touched.. take the damn hit phil and get into the better scoring lane

a reasonable fan!

i'd also like to see stats after blowout matches, the revenge factor can't be denied...in most cases
- Habitants98

Don't look at any of last years Leafs-Boston games...no "revenge factor" applied in those debacles.

Didn't play well in Philly. That is the game to a "t" they should be playing. Saying they didn't play well when it was clearly one of their best efforts isn't exactly fair.
- burn

Meh i'll agree to disagree.

Bozak is killing that line. Can't get open, can't convert when given the chance. He is dragging them down.
- burn

Yup. He's an effective role player, and not his fault he's forced to be a 1C. Although, yesterday the whole line was invisible, it would be nice to have someone with some creativity and finish playing down the middle on the 1st line.

exactly.. he is trying to play without getting touched.. take the damn hit phil and get into the better scoring lane
- Dozzer

that's simply not going to happen. He is who he is.

there was one single play that kessel looked good on.

he came over the blue line, drew both defenders to him and slid the puck to bozak... who shot it dead center in the chest of price.
- dragus84

That's just it.

He can't cut to the net in double coverage, and when he stops up and pulls the two defenders up with him, what's he going to do? Dish it to Bozak?

I'd love to see Kadri up there. He can match Kessel's speed and seems to have a knack for reading the play.

at least he hit the (frank)ing net

man oh man.. the leafs need to focus on taking something off their shots and just putting it on the net..

i dont know.... have franson teach them all hows it done.. they're all trying to shoot cannons
- Dozzer

Very very true. I get so frustrated watching the games.. either guys are trying ot put the puck through the net and miss by a mile.

Or they wind up for so long the lanes close and the puck bounces off shin pads everywhere.

I'm obviously riled up after last nights exceptionally bad game.. but shots taken/shots on net is probly a pretty low ratio.

Bozak is killing that line. Can't get open, can't convert when given the chance. He is dragging them down.
- burn

Agreed again...I'd love to see Kadri get a chance on the top line, just to provide some creativity out there for Kessel and JVR. I know Carlyle is worried about that lines D if he were to put Kadri with Kessel.

Kessel has really pissed me off the past few games. In the Philly game he looked like he was playing scared out there, literally. He got a fluke goal, but other than that I hated his game. Last night was brutal again, he doesn't compete for the puck, he doesn't go into the corners (he actually AVOIDS the corners). The only time he seems to want to get engaged into the play is when he gets mad or is getting bothered a lot, and then he starts to try and use his stick a lot for hacking and slashing. He needs to start playing like he cares.
- blahman20

Glad I'm not the only one who has noticed this. If he can get the puck, but has to take a check, he isn't going anywhere near it. How does someone make it to the NHL and have a fear of going into the corners

Not saying he isn't talented as hell, but my god he needs to start competing for some pucks. It's hard to see rookies (gallagher) who are 5'8 battling in the corners and driving the net, showing that he wants the puck, when you have a player who skates around and actively avoids any of that. Kessel is 6 feet tall, and probably weighs close to 200 lbs. No sense of urgency, no sense of passion, the guy simply doesn't want to get the puck. He wants someone to sauce one up for him ever play. In all honesty, when I played junior, my coach would have benched anyone of the players on the team for playing that soft and not going into the dirty areas.

As much as I love kessel and that filthy shot, I really think he needs to nut up.

Toronto has to come out skating tonight, if they don't, we'll see a repeat of yesterdays game. They can't take NYI lightly, they have some very nice top end skill and will bury the puck if given the chance.

Agreed again...I'd love to see Kadri get a chance on the top line, just to provide some creativity out there for Kessel and JVR. I know Carlyle is worried about that lines D if he were to put Kadri with Kessel.
- blahman20

Kadri is no longer a liability in his own zone, he has probably been the best centre in getting the puck out of the zone and supporting the D.

I don't know how many more times I can take Grabovski serving up freebies up the middle in our own zone.

What?
- burn

I golfed with Deon last summer here in PEI
Nice guy

However if your going to run all over the Ice hitting people you have to answer the Bell

It's not all about 5 minutes and last night's game its about the next 30 games

He picked up his stick and handed Prust his glove

And Prust would have got the extra time as the instigator

Even Toews took on Thronton giving up 3" and 30 lbs

Deon......WTF

Agreed again...I'd love to see Kadri get a chance on the top line, just to provide some creativity out there for Kessel and JVR. I know Carlyle is worried about that lines D if he were to put Kadri with Kessel.
- blahman20

I start drooling thinking about Kadri getting the space and time that Bozak gets by virtue of playing with Kessel.

Glad I'm not the only one who has noticed this. If he can get the puck, but has to take a check, he isn't going anywhere near it. How does someone make it to the NHL and have a fear of going into the corners

Not saying he isn't talented as hell, but my god he needs to start competing for some pucks. It's hard to see rookies (gallagher) who are 5'8 battling in the corners and driving the net, showing that he wants the puck, when you have a player who skates around and actively avoids any of that. Kessel is 6 feet tall, and probably weighs close to 200 lbs. No sense of urgency, no sense of passion, the guy simply doesn't want to get the puck. He wants someone to sauce one up for him ever play. In all honesty, when I played junior, my coach would have benched anyone of the players on the team for playing that soft and not going into the dirty areas.

As much as I love kessel and that filthy shot, I really think he needs to nut up.
- Fatty-Patty

Agreed 100%...We know he's never going to be lighting guys up or going into the corners REALLY hard, but for gods sake AT LEAST compete for the puck a long the wall. With his speed he should be winning nearly ever foot race for pucks, yet he shys away from making the initial contact always.

Meh i'll agree to disagree.
- blahman20

That Philly game effort and execution > than recent games ( last night, tb, ottx2, fla, canesx2). That was almost perfect(as much they can with what they have)