**** Myself and Eric Engels will be covering the news and happenings of Team Canada for the length of the Sochi Olympic Games, as well as covering any news related to players on the Leafs and Habs who are on other Olympic squads. It should be a fun experience for the Hockeybuzz community to interact during Team Canada's games. ****
The Toronto Maple Leafs got off to their characteristically slow start in Tampa, but survived an early onslaught and found their stride midway through the first period in a 4-1 victory over the Lightning at the Tampa Bay Times-Forum on Thursday.
The Leafs successfully bounced back from one of their worst efforts of the season in Sunrise, FL two nights before, with the only resemblance between the two games being the final score. Mason Raymond, Jay McClement, James van Riemsdyk and Tyler Bozak scored for Toronto and Jonathan Bernier made 33 saves for his 21st victory of the season.
Tampa goalie Ben Bishop was equally impressive, allowing one goal on 22 shots, but did not emerge from the locker room for the third period after suffering a reported lower body injury and was replaced by backup Cedrick Desjardins. Ondrej Palat tallied the only goal for Tampa, who have lost four of their last five and twice to Toronto in the last two weeks.
“Outside of the first 10 minutes, I thought we played a pretty solid game.… Leafs coach Randy Carlyle said following the game. “We gave up some chances but we created some chances with our forecheck and we were opportunistic in the hockey game.…
With the win and Montreal’s victory over Vancouver on Thursday, both the Leafs and Habs move to within one point of the Lightning in the Atlantic Division standings.
Toronto showed more speed and energy in the final game of the two game road trip with a different lineup configuration. Carlyle opted to go with 11 forwards and seven defensemen, inserting defenseman Paul Ranger into the lineup for the first time in a month against his former team, but the Leafs played most of the game with just 10 forwards after Frazer McLaren took a shot off the skate.
Nikolai Kulemin was played center for the first time in his NHL career on a makeshift line with Troy Bodie and Mason Raymond and made a nice pass on Raymond’s opening goal midway through the second period.
David Clarkson registered a point in his second straight game, an assist on McClement’s third period goal and is looking to be taking steps towards putting his first half struggles behind him.
“Clarky’s kinda gotten an unfair shake in a lot of ways.… Carlyle said. “There’s a lot of things that went on outside; injuries and suspension and we’re just trying to find a nice fit for him.…
Toronto will face the Vancouver Canucks at Air Canada Center in their final game before the Olympic break on Saturday. The game is an unusual 6pm start, most likely to give players departing for Sochi extra time to get their connecting flights. The Canucks have lost six straight games and the first four games of a five game Eastern road swing, while the Maple Leafs have won six games in a row at the ACC.
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There is not much evidence that the Leafs will make any roster moves before the Olympic trade freeze at 3pm on Friday. The suspected impetus for a roster move to be made was the imminent return of center Dave Bolland to the lineup, which would take his $3.375 Million off of LTIR and on the Leafs salary cap, but Bolland is not ready to return on Saturday, so he will remain on LTIR through the break.
The rumored casualty of this salary cap change could be pending UFA Nikolai Kulemin. According to an article in Friday’s National Post by Michael Traikos, Kulemin is not looking to leave Toronto.
“I would love to stay, I like everything here. It’s the only team I’ve played for. I like the organization and everything.… Kulemin said. “We’ll see how it goes. Nothing changed for me when (former line mate and friend Mikhail) Grabovski left. Yeah, I was really close with him. But there’s a lot of guys here that have played with me for a long time.…
TSN Insider Darren Dreger reported last week that Toronto may have interest in moving Kulemin, who will likely be looking for more than his current $2.8 Million salary and could use interest from the KHL as leverage over the summer. Dreger indicated that Leafs GM Dave Nonis would be looking for a substantial return in any deal for the winger.
Pittsburgh has long been rumored to have interest in Kulemin due to his connection with star center Evgeni Malkin and GM Ray Shero is looking to add a winger before March 5th due to the loss of Pascal Dupuis for the season. According to Traikos, the Penguins had a scout at the Toronto – Florida game on Tuesday.
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Today marks the 37th anniversary of Maple Leafs great Darryl Sittler’s 10 point game against the Boston Bruins.
1976 - Sittler's 10 point record still remains active to this day! #TMLtalk #NHL #UWindsor397 pic.twitter.com/AzN3XERpfn
— TodayInLeafsHistory (@Leafs_History) February 7, 2014INTERESTED IN TICKETS TO THE GAME???: Get Toronto Maple Leafs Tickets For Any Game At FanXchange.com.
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