Good day sports fans!
I am going to keep this one short because my finger is still busted up and typing is turning into a chore. That being said, I don’t know that I would have much to say about last night’s game either way.
We continue to see, as a fan base, the same stupid mistakes over and over that keep this team from competing and being successful; slow starts and puck watching.
I know it’s easy for guys like me to complain who, despite having played hockey my entire life, have never played professionally, but this seems like some hockey 101 type problems here. You are a professional hockey team.
This is your job and you are paid based on statistics and team play. Starting games like the Toronto Maple Leafs have of late is simply not acceptable…especially when you have teams like the Calgary Flames who are busting their butts every night and not even expected to challenge for the playoffs!
I don’t know how else to break it down. This team doesn’t have the compete level required to be a playoff contender; they really don’t. The “heart and soul… guys of the team seemingly show up when the games appear easy, and when things get tough seem to blend into the crowd. I don’t mean to say that the team lacks leadership, because we’ve had this conversation far too many times.
But what else can I say at this point? Is it the coaching staff that needs to get energy from their guys? Should the team need to take ownership themselves? I don’t know…interestingly enough it’s take your kids to work day and they seem to be learning stuff about what their parents do so one day they too can be effective worker bees.
Perhaps the Leafs should go sit in on a few Flames practices/games and see what it means to play as a cohesive, hardworking unit? Just a thought.
In closing, and in addition to the above, this team needs to stop watching the damn puck in their own end. Not sure why this constantly comes up and how the coaching hasn’t seemingly addressed this yet. The Leafs constantly stand still and appeared lost in their own end.
You’d think that they are on a never ending penalty kill or something. There is no pressure on the puck carrier, it seems as though they are either waiting for a shot on net or to intercept a pass. Here’s a thought – move your damn legs and win a puck battle.
Am I alone and being too critical? What do you think?