Kevin Francis: Sens/Leafs Gameday - Matt Murray game time decision, yet again!

Murray is worst than when Hasek was here when it came to always needing to be 100% healthy or in his head, he just couldn't handle it.

Per Friedman - posted a minute ago.

Erik Kallgren called up by TOR, which indicates Matt Murray is headed to the long-term injury list.

Samsonov will likely be in net for the Leafs, How about 6 to 4 Ottawa. I'm not a fan of either team but I usually look over the schedule and pick the best match up. So I will watch this game and then my favorite rivalry in all of sports. Edmonton and Calgary. I saw the Leafs in there opener and they looked underwhelming. I'm also a Brady Tkachuk fan, He's always fun to watch.

They are saying 4 weeks for Murray, after which he will be back for two games, then likely hurt for another month. Rinse, repeat. If he doesn't come back and stick around, I suspect this player is done for good. Quite the fall from grace.

6-2 Leafs, gotta remember who the HC is for OTT.

The good news is that Zaitsev is back and TO has last change.

The good news is that Zaitsev is back and TO has last change.
- Whatisavailable

if zeitsev if playing then 7-2 leafs.

Murray is worst than when Hasek was here when it came to always needing to be 100% healthy or in his head, he just couldn't handle it.
- LawyerSens4Life

Oh as I tweeted a few days ago, Murray told the coaching staff during the preseason when they were doing up which goalie would play certain games, he asked NOT to play Ottawa! Sure he might be injured, but his teammates from both Ottawa and Pittsburgh got very tired of his act, with some of them saying they could never tell....sadly, if he really was injured or not because it happened so often from harmless stuff.

The good news is that Zaitsev is back and TO has last change.
- Whatisavailable

If Holden isn't injured, then DJ better be ready to take some serious heat for doing it!

Quote feature doesn't seem to work for me now.

To Kevin: sad if true on Murray. I was actually happy when we first secured him. I had some doubts when we quickly gave him that big contract. Now, I'm not surprised.

At least we scored first - go Pinto!

if zeitsev if playing then 7-2 leafs.
- Mithos

I've messaged a few people down in Toronto and nobody saw the Zaitsev lineup change coming.....

Quote feature doesn't seem to work for me now.

To Kevin: sad if true on Murray. I was actually happy when we first secured him. I had some doubts when we quickly gave him that big contract. Now, I'm not surprised.

At least we scored first - go Pinto!
- Panzer_IVA

Ditto my friend!

They are saying 4 weeks for Murray, after which he will be back for two games, then likely hurt for another month. Rinse, repeat. If he doesn't come back and stick around, I suspect this player is done for good. Quite the fall from grace.
- Bartacus

So true, honestly, he was a serious head case here, I wrote about part of it way in February when nobody would dare too, but his teammates drew tired of his act. I wonder how long he survives in Toronto.

Solid 1st period by Ottawa, Forsberg stood tall when needed. Now let's hope the 2nd period improves from the Buffalo game. Long change this period for the D, fingers crossed!

leafs open the flood gates

leafs open the flood gates
- Mithos

Leafs start changing the momentum with their forecheck the last 5 minutes of the 2nd period, when Zaitsev is out there. Very frustrating when the Sens had a very solid first 15 min. of the 2nd period.

leafs open the flood gates
- Mithos

The last 2 times that Zaitsev was out there Keefe had the Matthews line out there, dominating! Ugh!.....

The last 2 times that Zaitsev was out there Keefe had the Matthews line out there, dominating! Ugh!.....
- Kevin Francis

i see no structure when the sens defend, they run like headless chickens in their zone....

The nylander breakaway, zaitsev was legit just standing on the blue line. Then he went back in and left the front of the net to play up on the defence. It's mind boggling how awful he is yet DJ thinks he is a better option than Holden....unreal! JBD and Thomson are better options too.

i see no structure when the sens defend, they run like headless chickens in their zone....
- Mithos

They really do chase the puck a lot as a group.....

So far Stutzle and Forsberg are Ottawa's best players. The Kastelec, Watson and Kelly line is their best line. Giroux, DeBrincat and Norris are completely invisible followed closely by the Pinto, Motte and Joseph line. Stutzle and a little of Batherson are noticeable. Their D is getting forechecked big time and only Stutzle seems and that fourth line seems interested in coming back and helping out.

Even in the 3rd period with the change not as long for the Sens D, Zaitsev manages to screw it up.
Like I said last game, the puck isn't moving north enough with this defense, but that also falls on the coaching staff as the structure is lacking.

So far Stutzle and Forsberg are Ottawa's best players. The Kastelec, Watson and Kelly line is their best line. Giroux, DeBrincat and Norris are completely invisible followed closely by the Pinto, Motte and Joseph line. Stutzle and a little of Batherson are noticeable. Their D is getting forechecked big time and only Stutzle seems and that fourth line seems interested in coming back and helping out.
- Whatisavailable

Great points, the Giroux line has been very quiet........Joseph has been absolutely non-existent....Motte at least carries the puck a little more than the others on his line. Defensively, it's just so glaring that the structure just isn't there!

Great points, the Giroux line has been very quiet........Joseph has been absolutely non-existent....Motte at least carries the puck a little more than the others on his line. Defensively, it's just so glaring that the structure just isn't there!
- Kevin Francis

Tkachuk just stands around watching the game and if the Sens get possession he takes off looking for the stretch pass.

Well there's Keely's contribution for the night. Smith should play him up on the first line to reward him.