Alarm bells

Bruins 2, Leafs 1, me zzzz.
That was the thought, anyway, as they finished up in Boston last night, one of those text-commentary nights here at Team Star.
Here's Pat Quinn, from Paul Hunter's game report, clearly not ready to turn the night's forensics into a Hannu Toivonen lovefest with a blown kiss toward his own 'keeper, Mikael Tellqvist:

"We can't have half our roster playing and depend on our goaltender to win a lot of hockey games. We've got to get some more guys on board when we're playing games."

So, let's call the roll: Jeff O'Neill -- Anyone seen him lately? Jason Allison? The O'Neill-Allison-Tucker line is putting up Wade Belak numbers: Allison's a minus-7 on the season, Tucker minus-6, O'Neill minus-5 (Belak, the only guy to end up with dirt under his fingernails last night, is at minus-6 and a busted nose thanks to that punchup with Colton-not-Bobby Orr).
Eric Lindros was invisible most of the night, though he did appear in time for redempton and the one Leafs goal.
The power play, its league-leading numbers a little misleading given that night in Atlanta when Frosty McFreeze was in goal for the Thrashers, tossed an oh-fer. It rarely threatened, actually.
The Bruins' winner early in the third period came after one of those breakdowns in their own end we've so grown used to -- but to dwell on that too much, or to hand the credit unreservedly over to Toivonen (yes, he was pretty good, but he also was afforded the luxury of clear sightlines, nary a Leaf crowding his crease), is to ignore the obvious: In this postmodern NHL, scoring but one late goal is unpardonable, and to take a no-check, listless approach against a team playing its third game in fourth nights, and putting in its backup goalie after the starter went out with an injury the night before, amounts to a squandered opportunity.
One more thing. The Leafs are 10 games into the season now, so it's time to retire the "it's early" line. We're moving into the part of the season where what you're seeing is what you're going to get nine nights out of 10 and they are what they are -- Mats Sundin's return notwithstanding. I'm no big fan of Quinn sermons, but no wonder he's ringing the alarm bells.

Some links:

Damien Cox looks at that Hannu Toivonen guy -- hey, he's from Finland. And that should come as no surprise, Cox noting there's six Finns making NHL money this year. And if you think Damien doesn't work hard for his dough, here's another column from last night (who does he think he is, Rosie DiManno?).

Hunter on Allison, the human glacier who's oh-for-3 playing the NHL's new three-shot roulette game. And Team Sun's Lance Hornby notes that Allison came into the game goalless against his old Bruins team in nine games -- make that 10.

And hey. What a surprise. Todd Bertuzzi, booed in Denver.

(C.Y.)

---

Thanks, Chris. I agree with you, last night the Leafs and Bruins proved that even the "new NHL" can be boring. Sure, Leafs had the 37 shots, but heck, Toivonen sums it up:

''I think our defence did a tremendous job, simply clearing the way so I could see the puck so well. ... It's all about feeling comfortable out there. I was tonight."

Yup, that's what you want to hear from the opposing goalie: he was really comfortable.

Here's some stuff to get us all through the weekend. And I'll finish with Spezza's goal. Did you see that dandy from last night? Wow. To steal a phrase from Chuck Swirsky, wow wow wow wow wow wow!

More on Bertuzzi, it was all about the fans last night. And I can't believe one person in the stands in Colorado thought it would be a good idea to wear the Bertuzzi jersey (from Denver Post):

While waiting for the puck to drop, the woman in a Bertuzzi jersey got a beer dumped on her head by a hit-and-run prankster. It was funny. It was sad.

Ummm, it was stupid?

AP PHOTO

That's right, get it out of your system.

So what was Bert saying after? "It is what it is," seems to be the buzz phrase this morning. I kind of agree. What else can he say? Still, the fans needed their chance to vent. They got it. They made the most of it. Like the guys who dressed up in jailbird jumpsuits with Bertuzzi's name on the back.

"We felt like the hit on Steve Moore deserved a little bit more than a 13-game (regular season) suspension," one fan tells the Denver Post. "I think he got the message."

Fair enough. Coupla quick links and then the magic.

Manny's legacy: Mr. October.

The Devils stink. Will Scott Stevens return to save them? Probably not, "but you never know what's going to happen," he tells the Newark Star Ledger.

Dave Andreychuk. Former Leafs 50-goal man. NHL veteran at 42 years young. Still going strong in Tampa.

Okay, did you see the goal? Here's highlight pack from last night's Senators OT win. Click the link to last night's game (Habs). The sweetness comes at the end. The future is bright in Ottawa. (SW)

Comments

[David Barger]

I am so disappointed in the fans in Denver. When I woke up this morning, I turned on SportsCenter hoping the lead story would be about the melee at the game, beer, spit, you name it, raining down from the stands. Boos is all we get? And then Bertuzzi gets to stand around and act like he is the good guy after the game as usual. When all that has happened to him is that he had to sit out an entire year....DURING THE LOCKOUT. When will the NHL get it through its head that money does not matter to these guys. Oh well, at least Team Canada won't invite him to play in the Olympics...oh, wait a minute

[leaffan]

Pat Quinn’s rants about officiating are costing the team points. The Leafs are so focused on what they can’t do anything about its costing the boys in blue goals for and against. From McCabe tuned into the ref instead of the play…. to Allison arguing his way into the penalty box, Quinn has set the bar and his team is striving to be like the coach. Get over it boys…the new NHL is here to stay and all the whining and on ice bitching is a major distraction to playing. Constantly challenging the ref is not endearing you to the man in stripes, nor is it positioning you to get the benefit of the doubt calls. The only outcome is closer scrutiny and being on the losing side of all the close calls.

Allison has lost a step but so what. He can still control the game. I more concerned about O’Neil. Where’s the fire? If the line continues to glide out there I’m afraid Darcy Tucker may lose his edge.

Lindros needs wingers. Its great that Tie may have a career year but Lindros needs a goal scorer to finish what he creates. I’d flip Tucker and Tie. Kilgor tries so hard on most nights but just doesn’t seem to have the touch. Maybe Tucker could inspire him a little.

When Matts comes back I’d put him between Stajan and Steen.

Has there ever been a Leaf defenseman as skilled with the puck as Kaberle? Salming was a more complete player but Kaberle is as skilled with the puck as Mogilny.

Please trade Antropov. He is a commodity that could fetch a good defenseman or offensive winger.

To my surprise I’m beginning to think I’d keep Wilm over Wellwood when Matts comes back. Wellwood needs more seasoning. Wilm can kill penalties and centre a fourth line with more vigor then Wellwood.

Belak and Berg don’t belong in the NHL. Neither has an upside or the potential to do more. At their very best they are neutral, neither creating nor causing opportunities. Most of the time they present the other teams best chance to get control of the game.

[Tom Bearse]

Something is making me think the Canadiens will come out of the east this year. I saw them play Boston on OLN in Detroit, and their bulldog tenacity seemed to be confounding the Bruins. The Senators are good and Toronto is game, but I suspect the goaltending for both of those opponents will wear down before the season is over. It's just a hunch.

[denial]

This whole Jason Spezza is a phenom thing is annoying. Not because he isn't one; but because the implication is that he has "emerged" as one. Spezza has been a superstar at every level he's played, and he also had the astounding intelligence to get the HELL away from Don Cherry and his Mississauga Ice Dogs. Make no mistake: Spezza would have played on a horrible team, but he, his family, and his agent knew that Don Cherry has severe obstacles that get in the way of what once might have been pretty good judgement. Cherry is far too evangelical now -- he's like a guy running for office but won't actually RUN for office -- to be considered reasonable. Cherry would bench Spezza for "hot dogging" on that overtime goal, because, alas, Cherry has become a chariacture of himself. He's like Ed the Sock -- except that Ed doesn't have influence over the careers of teenagers.

But this isn't about Don; it's about Jason. He is a bonafide, legitimate superstar and the biggest mistake the Sens ever made was letting Martin and his "think inside the box" coaching system to keep him from destroying the leafs in the playoffs a few years ago. I said this before the season started: when Spezza scores 40+ goals this year, the Sens management will take compeltely unearned credit for "letting him develop in the minors". That's CRAP. Spezza was languishing down there while Martin and Alfredson were figuring out what the hell it takes to lead a winning team. Now with Martin gone, Spezza will flourish.

If Spezza is part of ANY other franchise, he's better than Simone Gange, better than Rick Nash. He's on the cover of HNL 06. But in Ottawa, he's had to suck it in and deal with deadwood at the executive level.

Maybe Matt Stajan should call Spezza up and get some tips. If Stajan's agent is smart, he's telling his boy to ride it out -- and then he'll get him the hell away from Toronto while he still has a future. Can you imagine Stajan in Ottawa?

Fun note: ice quality is going to be the "seventh man" in the race to the NHL playoffs this year. Really. It's an error to call the new NHL a "skilled" game -- all it is, is different skills. Clutching and grabbing IS a skill (just ask poor C Pronger, who's career is probably going fast downhill right now). Now the skills are going to be: puck movement and cross ice passing. Teams with great ice are going to exploit this (watch the Oilers come January, regardless of Pronger, they will dominate because of their ice). Teams with AWFUL ice will also dominate, like Dallas -- because they will know how to take advantage of it, while other teams won't.

In all of the "improvements" that the NHL made to the game, the biggest gap they missed is ice quality. It's disgusting in some places, it's like that stuff they used to make the silly TSN guys stand on during intermissions (do they still do that?).

unrelated note but i'm getting kind of hyper now: did any of you watch that CFL kick for a million thing? Note to TSN CFL Director: PLEASE DON'T TELL YOUR ANALYSYS TO SOUND LIKE HOMEBOYS. It was embarassing to hear Dunnigan say "dat" instead of "that" and "dose" instead of "those". It was so artificial that my TV started to wince and tried to change channels.

What has always wonderfully distinguished the CFL from the NFL has been the fact that CFL players are so educated, and can actually communicate with other grown ups. That is, except for the analysts. Ack.

LAST NOTE: congrats to coward Brett Hull, who quit on his team (again). Instead of becoming a power play specialist and helping the younger players develop, Hull pulled out the old "the mind is there, the body isn't" line. Actually: the body IS there; the mind is afraid and Hull's ego is too big to let him play a 3rd or 4th line role. Way to give back to the game, Brett. Now go into some cave and don't let me see you prattle on the hot stove, Al Strahan is insufferable enough, if both of you show up and start playing ping pong with your smug barbs I'm going to block out CBC from my TV set.