Case for the defence

The Leafs have a nice little string going, and Ken Campbell hits it right on the head in his morning gamer off last night's tidy 4-1 win in Boston against the limpid limping (thanks, Matthew) Bruins (another one of those broadcasts from "Canada's sports leader in high-definition" that wasn't available in HD):

In their past two games, the Leafs have taken a total of just eight minor penalties and have surrendered only one goal while killing them. In the new NHL, power plays are so important that you'd better make sure you're not getting your lunch handed to you 5-on-5 on a regular basis. In their past two games, both wins, the Leafs have given up one 5-on-5 goal.

Those penalty stats  are a bit skewed, too, by the double minor O'Neill took in the last two-plus minutes last night, well the Bruins had turned into human white flags. Up until recently, the Leafs were good for a couple of dumb stick penalties a night -- I haven't seen one since a careless O'Neill trip in the first period at Montreal last Saturday.

Which brings me to a question -- is it just me, or do you see the referees changing the way they're calling the game? It was noted last night on the broadcast that players who dump the puck in are being ridden off into the boards now with some gusto, and although that seemed to be a penalty a month ago, it's not now.

There are, too, at least one or two occasions a game now where apparent penalties aren't called (last night, it was a cross-check on O'Neill in front of the net; based on just impressions, the front of the net area does seem to be a little more vigorously contested of late). The Leafs are playing with some added discipline (finally!), but it also looks to me like the refs are letting a little bit more go -- although I'd love to hear some opinions from those of you who are watching more games from elsewhere around the league than I confess I am right now.

I had some defensive stats to throw at you, but I've left them at work and will update this later when I get into the office next week.

Meantime, here's some good reads, some of them I've been hoarding after yesterday's technical-difficulties day made for a compressed posting:

Ace hockey scribe Paul Hunter gets dressed to kill as an extra in the National Ballet Company's Swan Lake production, and compares the pas de deux to a cross-ice pass -- a great morning read from one of this paper's best writers:

It is when the dancers traipse off the stage and drop the elegant facade, that one gets a better understanding of how hard they push themselves. Unheard over the orchestra is the panting as they gasp for their breath and grab for water bottles, not unlike a hockey player after a tough shift. Unseen are the pained expressions as they stretch and contort their bodies, limbering up for the next scene.
There's nothing like the image of a swan maiden, doubled over, spitting in to a garbage can to dispel the notion that this is easy.
(snip)
As for myself, my task at yesterday's matinee consisted mostly of standing and nodding the odd time, a role made for a sports reporter.

Ace blogger Eric McErlain has his weekly podcast out -- and also this week, he writes about taking up an invitation to attend a Caps game in owner Ted Leonsis's box (Imagine -- a blogger getting that kind of recognition. Nice job Mr Owner. Nice job Eric).

NHL.com has a bunch of blogs going, including one by 24 star Elisha Cuthbert. (If pushed, I'd take a blogging seminar with Elisha over an invite from Larry Tanenbaum).

Hockey Analysis has tinkered with its Entertainment Index (yeah, I couldn't resist, that's me with the comment about adding minus points for Pierre McGuire on the broadcast)..
(C.Y.)

Comments

[Arthur]

Gee, I thought I was the only guy who didn't like Pierre McGuire. I can't stand his constant interjections and shrieking cackles whenever he sees a play he likes. And the way he smugly gloats about the new red-line rule, you'd think he personally engineered its introduction into the game.

Harry Neale may have lost a step (or three) but at least he knows his place.

[Carla]

I suspect Screamy McGuire leaves a stain in his chair whenever he is covering a game.

[David Johnson]

I see Pierre McGuire as someone who really likes to show off what he knows, or at least thinks he knows, about hockey. He likes being the center of attention and does what he can to do that. I just wish he'd shut up long enough for his play by play man to call the game.

[Jlo]

Umm, I kind of like Pierre McGuire. He's not a boring, cliché-spouting sportscaster. He's a real guy who loves the game. I'd much rather listen to him than Harry Neale (who I don't mind, but is kinda boring).

So, I apparently have a life outside of the internet and hockey (clearly I'm blowing all of my credentials here), and it has been a while, but about the whole Allison thing...

It is completely unrealistic to expect all three of a team's centres to lead the club in scoring. Everone has a role to play, and with the line-up Quinn has, the offence is spread around. McCabe is leading the team in points because he is the point-man on a very good power-play, and that's where most of the points are coming from. Get my point?

Anyway...Relax. Quinn is doing his usual thing of letting everyone play. It'll be ok. I realise that the point of all this media stuff is to make people talk about people talking, but the Leafs don't need to trade anyone. This idea that when the Leafs are good, they are overacheiving; when they are bad, they suck, is just wrong. There is no team out there that is really so dominant.

Ottawa is not all that good. If the Leafs rode a hot Sundin line for 20min a game, and a hot Lindros (or Allison) line for another 20, they could be that dominant, too. Can anybody name the Sens third line? Exactly.

It's all about getting ready for the playoffs, when you can't ride 2 lines every other night for a month.

p.s. cy are you going to the turkey roll next Friday? I will be there.

[Guy]

The Pierre McGuire Haiku Madlib:

Its all about (insert subject here, such as puck control, strength along the boards, etc), Gord
(Insert player name) just showed you (see subject above)
That was an example of great (see subject above)
Its all about (insert subject above), Gord...

note: for total effect, recite the above madlib in a loud, growly voice

And if I hear another mention of a "Monster" anything, someone might get hurt...

[Jlo]

That's not a haiku.
I stand by Pierre McGuire:
He knows his hockey.

[Chris Corrigan]

Judging what is being called and what isn't is really, really subjective. It's very hard to know what is and what isn't happening, and you'd have to have seen each reffing crew calling different games. I can imagine that it's hard when you're a ref to be consistent. If a game seems like it might get really scrappy and dangerous, you might be less willing to let small things go. If a game seems like it can take care of itself, you might let it go a little. Each of these small decisions then sets your own tone for the game and you have to be at least consistent within the game. If your style shanges over the season, it could be that the players have also changed how they are playing.

I give the refs a lot of latitude (except Fraser...I've always disliked his style). Calling an infraction at 35 miles an hour is a subtle and dark art. They're doing a pretty good job and right now the Leafs are taking full advantage of the new rules, getting the powerplay really going and being careful about taking penalties.

[Tim G]

I know there has been a weekend between this post and now, but, I thought I'd include something. Saturday, I was watching the game at a friends birthday party, and as we were watching, a Leaf was sitting infront of the net in the 3rd period (who it was escapes me now)...but he was getting a stick in the back and getting harassed. I personally don't think there is anything wrong with that, as well as Dan Cloutier losing it on one of the Niedermayers...but as far as the cross checking..it just seems like that would have been a penatly a month ago.

So I agree, things are getting a little more lax..Just my thoughts.