Game 9: The Leafs Beat Themselves (And 5 Reasons They Are In A Rut)

Everything is fine, right? Tell me everything is fine.

The Leafs still boast a 5-3-1 record. They are two points out of first in the Eastern Conference. They are getting chances. They are controlling territorial play. They are competing even when they lose, as they did last night in Boston.

So what's the problem? Why are they in a rut? Well, here are five reasons:

1. The Leafs Are Beating The Leafs These Days

They are passing when they should be shooting (see: Tomas Kaberle last night). They are shooting when they should be passing (see: Dion Phaneuf last night). They are accidentally blocking their own shots (see: Tim Brent last night). They are deflecting shots wide (see: Nikolai Kulemin last night).

2. The Leafs Are Getting No Help From The Hockey Gods

Here are a few things that happened last night you won't find in the box score:

* Luca Caputi hit a goal post in the first period.

* With Boston goalie Tim Thomas down and out, the whistle inexplicably sounded just as Phil Kessel was circling in the slot alone with the puck and about to pot the all-important first goal of the game.

* Kulemin's stick was lifted seconds before he could tap the puck into an empty net.

* Francois Beauchemin drilled the puck over the net on a goalmouth scramble in the dying seconds of the first.

3. The Leafs Are Making Opposition Goalies Look Great

It's a bit disconcerting, really. How many times have we already heard, "The Leafs ran into a hot goalie!" Or, "A hot goalie stole the game!"

We're only nine games into the season! This is a troubling trend, especially when the Leafs' goaltending duo, while solid, is not exactly robbing the opposition.

Now, look. I'm not taking anything away from Thomas, who is on fire with five straight wins. The guy's stats are insane. I mean, a .981 save percentage? What? He's now operating with a 0.60 GAA?

You could tip a grand piano on its side, place it in front of a net and it wouldn't get those kinds of numbers.

But let's get real.

Last night, while Thomas made a couple of spectacular saves in the third, most of the 20 shots he stopped were fired into his torso and pads. It's as if the Leafs thought they were venturing into the TD Garden to play a game of paintball.

4. The Leafs Are Not Burying Their Chances

Eventually, the Leafs are going to start scoring the way they did against Ottawa, right? Tell me the Leafs are going to start scoring again.

Right now, though, the team is not burying their chances. No, instead of burying, chances are getting buffed to a high gloss and placed on a pedestal to torment and haunt the next line.

And against defensive-minded teams (like Boston) or teams that are now prepared for the Leafs' speed and passing game (every team in the NHL), this inability to convert is proving lethal.

The word tossed around the room is "snakebitten." But last night, it seemed much worse than that.

Grabovski seemed to have a reticulated python coiled around his neck whenever he got within five feet of the net. Was there a cobra hiding in Mike Brown’s helmet, one that threatened to sink its fangs into his Fu Manchu if he got alone in front? Oh, and does someone in Leafs Nation have a vial of antivenom we can proactively inject into Kris Versteeg when he returns from his back injury?

5. The Leafs Look Spooked

During the first four games this season, the neutral zone was like a particle accelerator. Whenever a Leaf passed through with the puck, they both sped up.

Pucks were not dumped into the opposition end and promptly turned over, as happened several times last night. The Leafs carried the puck as if it was tethered to their sticks with invisible string. They made crisp, beautiful passes. They buried their chances.

You know what else? The team looked so relaxed.

On the bench, nothing but smiles. After a goal, a five-man celebration huddle.

Now look at these poor bastards. They are grimacing even when the score is 0-0. They are squeezing their sticks. They look lost in queasy concentration, like college kids taking a 9 a.m. algebra exam after an all-night kegger.

They look spooked.

There is nothing worse than being told, "Relax!" when you're not relaxed. But guys, seriously, relax. Relax because you are making us nervous. Have some fun out there and the wins will return.

This is a much improved team. But it is a team that still needs to be convinced of this fact.

PHOTO: CJ GUNTHER/REUTERS

Comments

[Krakondack]

Those are largely symptoms, not causes. Two additional symptoms: 1. They're afraid of going to the opposition net. 2. They're afraid to block shots. Looks to me like the chemistry is breaking down, and Wilson is unable to bring it back together.

[leefan]

The Leaf players especially don't seem to want to go to the net when Phaneuf is on the ice. He shoots head-high almost every time, I know I wouldn't want the job of standing there trying to tip one of the hardest shots in the league when even he has no idea where it's going. He has to keep the puck down and GET IT ON THE NET! If one of the Leafs did manage to tip one of his shots in, it would be called back for a high stick anyway.

[Peter]

This is an improved team, much might be pushing it. I had hope this year would be different when I saw them play the first four the way they did, that hope is gone. I remember the season opener against detroit a few years back after some changes were made and they played great, it made everyone think they were a different team.. they were not.

As much as I want to believe they are a playoff team I look at other teams rosters and there is no comparison. The leafs simply don't have the skill to match the top 8 eastern teams, they will need the heart that the leafs of old had when they were winning est of 7 series.

If this 1-3-2 skid continues for another 10 games or so I hope they seriously look at Wilson as one of the few changes they can make to spark this team. Now is the time to make the trade for a center and make use of the cap space before its to late on another season.

[We BeLeaf]

Relax Vinay! You're too nervous. Good points all around. There is still a long way to go and the team still needs make adjustments. However, is it too soon to start speaking of trades, line changes, and callups just to appease the masses? Perhaps an extended losing streak will foretell exactly that. I hope not, but we shall soon see....

Cheers!

[Pyramid Power]

The Leafs will be just fine after tomorrow night, and a resounding victory against the Rangers. Just jesting.

Seriously, secondary scoring is a major problem now. Can't ignore it anymore.
Toronto has scored 23 goals after nine games posting a 5-3-1 record. Not good. Less than three goals a game.
Kessel, MacArthur, Brent and Orr have accounted for 17 of those 23 goals. Not good.
Make it happen now Burkie. Go get David Backes from the Blues with our $4 mill in cap space.
@We BeLeaf I think it is clear now that a move needs to be made.
And what is up with Lebda and Ziggy? The only time I ever ever notice these two guys is when they are heading for the penalty box. Expected Toronto lad Zigomanis and Mike Brown would have hit the scoresheet by now.
Kris Versteeg so far this year? Huge disappointment.
Not happy with Grabovski or Kulemin either. Not terribly disappointed mind you, but not happy. These players can do better.
Thomas was phenomenal in net last night, but we do indeed keep making guys like Roloson, Biron and perhaps even ex-Leaf Clemmensson look like Terry Sawchuk on a good night.

[DavidP]

No help from the hockey gods???

The win against Florida was entirely a gift from above.

Take a step back...take a deep breath...the Leafs are 5-3-1.

This time last year they hadn't had their second win yet.

Everyone take a pill.

[Kyle4]

After two previously unsuccessful years under his tenure, my only suggestion is to get rid of Wilson. It's obvious at this point that he's being outcoached and that his constant negativity is bringing the rest of the team down. Just look at their faces! Maybe they're afraid to take any risks for fear of being unprofessionally shamed by the coach after the game. It's too bad that Burke is so buddy buddy with him, they definitely could use a new spark and some new tactics from a fresh coaching change.

[Kid Delicious 24]

How about this for a reason the Leafs are Losing.
Brian Burke. He focused all of his attention on being tough and truculant that he forgot you have to score to win. I don't want to hear anyone defending him either. He put together a squad of what he thought were mean, tough, ornery guys thandecided to cripple the future and trade for Kessel. Don't get me wrong...Kessel is the best thing you guys have but not worth mortgaging the future over. Sorry...he's good, not that good. No goalies to speak of. Sorry Giggy...you are way overpriced and past your prme. The Monster is still two years away from the NHL. Now....let's talk about that 'tough' D they put together. Komisarek...not worth talking about. Burke got robbed and he knows it. Schenn....good but will never be great. Beuschemin....average at best. Good skater...terrible with the puck. Your best D man is the guy that wants out....and he's not that good on D....Kaberle. What a freakin' mess Burke has created. Talk what you will about the Habs (small,smurfs, not tough) we will blow by you guys like you have a flat on the highway.and why is that? Gainey! A real GM. Smart, a hockey man and humble. Everything B.Burke is not. Stop blaming the 'Hockey Gods"...like they even care about the Leafs anyway.

[Kid Delicious 24]

I love this guy Pyramid Power. A typical Leafs fan. Problem....dip into the vault and 'buy' your way out of trouble. Like this will help? This is the problem with Toronto. They have no chemistry because they are always changing. What happened to 'we're going to rebuild' by Burke? That was in his first year.What did he do? Trade away all the valuable draft picks and went after free agents. WTF???? No wonder things haven't changed. Burke is J.F.Jr. with more stylish hair. He just doesn't get it!

[Pyramid Power]

I kind of feel sorry for Kid D 24 as he clearly has little respect for the blue and white and Brian Burke. That is fine though.
I think he thinks this is still an uncapped sport. Fascinating posts. Yuk, yuk.
Lots of insight into a myopic Habs fan mind. Oh well. We deal with them as best we can, and move on swiftly and forget their gibberish. Sigh.

[Hoofheartz]

Kid, if you're such a Habs fan why are you posting on Leaf blog? Why waste your time? Any other Leaf fans out there that go on Habs Inside/Out and post? Nope, didn't think so. Talk about not getting it!

[Pyramid Power]

@Hoofheartz Could not agree more! Kid needs to go play on Canadiens blogs, and yes, Inside/Out. Or he could try habseyesontheprize.com or awinninghabit.com Plenty of places to spew ignorance and trash about the Leafs with his Canadiens loving comrades.
Booting your enemy when they are down is just classless and ignorant. But he is a Canadiens fan so no surprise there. lol

[mike matthews]

I am not doing it because I enjoy it....(well, maybe a little). I'm here to help @Hoofheartz (what kind of name is that anyway). I'm here to share my knowledge of the game so you and others like you may benefit from my experience. Listen to what I say and read what I write. It's the truth and it can only be said from someone outside of this nation.
I hardly 'spew ignorance' PP. I am a Habs fan...yes. Proud of it. 'Beat my enemy when they are down' ?Hardly....lol.
Grow up boys...this is the NHL......I will not only beat you when you are down I will back up the car to finish you off. That's hockey!

[Pyramid Power]

KID Delicious a.k.a. mike matthews is telling us to, "Grow up boys....". Is that the very definition of irony?

[mike matthews]

PP...I'm confused. Why the personal attack? I was merely trying to give an opinion. I thought it sounded rational and mature. I am sorry if I offended anyone on this forum..that was not my intention.
If what I write is not pleasing to you or anyone else out there than feel free to comment...intelligently....not with high school banter. Give me reasons I am wrong. Prove to me I am mislead.
I think I hit the nail on the head....and that is why you are angry and upset.

[Pyramid Power]

@mike matthews

Your posts were a complete rip job on the Leafs and everything they have done. Saying Giggy is way past his prime, and that Gustavsson is two years away from the NHL is foolish based on their play this year. How do you know Schenn will never be great? He's been great for Toronto this year.

"I don't want to hear anyone defending him either." Classy. "What a freakin' mess Burke has created." Classy.
You just are not very knowledgable about what is going on with the Leafs, but yes, you are entitled to your opinions.
Your comparison of Burke to Gainey is tenuous at best, you fail to note that Burke has only been at the helm of the Leafs for 1.5 years whereas Gainey had well over five years to achieve significant things with Montreal. He failed for the most part. I could care less if Gainey is "humble", and Burke is not. I like the personality and edge Burkie has. Anyway, Gauthier is your team's GM now not Gainey.

High school banter? "I will not only beat you when you are down I will back up the car to finish you off." There is some high school banter albeit funny high school banter. Anyway, I know you loathe the Leafs, another Leaf loather, so why come on here and trash a team that you clearly despise? Stay on Canadiens boards would be my counsel to you.

[Vinay Menon]

I'm starting to feel like Ray Scapinello in this comment thread.

[Pyramid Power]

@Vinay Menon Now be a good linesman as Scapinello is, and let us duke it out OK? Remember Colton Orr last year in Anaheim shoving a linesman away so he could continue an excellent bout with George Parros? Don't make me shove you away OK brother? LOL
I am the Colton Orr of this scrap, you're Scapinello but who is Mike Matthews/Kid D? The Canadiens got rid of their only enforcer in Georges Laraque so I guess he can be Travis Moen. I think Matthews/Moen deserves two minutes for instigating on top of a five minute major and possible misconduct too.
The gloves are always off between Leafs and Canadiens fans. This rivalry makes the Red Sox-Yanks rivalry look pretty tame by comparison I would say. Well, baseball is a very tame mild sport in comparison to hockey, but no love between the fans of these clubs.

[mike matthews]

Rip off jobs? How do you figure? Tell me all about the 'great' Brian Burkes qualifications to be a GM. Graduated Law at Harvard? Agent material. GM of Hartford? Lasted 1 year...he was fired. V.P. in charge of discipline for the NHL? That qualifies him to be a Principal at a high school. late 90's became GM of Vancouver. Got the Sedin twins (give him some credit there) but not much else. Left for Anaheim and inherited a very good team. Won the cup and left for T.O. Since his reign in Toronto he has accomplished little. 1.5 years you say? Where are the draft picks? Where is the talent? One aging goalie and one rookie with health issues. This is the Leafs! Not some minor league team in Wisconsin. Offence? Kessel...period! He ruined Kadris confidence. Overpaid for washed up D men and almost lost the best player the team has had in 10 years in Kaberle. Sorry....if I were a fan I would be pissed...big time.
Make the playoffs this year and get past the second round. Do that and I will give him some credit. Nothing short of a second round appearance will appease me.....

[Pyramid Power]

A Canadiens fan makimg fun of any team's drafting capabilities is just downright funny. Remember Kyle Chipchura? Selected in the first round of the 2004 draft and 18th overall? Now injured and languishing in Anaheim after flaming out with the Canadiens.
How about David Fischer being picked 20th overall in the 2006 draft? He's done.
In 2007 the Canadiens took Ryan McDonagh and Max Pacioretty in the first round . McDonagh was dealt to the Rangers in the horrific Gomez deal, and is considered a very highly regarded prospect. Pacioretty is a middle level talent no longer with Montreal.
No first round pick in 2008.
2009 first round pick was Louis Leblanc 18th overall. The Leafs took Nazem Kadri that year. Leblanc plays for the Montreal Juniors. Kadri is a blossoming star with the Marlies.
Last year the Canadiens took Jared Tinordi 22nd overall and we will see how that works out.
To be fair the Canadiens did draft Carey Price in the first round of 2005, made a great late pick with Halak and did draft current players Plekanec and Subban in later rounds.
So our draft? Well, we have Phil Kessel! Potential perennial 50 goal scorer. The Bruins have Tyler Seguin. Will see how that much discussed contentious deal works out well down the road. Burke traded our fifth round pick last year for Mike Brown. Good job. We'll see how other 2010 Burke picks such as Brad Ross and Greg McKegg fare down the line not to mention his 2009 picks. You can check to see who they are, and what you think of them Travis. lol
What Burke has done, as you should know, and done quite successfully, is acquire NCAA players to our advantage. Tyler Bozak was taken out of the NCAA and the U. of N. Dakota, and now centres our first line. Viktor Stalberg was taken out of the University of Vermont, and traded for Kris Versteeg. Pretty good deal, but we will see how Stalberg does with Chicago and if Versteeg can get it going with Toronto. And Christian Hanson was taken out of Notre Dame and is a borderline NHL player at present.
Anyway, enough about the drafting.

Burke's past is immaterial to me at this time as he is with the Leafs now, and I am looking straight ahead to the future and the Leafs being the next Canadian team to win a Stanley Cup.
You conveniently omit to write that Burke basically fleeced Anaheim by shipping Shake 'n Blake and Losskalol for Giguere. Great deal for us both for talent and shedding essentially useless salary. Gustavsson was prized by four squads, and Burke's salesmanship won over Gustavsson along with the presence of Frank Allaire as the Leafs goalie coach. He has zero health issues at this time, and you should know that.

"Kessel....period!" How I loathe it when people write period. That is that is it? Oh. Burke ruined Kadri's confidence? News to me. Overpaid for washed up defencemen such as Komisarek and Beauchemin I assume you are referring to. Jury is out on that one. Don't know how you could draw any conclusions on that yet. Beauchemin was part of the Big Three in Anaheim in 2007 with Pronger and Niedermayer that won a Cup. Apparently, Burke "inherited" that Cup. lol Come on man.
Burke almost lost Tomas Kaberle who is definitely NOT the best player the team has had in ten years? Really? How did he almost 'lose' Kaberle?
I am not pissed at all. Toronto was 1-8-1 at this time last year. We are 5-4-1 this year.
Please advise what Bob Gainey did in his second year with the Canadiens, and his overall tenure there that makes you think he was such a better GM than Brian Burke? They both won Cups.
Why do YOU need to be appeased with a second round playoff appearance? You're a Canadiens fan! I think most good loyal citizens of Leaf Nation would be very happy with a playoff appearance this year. That is about all that we can expect, and hopefully some Toronto playoff magic.
It is very convenient of you to not mention a word about the mess Burke, Nonis, Poulin, Loiselle and Wilson etc... had to clean up as left by JFJ, Fletch and the meddling Peddie and Tanenbaum with MLSEL.
You spin your arguments, and make ZERO good points about the Toronto Maple Leafs and Brian Burke. I gave credit where credit is due above with some of Montreal's draft picks working out. You do not.
Typical Canadiens fan taking a dump on the Leafs without knowing all the facts, or taking the time to even be slightly objective. Nothing I did not expect.
GO LEAFS GO TONIGHT!
GO JACKETS GO AGAINST THE HABS TONIGHT IN COLUMBUS! Hope local Toronto lad Rick Nash puts a hurting on the Canadiens. lol

[Pyramid Power]

2-0 Columbus against the Canadiens in the first with Nash scoring! GO JACKETS!

Leafs looking good so far, but must score the first goal. Alfredsson playing surprisingly well for the Hens for a guy that was not supposed to play tonight.