Commenting Thread: Buffalo at Toronto

PHOTO: TARA WALTON/TORONTO STAR

Comments

[Wandering Penguin]

So this is what the playoffs feel like. I had forgotten. I watched the last 10 minutes through my fingers.

Wow.

[moe green]

Never mind Detroit, imagine if this team hadn't lost to Florida. I think Wilson is responsible for us not being in the playoffs this season. The PP is atrocious. Absurd. Terrible PK. All Wilson.

[gettingcozywithsarkozy]

That was a little too gut-wrenching again! Geesh, I was pretty stressed considering this game was supposed to not mean much after saturday's loss!

[oakville_girl]

Be still my beating heart....

[moe green]

Go Atlanta, Go Washington! Boo Wilson!

[Pyramid Power]

YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES!

SWEET SWEET VICTORY!

Made that a lot harder on themselves than they needed to. Whew! Wow!

What was Ron Wilson thinking putting the Kessel line out in the dying seconds of the first period? So many questions, but who cares?

We won and that is all that counts.

Carolina will get a least a point. In OT in D,C. Montreal has scored TWO goals! Wow! Hope the Caps and Thrashers end up winning.

Great game!

[Mike]

Great game. As much as you read the "leafs same old story". This team is far different than the last 4 years.

[leafland'r]

OMG !! I never knew I could hold my breath for so long !!
GREAT game !!

[jt]

Our pp is awful. I don't know how it's not last in the league.

That said, good win :D

[missideb]

Holy Mackinaw, what a game!!
Heart palpitations and all!

[TimB]

Judging by my heart rate,I guess I haven't given up.

[moe green]

The players are fine. What say Wilson, try something a little different on the PP? Too much to ask? Geez. Other teams find a way. The guy stuck Brent on th point for a month or two. Seriously.

[Stormcastle]

Holy Mackinaw, indeed.
I don't care what anyone says, but the Leafs have earned a playoff slot - just on heart alone.

[Wandering Penguin]

I'm STILL trying to figure out the penaly on Boyce. Meh. Didn't matter in the long run. I think I saw someone say we should copy Buffalo's PP? They may have been WORSE tonight.

[Sue]

Until Thursday my friends! Have to go lie down and relax now!

[wcdixon]

Sounds like it was closer than it should've been but well played for the win, best as i could tell....this feed I found was like i was a kid again watching on the crappy little 12 inch black & white TV with a loose antenna we had growing up.

[TG77]

Moe, you have to take the good with the bad man and right now, this is GOOD! I know what you are saying and yeah the PP has been bad all year and even worse with no kaberle to carry the puck but there can still be hope for one more night. Sadly, the Canes went to OT and the Habs have scored for the first time in a week. Anyway, what a great atmosphere at the ACC and they passed another team out west with the win. 5 games, 10 points and 1 goal.

[Ken Baumgartner]

It was a fun game tonight. Good night all.

[Wandering Penguin]

Yeah, Moe. Brent on the point. Lebda on forward. But somehow a RED HOT Kadri can't play a second of a 5-on-3. No, that honour goes to Bozak. UNbelievable.

Kadri's coming-out party was amazing. Even that little play he made to jam the puck out of the zone on his last shift with 4 minutes or so left was a joy to watch.

But I'm a sucker for the guys who hold the other team at bay. And because of that, my first star tonight would have to be Mike Brown. He was incredible.

[TimB]

Good night. I'm feeling faint.

[Boo Who?]

Moe, please don't use 'Boo' and 'Wilson' in the same breath. It just makes me feel dirty. And not in the good way.

I missed the first two periods when it seemed everyone here was praising Kadri - is it just me or was he not on the ice for much of the 3rd? (I was away from the computer quite a bit so may have just kept missing his shifts).

I ask, because I don't want to slam our coach for keeping what sounded like a guy catching fire out of the play, without proof. But the thought crossed my mind and it made me mad. Hope I saw that wrong!

[oakville_girl]

Canes won in SO - they're 3 back of Buff and we're 5 back. Still possible though, not out yet

[Wandering Penguin]

Dammit. 'Canes won the shootout. :(

[Stormcastle]

Anyway... I promise to return next game - or at least try :)
Toodles, kids.

[oakville_girl]

@boo - Kadri only play about 3 and change for the third period. You weren't wrong.

[missideb]

I really don't think Wilson is going anywhere, but somebody has to take responsibility for our crappy PP. If not Wilson, then Burke should demand he replace his Asst. Coaches. Something has to change for next year.

[Wandering Penguin]

You did not see that wrong, boo, sad to say. He should have played ALL the power plays, for one thing. On the other hand, I don't remember seeing Lashoff out there for much of the third, either. So at least Wrong shortened his bench and didn't just keep Kadri off. Still.... I don't know how you can have Bozak out on the 5-on-3 over Kadri. Or the 4-on-3. Even if you don't have him out there on the regular PP, look at all that ice for the kid!

[Wandering Penguin]

On the plus side...Atlanta has scored!

[Wandering Penguin]

Wilson looks like the kind of guy who might just sleep through the season next year. There's always hope.

[Pyramid Power]

Poop. Carolina won in the shootout in D.C.
But the Thrashers have finally scored in Montreal. 2-1 Canadiens.

Our PP was indeed abysmal Moe, but hey, what's new? LIke you say, it is utterly laughable that Tim Brent was our PP QB for awhile.
Thanks to the refs for giving us five PP ops to Buffalo's one.
I am sure Sabres fans will be howling about that.

[hoofheartz]

Great game by the Buds. Once again the "bottom six" came through with some stellar defensive play. I only have one gripe. Except for maybe 4 suits behind the Leaf bench who looked like they were mentally padding their expense accounts, why did it take the Leaf faithful 77 games to start getting into the game, waving towels and chanting? Thats what fans are supposed to do, isn't it?

[moe green]

Good with the bad is, no offense, BS TG77. This was a playoff team but for the bungling ineptitude of Wilson and his "coaching" staff. I am taking no solace from another missed playoffs. One that was easily ours. Sure it's good. Too bad we gave away so many for no real reason other than bad coaching decisions. That is not acceptable to me. We deserved the playoffs this season. In the palm of our hands. Sure next year will be lovely. This is a better team than the Sabres. Canes are only there because of Ward. How are the Rangers there? Oh yeah, Lundquist.

Gee I wouldn't want to miss Ron "playoff killer" Wilson's insightful Post Game remarks.

[Boo Who?]

Thanks oakville_girl. Sometimes, I hate being right.

I'm going to keep this family friendly and just say that Wilson is a yucking fidiot.

[moe green]

I am listening to Andy Frost go on and on about this team not quitting. Well no poop sherlock. They are paid mightily not to quit. If they quit they shouldn't get paid. Of course they haven't quit. Too bad they quit against Florida and other too numerous to mention. Haven't wuit. Why would they. Idiot.

[moe green]

The thing about Reimer. We are so starved for NHL-calibre goaltending that we are really overrating this guy. He is a good goalie. Every team in the league has one. Now we have one too.

[Wandering Penguin]

C'mon Atlanta. Pretend you're still in the race, would ya?

[moe green]

This game (I believe it's the third in a row against Buffalo) just rubs salt in the wound. This team is a good team that is weakly coached. The Wilson era has to end or I am gonna go insane. We have been better than Buffalo all season. When we've chosen to be.

[moe green]

Wilson's pressers remind me of George Bush's. The weak-kneed press just suck up to him and powder his bum with softball questions. He must be the most coddled coach in the league. No: " What the hell is wrong with the power play Ron? Isn't that your responsibility? Do you practice it? Ever considered trying something new?" God the press is weak here. Are they afraid of losing access?

[Wandering Penguin]

All you need to know about Wilson, moe, is that he played Bozak over Kadri on a 5-on-3 power play that had gone 42 straight (at that point) against Buffalo without a goal.

I mean there is so much more "Wrong" with him, but that seals it for me.

[moe green]

No Boo you are right. Why wasn't Kadri on the PP or centring Kessel and Lupul instead of Bozak? You always crack me up Boo-retta! I'd have been double-shifting the guy! Wilson is an idiot. No that's not fair. He's an overrated bum planning his golfing retirement. Sorry for the unintentional juxtaposition.

[Wandering Penguin]

Poop. Habs scored again.

[moe green]

Agreed Wandering Penguin.

[Wandering Penguin]

Kadri should absolutely be centring Kessel (although I'd put a solid two-way guy like Armstrong when he's healthy on the other wing) and here's why: I have never understood why the Leafs pin all of their hopes on this one "elite" player (as Burke likes to call Kessel) and then have him play right wing with a centre who shoots RIGHT. And now with Lupul on the line, they ALL shoot right. That doesn't make ANY sense to me. If you have a really strong right-winger who likes to fire the puck, his centre should shoot left so he can feed him on the forehand. There's a reason Kurri scored so many goals with Gretzky, or Hoglund with Sundin, for that matter.

[Pyramid Power]

I like Andy Frost Moe. He's fun man. And a voice of reason on the post-game hysteria at AM640.

I think reporters did not give Ronnie too hard a time tonight because it was a win.
And they probably want to stay on his good side as it is in their interests to do so if they ever want any inside info from Ronnie.
The Toronto media are likely the harshest group out there on their hockey team save for Montreal of course.
I would love to hear Burkie's and Ronnie's real honest to goodness opinions about Komisarek and Lebda though.
Burke and Ronnie drunk and unplugged.
THAT would be fun to listen to.

[Chad]

actually thought the Kessel-Bozak-Lupul line played quite good tonight. they had a few really good scoring chances. though i really thought the way Kadri was going in the 1st period they might have flipped him and Bozak around.

and how about Mike Brown! absolutely love that guy!! when he gets on the ice he's like a flippin bull in a china shop! he did some great work on the Buffalso zone heading into the last minute of the game.

[Boo Who?]

I know we won. And I should feel happy.
But I'm not happy. I'm just mad.
Get rid of that putz. I am sick and tired of seeing that mouth-breathing, no power-playing, uncommunicative dillweed behind the bench.

Dear God, if for just one day I could be transformed into a man, after I'd finished ravishing Monica Bellucci and Salma Hayek, I'd like to get on the phone to Brian Burke and tell him all about the things I'm seeing. Because maybe my being a dude (and a dude who'd just boned Monica Bellucci and Salma Hayek no less) would mean that he'd actually listen to me.
Alas, I am a lowly woman. A weaker vessel. It is not my place to speak of such things, or to bone, because I have no bone with which to bone things.
What was I saying? Oh yeah, Wilson sucks.

[Wandering Penguin]

In fact, speaking of Kurri and Gretzky, I really think Kadri and Kessel have to play together next year and the left-winger has to be the single most adept player the Leafs have at digging the puck out of the corner and/or standing in the goalie's kitchen. Not sure who that player is yet - I do think Armstrong is the guy - but it doesn't have to be a Lupul-type player. He'd look good in MacArthur's spot if they don't sign him again. Actually, I might put Mac with Kessel and Kadri if I had the choice. At least he'd be fast enough to keep up. I think Grabbo can now play with anyone so that line doesn't have to stay together - although I wouldn't put him with Kessel because they're too much alike offensively.

[Sensi-Bill]

*carefully pokes his head in, whispers*
.
Congrats guys and gals.
.
*ducks back out and goes back to rooting around the bottom of the closet for his eggshell-walking shoes*

[Rooney]

WOOHOO! You've gotta love the naivety of youth. NEVER SAY NEVER, GO LEAFS GO!!! MTL v. CAR and NYR v. BUF tomorrow, anyway you cut it is just going to add to the intrigue. Breathe in, deep.....

[KD]

"The Reim Minister of Defense"?
.
Methinks Joe Bowen needs a break.

[KD]

Interesting thought (and if I'm wrong, ignore it).
.
Kadri has now played 24 games and is improving. How about sending him back to the Marlies, and bring him back in October, still eligible for rookie of the year?
.
I think that once he's played 25 games, he's no longer eligible.

[KD]

@Moe: Why question the Florida game? Are you blaming Giguere for a 4-0 loss? It's not his job to score goals. If the Buds can't score, it doesn't matter if I'm in goal, they're still going to lose!

[Phil]

Leafs win,Habs score a goal. All is well in the world.

[namron2u]

This team will make the playoffs and contend for the Stanley Cup.

[moe green]

You know the ACC tonight was roaring. All the fans needed was a little something to cheer about. These are without a doubt the greatest fans in all of hockey. Shame that we didn't make a few more moves to get us in.

Sure next year will likely be fun but you never know. Just like missed opportunities on the powerplay come back to bite you so do missed opportunities at the playoffs. Next year Phil Kessel could be injured. We may not have MacArthur. Kulemin may slump. Reimer may be average or worse. You never know.

With teams like the Sens, Isles, Panthers, Sabres, Devils, Canes, Canadians and Rangers struggling mightily; this was our year to cruise into the playoffs. We blew it.

These fans deserved better this year and deserve far better next year. Don't let us down again. Make SURE next year. It's getting a little tiresome.

[Alecia]

Seriously, Vinay.... I think this solidifies my season tickets for next season, no?

I'll email you my address.

[moe green]

I've wondered the same thing Penguin. Wilson is an enigma.

[TPiddy]

@Wandering - Kessel was never meant to be a saviour, we were never supposed to pin all our hopes on him. Kessel was supposed to be a complimentary scoring threat to our core of leaders. The trade, the signing... these are what made some of the more overzealous fans think he was supposed to be our replacement for Sundin, but Burke has never said he was a franchise player. He's one piece of a puzzle... a puzzle we didn't have any pieces of before Burke got here. Kessel's not our saviour... neither is Reimer, neither is Phaneuf, Schenn or Aulie. They're all very nice pieces to have... and in an era where franchise players are nigh on impossible to acquire, you can make up for that by having enough nice pieces.

[pinot grigio]

Well, I did what I could. I went and had dinner in a Greek place, wore one of those silly Greek men skirts and put the evil eye on Carolina. Two out of three worked and I'm told two out of three ain't bad.
The Hurricanes weren't that good but Varlamov stank out the joint. Prepare your Voodoo dolls; they'll be needed soon.

[ezwelchman]

Hoglund and Sundin both shot right....your argument is invalid.............but i do feel ya, they NEED a centre there...and it's not bozak or kadri for that matter....they need an elite centre who is seasoned at the position both offensively and defensively....

[Robert]

'mornin' all: Had a great sleep last night. Now, I just have to clean up the mess!
Wondering about Kadri, look no further than Eakins.
Wondering about Bozak - I really don't know what is wrong with the guy. He tries every game, skates pretty hard, but, put the puck on his stick and he just can't handle it?
Wondering about the playoffs? If we had a powerplay that clicked at 20% we would be in the playoffs NOW!
We knew this is a rebuilding year coming in, but, I have never seen so many poor decisions on the bench. Bozak, who has, at present, hands of cement, put on the power play while a kid like Kadri who is out of his mind right, now sits on the bench?
A really tough Toronto press, if such a thing existed, would be all over BRIAN BURKE not Ron Wilson with these questions.

[Wandering Penguin]

@EZ - of course they did. I was really sleepy - I was actually thinking of Vaive and Derlago but had been typing something else to a friend on Facebook about Sundin and Hoglund and, well...somehow I managed to type it here, too. Duh. Good thing I went to bed right after that.

[Wandering Penguin]

@TPiddy: whether he was meant to be a saviour or not, you certainly cannot EVER blame the fans for pinning all their hopes on him when a team rebuilding from the ground up suddenly trades two firsts and a second for the guy. If you don't want fans seeing him as the Second Coming, then you don't make a trade like that.

What I found interesting in poring over old Burke quotes, though, is this one I dug up from the day of the trade: "Bringing Phil Kessel aboard, it's a statement to our players that we intend to be competitive right away..."

I think we all know how close THAT was to the truth.