First Period

In four periods this season, the Leafs have allowed only four goals. Not bad. But three of 'em - two by Detroit's Tomas Holmstrom, and one tonight in the first period by Montreal's Alexei Kovalev - have been scored by players standing on the edge of Vesa Toskala's crease, with Leaf defenders unable to move them or tie them up.

Tonight it was newcomer Jonas Frogren victimized by Kovalev, who essentially pushed Frogren into a hockey version of the low post, took a pass from Tomas Plekanec, and then spun and beat Toskala.

That was the second Montreal goal. On the first one by Roman Hamrlik, two Leafs stumbled on the supposedly new and improved ACC ice. Matt Stajan fell in the Montreal zone and the Leafs never did get any weak side defence on a 3-on-2 Montreal break. Toskala, meanwhile, stumbled coming across his crease, opening up the five-hole wide for Hamrlik.

Rookie Luke Schenn twice misplayed the puck, once deep in his own end. The youngster might be having the jitters in the home opener.

Jason Blake should've scored the first goal of the game three minutes in off a nice play by Nik Antropov, but simply fired the puck into Montreal goalie Jaroslav Halak as he laid on the ice and didn't get it up.

Montreal, a little growly after losing to Buffalo Friday night, outhit the Leafs in the first, with young blueliner Duncan Ryan O'Byrne particularly physical.

See you after two periods.

Comments

[JoeStar]

I'm commenting at the 11 minute mark of the second period now. Montreal is playing like they own the ACC building. The young guys are going to have to develop this attitude. Wayne Gretzky had an 'I own the puck' mentality. Granted, he had the skills to back it.

I don't think there is necessarily a lack of skills with the Leafs, but tonight there seems to be a lack of confidence.

[moe green]

Hopefully just a blip like the win in Detroit. Look for WIlson to try to even things out over the next couple of weeks. It's gonna take time for the vets to unlarn the old ways.