Leafs Out to Slow Panthers

It's unlikely the Florida Panthers will blow the doors off the Leafs tonight with a powerful offensive display.

On the other hand, it's very possible the Panthers might out-hustle the home team and skate the Leafs into the ice.

So the challenge for Ron Wilson's club has to be to get its intensity level back to where it was eight days ago against the New York Islanders. So far this season, the Panthers and Islanders have arguably been the hardest working clubs in the league, so it's not like the Leafs should be caught off guard.

The focus over the past few days has been on the shuffling of the Leafs' top two lines, a shuffle that was probably overdue. Certainly Tyler Bozak needs to demonstrate tonight he can start producing, or his time with the parent club could be shorter than anyone anticipated. 

While there have been calls to promote Nazem Kadri, the most logical person to get a chance if Bozak fails should be John Mitchell. Yes, Mitchell had a weak camp, but giving him one game in a fourth line role hardly offers him an opportunity to show what he can do given that he's a finesse player, not a checker.

But Bozak stays put for tonight, while Mitchell heads back to the press box along with Carl Gunnarson, while Mike Zigomanis and Brett Lebda draw back in.

Despite the focus on the lines, however, the player whose response to Saturday's ugly defeat in Philly will be defenceman and captain Dion Phaneuf.

Phaneuf did indeed have a bad game. But up to then, he was rock solid in six previous games, and given the ups and downs he experienced in Calgary before being traded last season, that's what he needs to be right now in Toronto. Rock solid, not flashy or spectacular. If he tries to play a game that will make his critics believe he's worth his $6.5 million salary, he's doomed to failure, or doomed to suffer the same fate as Bryan McCabe, who coincidentally will be on the opposing bench tonight. Phaneuf has got to be solid in his own end and physical, and the offence will come later.

Phaneuf's response tonight, however, could be to try to do more, to create and be aggressive, and that's where he could get in trouble against a speedy, counter-attacking Florida team. 

I could count the number of important Toronto-Florida games over the years on, well, I can't think of a single important Leaf-Panther game ever. This one is hardly crucial, but the Panthers deserve a better record than they have, and the Leafs want to get back ahead of Montreal for first in the division. So there's something on the line.

 

Comments

[Tom Carty]

What is your assessment of the Florida coaching staff? Personally, I think they get a great deal out of their team.

[James Jack]

I have to say that tonight is a good test of where this team stands. If you are a solid NHL team you should be able to beat hustle, hard work with your own hustle hard work AND superior talent. Lets see what happens tonight.

[Regan4000]

Damien, you write the same article everyday. You just switch around words like "hustle", "drive", "stick-on-the-ice", "puck-in-the-net", and whatever other words you could possibly throw into an 'article' about a puck going back and forth on the ice.

Do people do anything with their brains anymore? Why is it always the Maple Leafs when I come to thestar.com? THIS IS NOT NEWS. It's the same game, day in-day out, and at the end of the season, none of it means anything.

[Pyramid Power]

My assessment of DeBoer and the Panthers coaching staff at this exact moment is that they are furious. LOL
Seriously, they do get a whole lot out of not much. Work with what they have, and play defensive counter punch hockey which is all they really can do lacking scoring panache or ability up front. Having Vokoun sure helps.

[Regan]

I have to disagree with you Damien about John Mitchell getting the nod if Bozak doesn't show up. John Mitchell, in my opinion, has not been in good offensive form since he was with the marlies in the 07' season where he racked up 51 points and 20 goal, and even that shouldn't turn any heads. Since 08' he hasn't had more than 17 assists a season which doesn't earn him a shot at playing on a top line with guys like Kessel or Versteeg. Granted, he cant rack up assists playing on the 4th line but I dont think hes shown that he deserves a shot at a top line spot. I believe a more logical choice would be to move switch up Grabovski and Bozak and see what happens. Grabovskis speed is excellent and his passing is good enough to make things happen.