An Ugly Way to Go

A whimper. Period.

That's what the Maple Leafs went down with Thursday night in Sunrise, Fla., an inexplicably emotionless and weak effort against a Panthers team that threw in the towel on the season at the trade deadline when GM Dale Tallon traded away as many bodies as possible as he continues his rebuilding effort in south Florida.

The Leafs put themselves into the playoff conversation with mostly strong hockey over the past month or so. But when confronted with a game in which they were actually the favourite, they performed as though they expected the home team to just roll over and play dead, dropping a 4-0 decision.

Not a chance. Ryan Carter, on his own, did more hitting than the Leafs did as a team, there was no sense of urgency whatsover on the Toronto side and it was startling to watch what had been a hustling Leaf squad completely unable to match Florida's energy level.

The Leafs just couldn't generate much on the attack all night against a Panthers squad populated with all kinds of hungry youngsters eager to prove they deserve to be NHLers. On top of that was layered J.S. Giguere's mediocre goaltending effort, and the decision to not even dress James Reimer as the backup will go down as one of the weirdest of Ron Wilson's coaching career in Toronto.

Down 2-0 in the second with Giguere not looking very good at all, Reimer could have theoretically entered the game. After all, Ron Wilson had ridiculed members of the media the night before for even suggesting Reimer was tired. So why wasn't he dressed? Actually, given Wilson's sarcasm, why wasn't he in the game? There was little or no chance that Jonas Gustavsson, having not appeared in an NHL game since Jan. 19, was going to go in and relieve Giguere on Thursday night.

You couldn't argue Reimer would have made a difference, not with the Leafs unable to get a single puck past Scott Clemmensen. Then again, the Leafs are a very different team with Reimer in the net, and at this time of year, in this situation, you'd think Wilson would be emptying the ammunition case, not holding key players back.

Unless there's a reason Reimer sat that hasn't been disclosed, it was just a weird decision by Wilson, one that couldn't have sent a positive message to his team.

With 10 games still to play, the Leafs are still mathematically alive. But they trail Buffalo by four points and the Sabres have two games in hand. They pretty much have to run the table now, a major task with a set of difficult road challenges next week.

Maybe the loss to the Panthers was the unofficial end. If it was, it was a lousy way to go. 

 

 

Comments

[mike]

It is a weird situation and does make you wonder why Reimer isnt being used in the rest of the games as they are a different team with him in net.The players all seem to feel like they can win any game with him in so why not keep him in the rest of the way.Wilsons decisions leave us all scratching our heads as there is no reason to his moves he should say why he does what he does with a better explanation.

[Kolchak]

Ron Wilson is certifiable.

Is it possible that the man behind the bench is the only one who hasn't noticed that the team plays a different game, depending on who's in net behind them?

[johnnyk]

Maybe the Leafs were despirited (polite word) by the decision to play JSG. They seem to put out effort in front of Reimer.
MEMO to RW: When driving for a playoff spot you play your BEST players every night.

[Chad]

Cox: you've been covering the Leafs for a long time now, so you know how it goes. when the Leafs come up against a team, and a goalie might i add, that they "should" beat.......they usually come up short. and so the story goes...
HOWEVER, having said that. with the Bruins coming into town on Saturday, this is a game that most wouldn't give the Leafs a snow ball's chance in hell against. ESPECIALLY after seeing that schlock of a game tonight. sooooooooo, dare i say the Leafs will make up for it by "taming the shrew" on this weekend's latest episode of HNIC!
wow, looks like the Guinness truely has hit me! Happy St. Patty's Day to all!!
GLG!!!

[Steven]

The LEAFS just plain suck. Was at the game with hundreds of Toronto faithful and what we saw, was bad. Only 22 shots on net but lots of bad passing. No power play - nothing. It was shameful.

[talljohn57]

I feel cheated as a leaf fan. As a fan we deserve to see the best team iced every night and this clearly wasnt it. Last two times we saw giguere he threw away the atlanta and let in awful goal in tampa. Ihave to wonder if this is some of BBs loyalty being pushed through the coach

[prize maple]

I love the theory that somehow James Reimer changes the entire mood and competitiveness of this team. As coach Wilson pointed out, the goalie can't score. For that matter I didn't think the Leafs played that well in Carolina, but really just got a few lucky bounces. They have been clearly outplayed the past 2 games but why all the fuss? This team still needs more size and talent on the top 2 lines, as they have all season. The bottom 2 lines are mainly career AHL'rs. Their recent winning streak hasn't disproved that.

[Ron]

I have been a Leafs fan for 58 years which should make me certifiable but for the first time in many many years I actually see hope for the future. Burke has assembled a good management team and upgraded his scouting system. He has a few prospects on the farm and has banked some draft choices. The road will be a bit longer to become contenders but the opportunity at least now exists. Hey, if that knuckle dragger Milbury can become a voice of reason on head shots anything is possible.

[Vincent Chiba]

Why is it any surprise the Leafs are not looking too good now? They never were any good to start with. It was totally accidental and inadvertent that the Leafs had a chance in the first place. No thanks to Burke or Wilson. Kudos to John Ferguson Jr for astutely nabbing Reimer because without him, the Leafs would be sniffing the butts of the Ottawa Senators at this time. Burke and Wilson had planned on using Tyler Bozak as their top centre at the beginning of the season?...what a joke that is and in fact, the combination of Burke and Wilson have made the team worse overall. Yes, Giguere can be blamed, he stinks, plain and simple and so does Gustavsson. Remember, if the two goalies were not injured, Reimer would not have been called up. It’s time for both Burke and Wilson to seek greener pastures and throw in Allaire too. Tim Hunter and Rob Zettler as assistants?...give me a break. Burke’s picks, Exelby, Beauchemin,Versteeg are long gone and getting rid of Kaberle was a mistake. Dumping John Mitchell was one of very few moves that Burke has made but because he is so wrapped up himself and totally self absorbed, he’ll probably trade Nazeem Kadri away to the Rangers next season for John Mitchell believing he got the better of the deal.

[moe green]

Well said Damien and it is truly inexplicable. There must be something amiss in that dressing room. Or did the team actually think they were that good after the lucky (though hard played) victory over Carolina.

[Jimmy Balzac]

I'm not sure what to think anymore.

[moe green]

As Damien say though, it's the way Wilson makes his decisions. He mocks us for suggesting Reimer might be tired then he sits him. He isn't even available for backup duties. Sigh.

Bottom line: The Leafs should have been able to win - at least put up a fight - with Giguere in net. They didn't. Why?

[othermark]

More evidence to support what I've been saying since before Christmas. Wilson has to go. He may be an excellent tactician, but his motivational skills are non-existent at best and more often then not detrimental. I just would not entrust this guy with the future of this young emotionally fragile team. I surmise that if he's around next year, kids who thrived under Eakins and the Marlies will suddenly wilt with Mr Personality. And, for those who want to give Wilson credit for the Leafs play of late, I would say to you let's give credit where it's due. After unloading the veteran players that Wilson pushed for at the beginning of the year to "ensure" a playoff birth, the Leafs have played better with an infusion of Dallas Eakin's groomed players. There have been some players who have improved over Wilson's tenure (Grabovski in particular), but I would venture to say this is more a factor of increased ice time and overall maturity...not Wilson's player development or motivational skills. So, the young Leafs, who appear to have the skill, really need someone who can motivate in a positive sustainable fashion. Someone who wouldn't send a dumb message to the entire team by pulling the plug on their favourite net minder in the midst of a playoff push. Duh. Bye bye Ronnie.

[Conn Smythe]

'Burke and Wilson have made the team worse overall.' Wrong. Whether or not you like Burke or Wilson, you just need to look at the standings from last year to this year. The Leafs were 2nd last over - all last year and are fighting for a play - off spot this year. Not sure how they have made the team 'worse'.

[upset leaf fan]

didn't Coach say Reimer would be the go-to guy for the rest of the way?
i'm sick of this every year, variations of "we're just 6 pts out", "we are back in the race again"... i still recall one skater say at the start of their 4-0 season "these points will come in handy down the stretch".

Can't believe us Leaf fans are going through this all over again.

[Jeff]

Maybe he will rest dion and kessel next game...They must be tired too...Terrible decisions on all parts by Wilson.

Same with that 6 on 4 powerplay. If you havent practiced it, dont bother trying it. Or at least wait until they are set up in the zone and call giggy to the bench.

Not using riemer was epic failure...hopefully that seals his fate.

[Ramon Regozo]

too much to expect from Wilson to accept that the team is motivated to play better as a team in front of Reimer. Wilson reads numbers, not people.

How can he accept that? He thinks it's irrelevant whether the team should like playing for him, the coach, or not. Wilson is disillusioned that all a team has to do is follow techniques laid out by the coach.

You and I work or have worked under our bosses. Have you ever done your best for a lousy or uncaring boss?

[Mike F C]

A bit of a head scratcher for sure. Especially when it was obvious that Wilson was aware of the urgency of the game, as illustrated when he pulled the keeper with over 5 mins to go. Not something you do unless you know this is a do or die game. No Reimer, no reason.

Honestly when I look at the season I'm not sure the Leafs deserve to be in post season. Ya, they played well for a 10-12 game stretch, but their chances were enhanced by Carolina and the Rangers crapping the bed during the same stretch. Unlike the Devils who basically got themselves back into contention over an impressive 30+ game stretch. Leafs need goaltending to at least have a fighting chance, just look at the rest of the conference - Thomas, Miller, Lunquist, Price, Fleury and Ward all give their teams a chance every night. Some teams can do it without a clear number one, but they are usually stacked up front. Oh well.

[Fanfare]

Dont believe that Reimer would have made a difference. Did you guys forget who was in net on Monday vs. Tampa Bay?? he sure looked slow on a couple of goals. When the rest of the players play like crap, you can put two goalies in there and still loose the game. It was not JSG fault.

[benny beam]

the leafs just dont have the talent to compete, regardless of who is in net. That being said, anyone who has played sports on a high level knows the difference b/w giggy and the reimer kid getting the start. Absolutely no upside in starting j.s--his career is over and has been for two years. If the kid is tired after 10 starts at age 22, his career is soon to be over as well. As for burke, he's overated. He went shoppping the last two years and came up with komaserik/bouchemin/ellerby? that alone tells me he's just another stupid american when it comes to hockey. Come to think about it, i'm beginning to think damien is from the US

[redeye15]

Posted by: Jimmy Balzac | March 18, 2011 at 10:42 AM

As Damien say though, it's the way Wilson makes his decisions. He mocks us for suggesting Reimer might be tired then he sits him. He isn't even available for backup duties. Sigh.

Bottom line: The Leafs should have been able to win - at least put up a fight - with Giguere in net. They didn't. Why?
--------------------
That's what we need to be asking ourselves. Sure the goalie decision was typical nuts Wilson as it sure seems like Reimer is the hot hand and the team plays better in front of him. But the key is why can Wilson not motivate his players to play at pivotal times like this and in front of any goalie. Motivation is key to coaching. A coaching change is needed big time. And if the GM can't see that, than a GM change is needed as well.