Posts Tagged ‘Maple Leafs’

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Andy Strickland: Armstrong’s Big Decision/THis Summers “Monster”?

18, Mar 2010

Ty Conklin gets back between the pipes for the Blues tonight in New York after consecutive sub par performances by Chris Mason. It didn’t help Mason that the Blues sat on their backsides close to the entire first period vs. Colorado but I think it’s safe to say Mason would admit he could have played better.

I realize Mason’s career numbers against Colorado are pretty impressive, but this…

Andy Strickland: Armstrong’s Big Decision/THis Summers “Monster”?

18, Mar 2010

Ty Conklin gets back between the pipes for the Blues tonight in New York after consecutive sub par performances by Chris Mason. It didn’t help Mason that the Blues sat on their backsides close to the entire first period vs. Colorado but I think it’s safe to say Mason would admit he could have played better.

I realize Mason’s career numbers against Colorado are pretty impressive, but this…

Howard Berger: How Real Are The New Leafs?

17, Mar 2010

TORONTO (Mar. 17) – The actors are substantially different but the plot is exactly the same for the Maple Leafs at this juncture of the National Hockey League season.

It is a virtual certainty in the post-lockout NHL that the Leafs will come on like gangbusters once the “quest” for a playoff spot has effectively ended. It is happening again in 2009-10, though the “quest” this season e…

Jesse Connolly: Rask, Bruins Head Home After 5-2 Win Over Hurricanes

16, Mar 2010

After a grueling, seven-game road trip over the span of just 11 days, the Boston Bruins are heading home on a positive note. The B’s, propelled by a 30-save effort from netminder Tuukka Rask and three third-period goals, defeated the Carolina Hurricanes 5-2 on Tuesday night. With the win, the Bruins evened up their record at 3-3-1 on the road swing.

Patrice Bergeron opened the scoring just 23…

Mike Augello: THE BATTLE OF ONTARIO – PART VI(THE FINAL CHAPTER)

16, Mar 2010

After the March 6th contest between the Ottawa Senators and the Toronto Maple Leafs got a bit rough after another in a long line of Chris Neil cheap shots(this time on Leaf forward John Mitchell), it would make some fans mark down the date of the next Ottawa game in the hopes of getting to watch some additional carnage, but you know the old hockey adage, whenever a game between two foes gets physi…

Jon Jordan: Thoughts for a Tuesday

16, Mar 2010

Last you heard from me, I was in a limerick sort of mood, inspired by St. Patty’s Day and the Lightning’s own Facebook contest which, apparently, I did not win. (To that I say, “Fiddlesticks!” And to any mid-week St. Pat’s, by the way, a double “Fiddlesticks!” as well.)

I’ll return to prose today, in an effort to sort out my jumbled thoughts on this and that.

—We’ll start…

Andy Strickland: Who’s Better, Weaver or Pronger?

15, Mar 2010

There has been a lot of discussion in recent weeks about the Blues success killing penalties. A lot factors come into play here. To me a lot of comes down to how prepared the Blues are in terms of their understanding of the opponents tendencies on the power play. This is where Assistant Coach Brad Shaw comes into play. This guy has done an admirable job coaching up the Blues PK unit since joining…

Jesse Connolly: Bergeron, Linemates Stepping It Up in Savard’s Absence

12, Mar 2010

With Marc Savard recently deemed to be likely done for the year, fresh off of a visit to a neurologist to have his concussion examined, the Bruins know they’re in desperate need of someone to supplant the star center’s missing offense. Then again, the B’s have been in dire need of anyone to consistently score goals since the 2009-10 season began.

During their first extended stretch without #91…

Andy Strickland: Blues Negotiating with Former First Rounder

12, Mar 2010

The St. Louis Blues are in the midst of negotiating a contract with former first round pick and Notre Dame standout Ian Cole.

Concussion problems limited Cole to just 30 games played this season but word is the sturdy D-man has checked out ok and is not suffering any lingering effects.

Even though Cole is a smart kid and academics remain a priority for he and his family, sources close to…

Mike Augello: YOUTH, SPEED AND EXCITEMENT, IS THIS THE LEAFS WE ARE TALKING ABOUT?

12, Mar 2010

Not to read too much into a mid-March contest against the Tampa Bay Lightning, a team whose goaltending and defensive zone issues will likely keep them out of the playoffs for another year, but Toronto’s 4-3 OT victory is an encouraging sign for the future prospects of the club. It has become old hat for the Leafs to start winning late in the season and until this year, it has been detrimental t…

Jon Jordan: Lightning Limericks

12, Mar 2010

Since we’re a step closer to the official death of the 2009-10 Tampa Bay Lightning after last night’s overtime loss in Toronto left them six points out of the playoff picture with 16 games left to play, I thought I’d forgo anything serious today, in an effort to lighten the mood a bit.

Through their official Facebook page, the Lightning are promoting a limerick contest and offering ticket…

Mike Augello: KULEMIN’S A KEEPER

11, Mar 2010

In a season where signs of improvement have been pretty scarce, the progress made by forward Nikolai Kulemin has been a high point. Early in the season, Kulemin was relegated mostly to checking line duties, but as the season has progressed, his ice time and his responsibilities have become more prominent. To this point, his 2009-10 offensive numbers (62 GP, 13 Goals, 12 Assists, 25 Points) have…

Jesse Connolly: B’s Blow Three Leads, Fall to Leafs in OT

10, Mar 2010

On Tuesday night in Toronto, the Maple Leafs erased three one-goal leads held by the opposing Bruins. When the Leafs finally jumped ahead on the scoreboard for the first time, their lead was safer than any the B’s had held throughout the entirety of the affair. Why, you ask? Well, Nikolai Kulemin’s go-ahead goal came with 50 seconds left in the overtime period. They don’t call it sudden death for…

Jesse Connolly: Bruins Will Battle Leafs Without Chara

9, Mar 2010

Phil Kessel can go ahead and thank his lucky stars, as Bruins’ captain Zdeno Chara will miss his first game of this season tonight. The B’s blueliner is suffering from a lower-body injury, keeping him from suiting up against the Maple Leafs.

Chara, who currently has five goals, 30 assists and a +6 rating on the year, proved be the other “shoe to drop” after the Bruins announced the emergency r…

Jon Jordan: The Heart of the Lightning is Hart-Worthy

9, Mar 2010

The hot topic right now for the Tampa Bay Lightning might be Steven Stamkos, thanks to the hot hand that has him on pace for a 51-goal sophomore season.

The impact of Steve Downie as a well-rounded force, offensively, physically and otherwise, might be the surprise story of their season.

And a reinvigorated Vincent Lecavalier down the stretch, sparked by the under-the-radar arrival of Teddy…

Andy Strickland: Can Blues Continue Push? Pierre Crosses Line

8, Mar 2010

The million dollar question among fans and media alike is whether or not the Blues can find a way to slide into the playoffs. It won’t be long before we find out.

It’s pretty hard to pick apart the way the Blues have been playing as of late. Winners of five of their last six games the Blues have once again asserted themselves into becoming part of the playoff picture.

When talking to B…

Howard Berger: Give Burke A Chance… For Two More Years

8, Mar 2010

TORONTO (Mar. 8) – If there is one aspect of day-to-day existence that has vehemently betrayed Brian Burke during his tenure as GM of the Maple Leafs, it is timing.

Well beyond hockey, we can only imagine Double-B pondering how things may have turned out for his family had son, Brendan, been driving in clear weather back on Feb. 5, rather than the blinding snowstorm that took the young man’…

Howard Berger: Give Burke A Chance… For Two More Years

8, Mar 2010

TORONTO (Mar. 8) – If there is one aspect of day-to-day existence that has vehemently betrayed Brian Burke during his tenure as GM of the Maple Leafs, it is timing.

Well beyond hockey, we can only imagine Double-B pondering just how differently things may have turned out for his family had son, Brendan, been driving in clear weather back on Feb. 5, rather than the blinding snowstorm that took…

Jesse Connolly: Cooke KO’s Savard, Bruins Fail to Respond

8, Mar 2010

There are times, especially in the great sport of hockey, when vengeance must be pushed to the back burner. For the Boston Bruins, Sunday’s tilt in Pittsburgh against the Penguins was not, in this writer’s humble opinion, one of those occasions. After a vicious elbow from Matt Cooke left Marc Savard, their star center, unconscious, the B’s proceeded to….

A) Rearrange Cooke’s kisser?
B) Pumme…

Mike Augello: SATURDAY NIGHT’S ALRIGHT FOR FIGHTIN’

7, Mar 2010

Last night’s 2-1 victory over the archrival Ottawa Senators was an encouraging moment for the post-trade deadline Toronto Maple Leafs. Jonas Gustavsson, who had not played well for over a month, stopped 22 shots in the 65 minutes of regulation and overtime, as well as not allowing a goal against Alexei Kovalev and Jason Spezza in the shootout. Phil Kessel, who has struggled to find the net recentl…


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