Well...

I was hoping that, if I waited, I would have something good to say about the Leafs.

I was wrong.

Instead, I was just dissapointed again by a team that just doesn't want to compete for sixty minutes. At home against the New York Rangers, the Maple Leafs looked very good in the firs period. Although they ended the period down by a goal, they were controlling the play and limiting their mistakes. They continued to do this until half way into the second period. After seeing Henrik Lundqvist play so well for 30 minutes, the Leafs must have just given up?

It is very disheartening to have a full week to dwell on this loss. The team has just been awful in every game this season outside of the opener against Montreal. Yes, goaltending has been a major issue. However, the whole team has just played weak.

Where is the competitive spirit? Where is the drive and determination to win?

Maybe...just maybe if Gustavsson returns and makes a few big saves for this team, there will be a response. Maybe.

One Last Chance...

Vesa Toskala is a lucky man. Despite his poor play this season, the injury bug has given Toskala another chance to show all of us Leafs fans that he can be our goaltender.

Jonas Gustavsson looked good in the loss to the Senators. I feel that Toskala would be on the bench watching tonight if Gustavsson could play, but a groin injury has sidelined "The Monster" for the time being.

I have been a supporter of Vesa Toskala since his arrival from San Jose two seasons ago. He was good in his first season as a Maple Leaf. Last season, however, was a bad year for Toskala. Whether he was injured or not, Vesa did not give the Leafs the goaltending neccessary to be a competitive team on most nights. Now, with his injuries healed, Toskala has looked even worse. The goal he allowed in Washington to Ovechkin was terrible. A similar goal was scored on Saturday night by Matt Cooke.

Sure, the rest of the team has not been at there best so far. Despite that, Toskala has done nothing to prove himself capable of being a #1 goaltender in the NHL. Without your goaltender making the early save for you, it is impossible for a team to get any momentum. And without any momentum, winning a game in the NHL can be impossible.

The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly

Let's start with the bad here. Toronto wasted a strong defensive game. Ottawa had a good amount of shots on goal but a good portion of those chances were from the outside and the point. Beauchimen and Komisarek were calm and limited their mistakes. Toronto did not show the toughness that we were promised in the offseason by Brian Burke, but they did a good job defensively.

The ugly part was the offence. Maybe the Leafs were focusing too much on the defensive side of the game or maybe it was just Ottawa doing a good job themselves. It doesn't matter. The Leafs failed to generate much of an attack, only scoring the one powerplay goal.

Jonas Gustavsson would qualify as the good. He stopped 26 of 28 and looked solid. The two goals against him were one that should not have counted and a penalty shot. Pretty good for his first start of the year.

Still, the Leafs ended the game with a loss and are still looking for win #1. This Saturday they play the Pittsburgh Penguins. Toronto will need to be at the top of their games to win on the weekend.

Is it time for "The Monster"?

The questions surrounding Vesa Toskala and the Leafs goaltending situation were not answered on Saturday night when the Capitals scored 6 and dominated for most of the game. The play of the defence was pourous and terrible. Once again, Mike Komisarek continued to make a home in the penalty box while Francois Beauchimen looked out of place. It wasn't the terrible play of the defence that set the tone early in the game, however.

The goal by Alex Ovechkin scored just 77 seconds into the contest set the tone for the entire game and deflated a Leafs team that entered the game looking to make up for a dissapointing loss in Game 1. All of the blame for this goal falls at the feet of Vesa Toskala. Yes, Ovechkin is the best scorer in the league. However, the wrist shot he took from 40 feet out was not a difficult save. Toskala let in 3 goals in the first period and was pulled from the game.

Gustavvson did not look amazing, but looked better then Toskala on Saturday night. With a date with the Senators set for tomorrow night, the question is this - Is it time for "The Monster" to make his first NHL start?

I think now is the time to give Gustavvson a start. If everything goes well, Gustavvson will put in a good performance and help the team pick up two points. I also think it could help Toskala to show him that he is replaceable. If Gustavvson does not perform, then Toskala gets another shot in the crease.

It doesn't really matter who starts in goal, though, if the Leafs defence does not get their act together.

Game 1

Steve says:

Game one wasn't terrible.
Lets start with the positives for a change.
Our first line of Blake / Stajan / Stalberg was great. Every time they were on the ice, they were a threat...now they just need to turn some of that threat into finish (Stajan got 2 though which was nice for him).

Our other 3 lines played an average game. I was impressed with the defensive back checking of newcomer Wallin. Rosehill had a good bought. Kaberle was awesome...so controlled with the puck...glad we still have him around.

Toskala played a typical Toskala game from last season. He looked decent at times, and way out of position at others. He made some big saves, but also let in a weak goal. All in all it was a typical Toskala game...and that wont be good enough going down the stretch. With The Monster itching to get between the pipes, Vesa will surely have to pick it up.

And now the real negative part of last night's game. The D.
With all the hype around this new D that Burke has brought in, great things were expected, but in now way were great things delivered. Komisarek took way too many penalties (in the box for 2 of the goals against). Beauchemin was often caught pinching way too deep, and was out hustled getting back to our zone. White was...well...he looked like White from 2 seasons ago. Out of place, coughed up the puck, chasing the forwards into the corners leaving the front WIDE OOOOPPPEEENN! Schenn looked nervous and unsure of himself. Too many times I saw both D men together with the puck (see the pic)...why aren't they playing their positions???

It's only 1 game and we did walk away with a point, but without some great work by Price, I think we could have had both points even with all the bad D play.

And that's why I am still happy about the game...We will get better on D...but the Habs will still be short...
ha ha ha

(like I'm one to talk)

Old Habits Die Hard.

Coming into tonight's game, the Leafs were looking to their newly remodelled defence to help the penalty kill and improve from last season. They were looking for some toughness and some solid play from the goaltender.

However, not everything went as desired. Mike Komisarek spent 15 minutes in the box and was sitting on his butt when the Canadiens scored the first goal and the late tying goal in the third period. Komisarek was brought in to help the penalty kill, but it is hard to have him helping out when he is the one in the penalty box. Francois Beauchimen looked too eager to jump into the rush and was constantly out of position, leaving his defensive partner Luke Schenn out to dry on many occasions. In the early parts of the game, the Leafs showed a bit of a mean streak with some big hits and fights from Colton Orr and Jay Rosehill. As the game progressed, however, Montreal began to outmuscle the Leafs.

In goal, Vesa Toskala was not great, but he was not helped by the play of his defence in front of him.

Were the new Leafs a little too eager or excited? Hopefully that is the reason why they were repeatedly out of position and why the Leafs blew a late 3-2 lead and wound up giving Montreal the extra point in overtime.

Some positives do come from the 4-3 OT loss. The Leafs powerplay looked good with Stajan scoring twice. In fact, the line of Blake-Stajan-Stalberg were creating scoring chances throughout the game. Tomas Kaberle looked like his fantastic self, making a great play on Stajan's first goal. Another positive is that the Leafs outshot Montreal by a wide margin. Carey Price put in a great performance and likely saved the game for his team. The Leafs had long periods of possession in Montreal's zone, and if they can continue to pressure the opposing team like that they will definitly win more then they lose.

Overall, this is a tough loss to swallow. The next game for the Leafs comes this Saturday against the Washington Capitals, who were powered by 2 goals from Ovechkin in a 4-1 win over the Bruins.

Wilson Names Three Captains, Line-up For Opening Day...

It's opening night for the Toronto Maple Leafs! I'm really excited for the beginning of a new campaign and I really hope our team can show some improvement over last season.

According to Sportsnet.ca, Ron Wilson has decided to go with three associate captains this season. Wearing the "A" will be Tomas Kaberle, Mike Komisarek and Francois Beauchimen. Wilson will name a captain later in the season when he sees someone step up and assume the role of leader for the team.

I like the idea of waiting to name a leader. Right now, there are a lot of new faces. Hopefully, someone will step up and take the "C". Last year, the Leafs remained without a captain throughout the whole season. This year, someone will wear the badge.

The lines for tonights games look like this:

Forwards:

Stalberg Stajan Blake

Ponikarovsky Grabovski Hagman

Wallin Mitchell Stempniak

Rosehill Primeau Orr

Defence:

Beauchimen-Schenn

Kaberle-Komisarek

White -Exelby

Goaltender

Toskala
Gustavsson

These lines were also taken from Sportsnet.ca. Toskala starting in goal has caused some concern among Leafs fans, but it is the right move. He is the veteran and deserves a chance to prove himself. It is a long season, and Gustavsson will get an opportunity to prove himself. If Toskala can perform like he did in his first season with the Maple Leafs, then it will be a great season for the Blue and White.