The loss comes only a day after the Leafs took in the Thanksgiving Day NFL game between the Dallas Cowboys and the New York Jets. You know, the game that was intended to get their minds away from their own shittiness. The game that was supposed to be a great team-building exercise. Methinks the day would have been better spent practicing the game of hockey that the team obviously hasn't mastered. Seriously though, I am glad the team was able to take a vacation...in the midst of especially weak play. 'Tis a good life if you can get it, I suppose. I hope everyone remembers the Leafs enjoying their private box at Texas Stadium the next time the team whines about fans booing them.
BONEhead of the game: Tomas Kaberle
Tommy, Tommy, Tommy. It wasn't enough that you were -3 last night - on the ice for every Dallas goal. No, you had to be directly responsible for both Dallas goals that weren't empty-net goals. You gave the puck away to Mike Ribiero and he made you look silly before he scored (albeit on a weak goal by Vesa Toskala). Then, you and Andy Wozniewski decided to shit the bed in tandem, giving the puck to Antti Miettinen so that he could waltz in on a breakaway and score the game winner. Tommy, why were you that close to your defense partner? Do you know how easy it is for a forechecker when you are within a stick length of your partner? I guess you didn't know - but you do now. What are you, taking direction from Bryan McCabe? Fuckkkk.
Hot & Cold...again:
Vesa Toskala let in a weak goal to Mike Ribiero to tie the game, but previous to that he made two really fucking fantastic saves in the first period to preserve the lead. We'd be talking about those saves this morning if the Leafs had managed a little offense last night. Instead, all the talk is focusing on the one weak goal Toskala let in.
On a positive note:
This isn't a play that will make any of the highlight reels, but it led to the Leafs only goal last night. Staffan Kronwall and Andy Wozniewski both pinched in at the point to keep the puck in the Stars' zone for Alex Ponikarovsky's goal. Two rookie defensemen took chances on pinches on the same shift...in the midst of their coaching staff preaching nothing but defensive responsibility. It was a two-pack of really fantastic hockey decisions, back-to-back, by rookies. Really great play by both players.
Another Kronwall play struck me as fantastic: with three minutes to go in the game and the play in the Dallas zone, Kronwall snuck in from his spot at the point and stood, undetected, in front of the Dallas goal, waiting for the puck. It never got to him, but he was ready to put home the game-tying goal if his forwards were capable of getting him the puck. It was a refreshing sight on this Leafs team, whose defense might as well be stone statues stuck by the blueline. It's quite rare to see a Leafs d-man create scoring chances by sneaking in like that. Boner! This is the start of my petition to keep Kronwall with the Leafs for good.
Some interesting stats:
The folks at Sportsnet flashed a statistic last night that got me thinking. It showed the Leafs' goal-scoring over their first 12 games versus their 10 since:
1st 12 games: 46 goals for, 4 or more goals scored in 8 different games.
10 games since: 23 goals for, 4 or more goals scored 0 times.
So, I saw that and thought to myself "Fuck you're cool!". But immediately after that, I thought "The team is scoring much less lately in an effort to become defensively responsible, but I don't think their record is any better. Why not keep up the high-flying offense if the 'defensively responsible' system isn't doing you any better? At least you are guaranteeing goals for - half of what it takes to win."
Add in last night's game against Dallas and the 12/11 game split is almost a perfect comparison between the first and second halves of the season thusfar. The first half (1st 12 games), the Leafs scored 46 goals - an average of 3.8 per game - and had a record of 5-4-3. Not great, but much better than their second half: 23 goals scored - 2.1 per game - leading to a 3-6-2 record. Really fucking terrible.
Why the fuck not stay with the system that gave you more success, not to mention gave your fans a little excitement?
More bad news:
The Leafs are in 4th place in the Northeast division, despite having played more games than any other team in the division. The 5th place Buffalo Sabres are only two points down with three games at hand. The smart money is on the Leafs occupying the bottom of the division when Buffalo catches up to them in games played, as the Sabres are finally turning it on with a three game winning streak. Did I mention the Sabres won the President's Trophy last season for most points during the regular season? Yep, unexpected strong play from Boston and Montreal means the Leafs' mediocre play will land them (and keep them, unless something drastic changes) in last place in their division.
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