I'd love to write a long, detailed post about the game, but it'd be nothing you haven't read before. Two Boston goals came as the direct result of poor play by Leafs defensemen. Bryan McCabe's inability to clear the puck and Hal Gill's complete lack of coverage led to Phil Kessel's goal. On Boston's third goal, Ian White wasn't able to get the puck out, which led to a Chuck Kobasew shot that should have been stopped by Vesa Toskala - but obviously wasn't - even if it was probably tipped.
What is encouraging is that last night the problem wasn't defensive zone coverage. The Leafs have actually looked good in that respect over the last two games. Sure, Hal Gill should have been covering Kessel when he scored, but Boston was on the powerplay, and it's not quite the same sort of defensive assignment.
What has improved for the Leafs is that the centreman has been running a much more pronounced backcheck, effectively becoming a 3rd defenseman and negating any numbers advantage the opposing team has. It's been working. If it weren't for bad clearing attempts last night, the game would have been drastically different.
But, I guess you could say the Leafs found a way to lose again last night...against a third string goaltender. There are only so many excuses that can be made before the realization hits: with every game that the Leafs continue to hover around .500, the playoffs become more and more unrealistic.
The team hasn't shown anything in the way of desire to improve. After 22 games, the Leafs have 21 points, meaning there are 60 games to go in the season and the team realistically needs 72 more points to snag the final playoff spot. Do any worse than 72 points in 60 games and the playoffs will not happen.
Random Game Notes:
- Both Toronto goals went in off Bruins players.
- Ian White again took my vote for least effective Leafs defenseman. Instead of improving, he seems to be becoming worse with every game. He looks lost defensively and his offensive talents have been in hiding.
- Andy Wozniewski and Staffan Kronwall both played about 10 minutes last night. Contrast those numbers to Bryan McCabe's 32:55 and Paul Maurice's lack of confidence in the two young defensemen becomes quite apparent. Woz has consistently been logging fewer minutes than anyone else on the blueline, and I look for him to be the d-man scratched when (if?) Carlo Colaiacovo returns from injury.
- Just before Bryan McCabe's goal, Nik Antropov carried the puck into the Boston zone, and was lined up for a Scott Stevens-esque open ice hit by a Bruins player. Nik was seemingly unaware that the Bruin was coming at him. I cringed, thinking Nik was about to receive a career-ender. But, Nik simply laid his shoulder into the Bruin, who went down a boner that's seen Kelly Osbourne naked. It's not often you see the checker hit the ice like that.
If Jim Kelley says it, it's the truth...
Not exactly, but Kelley is a sports writer of the finest calibre. If you are looking for quality sports writing, you are looking for Jim Kelley. In his latest column, which is a rundown of the biggest surprises of the NHL season, Kelley gives the Leafs a less than honourable mention with respect to their play thusfar. He called the Leafs "...a team that simply refuses to work hard enough to play even decent defence". It's funny cause it's true.
Next up are the Dallas Stars on Friday night in Dallas. Cover your cornholes, guys!
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