Toronto Maple Leafs

You Take It, I Got It - Senators over Leafs

November 13, 2011

On a night in which the Toronto Maple Leafs had two of their best centre icemen of the last twenty years (Joe Nieuwendyk and Doug Gilmore) in attendance, the boys in blue and white were not able to get over the hump against the Ottawa Senators. The Senators were play the back end of a back to back, and didn’t record a shot until the 13 minute mark of the first period. The Leafs had every opportunity to come away with the victory tonight, but a couple ...

Game #17 Preview - Leafs vs Senators

November 12, 2011

Marco Perruzza

0 Comments

Coming off an unconvincing victory, the Toronto Maple Leafs (10-5-1) will look to not only continue their hot start to this season against the Ottawa Senators (7-9-1) tonight, but to also do so in a fashion that pleases the fanbase. The criticism of the way that the Leafs have been achieving their victories has been puzzling. It seems that a fanbase that hasn't seen the playoffs since 2004 is not content with the division leading Leafs because they've been outshot in too many games. Well, I'd rather see the blue and white win some games then out...

On My Shoulders Boys - Leafs defeat Blues 3-2

November 11, 2011

Marco Perruzza

4 Comments

With the Toronto Maple Leafs looking to rebound from their first mini losing streak of the season (2 games), it was crucial for the blue and white to get off to a great start against the St. Louis Blues. In what coach Ron Wilson described as the best period the Leafs have played this season, Toronto dominated the opening frame out shooting the Blues 14-8. On the strength of power play goals from John Michael Liles and Phil Kessel, Toronto took a 2-0 lead into the first intermission. The Leafs were able to carry the play mostly due to their strong skating and quick puck movement. Unable to keep up with the Leafs, St.Louis was c...

Game #16 Preview - Blues vs Leafs

November 10, 2011

Marco Perruzza

0 Comments

Having lost back to back games for the first time this season, the Toronto Maple Leafs (9-5-1) are looking to get back on the right track tonight as they take on their old Norris division rival the St. Louis Blues (7-7-0). The Blues are coming off of a solid 3-0 beat down of the Chicago Blackhawks on Tuesday night. Having replaced the fired Davis Payne with Ken Hitchcock earlier this week, the underachieving Blues will be looking to play well for their new coach. Having not seen much of St. Louis in recent years, fans should expect to see a really tough and aggressive team tonight. With players such as David Backes, T.J Oshie and Chris Stewart the Leafs will need to focus on keeping the a...

The Other Shoe Has Dropped - Panthers Over Leafs 5-1

November 9, 2011

Marco Perruzza

2 Comments

Since the moment James Reimer was removed from the net on October 22, Leaf fans have been expecting Jonas Gustavsson to play the way he played last night. While "The Monster" did go on a nice run for 6 games (4-2-0), the third year netminder was still allowing three goals a game. Against the Panthers Gustavsson cost his fragile team a valuable two points. With the Leafs looking to rebound from Saturday night's humbling 7-0 loss, the game against the Panthers was expected to be a night in which the blue and white got back on track.

As has happened a couple of times this season, the Leafs came out of the gate flat. Florida outshot the buds...

Game #15 Preview - Leafs vs Panthers

November 8, 2011

Marco Perruzza

0 Comments

Coming off of a humiliating 7-0 loss on home ice Saturday night, the Toronto Maple Leafs (9-4-1) will look to bounce back as they host the Florida Panthers (6-4-3) tonight. The Panthers have surprised many teams this season with their play. Led by first year coach Kevin Dineen, the Panthers have become a trapping team who thrive on the counter attack. Former Leaf Kris (I love my mouthguard) Versteeg currently leads the Panthers with 13 points in 13 games. Super prospect Jakob Markstrom was returned to the AHL yesterday, so look for one of Jose Theodore or Scott Clemmensen to get the start tonight.

The Leafs have successfully responded with a victory following their other three losse...

This Was One to Forget - Bruins Embarras Leafs 7-0

November 5, 2011

Marco Perruzza

2 Comments

Much to the delight of Hockey Night in Canada announcers Jim Hughson, Craig Simpson and Glenn Healy the Boston Bruins completely demolished the Toronto Maple Leafs tonight. Rookie Ben Scrivens started his second straight game for the blue and white, however tonight was nothing like his first game. Although the Leafs didn't really give him much help, Scrivens would definitely like to have some of the goals back. Mercifully the Leafs replaced Scrivens with Jonas Gustavsson after the fifth Bruins goal.

Tyler Seguin had a hat trick on the night to lead the Bruins. While Milan Lucic added two goals and an assist. David Krejci and Shawn Thornton were the other goal scorers. Toni...

Game #14 Preview - Leafs vs Bruins

November 5, 2011

Marco Perruzza

0 Comments

Tonight on Hockey Night in Canada the first place Toronto Maple Leafs (9-3-1) will host the last place Boston Bruins (4-7-0). Yes, you read that correctly. The Leafs are coming will be looking to win their third game in four nights, against a struggling Bruins squad. Although Boston handed the Leafs their worst loss of the season (a 6-2 loss in October 20), the defending champs haven't really gotten rolling yet. The Bruins are a good team, and it's just a matter of time before they begin to move up the standings. Much like Thursday against Columbus, the Leafs need to take advantage of a reeling Bruins team while they can.

The current version of the blue and white are n...

Deja Vu - Leafs Beat Jackets 4-1

November 4, 2011

Marco Perruzza

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On a night when most Leafs fans were expected James Reimer to return to the net, they were instead surprised to see Ben Scrivens (Reimer 2.0) get the start instead. The former Hobey Baker finalist made his first career NHL start, and boy did he put on a show. The last place Jackets came out on fire, outshooting the blue and white 11-4 in the opening frame. Scrivens made some spectacular stops, but also made the routine ones look easy (something that Reimer excels at and Jonas Gustavsson struggles with).

Although the Leafs were under siege throughout the first period, they still managed to lead 2-0 on goals by Joey Crabb (his second in two games since being ...

Game #13 Preview - Jackets vs Leafs

November 3, 2011

Marco Perruzza

0 Comments

For the second time in the last seven days the Toronto Maple Leafs will attempt to sweep both ends of a back to back. Unable to complete the sweep against the Senators on Sunday, the Leafs try again tonight against the struggling Columbus Blue Jackets (2-9-1). Columbus is currently 30th overall in the NHL with only five points. The Blue Jackets have been forced to deal with suspensions to key players (James Wisniewksi 8 games) and major injuries (both Jeff Carter and Kristian Huselius), to begin the year.

The fifth highest payroll team in the NHL has certainly fallen on hard times so far. With rumours swirling in regards to possible coaching and managerial changes, this Jackets team...