Game Thread: Crosby's, Still, Nasty & Young -- Leafs @ Pens

[DragonfromTO]

Going along with my prior post above, it is pretty much night and day between Budreau and Carlyle with regards to using all your players and not playing favorites, even with the young ones and call ups.

Toronto is basically a three line team with Carlyle, the 4th line rarely gets even 5 minutes. Which I don't mind so much if it includes Orr and McLaren, but which is also a reason why it shouldn't include Orr and McLaren in the first place!

 

[DoobeeDoobeeDoo]

Depth works wonders in the regular season - just look at the number of players the Ducks have used this year (by the way, thanks for the Reverend and Alex Grant). Getting your younger guys quality minutes with the big club really pays dividends in today's NHL when the injury bug rears it ugly head.

I'm really surprised Lovejoy turned out to be what he's become. I never wanted to let Alex Grant go tho, he was our best dman in the minor league the prior 2 seasons, wish we gave him a chance.

 

[pixburgher66]

I'm really surprised Lovejoy turned out to be what he's become. I never wanted to let Alex Grant go tho, he was our best dman in the minor league the prior 2 seasons, wish we gave him a chance.

Simply too many guys and not enough space. They HAD to make room for the young guys. Heck, look at the team right now. We have our four best defensemen hurt, and the guys that have come up in their place have been incredibly capable at the NHL level. I really think it was a service to those guys to move them to a place where they had a chance. I know with the Lovejoy move it was definitely that...in fact I think Shero's even said it. Before all these injuries I thought Bortuzzo was gonna get one of those moves too, because he's far too good to be the 7th guy out every night. Now that doesn't matter as much, but man it's gonna be interesting what happens in a month or so. Over the Olympic break Shero has some thinking to do. Scuds is a week away, Letang is hopefully only that far out, and Martin back before the Olympic break. Orpik I have no idea of a timeline, but who goes when they're all back? With Orpik-Martin, Scuds-Letang, Niskanen-Maatta, Despres-Bortuzzo-Engelland? That's three extra guys who deserve starting time (can't believe I'm saying this about Engo). Gotta figure a move for extra offensive depth is in order at some point.

 

[blindbaby]

I think I used Crosby's Still Trash and Young previously.

AM I getting Mattola'ed here???

Sorry man, never saw that one.

 

[blindbaby]

jonasTSN1050: Jake Gardiner has five points in seven games this month and is leading the Leafs in ice-time with nearly 25 minutes per game.

Is he still on the trading block?

I don't think he ever really was.

 

[element1286]

Despres will almost certainly get significant powerplay time tonight. Let's see how he uses it.

One really good sign for him, though, is that he's being used on the penalty kill. His defense was always the reason he kept getting sent down, but if Byslma trusts him on the kill, perhaps the perception is changing. Perhaps he'll be a fixture in the lineup going forward.

Yeah, no Engelland on the ice to bump him from the pp tonight.

 

[Darkstone42]

The Penguins have come out flying. 1-0 in the first 40 seconds.

 

[Darkstone42]

Good penalty kill for the Penguins.

 

[Cobiemonster]

Morgan Rielly gets his first NHL goal

 

[blindbaby]

Yup, don't see that one getting taken away. 1-1

 

[dash]

Congrats to Morgan, only downside is that he's playing too well for the Leafs to release him to the Canadian junior team.

 

[Darkstone42]

Why do defensemen push attackers into their goaltenders? That almost cost the Leafs a goal.

 

[Darkstone42]

That looked painful for Megna. Ouch.

 

[blindbaby]

That'll be a shanny hearing.

 

[Darkstone42]

I think Bortuzzo will be suspended for that hit. Looks like he got a pretty good chuck of head there.

 

[Darkstone42]

Sid with the go-ahead goal!

 

[blindbaby]

I think Bortuzzo will be suspended for that hit. Looks like he got a pretty good chuck of head there.

TBH D'Amigo had his head down and I don't think Bortuzzo was targeting the head. But that seems to matter not these days.

 

[Darkstone42]

Sutter ices the game with an empty netter on the kill.

 

[blindbaby]

good game Pens fans.

 

[Darkstone42]

TBH D'Amigo had his head down and I don't think Bortuzzo was targeting the head. But that seems to matter not these days.

Nor should it. If you're going to hit a guy in that position, it's on you to be sure to get all shoulder/chest.