Victory!!!!!!!!Sure feels nice doesn't it, and in regulation too. Something Johnny Drama would be proud of even, as the Sens and Leafs actually played a pretty entertaining 60 minutes tonight. I must admit going into this, that I had very low expectations and frankly, I just didn't care like I once did. I mean come on, Stajan, Schenn and Kessel, are hardly Domi, Tucker and Sundin if you know what I mean. Still, the game was full of physical play, exciting rushes and fights. Kinda remind me of the old days for a sec, if even just for a few minutes.
Earlier today in my GDP, I predicted that Snoopy would have a great comeback game and early on that looked soemwhat foolish but in the end I was proven right thankfully. The first two Leaf goals were mediocore. They weren't awful but were definitely stoppable, they were ones he needed to have. But by the 3rd came around, Leclaire stood on his head, singlehandedly keeping us in the game. Was excellent to see him get a few standing O's from the appreciative fans. See the thing is, people want to get behind him. He's a nice guy and has a lot of potential, and even the most casual fan knows he is the key to our team. So what's good for Leclaire is good for the Sens. Tonight he helped ease my mind that he is capable of being a true #1 for us. It's a load off the mind of the mayor. Now let's hope he gets on a hot streak.
Now let's get to the rest of the squad. As a whole, I thought the Sens put in a nice effort. No one was really awful, most people worked hard and it showed in their play. I thought Chris Kelly had a very ncie for once, being a good forechecker all night and providing a few scoring chances even. Unfortunately it was Chris Kelly so he didn't bury them. Of course #12 had a pretty solid game, potting 2 goals and played his usual big effort style. Shoutout to Kovalev for having a pretty decent game too. Say what you want but the guy makes 2 or 3 amazing passes a game that would be points for him if our players could finish better. Tonight was no exception, with him setting up the game winner on a lovely cross ice pass.
Nicky Foligno had a pretty ncie game as well, perhaps responding to the added responsibility of being promoted to the 2nd line. The kid always brings it with effort, if only quickness came from heart. Jarkko Ruutu has put very nice back to back efforts together, playing a solid game and even getting into a nice fight, in which he killed it on the low. Shean Donovan has a very string start and brings a nice element to our team with his speed and work ethic. Good news for Dono, bad news for Ryan Shannon. Amzing tip in from Milan, just what we needed. Alfie and Spezza need to be better.
On a negative note, the attendance was only 17, 400, which is more then 2500 below capacity, which is shocking. I remember not so long ago when it was jam packed and tickets were hard to come by. A time when they could have easily sold an extra 5000 seats and now they can't even sell out. I guess times have changed but not completely, as Leaf fans are still as cocky and obnoxious as ever. And hey why wouldn't they be? Just because they haven't made a final is 42 years, have no hope in sight and are now tied for worst in the NHL with Carolina..........wait what was my argument again? Now granted I don't know all the ins and outs of being a Leaf fan, but is rule #1 that you have to wear a non current players jersey at all times, with the more obsecure the player the better? I only saw about 10 jerseys of anyone on the Leafs roster tonight and most were Kaberle or Schenn, with one Gustavsson spotted. Other then that it was pure Gilmour, Potvin, Wendy Clark, Cujo, Sundin, Domi, Tucker, Corson, etc etc etc.......and that's not counting the Johnny Bower, the Borje Salming, the Ace Bailey, the Allan Bester and the Peter Zezel I saw tonight. I guess they want to be nostalgic and remember the good old days, when they were simply mediocore and not a laughing stock.
Anyways, it was a struggle but in the end the result was right. We got the 2 points and won a hotly contested affair, with a rival. Ain't nothing wrong with that. Thoughts?
5 comments:
Pretty solid game, though we cannot sit back like that against a good team and get away with it. If you want to play that way you have to outwork the opposition in your own end (i.e. winning races and battles).
I am still not sure about Leclaire, he seems like he is too reactionary sometimes and is not reading the play that well, he also needs to make himself bigger in net, especially when he cannot see the puck.
I still would like to see Picard move, I would say his solid numbers are not reflective of his bad play.
Alfredsson and Spezza really need to get going if we are going to beat some better teams.
I think the attendance has is also affected by the boring style of play we have adopted; although, I am sure Heatley would say it was because of him.
I would not say rivalry renewed. I think they might actually have to be playing for something to renew their rivalry, even bragging rights. Right now what is it to say you beat the Leafs or the Sens, nothing. I do think the nastiness is the first step though.
LeClaire stole this game in the third. The end of the period was just ugly, with too many quality chances being handed to the Leafs. Group effort (or lack of one) is to blame here.
Regarding the ticket sales -- used to be you had to pay both a steep mark-up AND buy tickets to another, lesser game in order to score Leafs or Canadians games -- is that still the case? I no longer even bother looking since my budget could barely fit one over-priced game, forget two.
Leclaire was solid in the third period, but come-on the chances he were faced with were not top tier - maybe one.
MORE IMPORTANTLY, Leclaire continues to let in these soft ill timed goals - TO's first goal was terrible, a minor league tender should stop that shot. Does Leclaire need glasses? He seems to have difficulty with the long shots.
I hate to do this, and I have never done it before, but I'm going to criticise Alfie - in the third period he looked seriously out of gas. He was consistently behind the play and was often VERY late getting to his forward out at the point (in our end). As a result TO ended up holding the play in our end way too long resulting in numerous scoring chances for those pricks.
David,
No fortunately you no longer have to buy a 2nd game to get Leafs or Habs tickets. Now you can just buy them on their own, which is even more disappointing that it wasnt full.
Turns out they missed a great game
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