NHL, NHLPA Agree On Mandatory Visors
WEDNESDAY, 05.06.2013 / 9:48 AM / NEWS
![Picture](/uploads/1/9/9/0/19900105/4128709.jpg?285)
TORONTO -- Their is talk on all players entering the NHL next year may be required to wear visors.
The NHL's Cometition met in Toronto on Tuesday, June 4 to discuss the topic. Their was a proposal that would make visors mandatory for all players that enter the league, starting in the 2013-14. If their will be any changes made it will have to be approved by the Leaugue's Board of Governors.
Many players have voted for visors to be mandatory. The players response is a big reason for the change, the results were unable to be released. Once it was extablished that the majority of players voted to having visors mandatory their was a lot more interest in the topic. A serious eye injury was suffered by a New York Rangers defenceman Marc Staal is thought to have brought up the number of votes for having visors next sesaon. More players put a visor on their helmets after the Staal injury occured this season. They don't believe making visors mandatory should be a big deal for players entering the NHL next season since it is for their safety.
Approximatley 73 percent of NHL players wore visors in the 2012-13 players.
Along with visors being mandatory their has also been many other change recommendations for next season, including:
-- All double minor penalties for high-sticking will be subject to video review
-- "The League will eliminate the attainable pass, which gave linesmen the discretion to wave off icing infractions on attempted passes that are deemed attainable. With the new standard, there must be contact with the stick."
-- "The NHL will experiment with hybrid icing in the prason before a decision will be made by the Board of Governors on whether to carry it to the regular season or maintain the current standard."
-- A sub-committee will be formed as early as the next weekto study all equiptment worn by goaltenders and sakters. All equiptment should be examined.
-- Beginning next season, the NHL could possibly use nets that are 4 inches shallower. Nets willl be 6 feet wide by 4 feet tall, but they will be 40 inches in depth, down from 44 inches.
The NHL's Cometition met in Toronto on Tuesday, June 4 to discuss the topic. Their was a proposal that would make visors mandatory for all players that enter the league, starting in the 2013-14. If their will be any changes made it will have to be approved by the Leaugue's Board of Governors.
Many players have voted for visors to be mandatory. The players response is a big reason for the change, the results were unable to be released. Once it was extablished that the majority of players voted to having visors mandatory their was a lot more interest in the topic. A serious eye injury was suffered by a New York Rangers defenceman Marc Staal is thought to have brought up the number of votes for having visors next sesaon. More players put a visor on their helmets after the Staal injury occured this season. They don't believe making visors mandatory should be a big deal for players entering the NHL next season since it is for their safety.
Approximatley 73 percent of NHL players wore visors in the 2012-13 players.
Along with visors being mandatory their has also been many other change recommendations for next season, including:
-- All double minor penalties for high-sticking will be subject to video review
-- "The League will eliminate the attainable pass, which gave linesmen the discretion to wave off icing infractions on attempted passes that are deemed attainable. With the new standard, there must be contact with the stick."
-- "The NHL will experiment with hybrid icing in the prason before a decision will be made by the Board of Governors on whether to carry it to the regular season or maintain the current standard."
-- A sub-committee will be formed as early as the next weekto study all equiptment worn by goaltenders and sakters. All equiptment should be examined.
-- Beginning next season, the NHL could possibly use nets that are 4 inches shallower. Nets willl be 6 feet wide by 4 feet tall, but they will be 40 inches in depth, down from 44 inches.
The purpose of the change of netting is so their is more room to work behind the net. Their is hope that it will create more offense, these nets have been ready for use for three or four years. They are unsure about how the new nets will work, but they only expect them to be better, not worse. There was so talk about making the goal dimensions any bigger. Players agree that equiptment, goalie equiptment in particular, has become too big and too dangerous. For example, with the larger and more protective equiptment, players feel comfortable to dive headfirst to block shots which could cause concusions. The Board of Governors will meet later this month to dicudss and vote on the proposals made by the Competition C
*(Information was taken and simplified from link attatched to picture)* Author: Mike Brohpy | NHL.com Correspondent |
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Leafs Prospects To Play in Rookie Tourney in London
MONDAY, 03.06.2013 / 7:42 AM / NEWS
![Picture](/uploads/1/9/9/0/19900105/4608733.jpg?296)
The Toronto Maple Leafs announced Monday the schedule for the 2013 Rookie Tournament in London, Ontario. This year, Maple Leafs’ prospects will compete in three games at Budweiser Gardens beginning Thursday, September 5 versus rookie teams from the Ottawa Senators, Pittsburgh Penguins and Chicago Blackhawks.
“The Maple Leafs are thrilled to return to a great hockey city like London for the annual Rookie Tournament,” said Leafs Senior Vice-President and General Manager David Nonis. “It’s a great opportunity for us to evaluate the players in our system against their peers from other NHL clubs.”
Tickets for the 2013 Rookie Tournament officially go on sale Saturday, June 8 at 10 a.m. Tickets can be purchased at the Budweiser Gardens Box Office, by phone at (866) 455-2849 or online at www.budweisergardens.com. Ticket prices for the evening games are Adults - $19.25 and Students/Seniors/Kids - $14.25. Prices for the afternoon games are Adults - $16.75 and Students/Seniors/Kids - $11.75. Additionally this year, Full Day Passes will also be offered at $26.00 for Adults and $21.00 for Students/Seniors/Kids.
Toronto, Ottawa, Pittsburgh and Chicago’s 2013 Rookie Tournament rosters will be announced at a later date.
2013 Rookie Tournament Schedule
DATE TIME EVENT LOCATION
Thur. Sept. 5 2:00 PM Pitt vs. Ott Budweiser Gardens
7:00 PM Chi vs. Tor Budweiser Gardens
Fri. Sept. 6 T.B.A. Practice Budweiser Gardens
Sat. Sept. 7 2:00 PM Ott vs. Chi Budweiser Gardens
7:00 PM Tor vs. Pitt Budweiser Gardens
Sun. Sept. 8 2:00 PM Chi vs. Pitt Budweiser Gardens
7:00 PM Tor vs. Ott Budweiser Gardens
*(Information taken from link attatched to picture)*
“The Maple Leafs are thrilled to return to a great hockey city like London for the annual Rookie Tournament,” said Leafs Senior Vice-President and General Manager David Nonis. “It’s a great opportunity for us to evaluate the players in our system against their peers from other NHL clubs.”
Tickets for the 2013 Rookie Tournament officially go on sale Saturday, June 8 at 10 a.m. Tickets can be purchased at the Budweiser Gardens Box Office, by phone at (866) 455-2849 or online at www.budweisergardens.com. Ticket prices for the evening games are Adults - $19.25 and Students/Seniors/Kids - $14.25. Prices for the afternoon games are Adults - $16.75 and Students/Seniors/Kids - $11.75. Additionally this year, Full Day Passes will also be offered at $26.00 for Adults and $21.00 for Students/Seniors/Kids.
Toronto, Ottawa, Pittsburgh and Chicago’s 2013 Rookie Tournament rosters will be announced at a later date.
2013 Rookie Tournament Schedule
DATE TIME EVENT LOCATION
Thur. Sept. 5 2:00 PM Pitt vs. Ott Budweiser Gardens
7:00 PM Chi vs. Tor Budweiser Gardens
Fri. Sept. 6 T.B.A. Practice Budweiser Gardens
Sat. Sept. 7 2:00 PM Ott vs. Chi Budweiser Gardens
7:00 PM Tor vs. Pitt Budweiser Gardens
Sun. Sept. 8 2:00 PM Chi vs. Pitt Budweiser Gardens
7:00 PM Tor vs. Ott Budweiser Gardens
*(Information taken from link attatched to picture)*
Little Things Make Lazer Big- Time Prospect
FRIDAY, 31.05.2013 / 2:49 PM / NEWS
![Picture](/uploads/1/9/9/0/19900105/1005126.jpg?300)
Following in the footsteps of a father considered by many to be one of the NHL's toughest players never has been that big a deal in the eyes of London Knights forward Max Domi.
The biggest obstacle for the 5-foot-9.25, 193-pound Domi? Coping with Type 1 diabetes in an attempt to play the sport he loves.
"It's not the easiest thing to handle, but as you go on with it and gain experience, it gets easier," Domi told NHL.com. "You just have to embrace it and kind of take it head-on. You can't look at it as adversity. It's something you can't change, so you kind of use it in order to better yourself as a person."
Domi, the son of retired NHL forward Tie Domi, was diagnosed with juvenile diabetes several years ago. He wears an insulin pump attached to his hip during games and team doctors and general manager Mark Hunter have helped monitor his blood glucose levels on the bench.
During intermission, Domi usually is gulping down sandwiches or drinking Gatorade in an attempt to maintain a proper glucose count.
"On the ice, it makes you more responsible and I have to take care of my body a lot more," Domi said. "For me, it's for the better, and it helps me out a lot."
Domi wears No. 16 as a tribute to former Philadelphia Flyers captain Bobby Clarke, who played with Type 1 diabetes during his 15 seasons in the League.
As an OHL rookie last season, Domi also received great advice and guidance from roommate Jared Knight, who also is diabetic. Knight was a 2010 second-round draft pick (No. 32) of the Boston Bruins.
"He's one of the hardest workers I know," Domi said of Knight. "As a rookie, and not really sure what to do or how to handle myself, having [Knight] there was awesome. He's probably one of the most influential people I've ever met in terms of hockey. I don't know what I would have done without him last year."
Domi, who turned 18 on March 2, certainly felt right at home in his first OHL season in 2011-12, totaling 21 goals, 49 points and a plus-13 rating for the Knights.
This season he's No. 23 on NHL Central Scouting's midterm list of draft-eligible skaters, and NHL.com's draft experts had Domi going 17th in two mock drafts, and 19th in another.
Many scouts feel the young Domi is the complete opposite of his father, who spent 16 seasons in the League with the Toronto Maple Leafs, New York Rangers and Winnipeg Jets. He's third all-time in League history with 3,515 penalty minutes, including a club-record 2,265 in 11 seasons with the Maple Leafs.
"He played 17 years in the NHL so he was doing something right, and he's probably one of the hardest workers I've ever met," Max said. "I kind of take bits and pieces of what he did in his career and implement them into mine, hoping for the best."
The results have been encouraging, particularly this season, as Domi has become a marked man for a London team that strung together 25 straight wins from Nov. 1 through Dec. 31. During that franchise-record winning streak, Domi had 14 goals, 28 points and a plus-11 rating.
"The thing he does have from dad is that he plays with grit and is unafraid," Central Scouting's David Gregory told NHL.com. "I haven't seen any signs that would indicate that Max won't continue to develop. He's got the pedigree to play as a pro athlete, and in my eyes is a legitimate first-round candidate."
Domi was selected by the Kingston Frontenacs with the eighth pick of the 2011 OHL draft, but on Aug. 30 of that year was traded by general manager Doug Gilmour -- one of Tie's former teammates -- to London for three second-round draft picks.
In his OHL debut against the Saginaw Spirit, on Sept. 23, 2011, Domi had a hat trick and dished an assist to lead the Knights in an 8-0 victory.
"He has extensive offensive skills and his skating ability is -- and I hate to say it -- [Sidney] Crosby-esque," London coach Dale Hunter said. "You never want to compare [a player] to someone like that, but he has a very strong lower torso, so his center of gravity is amazing."
Perhaps the comparisons to Crosby have some substance with regard to work ethic since Domi occasionally trains with the Pittsburgh Penguins' captain.
"He's the best in the world, so just to be able to sit there in the same room, watch what he does and see how he handles himself, is unbelievable," Domi said. "After only a couple of hours with him you understand why he is the best in the world. He works extraordinarily hard."
In 59 games for London this season, Domi has a team-best 39 goals, and he's tied for first with 82 points. He also has 14 power-play goals, one shorthanded goal and a plus-32 rating. He also has 59 penalty minutes.
"He's still putting up points when he has a top checker on him and he competes every time he's out there," Gregory said. "People may question his size, but Max is the type of guy who will keep answering those questions every time with his play on the ice."
Central Scouting's Chris Edwards agrees.
"He's been steady all season," he said. "He's been improving on the top line while receiving more attention from opponents. He competes hard every game and battles in traffic. He has a toughness about him that is appreciated by everyone."
*(Information taken from link attacthed to picture)*
Follow Mike Morreale on Twitter at: @mikemorrealeNHL
Author: Mike G. Morreale | NHL.com Staff Writer
The biggest obstacle for the 5-foot-9.25, 193-pound Domi? Coping with Type 1 diabetes in an attempt to play the sport he loves.
"It's not the easiest thing to handle, but as you go on with it and gain experience, it gets easier," Domi told NHL.com. "You just have to embrace it and kind of take it head-on. You can't look at it as adversity. It's something you can't change, so you kind of use it in order to better yourself as a person."
Domi, the son of retired NHL forward Tie Domi, was diagnosed with juvenile diabetes several years ago. He wears an insulin pump attached to his hip during games and team doctors and general manager Mark Hunter have helped monitor his blood glucose levels on the bench.
During intermission, Domi usually is gulping down sandwiches or drinking Gatorade in an attempt to maintain a proper glucose count.
"On the ice, it makes you more responsible and I have to take care of my body a lot more," Domi said. "For me, it's for the better, and it helps me out a lot."
Domi wears No. 16 as a tribute to former Philadelphia Flyers captain Bobby Clarke, who played with Type 1 diabetes during his 15 seasons in the League.
As an OHL rookie last season, Domi also received great advice and guidance from roommate Jared Knight, who also is diabetic. Knight was a 2010 second-round draft pick (No. 32) of the Boston Bruins.
"He's one of the hardest workers I know," Domi said of Knight. "As a rookie, and not really sure what to do or how to handle myself, having [Knight] there was awesome. He's probably one of the most influential people I've ever met in terms of hockey. I don't know what I would have done without him last year."
Domi, who turned 18 on March 2, certainly felt right at home in his first OHL season in 2011-12, totaling 21 goals, 49 points and a plus-13 rating for the Knights.
This season he's No. 23 on NHL Central Scouting's midterm list of draft-eligible skaters, and NHL.com's draft experts had Domi going 17th in two mock drafts, and 19th in another.
Many scouts feel the young Domi is the complete opposite of his father, who spent 16 seasons in the League with the Toronto Maple Leafs, New York Rangers and Winnipeg Jets. He's third all-time in League history with 3,515 penalty minutes, including a club-record 2,265 in 11 seasons with the Maple Leafs.
"He played 17 years in the NHL so he was doing something right, and he's probably one of the hardest workers I've ever met," Max said. "I kind of take bits and pieces of what he did in his career and implement them into mine, hoping for the best."
The results have been encouraging, particularly this season, as Domi has become a marked man for a London team that strung together 25 straight wins from Nov. 1 through Dec. 31. During that franchise-record winning streak, Domi had 14 goals, 28 points and a plus-11 rating.
"The thing he does have from dad is that he plays with grit and is unafraid," Central Scouting's David Gregory told NHL.com. "I haven't seen any signs that would indicate that Max won't continue to develop. He's got the pedigree to play as a pro athlete, and in my eyes is a legitimate first-round candidate."
Domi was selected by the Kingston Frontenacs with the eighth pick of the 2011 OHL draft, but on Aug. 30 of that year was traded by general manager Doug Gilmour -- one of Tie's former teammates -- to London for three second-round draft picks.
In his OHL debut against the Saginaw Spirit, on Sept. 23, 2011, Domi had a hat trick and dished an assist to lead the Knights in an 8-0 victory.
"He has extensive offensive skills and his skating ability is -- and I hate to say it -- [Sidney] Crosby-esque," London coach Dale Hunter said. "You never want to compare [a player] to someone like that, but he has a very strong lower torso, so his center of gravity is amazing."
Perhaps the comparisons to Crosby have some substance with regard to work ethic since Domi occasionally trains with the Pittsburgh Penguins' captain.
"He's the best in the world, so just to be able to sit there in the same room, watch what he does and see how he handles himself, is unbelievable," Domi said. "After only a couple of hours with him you understand why he is the best in the world. He works extraordinarily hard."
In 59 games for London this season, Domi has a team-best 39 goals, and he's tied for first with 82 points. He also has 14 power-play goals, one shorthanded goal and a plus-32 rating. He also has 59 penalty minutes.
"He's still putting up points when he has a top checker on him and he competes every time he's out there," Gregory said. "People may question his size, but Max is the type of guy who will keep answering those questions every time with his play on the ice."
Central Scouting's Chris Edwards agrees.
"He's been steady all season," he said. "He's been improving on the top line while receiving more attention from opponents. He competes hard every game and battles in traffic. He has a toughness about him that is appreciated by everyone."
*(Information taken from link attacthed to picture)*
Follow Mike Morreale on Twitter at: @mikemorrealeNHL
Author: Mike G. Morreale | NHL.com Staff Writer
Leafs See Success, Know More Work Needed
WEDNESDAY, 22.05.2013 / 11:18 PM / NEWS
![Picture](/uploads/1/9/9/0/19900105/6279271.jpg?432)
TORONTO -- A few days later, the shock is starting to wear off.
No, it was not just a really bad dream. In fact, the Toronto Maple Leafs did blow a three-goal lead in the third period and a trip to the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. The Boston Bruins, on the verge of blowing a 3-1 series lead of their own, scored two goals in the final two minutes of Game 7 with goalie Tuukka Rask on the bench in favor of an extra skater, then secured their comeback with an overtime goal.
It was a collapse for the ages. The Maple Leafs successfully and shockingly had snatched defeat from the jaws of victory, sending a disbelieving fan base into instant mourning.
The city, which had come alive and was partying in the name of their beloved hockey team, took a collective punch to the gut. The Maple Leafs had the Bruins on the ropes and could not deliver the knockout.
With Boston down three veteran defensemen and trailing by two goals with less than two minutes to play in regulation, the Maple Leafs were exposed as being not quite ready to take the next step.
Was it a successful season? Of course it was. Any time you make the playoffs after a nine-year absence, how can it be viewed as anything other than successful?
Goaltender James Reimer believes that to be the case.
"I think we took huge strides this season," Reimer said. "I don't think anybody gave us a chance at the start of the year. I think we were ranked to place 14th in the conference. The coach did a great [job] in terms of putting a plan in place, and everybody bought in. We went to work and had fun. It was a good year; better than most people expected."
However, Reimer said he will not soon forget the team's collapse at the end.
"That was a terrible way to go out," he said. "It was one of the worst losses I have ever had. I couldn't sleep that night. You hope you don't have to go through something like that again.
"I think that happens in all walks of life. You look at all the superhero movies -- they don't just start out being the best. Usually they fall down and then they get back up. The reason for that is it mimics life. I remember my rookie camp when I let in six goals in the second period. It was devastating. It was like, 'What's going on?' Then at main camp I had a good game against Philadelphia and won a shootout game. Often when you look at life terrible things happen, but you learn from it and you get better."
Maple Leafs captain Dion Phaneuf said he believes what the team accomplished this season was its first step toward better days ahead, but there is plenty of work to be done before his team can be considered a legitimate Stanley Cup contender.
"I think we have taken some steps in the right direction, but we know it's just a starting point," Phaneuf said. "There's lots of room to keep improving and growing as a group. Any time you have a group that is young like ours, the experience we gained this year will really help us. When you don't attain the goal you set out for yourself, then there will be changes. We set a goal at the start of the year to make the playoffs and give ourselves a chance to win the Stanley Cup. We attained the first goal, but fell short on the second."
Coach Randy Carlyle came to training camp with a plan -- a template, as he likes to call it -- and the Maple Leafs players attained success by following it. Last season the Maple Leafs finished 26th in the League standings with a 35-37-10 record and 80 points. They scored 32 fewer non-shootout goals (227) than they allowed (259). This season, playing a more robust defensive style, the Maple Leafs were 26-17-5 for 57 points and finished ninth in the League and fifth in the Eastern Conference. They scored 17 more non-shootout goals than they allowed (145-128).
One major reason the Maple Leafs were better defensively had to do with their penalty killing. Three seasons ago Toronto finished 30th, and the past two seasons they were 28th. Under a full season with Carlyle, the Maple Leafs improved to second in the NHL.
The Maple Leafs also became the NHL's nastiest team, leading the League in fighting majors with 44 in 48 games, 0.92 majors per game. In 2011-12, they had 16 in 82 games, 0.43 per game.
The question now is what the Maple Leafs do to improve on this season. There are a number of key concerns. Forwards Tyler Bozak and Clarke MacArthur can become unrestricted free agents. With the salary cap going down, one or both may have to move to get the money they feel they deserve. Also, there are those who do not believe Bozak, Mikhail Grabovski or Nazem Kadri is a legitimate No. 1 center.
Phaneuf and right wing Phil Kessel will enter next season in the final year of their contracts, so decisions to extend their deals or possibly move them must be considered. Kessel had his best NHL season to date with 20 goals and 52 points in 48 games, then four goals and six points in seven playoff games.
Is Reimer a true No. 1 goalie? Clearly he remains a work in progress, although it is safe to say he gave his team a chance to win most nights. For a player who heard all offseason and during the lockout that he was going to be replaced, then served as a backup the first two games of this season before getting a start at the Pittsburgh Penguins and winning, he did rather well. Reimer is 25 years old and though he needs work in certain areas -- rebounds and puck-handling, for certain -- he is trending in the right direction.
Maple Leafs general manager Dave Nonis told the media Thursday his club has no untouchable players, and if he has a chance to upgrade his team in any specific area through trades or free-agent signings, he’ll do so.
Carlyle, asked if this season was a success, said, "There were some high points, but also some low points. The lowest point was obviously what happened in [Game 7 against the Bruins]. We can't get too far ahead of ourselves, and I think we'll continue to take that workmanlike attitude and try to sell our players on the fact there are things we'd like to change, and we'll continue to demand change and try to play the game to a higher level more consistently."
*(Information taken from link attatched to picture)*
Author: Mike Brophy | NHL.com Correspondent
No, it was not just a really bad dream. In fact, the Toronto Maple Leafs did blow a three-goal lead in the third period and a trip to the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. The Boston Bruins, on the verge of blowing a 3-1 series lead of their own, scored two goals in the final two minutes of Game 7 with goalie Tuukka Rask on the bench in favor of an extra skater, then secured their comeback with an overtime goal.
It was a collapse for the ages. The Maple Leafs successfully and shockingly had snatched defeat from the jaws of victory, sending a disbelieving fan base into instant mourning.
The city, which had come alive and was partying in the name of their beloved hockey team, took a collective punch to the gut. The Maple Leafs had the Bruins on the ropes and could not deliver the knockout.
With Boston down three veteran defensemen and trailing by two goals with less than two minutes to play in regulation, the Maple Leafs were exposed as being not quite ready to take the next step.
Was it a successful season? Of course it was. Any time you make the playoffs after a nine-year absence, how can it be viewed as anything other than successful?
Goaltender James Reimer believes that to be the case.
"I think we took huge strides this season," Reimer said. "I don't think anybody gave us a chance at the start of the year. I think we were ranked to place 14th in the conference. The coach did a great [job] in terms of putting a plan in place, and everybody bought in. We went to work and had fun. It was a good year; better than most people expected."
However, Reimer said he will not soon forget the team's collapse at the end.
"That was a terrible way to go out," he said. "It was one of the worst losses I have ever had. I couldn't sleep that night. You hope you don't have to go through something like that again.
"I think that happens in all walks of life. You look at all the superhero movies -- they don't just start out being the best. Usually they fall down and then they get back up. The reason for that is it mimics life. I remember my rookie camp when I let in six goals in the second period. It was devastating. It was like, 'What's going on?' Then at main camp I had a good game against Philadelphia and won a shootout game. Often when you look at life terrible things happen, but you learn from it and you get better."
Maple Leafs captain Dion Phaneuf said he believes what the team accomplished this season was its first step toward better days ahead, but there is plenty of work to be done before his team can be considered a legitimate Stanley Cup contender.
"I think we have taken some steps in the right direction, but we know it's just a starting point," Phaneuf said. "There's lots of room to keep improving and growing as a group. Any time you have a group that is young like ours, the experience we gained this year will really help us. When you don't attain the goal you set out for yourself, then there will be changes. We set a goal at the start of the year to make the playoffs and give ourselves a chance to win the Stanley Cup. We attained the first goal, but fell short on the second."
Coach Randy Carlyle came to training camp with a plan -- a template, as he likes to call it -- and the Maple Leafs players attained success by following it. Last season the Maple Leafs finished 26th in the League standings with a 35-37-10 record and 80 points. They scored 32 fewer non-shootout goals (227) than they allowed (259). This season, playing a more robust defensive style, the Maple Leafs were 26-17-5 for 57 points and finished ninth in the League and fifth in the Eastern Conference. They scored 17 more non-shootout goals than they allowed (145-128).
One major reason the Maple Leafs were better defensively had to do with their penalty killing. Three seasons ago Toronto finished 30th, and the past two seasons they were 28th. Under a full season with Carlyle, the Maple Leafs improved to second in the NHL.
The Maple Leafs also became the NHL's nastiest team, leading the League in fighting majors with 44 in 48 games, 0.92 majors per game. In 2011-12, they had 16 in 82 games, 0.43 per game.
The question now is what the Maple Leafs do to improve on this season. There are a number of key concerns. Forwards Tyler Bozak and Clarke MacArthur can become unrestricted free agents. With the salary cap going down, one or both may have to move to get the money they feel they deserve. Also, there are those who do not believe Bozak, Mikhail Grabovski or Nazem Kadri is a legitimate No. 1 center.
Phaneuf and right wing Phil Kessel will enter next season in the final year of their contracts, so decisions to extend their deals or possibly move them must be considered. Kessel had his best NHL season to date with 20 goals and 52 points in 48 games, then four goals and six points in seven playoff games.
Is Reimer a true No. 1 goalie? Clearly he remains a work in progress, although it is safe to say he gave his team a chance to win most nights. For a player who heard all offseason and during the lockout that he was going to be replaced, then served as a backup the first two games of this season before getting a start at the Pittsburgh Penguins and winning, he did rather well. Reimer is 25 years old and though he needs work in certain areas -- rebounds and puck-handling, for certain -- he is trending in the right direction.
Maple Leafs general manager Dave Nonis told the media Thursday his club has no untouchable players, and if he has a chance to upgrade his team in any specific area through trades or free-agent signings, he’ll do so.
Carlyle, asked if this season was a success, said, "There were some high points, but also some low points. The lowest point was obviously what happened in [Game 7 against the Bruins]. We can't get too far ahead of ourselves, and I think we'll continue to take that workmanlike attitude and try to sell our players on the fact there are things we'd like to change, and we'll continue to demand change and try to play the game to a higher level more consistently."
*(Information taken from link attatched to picture)*
Author: Mike Brophy | NHL.com Correspondent
Leafs Eliminated From Playoffs In Stunning OT Loss
MONDAY, 13.05.2013 / 10:30 PM / NEWS
![Picture](/uploads/1/9/9/0/19900105/5922472.jpg?478)
BOSTON - Patrice Bergeron scored at 6:05 of overtime to complete a miraculous Boston comeback as the Bruins rallied to oust the Toronto Maple Leafs from the playoffs with a nail-biting 5-4 victory in Game 7 Monday night.
Bergeron, with his second of the night, ended it as the Bruins blitzed the Toronto goal. The Leafs could not clear the puck and the Bruins forward snapped home a shot.
Two late goals in the space of 31 seconds by Boston's Milan Lucic and Bergeron, with goalie Tuukka Rask off for the extra attacker, shockingly tied the game up at 4-4.
It had looked like two early goals by defenceman Cody Franson had been enough to propel Toronto into the next round of the playoffs. The Leafs led 4-1 midway through the third period when the Bruins started pulling rabbits out of their hat with three unanswered goals - the last two with the clock running out.
It marked the first time the Bruins have come back from a three-goal deficit in a playoff game since April 11, 1990, when they trailed the Hartford Whalers by a 5-2 score in the third period but went on to win 6-5.
"We played extremely hard for six games. That 55 minutes (in Game 7) we threw everything we had at them. It's just an extremely disappointing loss," said a muted Dion Phaneuf.
The Bruins will face the Rangers in the second round after New York shut out the Washington Capitals 5-0 in another Game 7 Monday.
The capacity crowd, which had been disgruntled most of the night, partied as it waited for an overtime period that never seemed in the cards.
Leading 2-1 entering the third period, Phil Kessel added an insurance goal at 2:09, poking in the puck into a gaping goal after Nazem Kadri hit the post. Kessel's fourth goal of the post-season was helped by a Bruins giveaway.
Kadri then scored on a two-one-one, banging home Kessel's rebound at 5:29 to seemingly hammer another nail in the Boston coffin.
At the other end, James Reimer seemed to have got into the Bruins' heads until Nathan Horton swept in a pass from Lucic, who swooped behind the net and then got the puck through traffic to his linemate to cut the lead to 4-2 at 9:18.
That sparked a late flurry by the Bruins and Lucic, stuffing in the puck from in close, scored with 1:22 remaining. Then Bergeron beat Reimer with 51 seconds left as hulking Bruins captain Zdeno Chara screened the Toronto goalie.
Rich Peverley had a chance to win it in the dying seconds but couldn't get good wood on it after a fat Reimer rebound.
The fourth-seeded Bruins, who dug their own hole by failing to finish off the Leafs in Games 5 and 6, started well but soon found themselves short on defencemen, discipline and inspiration. Upset at the officiating as the game wore on, the Boston players seemed preoccupied with a jab here, a punch there.
It was as if they were more interested in getting even on the ice than the scoreboard.
Boston began to looked tired and dispirited. The opportunistic Leafs, in contrast, grew in stature and confidence.
Franson, who had four goals in 45 games during the regular season, upped his playoff points total to three goals and three assists in seven games. Kadri and Kessel both had a goal and an assist while linemate James van Riemsdyk had two assists
The last Toronto defenceman to score two goals in a playoff game was Tomas Kaberle on April 14, 2003, against Philadelphia.
Matt Bartkowski, profiting from a Franson turnover, opened the scoring for Boston.
Inside the TD Garden, a sellout of 17,565 yellow-and-black faithful waved yellow towels. Back in Toronto, blue-and-white Leafs fans gathered at Maple Leaf Square.
The Bruins won Game 1 in Boston and Games 3 and 4 (in OT) in Toronto. The Leafs took Games 2 and 5 in Boston and Game 6 in Toronto.
After Game 6, Boston coach Claude Julien had talked of his Jekyll and Hyde team this season. The question facing Boston fans was which Bruins team would show up Monday.
The Bad Bruins - the team that exited the 2012 playoffs by losing Game 7 to Washington in 2012 and the one in 2010 that won three games against Philadelphia only to lose the next four. Or the Good Bruins - the team that won the Cup in 2011 by winning Game 7s against Montreal, Tampa Bay and Vancouver in the final.
Julien asked for a 60-minute effort and the Bruins came out bristling. David Krejci's line had three shots on goal in the first shift, including a two-on-one on Reimer.
Both team had injury issues.
Toronto was without injured centre Tyler Bozak (upper body) while Boston had problems on the blue-line with Andrew Ference and Wade Redden (undisclosed) both out.
Toronto's Joe Colborne played for the second night in a row while Dougie Hamilton and Bartkowski filled in on the Bruins blue-line. Defenceman Dennis Seidenberg dressed but only saw 37 seconds ice time on two shifts in the first period after an apparent injury.
That left Boston with five defenceman, two of whom had seen limited NHL action.
One of those five was Chara, who flattened Kessel and then van Riemsdyk early on. Colton Orr repaid the favour later in the first period.
The bottom fell out for Toronto at 5:39 when Franson tried an ill-advised pass between his legs from the boards inside the Toronto blue-line. It went straight to Bartkowski who skated in from the point and ripped a wrist shot past Reimer.
The fans started chanting Reimer, Reimer in derision. They should have been thanking Franson.
Rask preserved the lead minutes later, throwing out a leg to stop a Joffrey Lupul backhand as the Toronto winger raced in.
There was redemption for Franson at 9:35 when he banged a power-play goal in the dying seconds of a Chara penalty. It came after a goalmouth melee that saw van Riemsdyk and Lupul poking away at Rask and the puck in front. As a mountain of bodies grew by the crease, Franson tapped the puck into an empty goal to silence the crowd.
Tiring of the lack of production from the Brad Marchand-Bergeron-Tyler Seguin line, Julien replaced Seguin -pointless in the series - with the ageless Jaromir Jagr.
Toronto outshot the Bruins 12-7 in the first period and outhit the home side 18-12.
The second period was tight until Franson delivered a rocket from the point that went unseen past the right shoulder of a screened Rask at 5:48.
The Bruins' frustration was exemplified in the second period when Lucic, reacting to an unnoticed slash from Phaneuf as the Toronto captain was on his butt behind the goal, was penalized for roughing. Lupul then knocked Rask's mask off with his knee in a goalmouth collision, enraging Chara.
Rask's glove hand kept the Boston in the game. At the other end, Reimer made an important stop on Marchand during a late power play in the period
Toronto outshot Boston 8-6 in the second.
The Boston roster held a huge edge in experience when it came to playing in a Game 7. Some 20 Bruins had already experienced a Game 7, with a combined total of 105 Game 7s between them.
As a franchise, the Bruins were 12-11 in Game 7s (11-7 on home ice) compared to 12-9 for Toronto (5-8 on the road).
In contrast, just five Leafs (Kessel, Lupul, Ryan O'Byrne, Phaneuf and van Riemsdyk) had been in a Game 7 - with Toronto's total at nine games.
Going into the series decider, Boston had outscored the Leafs 17-14 and outshot them 238-206. Toronto had outhit the Bruins 304-254.
NOTES - The Bruins' honorary fan captain for the game was Jarrod Clowery, who was injured at the Boston Marathon ... Coming into the game, Toronto held a 34-33-1 edge over Boston in post-season play, outscoring the Bruins 170-164.
*(Information taken from link attatched to picture)*
Bergeron, with his second of the night, ended it as the Bruins blitzed the Toronto goal. The Leafs could not clear the puck and the Bruins forward snapped home a shot.
Two late goals in the space of 31 seconds by Boston's Milan Lucic and Bergeron, with goalie Tuukka Rask off for the extra attacker, shockingly tied the game up at 4-4.
It had looked like two early goals by defenceman Cody Franson had been enough to propel Toronto into the next round of the playoffs. The Leafs led 4-1 midway through the third period when the Bruins started pulling rabbits out of their hat with three unanswered goals - the last two with the clock running out.
It marked the first time the Bruins have come back from a three-goal deficit in a playoff game since April 11, 1990, when they trailed the Hartford Whalers by a 5-2 score in the third period but went on to win 6-5.
"We played extremely hard for six games. That 55 minutes (in Game 7) we threw everything we had at them. It's just an extremely disappointing loss," said a muted Dion Phaneuf.
The Bruins will face the Rangers in the second round after New York shut out the Washington Capitals 5-0 in another Game 7 Monday.
The capacity crowd, which had been disgruntled most of the night, partied as it waited for an overtime period that never seemed in the cards.
Leading 2-1 entering the third period, Phil Kessel added an insurance goal at 2:09, poking in the puck into a gaping goal after Nazem Kadri hit the post. Kessel's fourth goal of the post-season was helped by a Bruins giveaway.
Kadri then scored on a two-one-one, banging home Kessel's rebound at 5:29 to seemingly hammer another nail in the Boston coffin.
At the other end, James Reimer seemed to have got into the Bruins' heads until Nathan Horton swept in a pass from Lucic, who swooped behind the net and then got the puck through traffic to his linemate to cut the lead to 4-2 at 9:18.
That sparked a late flurry by the Bruins and Lucic, stuffing in the puck from in close, scored with 1:22 remaining. Then Bergeron beat Reimer with 51 seconds left as hulking Bruins captain Zdeno Chara screened the Toronto goalie.
Rich Peverley had a chance to win it in the dying seconds but couldn't get good wood on it after a fat Reimer rebound.
The fourth-seeded Bruins, who dug their own hole by failing to finish off the Leafs in Games 5 and 6, started well but soon found themselves short on defencemen, discipline and inspiration. Upset at the officiating as the game wore on, the Boston players seemed preoccupied with a jab here, a punch there.
It was as if they were more interested in getting even on the ice than the scoreboard.
Boston began to looked tired and dispirited. The opportunistic Leafs, in contrast, grew in stature and confidence.
Franson, who had four goals in 45 games during the regular season, upped his playoff points total to three goals and three assists in seven games. Kadri and Kessel both had a goal and an assist while linemate James van Riemsdyk had two assists
The last Toronto defenceman to score two goals in a playoff game was Tomas Kaberle on April 14, 2003, against Philadelphia.
Matt Bartkowski, profiting from a Franson turnover, opened the scoring for Boston.
Inside the TD Garden, a sellout of 17,565 yellow-and-black faithful waved yellow towels. Back in Toronto, blue-and-white Leafs fans gathered at Maple Leaf Square.
The Bruins won Game 1 in Boston and Games 3 and 4 (in OT) in Toronto. The Leafs took Games 2 and 5 in Boston and Game 6 in Toronto.
After Game 6, Boston coach Claude Julien had talked of his Jekyll and Hyde team this season. The question facing Boston fans was which Bruins team would show up Monday.
The Bad Bruins - the team that exited the 2012 playoffs by losing Game 7 to Washington in 2012 and the one in 2010 that won three games against Philadelphia only to lose the next four. Or the Good Bruins - the team that won the Cup in 2011 by winning Game 7s against Montreal, Tampa Bay and Vancouver in the final.
Julien asked for a 60-minute effort and the Bruins came out bristling. David Krejci's line had three shots on goal in the first shift, including a two-on-one on Reimer.
Both team had injury issues.
Toronto was without injured centre Tyler Bozak (upper body) while Boston had problems on the blue-line with Andrew Ference and Wade Redden (undisclosed) both out.
Toronto's Joe Colborne played for the second night in a row while Dougie Hamilton and Bartkowski filled in on the Bruins blue-line. Defenceman Dennis Seidenberg dressed but only saw 37 seconds ice time on two shifts in the first period after an apparent injury.
That left Boston with five defenceman, two of whom had seen limited NHL action.
One of those five was Chara, who flattened Kessel and then van Riemsdyk early on. Colton Orr repaid the favour later in the first period.
The bottom fell out for Toronto at 5:39 when Franson tried an ill-advised pass between his legs from the boards inside the Toronto blue-line. It went straight to Bartkowski who skated in from the point and ripped a wrist shot past Reimer.
The fans started chanting Reimer, Reimer in derision. They should have been thanking Franson.
Rask preserved the lead minutes later, throwing out a leg to stop a Joffrey Lupul backhand as the Toronto winger raced in.
There was redemption for Franson at 9:35 when he banged a power-play goal in the dying seconds of a Chara penalty. It came after a goalmouth melee that saw van Riemsdyk and Lupul poking away at Rask and the puck in front. As a mountain of bodies grew by the crease, Franson tapped the puck into an empty goal to silence the crowd.
Tiring of the lack of production from the Brad Marchand-Bergeron-Tyler Seguin line, Julien replaced Seguin -pointless in the series - with the ageless Jaromir Jagr.
Toronto outshot the Bruins 12-7 in the first period and outhit the home side 18-12.
The second period was tight until Franson delivered a rocket from the point that went unseen past the right shoulder of a screened Rask at 5:48.
The Bruins' frustration was exemplified in the second period when Lucic, reacting to an unnoticed slash from Phaneuf as the Toronto captain was on his butt behind the goal, was penalized for roughing. Lupul then knocked Rask's mask off with his knee in a goalmouth collision, enraging Chara.
Rask's glove hand kept the Boston in the game. At the other end, Reimer made an important stop on Marchand during a late power play in the period
Toronto outshot Boston 8-6 in the second.
The Boston roster held a huge edge in experience when it came to playing in a Game 7. Some 20 Bruins had already experienced a Game 7, with a combined total of 105 Game 7s between them.
As a franchise, the Bruins were 12-11 in Game 7s (11-7 on home ice) compared to 12-9 for Toronto (5-8 on the road).
In contrast, just five Leafs (Kessel, Lupul, Ryan O'Byrne, Phaneuf and van Riemsdyk) had been in a Game 7 - with Toronto's total at nine games.
Going into the series decider, Boston had outscored the Leafs 17-14 and outshot them 238-206. Toronto had outhit the Bruins 304-254.
NOTES - The Bruins' honorary fan captain for the game was Jarrod Clowery, who was injured at the Boston Marathon ... Coming into the game, Toronto held a 34-33-1 edge over Boston in post-season play, outscoring the Bruins 170-164.
*(Information taken from link attatched to picture)*
Leafs, Bruins Set For Game 7
MONDAY, 13.05.2013 / 9:25 AM / NEWS
![Picture](/uploads/1/9/9/0/19900105/230495.jpg?506)
BRUINS at MAPLE LEAFS
(Best-of-7 series tied, 3-3)
TV: CNBC, NESN, CBC, RDS
Big Story: Can the Boston Bruins avoid another first-round exit from the Stanley Cup Playoffs? Or, will the Toronto Maple Leafs advance in their first postseason appearance since 2004?
Team Scope:
Maple Leafs: Goaltender James Reimer is arguably the biggest reason why Toronto has staved off elimination with back-to-back victories, but winger Phil Kessel has certainly played a big role, too.
Kessel’s third goal of the series at 8:59 of the third period Sunday night gave the Maple Leafs a 2-0 lead – a much-needed insurance goal considering Milan Lucic ruined Reimer’s shutout bid with under 30 seconds remaining in regulation. Toronto held on for a 2-1 victory, forcing Monday’s Game 7 back in Boston.
Indeed, the controversial 2009 deal that sent Kessel from Boston to Toronto is beginning to pay major dividends for the latter.
"You know what? I'm not even going to talk about it,” Kessel said after the Game 6 win. “I think that's over with now. Obviously, he's a great player and there's two teams battling out there."
Bruins: Last year, Boston had to win a Game 6 against the host Washington Capitals in order to force a seventh game back at TD Garden. The Bruins were able to do that with a 4-3 overtime victory, only to return home to lose Game 7 in a 2-1 overtime defeat.
Boston, which finished fourth in the Eastern Conference, once again faces the possibility of going home prematurely if they can’t find a way to finish off these pesky Maple Leafs.
“I think tonight was definitely (bad) puck management,” Bruins coach Claude Julien said. “We talked about it before the game and we talked about it after the first period. That sometimes means being strong on the puck, making the right plays, shooting versus over-passing. I didn’t think it was very good and as I said to our players, we’ve been a Jekyll-and-Hyde team all year, and that’s what you’re seeing right now. I think it’s important for us to bring the good Bruins team to the table for Game 7.”
To make matters worse, the Bruins were forced to spend the night in Toronto due to a mechanical issue with their airplane.
"Late during tonight's game we were made aware that there was a malfunction with our airplane,” general manager Peter Chiarelli said in a statement issued by the club. “As a result we are staying in Toronto on Sunday night and the team will travel to Boston on Monday morning."
Who's hot: Bruins captain Zdeno Chara picked up another assist Sunday, his sixth of the series. He has seven points overall. … Reimer has stopped 72 of 74 shots over the past two games to help keep the Maple Leafs’ season alive.
Injury report: Bruins defenseman Andrew Ference (undisclosed) did not accompany the team to Toronto for Game 6 and is unlikely to play Monday. … Maple Leafs defensemen Michael Kostka (finger) and Mark Fraser(head) are out. Tyler Bozak was a late scratch Sunday due to an undisclosed injury.
*(Information taken from link attatched to picture)*
(Best-of-7 series tied, 3-3)
TV: CNBC, NESN, CBC, RDS
Big Story: Can the Boston Bruins avoid another first-round exit from the Stanley Cup Playoffs? Or, will the Toronto Maple Leafs advance in their first postseason appearance since 2004?
Team Scope:
Maple Leafs: Goaltender James Reimer is arguably the biggest reason why Toronto has staved off elimination with back-to-back victories, but winger Phil Kessel has certainly played a big role, too.
Kessel’s third goal of the series at 8:59 of the third period Sunday night gave the Maple Leafs a 2-0 lead – a much-needed insurance goal considering Milan Lucic ruined Reimer’s shutout bid with under 30 seconds remaining in regulation. Toronto held on for a 2-1 victory, forcing Monday’s Game 7 back in Boston.
Indeed, the controversial 2009 deal that sent Kessel from Boston to Toronto is beginning to pay major dividends for the latter.
"You know what? I'm not even going to talk about it,” Kessel said after the Game 6 win. “I think that's over with now. Obviously, he's a great player and there's two teams battling out there."
Bruins: Last year, Boston had to win a Game 6 against the host Washington Capitals in order to force a seventh game back at TD Garden. The Bruins were able to do that with a 4-3 overtime victory, only to return home to lose Game 7 in a 2-1 overtime defeat.
Boston, which finished fourth in the Eastern Conference, once again faces the possibility of going home prematurely if they can’t find a way to finish off these pesky Maple Leafs.
“I think tonight was definitely (bad) puck management,” Bruins coach Claude Julien said. “We talked about it before the game and we talked about it after the first period. That sometimes means being strong on the puck, making the right plays, shooting versus over-passing. I didn’t think it was very good and as I said to our players, we’ve been a Jekyll-and-Hyde team all year, and that’s what you’re seeing right now. I think it’s important for us to bring the good Bruins team to the table for Game 7.”
To make matters worse, the Bruins were forced to spend the night in Toronto due to a mechanical issue with their airplane.
"Late during tonight's game we were made aware that there was a malfunction with our airplane,” general manager Peter Chiarelli said in a statement issued by the club. “As a result we are staying in Toronto on Sunday night and the team will travel to Boston on Monday morning."
Who's hot: Bruins captain Zdeno Chara picked up another assist Sunday, his sixth of the series. He has seven points overall. … Reimer has stopped 72 of 74 shots over the past two games to help keep the Maple Leafs’ season alive.
Injury report: Bruins defenseman Andrew Ference (undisclosed) did not accompany the team to Toronto for Game 6 and is unlikely to play Monday. … Maple Leafs defensemen Michael Kostka (finger) and Mark Fraser(head) are out. Tyler Bozak was a late scratch Sunday due to an undisclosed injury.
*(Information taken from link attatched to picture)*
Leafs Tie Series Up To Force Game 7
SUNDAY, 12.05.2013 / 11:06 PM / NEWS
![Picture](/uploads/1/9/9/0/19900105/4194617.jpg?451)
TORONTO - A young Toronto team whose previous exposure to the NHL playoffs was largely watching them on TV is looking to make a little post-season history of its own.
Captain Dion Phaneuf and Phil Kessel scored third-period goals Sunday night as the surging Maple Leafs edged the Bruins 2-1 to send their playoff series back to Boston for Game 7 on Monday.
The Leafs, making their return to the post-season for the first time since 2004, became the 48th team in Stanley Cup history to rally from a 3-1 deficit to force Game 7. The only time Toronto has come back from a 3-1 deficit to win a series was the 1942 Stanley Cup final against the Detroit Red Wings when the Leafs trailed 3-0 before reeling off four straight wins.
Sunday's win also snapped a 54-year stretch of home playoff failure against the Bruins. Toronto's last home playoff win against Boston was March 31, 1959, when the Leafs won 3-2 in overtime. Nine straight post-season home losses followed in the decades since with Boston outscoring Toronto 38-24.
On Sunday, the Bruins started well but couldn't beat James Reimer and the Leafs took over the game as it wore on.
Boston coach Claude Julien was critical of his team's puck management and decision-making.
"We've been a Jekyll and Hyde hockey team all year and that's what you're seeing right now," he said. "I think it's important to us to bring the good Bruins team to the table for Game 7."
That goes Monday night at the TD Garden. A loss and Boston, Cup winners in 2011, will exit in the seventh game of the first round for the second year in a row.
"We know we're going to go into a hostile building (Monday) night in Boston," said Toronto coach Randy Carlyle. "We know the passion in their market and their fans. We've been there already, we know what we're heading to and we just have to make sure that we play the game to a higher level than we did tonight. Because we know they will."
As if the Bruins did not have enough problems in Toronto, their plane broke down.
"Late during tonight's game we were made aware that there was a malfunction with our airplane," Boston GM Peter Chiarelli said in a statement. "As a result we are staying in Toronto on Sunday night and the team will travel to Boston on Monday morning."
The Leafs will have momentum in their corner when the teams meets to sort out the series once and for all. The Bruins' companion will be self-doubt after a second failed attempt at closing out the series and a recent playoff history of making life difficult for themselves.
"They're a good team," said Boston forward Patrice Bergeron, frustrated several times by Reimer. "We never said it was going to be an easy series. Here we are now and it's all about one game. Whatever happened in the first six games doesn't matter. It's all about showing up (Monday)."
Reimer was again steady in the Toronto net, making 29 saves to earn the win. Tuukka Rask finished with 24 stops in the Boston goal.
Milan Lucic scored for Boston with 26 seconds left in the third with Rask out for the extra attacker.
"If you only score one goal, a lot of times you end up on the wrong side, said Bruins defenceman Dennis Seidenberg said. "Tonight, we just didn't score enough to win."
"Being frustrated right now isn't going to help," added Bergeron. "It's about being determined to find ways to put it in. It's all about (Monday) now."
For Phaneuf, scoring was sweet redemption after being involved in the play that led to the Bruins' overtime winner in Game 4.
His goal came at 1:48 of the third period after Nazem Kadri ripped a wrist shot that was tipped in by Phaneuf, who had made his way to the front of the goal after continuing his rush. Boston had lost the puck in the Toronto end on an attempt at a flash pass by David Krejci.
Kessel then added to the lead at 8:59, picking up the puck after James van Riemsdyk occupied two Bruins in front of goal and backhanded it past Rask. Kadri beat Bergeron on the faceoff to start the play.
"When you play as many minutes and you're the focus of your hockey club, when a lot of things don't go the way they're supposed to go, being the captain, that C becomes pretty heavy," Carlyle said of Phaneuf, whose decision to pinch in and hit Nathan Horton resulted in an odd-man rush that led to the OT goal in Game 4.
"And when you make a mistake, which he did, your teammates want to rally around you and you want to try and correct that as quickly as possible."
Said Phaneuf: "I felt that I owed it to the guys and luckily I was able to tip that (shot). It definitely felt good."
After some anonymous outings, Kadri produced his A game Sunday.
"Much more noticeable," was Carlyle's assessment. "Much more movement as far as moving off the puck. He skated with the puck and he skated when he didn't have the puck ... When he skates and he can make room, he can create plays and that's what you saw tonight. And that's been absent but he delivered in a big way tonight."
Van Riemsdyk was also effective, earning assists on both goals.
After combining for 170 shots in the last two games, the teams battened down the defensive hatches in what started as a much tighter contest but opened up as the game wore on. Boston came out skating hard and it wasn't until the second period that Toronto seemed to find its feet.
Reimer and Rask were unbeatable the first two periods, adding to the value of that first goal. The third period felt like overtime, at least until Phaneuf scored.
The tight game made for a tense atmosphere inside where 19,591 fans, wielding giveaway blue or white towels, cheered every Leaf hit or shot. Outside, another amped-up crowd packed Maple Leafs Square to watch the game on a big screen, despite chilly five-degree temperatures at game time.
First-line Leafs centre Tyler Bozak took the warmup but was an unexpected scratch, quickly joining the worldwide tending list on Twitter.
"We waited right until warmup where he told us he couldn't go," said Carlyle.
"We'll continue to reassess and re-evaluate and see what (Monday) brings," he added.
Bozak, who scored shorthanded in Game 5, had missed the final two games of the regular season with what was believed to be a shoulder injury.
Joe Colborne, making his playoff debut, came in for Bozak. He told reporters he had been given the green light after Game 5 but was told not to say anything.
Boston defenceman Andrew Ference did not make the trip to Toronto for undisclosed reasons. But Wade Redden returned to the lineup after missing Game 5.
That prompted Julien to change his defensive pairings, as he did when Ference was suspended for Game 2. Captain Zdeno Chara played with Johnny Boychuk, Seidenberg with Adam McQuaid, and Redden with rookie Dougie Hamilton.
Boston bossed most of the first period, skating hard and pushing the pace. A tentative Toronto had to kill off an early penalty. Carlyle, meanwhile, continued to play mad professor with his forward lines.
The Bruins outshot Toronto 8-7 in a tight first period. With Bozak out, the Leafs won just six of 17 faceoffs in the period. Toronto outhit Boston 19-17.
Boston continued to bottle the Leafs up in their own end for stretches of the second, with Boychuk hitting the post with a shot from the blue-line. A diving Reimer made a wonder stop on Bergeron six minutes in, surfing across the crease on his stomach as the Bruin came from behind the net and tried to stuff the puck in. Reimer did much the same in the second period Wednesday, frustrating Bergeron.
Reimer, who came into the game leading all playoff goalies in shots against (207) and saves (192), stopped Bergeron again seconds later.
Captain Dion Phaneuf and Phil Kessel scored third-period goals Sunday night as the surging Maple Leafs edged the Bruins 2-1 to send their playoff series back to Boston for Game 7 on Monday.
The Leafs, making their return to the post-season for the first time since 2004, became the 48th team in Stanley Cup history to rally from a 3-1 deficit to force Game 7. The only time Toronto has come back from a 3-1 deficit to win a series was the 1942 Stanley Cup final against the Detroit Red Wings when the Leafs trailed 3-0 before reeling off four straight wins.
Sunday's win also snapped a 54-year stretch of home playoff failure against the Bruins. Toronto's last home playoff win against Boston was March 31, 1959, when the Leafs won 3-2 in overtime. Nine straight post-season home losses followed in the decades since with Boston outscoring Toronto 38-24.
On Sunday, the Bruins started well but couldn't beat James Reimer and the Leafs took over the game as it wore on.
Boston coach Claude Julien was critical of his team's puck management and decision-making.
"We've been a Jekyll and Hyde hockey team all year and that's what you're seeing right now," he said. "I think it's important to us to bring the good Bruins team to the table for Game 7."
That goes Monday night at the TD Garden. A loss and Boston, Cup winners in 2011, will exit in the seventh game of the first round for the second year in a row.
"We know we're going to go into a hostile building (Monday) night in Boston," said Toronto coach Randy Carlyle. "We know the passion in their market and their fans. We've been there already, we know what we're heading to and we just have to make sure that we play the game to a higher level than we did tonight. Because we know they will."
As if the Bruins did not have enough problems in Toronto, their plane broke down.
"Late during tonight's game we were made aware that there was a malfunction with our airplane," Boston GM Peter Chiarelli said in a statement. "As a result we are staying in Toronto on Sunday night and the team will travel to Boston on Monday morning."
The Leafs will have momentum in their corner when the teams meets to sort out the series once and for all. The Bruins' companion will be self-doubt after a second failed attempt at closing out the series and a recent playoff history of making life difficult for themselves.
"They're a good team," said Boston forward Patrice Bergeron, frustrated several times by Reimer. "We never said it was going to be an easy series. Here we are now and it's all about one game. Whatever happened in the first six games doesn't matter. It's all about showing up (Monday)."
Reimer was again steady in the Toronto net, making 29 saves to earn the win. Tuukka Rask finished with 24 stops in the Boston goal.
Milan Lucic scored for Boston with 26 seconds left in the third with Rask out for the extra attacker.
"If you only score one goal, a lot of times you end up on the wrong side, said Bruins defenceman Dennis Seidenberg said. "Tonight, we just didn't score enough to win."
"Being frustrated right now isn't going to help," added Bergeron. "It's about being determined to find ways to put it in. It's all about (Monday) now."
For Phaneuf, scoring was sweet redemption after being involved in the play that led to the Bruins' overtime winner in Game 4.
His goal came at 1:48 of the third period after Nazem Kadri ripped a wrist shot that was tipped in by Phaneuf, who had made his way to the front of the goal after continuing his rush. Boston had lost the puck in the Toronto end on an attempt at a flash pass by David Krejci.
Kessel then added to the lead at 8:59, picking up the puck after James van Riemsdyk occupied two Bruins in front of goal and backhanded it past Rask. Kadri beat Bergeron on the faceoff to start the play.
"When you play as many minutes and you're the focus of your hockey club, when a lot of things don't go the way they're supposed to go, being the captain, that C becomes pretty heavy," Carlyle said of Phaneuf, whose decision to pinch in and hit Nathan Horton resulted in an odd-man rush that led to the OT goal in Game 4.
"And when you make a mistake, which he did, your teammates want to rally around you and you want to try and correct that as quickly as possible."
Said Phaneuf: "I felt that I owed it to the guys and luckily I was able to tip that (shot). It definitely felt good."
After some anonymous outings, Kadri produced his A game Sunday.
"Much more noticeable," was Carlyle's assessment. "Much more movement as far as moving off the puck. He skated with the puck and he skated when he didn't have the puck ... When he skates and he can make room, he can create plays and that's what you saw tonight. And that's been absent but he delivered in a big way tonight."
Van Riemsdyk was also effective, earning assists on both goals.
After combining for 170 shots in the last two games, the teams battened down the defensive hatches in what started as a much tighter contest but opened up as the game wore on. Boston came out skating hard and it wasn't until the second period that Toronto seemed to find its feet.
Reimer and Rask were unbeatable the first two periods, adding to the value of that first goal. The third period felt like overtime, at least until Phaneuf scored.
The tight game made for a tense atmosphere inside where 19,591 fans, wielding giveaway blue or white towels, cheered every Leaf hit or shot. Outside, another amped-up crowd packed Maple Leafs Square to watch the game on a big screen, despite chilly five-degree temperatures at game time.
First-line Leafs centre Tyler Bozak took the warmup but was an unexpected scratch, quickly joining the worldwide tending list on Twitter.
"We waited right until warmup where he told us he couldn't go," said Carlyle.
"We'll continue to reassess and re-evaluate and see what (Monday) brings," he added.
Bozak, who scored shorthanded in Game 5, had missed the final two games of the regular season with what was believed to be a shoulder injury.
Joe Colborne, making his playoff debut, came in for Bozak. He told reporters he had been given the green light after Game 5 but was told not to say anything.
Boston defenceman Andrew Ference did not make the trip to Toronto for undisclosed reasons. But Wade Redden returned to the lineup after missing Game 5.
That prompted Julien to change his defensive pairings, as he did when Ference was suspended for Game 2. Captain Zdeno Chara played with Johnny Boychuk, Seidenberg with Adam McQuaid, and Redden with rookie Dougie Hamilton.
Boston bossed most of the first period, skating hard and pushing the pace. A tentative Toronto had to kill off an early penalty. Carlyle, meanwhile, continued to play mad professor with his forward lines.
The Bruins outshot Toronto 8-7 in a tight first period. With Bozak out, the Leafs won just six of 17 faceoffs in the period. Toronto outhit Boston 19-17.
Boston continued to bottle the Leafs up in their own end for stretches of the second, with Boychuk hitting the post with a shot from the blue-line. A diving Reimer made a wonder stop on Bergeron six minutes in, surfing across the crease on his stomach as the Bruin came from behind the net and tried to stuff the puck in. Reimer did much the same in the second period Wednesday, frustrating Bergeron.
Reimer, who came into the game leading all playoff goalies in shots against (207) and saves (192), stopped Bergeron again seconds later.
After the Game 5 loss, Julien called for more production from the line of Bergeron, Brad Marchand and Tyler Seguin, who had 59 shots but just one goal (Bergeron) on Reimer in the first five games of the series.
The trio combined for one shot in the first period but were more active as the game wore on. The teams had 10 shots apiece in the second period. Toronto led the hit count 42-33 with Leafs defenceman Ryan O'Byrne and pesky forward Leo Komarov leading the way with six apiece. The final hit count was 58-50 in favour of Toronto. Smooth-skating defenceman Jake Gardiner was again influential for Toronto, logging 21-plus minutes of ice time. *(Information taken from link attatched to picture)* |
Game 6 Highlights
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Kadri, Gardiner two 22-year olds in contrast
![Picture](/uploads/1/9/9/0/19900105/4195201.jpg?418)
A lack of success in the face-off circle hasn’t helped Nazem Kadri. He is 10-17 in the circle in the playoffs.
More and just as much.
That’s what the Maple Leafs need from a pair of 22-year-olds going into Friday’s Game 5 in Boston.
In the more category: center Nazem Kadri.
Kadri has just an assist, albeit a sweet one to Phil Kessel in Game 2, to show for his work in the series.
He has had dangerous periods –he stood out in the Game 4 overtime – but Kadri was nearly a point a game-performer during the regular season (18 goals 26 assists for 44 points in 48 regular season games) and he hasn’t come near to matching that production.
That said this kind of blog is an easy write. Here’s how it works.
Just scan down the scoring totals. See who hasn’t been statistically dominant. If his team is winning, write about how he is doing the little things that go into victory. If his team is losing, write about how he has to step it up.
Simple really.
But it’s not as if Kadri has been swimming in ice time. He only played 12 minutes in Game 4, half as much as did Mikhail Grabovski and his rotating cast of wingers included Phil Kessel, Clarke MacArthur and Matt Frattin. He had 2:33 of power play time in Game 4 and even less, 1:54 in Game 3. That’s pretty thin gruel.
It’s the age-old syndrome. Coaches go with who they think is going well. Play better, the coach will say, and you will pay more.
Clearly, Kadri hasn’t won Randy Carlyle’s affection so far and there are explanations for this.
The Nazem Kadri who Don Cherry kissed on air has not been in evidence. In the 16 games since his hat trick against Ottawa March 13, Kadri has one goal, six points and stands -6.
You can feel for the kid.
He is being asked to play safe minutes, which by and large he has. He has not raced out of position or played recklessly. The double-minor high-sticking penalty he incurred in the third period of Game 4 dramatically shifted momentum but flying sticks happen on most shifts.
But one of the major elements holding him back is face-off production. The Bruins have won 57 per cent of the draws in this series and Kadri is 10-17 in the circle. If you can’t be trusted in the face-off circle, it’s hard to get on the ice,especially if you have been ice-cold offensively.
The truth is, Kadri has not found the right tenor and in this, his first NHL playoff, that should not really surprise.
But if you think Carlyle is reluctant to give young players ice time for fear of imminent danger you weren’t watching Jake Gardiner in Game 4.
Gardiner, left out of Game 1, played nearly 28 minutes and careened around the ice like a waterbug in a teacup.
He was a factor every moment he played and managed to address the basics of his position while getting to places on the ice that no defenceman from either team could reach. He was also excellent defensively.
For that matter, Frattin, an afterthought through the first legs of the game seemed to be thrown on the ice every second shift in the late going and came within the width of a goalpost from winning the game.
Clearly, if a player is ready to vault forward, he will be given lots of rope.
Jake Gardiner showed that in Game 4. So did Frattin. It will make for fascinating viewing to see whether Nazem Kadri manages it in Game 5.
*(Information from Toronto Maple Leafs app for iPad)*
More and just as much.
That’s what the Maple Leafs need from a pair of 22-year-olds going into Friday’s Game 5 in Boston.
In the more category: center Nazem Kadri.
Kadri has just an assist, albeit a sweet one to Phil Kessel in Game 2, to show for his work in the series.
He has had dangerous periods –he stood out in the Game 4 overtime – but Kadri was nearly a point a game-performer during the regular season (18 goals 26 assists for 44 points in 48 regular season games) and he hasn’t come near to matching that production.
That said this kind of blog is an easy write. Here’s how it works.
Just scan down the scoring totals. See who hasn’t been statistically dominant. If his team is winning, write about how he is doing the little things that go into victory. If his team is losing, write about how he has to step it up.
Simple really.
But it’s not as if Kadri has been swimming in ice time. He only played 12 minutes in Game 4, half as much as did Mikhail Grabovski and his rotating cast of wingers included Phil Kessel, Clarke MacArthur and Matt Frattin. He had 2:33 of power play time in Game 4 and even less, 1:54 in Game 3. That’s pretty thin gruel.
It’s the age-old syndrome. Coaches go with who they think is going well. Play better, the coach will say, and you will pay more.
Clearly, Kadri hasn’t won Randy Carlyle’s affection so far and there are explanations for this.
The Nazem Kadri who Don Cherry kissed on air has not been in evidence. In the 16 games since his hat trick against Ottawa March 13, Kadri has one goal, six points and stands -6.
You can feel for the kid.
He is being asked to play safe minutes, which by and large he has. He has not raced out of position or played recklessly. The double-minor high-sticking penalty he incurred in the third period of Game 4 dramatically shifted momentum but flying sticks happen on most shifts.
But one of the major elements holding him back is face-off production. The Bruins have won 57 per cent of the draws in this series and Kadri is 10-17 in the circle. If you can’t be trusted in the face-off circle, it’s hard to get on the ice,especially if you have been ice-cold offensively.
The truth is, Kadri has not found the right tenor and in this, his first NHL playoff, that should not really surprise.
But if you think Carlyle is reluctant to give young players ice time for fear of imminent danger you weren’t watching Jake Gardiner in Game 4.
Gardiner, left out of Game 1, played nearly 28 minutes and careened around the ice like a waterbug in a teacup.
He was a factor every moment he played and managed to address the basics of his position while getting to places on the ice that no defenceman from either team could reach. He was also excellent defensively.
For that matter, Frattin, an afterthought through the first legs of the game seemed to be thrown on the ice every second shift in the late going and came within the width of a goalpost from winning the game.
Clearly, if a player is ready to vault forward, he will be given lots of rope.
Jake Gardiner showed that in Game 4. So did Frattin. It will make for fascinating viewing to see whether Nazem Kadri manages it in Game 5.
*(Information from Toronto Maple Leafs app for iPad)*
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