Ray Day

Be sure to head to Scarlett Ice tonight for the live blog in addition to the comments here.

Going to see Ray

Looking forward to tomorrow's match against the Flyers with Ray in net. TSN has a short spot up about the reunion.

He's been playing well overall - a nice 0.922 SV% with only 10 goals allowed in his past 6 games.

For old time's sake.

Somethin' about a *real* battle.....

The good news for Sens fans is that Quinn was never very good at winning in Ottawa.

Well, at least during the regular season...

Welcome to the game day thread!

EDMONTON @ OTTAWA
Pat Quinn brings his new Edmonton team into Kanata to face the Sens. Edmonton have played a few more games than Ottawa but only have one more point to show for it, so Ottawa must like their chances in this one. We can bring up the whole eastern conference vs the west argument again, in minutia, but a quick glance is all you really need to see that the West is certainly as a whole, the best. So far anyway. So Ottawa would be wise to not underestimate the Oilers who have scratched out their points theoretically against stronger teams than Ottawa have.

I still like Ottawa in this one. At home, coming off a late collapse against New Jersey, the Sens should certainly be motivated and wanting to get back on the rails. There are no must win games in November, but Ottawa's confidence could go either way right now, one would think, and it doesn't get much easier than Edmonton for the rest of the month.

MINNESOTA @ TORONTO
The Wild ride into town wondering what the hell has happened to them since Jacques Lemaire departed to ruin the fan experience in New Jersey. The Wild are last in the west and with ex-Sen Martin Havlat leading the offence, they aren't scoring a bunch of goals despite the implementation of a more offence-friendly system. They are allowing more however, despite Backstrom still being a top 5 goalie in the NHL.

Same West vs East theory applies for the Leafs as once again Minnesota are probably not as bad as they seem having had to face teams like San Jose and Vancouver instead of Tampa and Florida. The Wild have also won a few games lately, beating the Rangers and Penguins in the last week - a feat neither Toronto or Ottawa for that matter have been able to duplicate.

I'll call it a double victory for Ontario with the Leafs winning a tight one, 2-1.
I do believe Komisarek was scheduled to play but haven't checked since this morning. Anybody know?

Enjoy the games.

Norris winner gives Leaf goalie props.

I don't for a second think that I'm anything more than a fan with too much spare time on his hands. So while I'll try and tell you that I believe Gustavsson looks like the Leafs best goalie since Joseph was stealing playoff games from the Sens, here's a second opinion:

"I think they have found their goalie," Lidstrom said, adding that Gustavsson reminds him of another Swedish goalie. "He looks like (Rangers' Henrik) Lundqvist in there," Lidstrom said. "He's bigger than Henrik, but both have the ability to make themselves big in the net and not give you too much to shoot at."

I just noticed Lidstrom is a UFA after this season.
Think he might get a few calls July 1st?

I haven't even looked at the stats...

But is there a link between the Leafs absence of fighting majors in the last two weeks and their accumulating points in the standings?

It hit me last night... When's the last time Colton Orr pounded the shit out of somebody?

I'm drunk and out of the country. Can somebody look it up and see if I'm right? I do believe that during the Leafs run of points there has been very little "truculence".

Ya, sure, Gustavsson, Kessel, blah blah blah.

Anybody willing to look into this?

GDT - "Get me out of here" edition!

It might just be the most pathetic "battle" of the year. The winner of tonight's game between Carolina and Toronto WON'T be in 30th place.

Sigh.

All the same, you can't get to 8th place in the east from 15th without first passing 14th. So the Leafs need to get it done.

Carolina are injured and have zero confidence and can't seem to put a puck in the net. Exactly the kind of dog in the corner you don't want to play (See Anaheim facing the Leafs).

The good news is Toronto is healthy, have Phil Kessel on the first line, and since having our #1 and #2 goalies back have earned at least a point out of every game.
It's something, anyway.

Wilson hasn't said who will start tonight but my guess is that desperation will override the quality of opponent here and we'll see Gustavsson in net as the Leafs look for only their 2nd win of the season. Worry about Detroit tomorrow.

UPDATE 2:57pm: Now a fact: Gustavsson gets the start.

Leafs 5 Carolina 1. Kessel with a pair of goals, giving him one more than Spezza. :)

What's going on with Finger?

Chemmy at PPP asks. The answer? He's not who they thought he was.

Quick n' Dirty GDT

Both BoO teams in action today.

Tampa Bay - coming off a charity point game against a full & healthy Leaf squad with all of its top stars (that's you Kessel, Blake, Komisarek & Monster Jo') - arrives in Ottawa to meet the host squad missing its stud C & D gamers.

Meanwhile, Toronto heads to Carolina to face Ottawa native Rod Brind'Amour and an Eric Staal-less Hurricanes being backstopped either by backup Leighton or the abysmally performing Cam Ward (sub 0.900 SV%!). Both teams have flat out lost 12 games, but Carolina has won twice the number Toronto has @ 2. Does it seem right to anyone that they have the same number of points? Carolina will have something to say about that tonight.

Question.

Did they add 'Your team sucks' as one of the high priority groups?

Lets move past that wee mistake shall we?

The Muppet has been severely humbled this morning.

As one often does when choking on their own foot, lets change the subject as quickly as possible!

I recall one of you last week snorted something about Gustavsson maybe someday being over .900?

Well, I've been keeping a close eye and what do we have here:

JONUS GUSTAVSSON .901%
PASCAL LECLAIRE .898%

Lets also keep in mind that Toronto spent months of hard work signing this guy but traded no assets while the Sens traded away Antoine Vermette who, as I write this, has 12 points, would be the 2nd highest scorer on the Sens and has 7 points more than Alexei Kovalev, the $5M forward.

It does make one wonder, is Murray the worst GM in the NHL right now?

6 != 22

We couldn't let this die in the comments section.

Muppet says:

"A very interesting fact was revealed this morning while I drove out there, one that I wish we had known for the last 3 months as it pretty much kills the concept that Phil Kessel's 08/09 season success is owed exclusively to one Marc Savard. Raise your hand Sens fans if you've written or spoken this at least once since the trade in September."

THM raises his hand and waves it around like a giddy schoolkid "I did! I did! IIIIIIIII DIIIID!!!!"

Muppet says:

MARC SAVARD ASSISTED ON 6 OF PHIL KESSEL'S 36 GOALS LAST SEASON.

Oh.... but wait!!!

Marc Savard indeed assisted on 22 of 36 of Kessel's goals.  That's 61.1%.  Maybe the source that left Muppet so excited to return from Oakville for his post -- already tanked in preparation for the AM640 game day revealing of the bronze Kessel Statue @ Yong and Dundas --  entered that into his Excel sheet as a fraction, hit % on the format bar and quickly hit the alphanumeric conversion.

So to keep our accounting straight

MARC SAVARD ASSISTED ON 22 OF PHIL KESSEL'S 36 GOALS LAST SEASON.

Your Muppet facepalm.

Suck it Matt Stajan

Leafs Game Day Thread - The Kessel Edition

I had an 8am presentation in Oakville and it has nearly killed me waiting to get back to the office to create this post.

A very interesting fact was revealed this morning while I drove out there, one that I wish we had known for the last 3 months as it pretty much kills the concept that Phil Kessel's 08/09 season success is owed exclusively to one Marc Savard. Raise your hand Sens fans if you've written or spoken this at least once since the trade in September.

So, without further adieu, here it is.

MARC SAVARD ASSISTED ON 6 OF PHIL KESSEL'S 36 GOALS LAST SEASON.
(Courtesy of the Toronto Star)

To take nothing away from Marc Savard, who is a great disher of the puck, it would seem from that statistic that the anti-Kessel/anti-Leaf argument in this case has absolutely no legs. Kessel was leading scorer on a team and the leading assist guy had almost nothing to do with it.

While I don't expect Kessel to do all that much for the first few weeks as he becomes familiar with new teammates and a new system it is not out of the question for him to have a memorable first night. Many players who are on long layoffs often do, the adrenaline more than compensating for the rusty hinges. I think we can expect something and the safe bet is a goal while playing on the league's best PP. A feed from Kaberle who, as I write this, has more assists than Marc Savard.

One last thing: I bought a brand new RBK Leafs dark jersey last night. I'm in Chicago next Friday to see the Leafs battle the Hawks. Great seats. Can't wait. I hope the Leafs score a few and I can be on TV. If I do, I'll be sure to turn around so you can all see the name and number I've chosen for the back.

Phill Kessel. #81.

Call me optimistic.

UPDATE: Kessel's tests were positive, officially announced he is 100% playing tonight.

No pressure

Kaberle today on Kessel:
"He's a skill guy. He showed he can score 30, 40, 50 goals a year."

Tomas - he's scored 11, 19, and 36 in his three seasons.

And the leading scorer in the NHL is...

Well, for one week anyway! Kaberle's incredible 13 points last week fetched him the NHL's first star.

His 17 points now leads all defenseman in the NHL in scoring.

His 15 assists are tops in the NHL.

He is 12th in overall NHL scoring, ahead of Sidney Crosby.

His 12 powerplay points also lead the NHL.

Congratulations Thomas. Lets hope that feeding Kessel some passes up the wing can give the Leafs as a team the same kind of big week.

First it was the Argos....

...and now its the Leafs??  What took so long?

(UofT & York football teams wimpering in the corner....)

Atlanta @ Ottawa GDT

Not since Antoine Vermette left have we seen such bare-chested imagery on the BoO.  So definitely we need to push that beefcake down the page.  

Sens to win 5-3 without Spezza or Volchenkov but also without piggy flu.

"Go Sens Go!" she says.

Trick or treat?

Sens against Atlanta this afternoon while the Leafs and Habs tussle tonight.

For the Sens, they need to take advantage of a Kovalchuk free Thrashers and get the 2pts - and no giving the opposition a free one.

Hope your candy bag is full tonight.

But can he make the headlines with his hockey equipment on?

Leafs @ Sabres
7:30pm

Tlusty hasn't been able to bring his AHL game to the big show and the Leafs always get killed in Buffalo.

Is it too much to ask for both things to change starting tonight? It's been over a year and no more naked pictures have surfaced from Tlusty, so I guess anything is possible.

I'm just sayin'.....

The Sens 3rd Period is starting...

This can be the thread.
I expect, with the score 3-0, that not many Sens fans will be in the mood to chat. Especially when "the guy you traded Heatley for" just missed on a breakaway against Mike Smith and his sub .900 %. Right DC?

So, lets talk about the Leafs instead with some news:

Macdonald and Stalberg sent down, Toskala and Tlusty are in. Phil Kessel ready to go Tuesday according to Wilson.

That's right. Kessel will be ready Tuesday in time for the Lighting and Mike Smith's soon to be above .900 save percentage.

Good Times!

Je m'appelle une douchebag

Not to excuse the stupid penalty that Ponikarovsky took before Ribeiro pulled his shit on Komisarek to make it a 5 on 3... but fuck... this guy really needs to be put on dive watch by the league.

Other than that the Leafs played really well. Two points would have been nice but hey, beggers can't be choosers. If they keep playing like this the points will come.

PS. Gustavsson is friggin awesome.

Leclaire out

Leclaire is pulled after the 1st for flu-like symptoms.  The panic that set through Sens Army about his ankle is unwarranted.  Phew.   I suppose we can assume other Sens will fall victim to the flu in the next couple of days.  Hey.... I'd rather see the team suffer the flu to start the season than suffer 7 big losses and the hugest-win-in-the-history-of-the-NHL against a West Coast team of tomato cans.

There's hilarity in delusion

This article by Mike Zeisberger has some gems that are sure to wet the pants of any level headed sports fan.

On Monster Jo's 1st win:

"it might be difficult for coach Ron Wilson to put anyone else in net for the next few days, weeks, even years, without creating a revolt within Leafs Nation."  

On what is known to future generations as "THE Save":

"His miraculous lunging stop off the Ducks' Eric Christensen early in the first period" 

(I may change his name to Jesus Jo' Monster after that one)

And representing Leaf Nation, commenter number 2: StuGatzFromMississauga @ 10:17 a.m.

"All I ever wanted was a goalie who can make a save to keep the team in every game. It looks like the monster will be that guy."

After one win against a West Coast bottom feeder StuGatz?  Really Stu?  

Karlsson to Bingo

Good column by Scanlan on the demotion. Importantly, he's already been given permission to play for Sweden in the World Juniors.