GDT - Stars @ Leafs | Keep it rolling 7:30PM EST TSN

[number17]

Since the 2 embarrassing losses to the Sabres and then the historic 9-2 loss to the Preds on Nov 18, the buds have seemed to find a way to dig deep and win games ... there hasn't been a bad game since then, and the Leafs have gone on to a 3-0-1 run over the past 4 games, scoring 4.5 goals per game, allowing only 2.25 per, and allowing 29.5 shots per game. Now 29.5 may seem pretty average, but for the Leafs who were used to allowing 34 shots a game prior, this is a major achievement.

The Stars, who sit 11th in the west and coming off a bad 5-2 loss to the Aves, seem like the team to snap out little run ... afterall, this version of the Leafs seem to have problem showing up against the weaker opponents. I'd love for them to prove me wrong tonight.

There are a few familiar faces on the Dallas bench ... first of all we'll see Seguin tonight, whose name is forever linked to Kessel's. Seguin is scoring on 106 points pace and I'm just so glad Chia was dumb enough to send him to the western conference. Then there's also Jason Spezza, who recently signed an extension to remain in Dallas and is playing on 65 points pace as Dallas's second center. Also we'll find Lindy Ruff behind the bench.

Here's hoping the Leafs can keep it rolling and continue the strong homestand tonight. Bernier is expected to start once again.


Go Leafs Go!!!!

 

[Hoss]

The stars haven't been doing as well as expected, especially on defense so the opportunity is there, but Seguin is still tearing it up (I know I have him in my pool) and he does tend to elevate his game like the good toronto boy he is.

I'd be nervous of him and Benn going off. But this team can be had.

 

[zeke]

cf% - zone-start adjusted 5v5 close corsi percentage
rel - zone-start afjusted 5v5 close corsi percentage relative to teammates


Line 1

C T.Bozak (28): 23gms, 11gls, 22pts, 44.4cf%, -4.3rel, 18:46 (82gms, 39gls, 78pts) ---- 57.0fo%
C T.Seguin (23): 24gms, 18gls, 31pts, 52.2cf%, +3.2rel, 19:44 (82gms, 62gls, 106pts) ---- 50.0fo%

W P.Kessel (27): 23gms, 11gls, 25pts, 47.9cf%, +0.1rel, 18:30 (82gms, 39gls, 89pts)
W J.Benn (25): 24gms, 8gls, 23pts, 49.4cf%, -1.0rel, 19:29 (82gms, 27gls, 79pts)

W J.Vanriemsdyk (25): 23gms, 9gls, 19pts, 44.4cf%, -4.6rel, 19:27 (82gms, 32gls, 68pts)
W A.Hemsky (31): 23gms, 1gls, 6pts, 50.0cf%, +0.7rel, 13:55 (82gms, 4gls, 21pts)

Line 2

C N.Kadri (24): 23gms, 5gls, 11pts, 55.0cf%, +6.4rel, 16:24 (82gms, 18gls, 39pts) ---- 48.8fo%
C J.Spezza (31): 24gms, 4gls, 19pts, 50.8cf%, +1.4rel, 17:35 (82gms, 14gls, 65pts) ---- 53.3fo%

W J.Lupul (31): 11gms, 3gls, 5pts, 62.3cf%, +15.8rel, 17:18 (82gms, 22gls, 37pts)
W P.Eaves (30): 18gms, 3gls, 8pts, 50.0cf%, +1.1rel, 11:17 (82gms, 14gls, 36pts)

W M.Santorelli (29): 23gms, 3gls, 13pts, 46.8cf%, -1.7rel, 13:23 (82gms, 11gls, 46pts)
W E.Cole (36): 23gms, 5gls, 8pts, 49.1cf%, -1.3rel, 12:56 (82gms, 18gls, 29pts)

Line 3

C P.Holland (23): 23gms, 5gls, 9pts, 46.3cf%, -2.5rel, 13:30 (82gms, 18gls, 32pts) ---- 44.0fo%
C C.Eakin (23): 21gms, 5gls, 10pts, 49.8cf%, +1.4rel, 17:04 (82gms, 20gls, 39pts) ---- 47.4fo%

W D.Clarkson (30): 23gms, 7gls, 8pts, 46.9cf%, -2.2rel, 15:20 (82gms, 25gls, 29pts)
W A.Roussel (25): 24gms, 5gls, 12pts, 50.0cf%, +0.9rel, 15:44 (82gms, 17gls, 41pts)

W D.Winnik (29): 21gms, 1gls, 9pts, 53.4cf%, +3.8rel, 15:30 (82gms, 4gls, 35pts)
W R.Garbutt (29): 19gms, 3gls, 8pts, 46.4cf%, -3.8rel, 14:00 (82gms, 13gls, 35pts)

Line 4

C T.Smith (29): 9gms, 0gls, 1pts, 47.4cf%, -2.3rel, 10:01 (82gms, 0gls, 9pts) ---- 52.7fo%
C V.Fiddler (34): 24gms, 2gls, 7pts, 46.2cf%, -3.9rel, 13:04 (82gms, 7gls, 24pts) ---- 53.0fo%

W R.Panik (23): 20gms, 4gls, 5pts, 50.9cf%, +3.0rel, 8:53 (82gms, 16gls, 21pts)
W S.Horcoff (36): 24gms, 3gls, 8pts, 50.0cf%, +0.9rel, 12:20 (82gms, 10gls, 27pts)

W D.Booth (30): 2gms, 0gls, 0pts, 52.6cf%, +1.6rel, 9:54 (82gms, 0gls, 0pts)
W T.Moen (32): 9gms, 1gls, 2pts, 36.1cf%, -13.5rel, 12:34 (82gms, 9gls, 18pts)



Pair 1

D D.Phaneuf (29): 23gms, 1gls, 11pts, 49.4cf%, +1.2rel, 23:10 (82gms, 4gls, 39pts)
D A.Goligoski (29): 24gms, 1gls, 10pts, 49.9cf%, +1.9rel, 24:45 (82gms, 4gls, 34pts)

D C.Franson (27): 21gms, 4gls, 15pts, 51.8cf%, +5.6rel, 20:19 (82gms, 16gls, 59pts)
D J.Klingberg (22): 10gms, 3gls, 8pts, 52.7cf%, +4.4rel, 23:02 (82gms, 25gls, 66pts)

Pair 2

D J.Gardiner (24): 21gms, 1gls, 6pts, 46.2cf%, -2.5rel, 19:54 (82gms, 4gls, 23pts)
D T.Daley (31): 24gms, 5gls, 12pts, 41.0cf%, -4.3rel, 24:39 (82gms, 17gls, 41pts)

D K.Holzer (26): 2gms, 0gls, 0pts, 35.7cf%, -13.3rel, 17:32 (82gms, 0gls, 0pts)
D J.Demers (26): 4gms, 1gls, 2pts, 50.9cf%, -1.0rel, 22:36 (82gms, 21gls, 41pts)

Pair 3

D M.Rielly (20): 22gms, 3gls, 9pts, 52.0cf%, +4.8rel, 18:19 (82gms, 11gls, 34pts)
D J.Jokipakka (23): 8gms, 0gls, 2pts, 52.6cf%, +3.6rel, 14:25 (82gms, 0gls, 21pts)

D S.Robidas (37): 22gms, 0gls, 3pts, 43.7cf%, -6.3rel, 17:20 (82gms, 0gls, 11pts)
D J.Benn (27): 20gms, 0gls, 4pts, 49.1cf%, -1.6rel, 20:47 (82gms, 0gls, 16pts)



Starting Goalies

G J.Bernier (26): 17gms, .917sv%
G K.Lehtonen (31): 20gms, .905sv%

Backup Goalies

G J.Reimer (26): 9gms, .898sv%
G A.Lindback (26): 4gms, .861sv%



Injured / Suspended

W L.Komarov (27): 23gms, 4gls, 16pts, 47.0cf%, -1.5rel, 15:41 (82gms, 14gls, 57pts)
D R.Polak (28): 21gms, 3gls, 5pts, 48.2cf%, -1.0rel, 21:06 (82gms, 12gls, 20pts)
W B.Kozun (24): 5gms, 0gls, 1pts, 32.3cf%, -19.5rel, 8:54 (82gms, 0gls, 16pts)
W C.Ashton (23): 3gms, 0gls, 0pts, 56.3cf%, +8.9rel, 6:09 (82gms, 0gls, 0pts)

W V.Nichushkin (19): 4gms, 0gls, 0pts, 55.0cf%, +5.6rel, 12:40 (82gms, 0gls, 0pts)

 

[zeke]

stars really arent very good, especially without Lehtonen playing well.

and spezza really kinda stinks.

 

[Metalleaf]

No Leo tonight. Hope it's not long term.

 

[LeafGm]

No Leo tonight. Hope it's not long term.

Unless there's been a dramatic change from the past two couple of days (where Komarov had not been diagnosed with a concussion, and was feeling well), I'd say they're just being extra cautious, like they were with Daniel Winnik when he was medically cleared after that hit against Colorado, but the Leafs still sat him out for a couple of games anyways. As much as we'd like to have Leo in the lineup, I'm all for that approach. You can never be too cautious where the brain is concerned. I wouldn't be surprised if they waited until Saturday's game to give him the green light, just to give him the full week.

As for this game, let's hold Seguin off the score-board please, so we don't have to hear the announcers jerking him all night, and then listen to another Cherry rant about good ole Tranna boys on Saturday.

 

[number17]

Man our 1st line's possession stats are really poor ... that isn't exactly news, and when you watch them play it does confirm with the stats.

But I didn't realize even Clarkson's and Santo's and Holland's stats have dropped, to a point right now Kadri, Winnik, Lupul and Panik are the only 4 F's with a 50%+ CF% among our 12 forwards (Booth's only played 1 game so I won't really include his stat right now).

So much about the 'can a coach change?' discussion ...

 

[zeke]

James Mirtle @mirtle
Seguin asked about the talk about him and Kessel: "Is it still going!?"

Chris Johnston @reporterchris
Tyler Seguin says "I'm still a bit of a Leafs fan at heart."

 

[Artnes]

Just goes to show its not easy to forget about a team you grew up cheering for.

 

[number17]

lol ... i'll bet you if Kessel scores tonight someone are gonna chant "Thank you Seguin"

 

[MyNameIsJonas]

I'll be 9 rows up.

 

[BG]

I'll be 9 rows up.

Nice ticket.

The Leafs better come out ready for a turf war, the Stars aren't winning much - but they've got some guys that will put you through the glass.

 

[Leafin']

Kessel for Seguin, get it done and over with.


:beatdeadhorse5:

 

[Deckie007]

I'll be 9 rows up.

And somehow I didn't get the seat beside you. Some BFF.

 

[BG]

BFF + FFS = BFFFS?

 

[JackBurton]

How could Boston trade Seguin? What morons.

 

[JackBurton]

James Mirtle @mirtle
Seguin asked about the talk about him and Kessel: "Is it still going!?"Chris Johnston @reporterchris
Tyler Seguin says "I'm still a bit of a Leafs fan at heart."

I don't blame him for it. Is the media aware Boston traded him?

 

[number17]

I'm just glad he's out of BOS though ... out of our division, out of our conference is good.

 

[JackBurton]

I'm just glad he's out of BOS though ... out of our division, out of our conference is good.

Yeah. That was a real big break for us having Chiarelli make such a stupid move.

Is it still the best trade in Boston sports history? LOL.

 

[LeafGm]

The funniest part is the Seguin trade was almost a picture perfect repeat of what happened with Kessel. The Bruins draft a supremely talented forward in the top-5 of the draft. The player then goes on to have phenomenal early success with them, scoring 30ish goals and 60ish points at 20 years of age. Then the Bruins dump said player for a package of lesser assets and trash them in the media on the way out the door over supposed "character issues".

Only this time around, the Bruins didn't luck out and have one of those lesser assets turn into a winning lottery ticket.