Karine Hains: Game 1: Eerily Similar to Last Season The Maple Leafs won their home opener against the Habs tonight by a score of 2-1.

Karine
Hains: Game 1: Eerily Similar to Last Season
The Maple Leafs won their home opener against the Habs tonight by a score of 2-1.
- Karine Hains

Missed most of the game. Not shocked it was close, like always.

Good to see Drouin back.

GG

Karine
Hains: Game 1: Eerily Similar to Last Season
The Maple Leafs won their home opener against the Habs tonight by a score of 2-1.
- Karine Hains

Well K, I didn’t think they played that bad.

A shot through traffic to tie the game, and a pretty good shot for the winner.

These guys are gonna be ok, me thinks.

Good write up, K, pretty much bang on.

I also am not surprised that the Suzuki-Caufield-Toffoli aren't an out of the gate dynamo. They played maybe 2 games together in the preseason, and although they have the potential to be line 1, right now that honour should go to Dvorak-Anderson-Drouin.

Evans played a strong game in limited minutes, and I think it might be smart to move the Evans-Gallagher-Armia line up to the 2nd. Their drive is some of the best on the team.

Yes, that leaves the Toffoli and the kids on the 3rd line. I think the lesser competition might give them some looks they're not getting facing the opposition's best. That in turn will give them some experience, motivation, as well as some momentum, time will tell. Then again, I'm not the coach.

As for defense, yikes. It's worse than I thought. I would flip Chiarot and Kulak, honestly, if you're going to leave Romanov on the 3rd. But again, I'm not the coach.

Not the best game, but could have been a lot worse. And I, too, am thrilled for Drouin. That's a huge monkey off his back. Really proud of him, and am happy for him. I hope someone grabbed the goal puck for him... It's a brand new game for him.

At one stage, the Habs had 1:44 of 5 on 3, that was their chance to create a momentum swing, but it took them 44 seconds to get a single shot on net and it came from far out with no chance to go in. When it takes you 44 seconds on a 5 on 3 to take one bad shot, you are doing it wrong.


yup, and with a 5 on 3 if you aren't generating any momentum it does the complete opposite and kills anything you had going. it's the first game of the season though, Ducharme has plenty of time to figure things out, and they definitely have the tools to do it.

Good write up, K, pretty much bang on.

I also am not surprised that the Suzuki-Caufield-Toffoli aren't an out of the gate dynamo. They played maybe 2 games together in the preseason, and although they have the potential to be line 1, right now that honour should go to Dvorak-Anderson-Drouin.

Evans played a strong game in limited minutes, and I think it might be smart to move the Evans-Gallagher-Armia line up to the 2nd. Their drive is some of the best on the team.

Yes, that leaves the Toffoli and the kids on the 3rd line. I think the lesser competition might give them some looks they're not getting facing the opposition's best. That in turn will give them some experience, motivation, as well as some momentum, time will tell. Then again, I'm not the coach.

As for defense, yikes. It's worse than I thought. I would flip Chiarot and Kulak, honestly, if you're going to leave Romanov on the 3rd. But again, I'm not the coach.

Not the best game, but could have been a lot worse. And I, too, am thrilled for Drouin. That's a huge monkey off his back. Really proud of him, and am happy for him. I hope someone grabbed the goal puck for him... It's a brand new game for him.
- Darksyde

I know the laffs hit a couple of posts, but in the end they only scored 2 goals, so it isn't that bad... first game of the season

Good write up, K, pretty much bang on.

I also am not surprised that the Suzuki-Caufield-Toffoli aren't an out of the gate dynamo. They played maybe 2 games together in the preseason, and although they have the potential to be line 1, right now that honour should go to Dvorak-Anderson-Drouin.

Evans played a strong game in limited minutes, and I think it might be smart to move the Evans-Gallagher-Armia line up to the 2nd. Their drive is some of the best on the team.

Yes, that leaves the Toffoli and the kids on the 3rd line. I think the lesser competition might give them some looks they're not getting facing the opposition's best. That in turn will give them some experience, motivation, as well as some momentum, time will tell. Then again, I'm not the coach.

As for defense, yikes. It's worse than I thought. I would flip Chiarot and Kulak, honestly, if you're going to leave Romanov on the 3rd. But again, I'm not the coach.

Not the best game, but could have been a lot worse. And I, too, am thrilled for Drouin. That's a huge monkey off his back. Really proud of him, and am happy for him. I hope someone grabbed the goal puck for him... It's a brand new game for him.
- Darksyde

yes the 3rd pair had problems all night (would Romanov benefit from a short stay in Laval?), but if Petry doesn't up his game, they won't win many games. I'm confident he will though, he just had a terrible evening. not that much defensively, but offensively. very poor decision making with the puck.

as for playing the kids on the 3rd line, sure, obvious, but the opponent coaches will still play their best dmen pair againts them, whether they play on the 1st or the 3rd line. until the Dvorak line clearly becomes our 1st and produces as such. CC needs to shoot. 5-6-7 times per game. that's what brought him here.

Good write up, K, pretty much bang on.

I also am not surprised that the Suzuki-Caufield-Toffoli aren't an out of the gate dynamo. They played maybe 2 games together in the preseason, and although they have the potential to be line 1, right now that honour should go to Dvorak-Anderson-Drouin.

Evans played a strong game in limited minutes, and I think it might be smart to move the Evans-Gallagher-Armia line up to the 2nd. Their drive is some of the best on the team.

Yes, that leaves the Toffoli and the kids on the 3rd line. I think the lesser competition might give them some looks they're not getting facing the opposition's best. That in turn will give them some experience, motivation, as well as some momentum, time will tell. Then again, I'm not the coach.

As for defense, yikes. It's worse than I thought. I would flip Chiarot and Kulak, honestly, if you're going to leave Romanov on the 3rd. But again, I'm not the coach.

Not the best game, but could have been a lot worse. And I, too, am thrilled for Drouin. That's a huge monkey off his back. Really proud of him, and am happy for him. I hope someone grabbed the goal puck for him... It's a brand new game for him.
- Darksyde

I’m thinking perhaps Toffoli should come off the 1st line and here’s why, there is no one to retrieve the puck on that line, no one that can go battle in the corner and come out with it...Give them Armia and put Toffoli with Evans and Gallagher, see how that goes...

I’m thinking perhaps Toffoli should come off the 1st line and here’s why, there is no one to retrieve the puck on that line, no one that can go battle in the corner and come out with it...Give them Armia and put Toffoli with Evans and Gallagher, see how that goes...
- Karine Hains

or switch CC and Gallagher

I’m thinking perhaps Toffoli should come off the 1st line and here’s why, there is no one to retrieve the puck on that line, no one that can go battle in the corner and come out with it...Give them Armia and put Toffoli with Evans and Gallagher, see how that goes...
- Karine Hains

it's very early but I agree with this if they don't get it going, I had the feeling that line might lack a bit of size and grit

it's very early but I agree with this if they don't get it going, I had the feeling that line might lack a bit of size and grit
- Pat1993

That's what they say about that Leaf Poser here.

I’m thinking perhaps Toffoli should come off the 1st line and here’s why, there is no one to retrieve the puck on that line, no one that can go battle in the corner and come out with it...Give them Armia and put Toffoli with Evans and Gallagher, see how that goes...
- Karine Hains

I’m thinking perhaps Toffoli should come off the 1st line and here’s why, there is no one to retrieve the puck on that line, no one that can go battle in the corner and come out with it...Give them Armia and put Toffoli with Evans and Gallagher, see how that goes...
- Karine Hains

Completely agree.

or switch CC and Gallagher
- fidopro

Nah, I don’t want CC to be rattled, he is a sniper and u don’t want to mess with his confidence.

Nah, I don’t want CC to be rattled, he is a sniper and u don’t want to mess with his confidence.
- Karine Hains

go to bed

to me, opposing teams will always play their top4 againts Suzuki and Dvorak.
putting Caufield on a 3rd line with 1st PP would help him imo.

go to bed

to me, opposing teams will always play their top4 againts Suzuki and Dvorak.
putting Caufield on a 3rd line with 1st PP would help him imo.
- fidopro

I am in bed! But painful knees so needed icebergs lol

And you go to bed!

I am in bed! But painful knees so needed icebergs lol

And you go to bed!
- Karine Hains

I don't have to get up tomorrow morning, watching NYR-WASH.

Both of you go to bed! Yeah!

Says the pot to the kettles...

Both of you go to bed! Yeah!

Says the pot to the kettles...
- Darksyde

just started CHI-COL

I don't have to get up tomorrow morning, watching NYR-WASH.
- fidopro

Good game?

Good game?
- Karine Hains

yep, one of the best. both teams were ready, not the case with many of the others so far

That's what they say about that Leaf Poser here.
- Benny Blanco

Ever find it weird he's more welcome and liked here than you? I'll hang up and listen, thanks

Ever find it weird he's more welcome and liked here than you? I'll hang up and listen, thanks
- Takemedrunkimhome

Sup Drunkie

Completely agree.
- Scabeh

Yeah they need a better transition game to have success, which I don't think they will get with our D core this year so you need balanced line with one guy good in the corner because there's going to be alot of chips/dump and chase.

Sup Drunkie
- Fredobbface

Happy for Drouin...everything else went about as I'd expected sadly...81 games to try and turn it around and evolve but I don't see it. Also, some backreading indicates it took the nut one game to out himself as a Leaf fan rather than fan of hockey which was kinda funny.

Currently downing my pre workout BAFC. You doing well this Thursday AM?