TropicalFruitGirl26

This is horrible for the Leafs. Like...really horrible. With all the press guys like John Tavares, Auston Matthews, Morgan Reilly, and Frederick Andersen get (rightly so...they ARE mega talents after all), sometimes it feels like Marner gets pushed to the back burner in the news...everything else being equal that is. He doesn't seem to have the higher profile of any of those players (I would even venture to bet that Jake Freakin Gardiner got more press then he did when he was with Toronto...although for probably ENTIRELY different reasons), doesn't have the flash of some of those guys, seems very soft spoken.....but, and I say this from an outsiders point of view, looks to me like HE is the one that really makes things "go" on the Leafs. The straw that stirs the drink, the cog that turns the machine, the lynchpin of a concerted Toronto attack at any given moment...you get the idea. Maybe there are numbers out there to support this hunch of mine, but to me, when Marner is in, and playing well, it allows the other Leafs forwards to be slotted better on lines and he can ALWAYS be counted on to do smart things with the puck and get it to those waiting snipers...and he also always seems to offer a very safe outlet for the much maligned Leaf defensemen when they find themselves in a jam. As good as guys like Tavares and Matthews are up front, I think, should the Leafs lose them for periods of time (we've seen that happen already the last couple seasons including this one), buys can still step in, step up and maybe not completely account for their production, but do good enough...…. but losing Marner, not only his production, but presence, intelligence, and vision on the ice? Not so easy to replace....and IMO, will leave the Leafs forward units in a bit of disarray. Obviously I am a Leaf rival fan, and to be honest, if Toronto were to fall down some competitive hole from which they won't recover in time for the playoffs, I wouldn't bat an eye.... but I think Marner is a HELL of a player, I AM a fan of his, he is not given nearly the credit he should be due compared to many of his teammates, and it is a damned shame he won't be part of the Leafs' quest for a Cup for awhile.

I'll defer to you on how long a leash Toronto fans would give their star players if they underperform. I guess since Toronto is one of those "we must win NOW!" towns, I figured, highly paid players wouldn't be given so much slack....then again, you DID say it was more out of apathy than anything else! As for Nikita Kucherov, I honestly don't think he is anywhere near the stage of "being booed out of town"... I HAVE heard a smattering here and there this season, and believe it or not LAST SEASON of all things, when perhaps Kuch may not backcheck, or seems to float around a bit in the offensive zone waiting for the stretch pass.... and to think, the man STILL puts up crazy numbers! Not all sure what the fans are really wanting from him.... I mean, if he isn't producing, ok, but even in his alleged 'lethargic state', has a pretty good point pace going. But again, I'd rather have fans care enough to boo.... even if it is somewhat ignorantly guided....instead of not caring at all, or wondering when the next Orlando Magic game will be going on, while a Lightning game is going on. As you know, being a Toronto fan, it is how you build a long lasting fanbase.... built on people who are all in with their teams, through the good, the bad, and the ugly. Still...Kucherov being booed is overblown, IMO. If anything, "sky is falling" fans on forums are worse.... but Kucherov doesn't hear them while he is out on the ice.

I am not so sure Kucherov getting "booed" is a big problem. Does it happen? Sure. What superstar player who isn't quite living up to the standards fans set for them hasn't? Regarding getting booed, I mean, in TB it would be mild compared to, oh, I dunno, a place like Toronto, Philadelphia, New York....places where fans are notorious for their impatience with star players who aren't performing. Even if the fans are negatively reacting to Kucherov right now, personally, I think that might be a good thing. And I think even Kucherov may agree it is a good thing. Why? Because it shows fans care. They know they have a superstar player for years to come and just want him to play like it. They want to see leadership out of the highly skilled and highly paid players on the team and no one can blame them. Kuch himself has to understand....he IS a mega talent, he IS getting paid lots of money to perform, and right now, he isn't living up to his abilities on the ice. I'd rather fans get upset about things like that than have apathy. As a Lightning fan since almost the beginning, I have seen my share of that with this team and its players. Times have changed, the Bolts are a big deal in Central Florida, and the fans want a winning product (which they do), that PERFORMS like one. I think Kuch will be fine with a smattering of boos here and there.... maybe Stamkos, Johnson, and Palat could use some of that too. If any player folds under a bit of booing, then one has to question whether they should be on this team. Really, the booing is NOT as bad in Tampa as it could be elsewhere. Not by a long shot. But when you finally get passionate, knowledgeable, caring fans to cheer you on, you best expect that same group to let you "have it" when you don't do what you are paid to do. I consider myself a patient and generally laid back person, yet I have found myself at times disgusted with some of the things I see on the ice from some players......because I really am into my team. I care what goes on. I want a Detroit Red Wing-like perennial contender and win some Cups along the way. Because I want proactive players on the ice....not passengers. And since booing isn't really my style, I just might react instead to letting out a few choice four letter words instead as I switch the channel. Kucherov 11 points in 13 games. Not bad really. But when you look at how lethargic he looks on some nights, one can't help but wonder if he should be PPG player or more even at this early stage. And maybe he will be. But nothing wrong with the fans letting him or any other player know, they want results.....now.

Wow. Price on pace to face over 50 Flyer SOG this game!

Habs looked like world beaters early on, got nothing for it, now clinging for dear life as it's been all Flyers as the period winds down.

Price coming up large now that the Flyers turned the tables.

Ice tilted a wee bit towards the Philly goal, no? No score, but I'd say the Habs are ahead territorially. At least Hart looks like he is tracking the puck well in the early going.

Funny thing is, after I posted, which was after the 1st period when the Bruins were in full control, the Penguins came alive and gave Boston all they could handle...and even had a shot at winning this thing. Nothing like a lil rival fan compliment to put the jinx on eh? Anyways, bottom line...Bruins took the win. Halak saw a CRAP-TON of shots, let 4 by, but still ended up with a SV% over .900 due to the sheer amount of shots stopped! Still though, the Boston goaltending duo is second to none in the NHL right now. Rask will get his chance to prove that once again tonight against the Habs.

Hate to say it as a Lightning fan, but the Bruins really are looking quite strong this season. Looking every bit the part of an Eastern Conference champion. Without looking at numbers, I am willing to bet their goaltending tandem is the best in the league and more than cover up for any defensive miscues by the skaters. Lots of hockey to be played and I am still waiting for the Bolts to fully wake up, but man, right now, the Bruins are really looking like the team to beat in the Atlantic. Doing pretty nicely against the Penguins as I type this.

Pre-season, I had both teams sniffing around the playoff picture as a bubble team. If things fall right, either could make it in, if they go not so right, they fall right out. That said, as was mentioned, I really do like Vancouver's overall depth compared to Buffalo's and their goaltending seems to be more solid and stable. Granted, Jacob Markstrom is in a contract year and we all know how that goes sometimes (plays like Superman, gets a big payday, goes back to being Clark Kent after that), but still, his play in the nets can't be denied and his backup, Thatcher Demko, has been playing just as well....and the Canucks seem to have those guys almost in a timeshare in goal too. Over in Bison Land, the goaltending is a bit more sketchy with both Hutton and Ullmark. Linus hasn't broken through like I thought he would, although there is certainly plenty of time for that to happen this year, and Hutton has looked good on some nights, very mediocre on others. Reason I harp on the goalies so much on both is because I think their offenses will run hot n cold and it will be the guys between the pipes that will have much to say in whether they make the playoffs or not. So I have both as playoff bubble teams trending upwards, but neither will be winning their division nor a Conference title this year, and neither will be able to withstand significant injuries at this stage of their developments. One other thing to consider when trying to decide how "real" either of these teams are: Even if both do well and squeak into the playoffs, both rosters have lots of UFA;s and RFA's on them. The decisions each GM makes will determine whether this year and going into next and beyond will continue their development and contender status...……...or cause them to start over again with fresh faces as they take one step backwards next year, in order to take two forward after that. Who do they keep? Who do they let go? Of those they keep, can contracts be kept reasonable to ice a competitive team year after year? Will the core each has in place be able to elevate and/or benefit from the supplemental talent signed or kept on board? So really, this year may not be the telling year as to whether the teams are for real or not......but next one might.

I don't know what to say about suspension length, but what should be a surprise to NO ONE is.... Lucic was an animal. Again. We've all seen this play out before. I am all for physically letting other players know you don't want them poking around your goalie, but I think it could have been done in a much more effective way and not incur the wrath of the league offices, than the way in which Lucic did it. And if I am looking at this right, is Lucic trying to CONTINUE to hit the guy while he is down? Then again, this is Milan we are talking about. Guy doesn't have too many gears other than sleepy, alert, and berserk. No moderation with him. I dunno...if his track record for this sort of thing is long, and I am betting it is, without looking it all up myself, then maybe he got off lucky with just the two games.

Cory Schneider and Jonathan Quick will be joining them shortly as well..... Good gawd, what happened to these one time top tier netminders????

Proof that the Blues are still a plenty deep team.. Since Tarasenko went down, the team is 4-1-0. Granted, the teams St. Louis has beaten in those 4 wins are Minnesota (sadly, for me, twice), Detroit, and Columbus...not exactly Cup contenders or even playoff contenders....and the one loss was to a good Bruins team, who shut them out 3-0. Is that Bruin loss more telling than the 4 wins against non contenders? We shall see. Blues now take their Western Canadian trip through surprising Vancouver, upstart Edmonton, and should-be contenders Calgary. The Vancouver and Edmonton games are played on back to back nights as well. This should give us a bit more insight as to what these Blues still have without Vladimir in their lineup. Oh, and this just in...Jake Allen is STILL terrible. He should find out where Jim Carey and Andrew Hammond disappeared to and go join them.....

And all it took was for me to basically call him done and washed up...go figure...

Were you agreeable and polite with yourself?

What's the over/under on whether Allen claimed Parise passed gas on him and therefore constituted goalie interference?

That was a BS overturn. Parise's jersey touched Allen's.....I've seen MORE contact with the goalie where a goal stood. These, however, are the sorts of things that happens when a team isn't playing well.

Leafs can't seem to stay out of the penalty box. Flyers given chance after chance to pull away with this in the 2nd...

Bam!! Took them a little longer to get this one, but they did get it... 2-1 Fly. G is Suk....but he got the goal!

Flyers gonna get another PP. They made short work of the Leaves last one out...can they get another quick one?

Second period, puck dropped... Game ON!!

Now hold on a minute.. We are talking possible alcohol poisoning here....

And BOY there is lots of bitching...

Well there it is.... Like magic.... JVR ties it. Good puck movement, got the Leafs going left n right, not knowing where the shot was going, took a shot, and might have been a lucky bounce, but I am sure Philly will take it!

PP time for Philly. Maybe help spark them...they are looking slow, disjointed, and unaware in their own zone especially. I know they played yesterday but still.....could they still be feeling long term effects of a trans atlantic flight? If so, I worry for the Lightning and Sabres who are playing in Sweden later this week. At any rate, let's see if having the man advantage fires these guys up.