Dominance
This was exactly the type of stress-free win that I wanted to see from the Leafs... We dismantled the Devils 7-2 in the Swamp.
Always nice to put up a 7-spot on the road, especially so after two consecutive losses. The timing worked out perfectly for us, facing the worst team in the conference just when we needed some boost. This should make the boys feel good about themselves as they go home for a shot at revenge vs. the Panthers.
My takes.
Quick strike+Better efforts all around
JT, Matthews and Marleau scored one apiece in the first period. Of the three goals, only Tavares' marker was what you'd call a conventional hockey goal, coming as it did on a breakaway with Naz's nifty setup. Matthews did his part by dragging D-man Lovejoy to the top of the crease with him. That distracted Kinkaid (more on him later) and set a screen. Against a shooter like Tavares, that's a lethal combination.
Auston scored a cheap one after pushing Severson into Kinkaid. Matthews barely even celebrated the goal, probably thinking it could be called back on goalie interference. After getting shoved down, Severson tried to clear the puck out of harm's way and ended up passing it to Matthews' stick on tape. Hey, gotta be lucky sometimes, right?
Marleau also tapped in a rebound at the top of the blue paint, and he's now tied Rocket Richard on the all-time goals list with No. 544. I've been a bit hard on Marleau earlier, but on this particular goal, he really earned it. He battled hard in the corners on the forecheck to begin the sequence that led to his goal. After finishing his check, Marleau did a great job of freeing himself at the top of the crease.
And in the early going, I thought we put in really strong efforts all around. We showed up to play. The boys forechecked hard, made some smart decisions with the puck and won the vast majority of those 50-50 battles. Jersey never had a chance.
As for Kinkaid, well, he's on one of my fantasy teams. I guess I should bench him whenever we play the Devils. In two meetings this year, we've scored 13 goals on those guys.
Also nice to see Naz getting 3 helpers and Marner scoring another goal. Yup, gotta keep shooting!
Ennis gets a pair
I am a huge Ennis fan. He scored twice in the third when the game was all but out of reach, but even before the goal, I thought he was in the midst of a really strong game. He'd be a decent secondary scoring option on a lot of teams, a borderline top-six winger and certainly not a fourth-line LW/RW that he is with us.
Ennis is on the second PP unit and plays where Matthews plays on the first unit (the left half-board). The power play remains a mess (0-for-3 today, one goal in the last 24 or 25 chances) and I hope Ennis is the guy that ends the drought.
Loved that second goal, and loved the little celebration with Lindholm even more (that muted man hug or pound hug). Don't think I've seen anything quite like it in hockey. And Ennis did it with Brown, too.
I am off the rest of the week. So I was in the full blogging mode today (though I usually am anyway, ha!) and was able to focus on the game withoutdistractions work.
When I have the morning off or don't have to work the whole day, I usually set up my stationary bike in front of my monitor and watch games on my bike. I go for anywhere between 40 minutes and an hour, covering over 10 to 13 kilometers at a time. Just about a period in hockey or a half in basketball. See, I try to use my time wisely.
I'll do more of the same the next couple of days, with the Raps playing the Pacers and then the Buds hosting the Panthers.
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| My "mug shots" continue with this Auston Matthews image. No, he didn't get to do that celebration today. |
Always nice to put up a 7-spot on the road, especially so after two consecutive losses. The timing worked out perfectly for us, facing the worst team in the conference just when we needed some boost. This should make the boys feel good about themselves as they go home for a shot at revenge vs. the Panthers.
My takes.
Quick strike+Better efforts all around
JT, Matthews and Marleau scored one apiece in the first period. Of the three goals, only Tavares' marker was what you'd call a conventional hockey goal, coming as it did on a breakaway with Naz's nifty setup. Matthews did his part by dragging D-man Lovejoy to the top of the crease with him. That distracted Kinkaid (more on him later) and set a screen. Against a shooter like Tavares, that's a lethal combination.
Auston scored a cheap one after pushing Severson into Kinkaid. Matthews barely even celebrated the goal, probably thinking it could be called back on goalie interference. After getting shoved down, Severson tried to clear the puck out of harm's way and ended up passing it to Matthews' stick on tape. Hey, gotta be lucky sometimes, right?
Marleau also tapped in a rebound at the top of the blue paint, and he's now tied Rocket Richard on the all-time goals list with No. 544. I've been a bit hard on Marleau earlier, but on this particular goal, he really earned it. He battled hard in the corners on the forecheck to begin the sequence that led to his goal. After finishing his check, Marleau did a great job of freeing himself at the top of the crease.
And in the early going, I thought we put in really strong efforts all around. We showed up to play. The boys forechecked hard, made some smart decisions with the puck and won the vast majority of those 50-50 battles. Jersey never had a chance.
As for Kinkaid, well, he's on one of my fantasy teams. I guess I should bench him whenever we play the Devils. In two meetings this year, we've scored 13 goals on those guys.
Also nice to see Naz getting 3 helpers and Marner scoring another goal. Yup, gotta keep shooting!
Ennis gets a pair
I am a huge Ennis fan. He scored twice in the third when the game was all but out of reach, but even before the goal, I thought he was in the midst of a really strong game. He'd be a decent secondary scoring option on a lot of teams, a borderline top-six winger and certainly not a fourth-line LW/RW that he is with us.
Ennis is on the second PP unit and plays where Matthews plays on the first unit (the left half-board). The power play remains a mess (0-for-3 today, one goal in the last 24 or 25 chances) and I hope Ennis is the guy that ends the drought.
Loved that second goal, and loved the little celebration with Lindholm even more (that muted man hug or pound hug). Don't think I've seen anything quite like it in hockey. And Ennis did it with Brown, too.
I am off the rest of the week. So I was in the full blogging mode today (though I usually am anyway, ha!) and was able to focus on the game without
When I have the morning off or don't have to work the whole day, I usually set up my stationary bike in front of my monitor and watch games on my bike. I go for anywhere between 40 minutes and an hour, covering over 10 to 13 kilometers at a time. Just about a period in hockey or a half in basketball. See, I try to use my time wisely.
I'll do more of the same the next couple of days, with the Raps playing the Pacers and then the Buds hosting the Panthers.
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