2013: The NHL season that almost wasn't

Leafs won 6-0, Reimer stopped 37 shots and the Leafs beat the Habs in the alley as well as the scoreboard.

Price played the entire game.

This is a new group under Carlyle. They have finally found the truculence Burke promised. They're tough down low and now guys, particularly James van Riemsdyk, are going to the front of the net.

They're still 1-4-0 at home (and 6-1-0 on the road) and play Phillie at the ACC on Monday night. Will be a good test.

In 5th place right now in the East and have won 3 in a row.

Best news is that Reimer has been solid in almost game he's started. He's not fighting the puck, doesn't give up a lot of rebounds and is not flopping around

It's a tiny bit of hope for Leafs fans.

Edit: Globe's Sean Gordon's gamer:

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/hockey/leafs-embarrass-habs-6-0-in-fight-filled-game/article8425147/

 

There's got to be more than a little bit of desperation going on with the Blues. Elliott has not shown he can handle being the lone No. 1 guy (if not making it clear his play last season was a complete fluke), and Halak isn't looking to be too much of an ironman, with the injury in the playoffs last year and now the groin. I thought initial reports were that Halak was expected to be ready by Saturday night, but obviously not, and now maybe not even for Monday?

With the short season and Chicago running away with the division, and the Blues looking pretty disinterested in losing 3 straight at home, this could get ugly. The fanbase has been pretty patient with this organization over the last few seasons. With this season presumably having so much promise going in, if they piss this down their leg, on top of the lockout ...

 

Thanks for the link. Enjoyed reading it. Just saw some highlights. What an ass kicking.

It was hard for me to tell with certainty whether Grabovski literally chomped down, but certainly possible.

I thought I counted at least one, if not two, one-punch knockouts. Hope to see the next meeting.

And Dion Phaneuf looks like Woody Harrelson to me. ;D

 

I'm a big Halak fan but you're right. Reminds me of his first season in St. Louis when he picked up where he left off in Montreal, then got hurt 10-15 games or so in (hand injury IIRC).

 

That playoff year, he outplayed Luongo in the conference semifinal and then was outstanding in the conferene final sweep of the Sharks. He wasn't great by any stretch in the final, but I still don't view it as a winning despite him situation.

Now with the Sharks he has been terrific both of the last two years. in 2010-11 he was 35-18-6 with a .920 save percentage and a 2.38 GAA. last year he was 34-22-9 with a .914 and 2.42. Hardly terrible. His last season in Chicago in a platoon situation he was 26-7-4 with a 2.25 and a 0.912.

I thought it was a mistake when they walked away from him and I still think it was. Granted, Crawford is playing well this way, but he was dog meat last year.

That's my opinion, anyway.

 

He was awful in the Stanley Cup Final. Without looking it up I think he was around a 3 gaa against the Canucks, he was not even close to the reason they beat the Canucks. I think you're an ex goalie Beef, I bet you would have outplayed Luongo in that series.

Anyways, I don't trust Niemi at all but he is playing well this year so maybe you are right.

 

Grabovski has a hearing with the league today. Two games. I'm pretty sure he chomped on Pacioretty's finger.

Mikhail's a favourite --he's known as Mimico Mikhail around here-- because he married into the family of a (former) Blue Goose server.

Next meeting is Wed Feb 27 here in Toronto. Scalpers will hit the mother lode. Can't remember the last really bad blood game between these two.

 

And Rene Bourque will think twice about confronting Colton Orr (yeah, I know he had to do it but the result wasn't pretty).

 

Keith Jones has a good point: If you stick your finger in my eye or wrap your hand around my face, chances are good you are going to get bitten in return.

 

One reason I picked Chicago to win the West was because I didn't think Crawford would have to win games on his own. The team has enough scoring, and a good defense, and I figure Crawford will be good enough, like Niemi was good enough.

 

For the playoffs, he had a 16-6 record, 2.63 GAA and a 0.910 save percentage.

I don't thnk they won because of him, but I don't think they won inspite of him either.

And no, I was no goalie growing up.

 

Hey, Beef might not have been but I was, perhaps explaining a few quirks.

From the net: Halak comes off IR, Halak injures self in pregame warmup. So, Elliott starts against Los Angeles.

Quick gets break, Bernier gets opportunity.