Leafs Season Ends
Posted 2:21 PM ET | Comments 2
The Maple Leafs left their fans Monday night with what can only be described as heartbreak. After Phil Kessel scored an insurance goal early in the third, followed three minutes later by Nazem Kadri’s first playoff goal and what should have been the dagger the Bruins responded. Jarmor Jagr was shown on CBC with what appeared to be him saying “It’s over”, was proven wrong.
What caused the destruction of the Maple Leafs? In my opinion a two things, the referees putting away the whistles and allowing an anything goes last period and Randy Carlyle’s uncharastic stubbornness.
I understand in playoff hockey the referees should allow play to go and let minor things go uncalled; however when a player commits an act where it is borderline game misconduct, you need to man up and make the call whether it ends the season for a team or not. There were two plays that come to mind, one being an elbow Gordie Howe would be proud of and a hit from behind that was way worse then what Sedin got in overtime.
With James Van Riemsdyk finishing a hit on Chris Kelly, Kelly responded with a full cocked elbow to the face of JVR, which caused him to leak blood all over his jersey. With the evidence dripping in front of the referee, he was told to skate away. A few moments later, in typical careless Milan Lucic fashion, he drilled Carl Gunnarson in the numbers into the boards. Gunnarson fell awkwardly but was quickly able to get up. The only thing to described these non-calls were the fact the referees felt this would be the final straw for the Bruins and they thought the Leafs had done enough.
The second factor was Carlyle. All series long, Carlyle has adapted and changed lines through games, however the same thing was done in the final minutes of every game. Gunnarson and Dion Phaneuf were delegated to hold the lead. The two were easily the worst defencemen in the series for the Maple Leafs. Gunnarson has had a down season and this series made him the weakest blue liner of all. The two continued throughout the series to try and do the right thing and put the puck up the boards, but every time, they put it into the body of the opposition, who in turn kept the puck down low. While Phaneuf can play some solid minutes, he does not play well in front of his own net. He does not have stand still strength, meaning he needs momentum. As Don Cherry stated post game, Phaneuf allowed Zdeno Chara to just stand in front of the net. It is simply because he does not have the strength to move Brand Marchand out of the way let alone big Chara.
Over and over again, he relied on Phaneuf and Gunnarson to save the day and over and over again they failed. With the season on the line, he was scared to make the change and now we have the offseason to decide what the Leafs are to do next year. With all being said, the team made great strides.
What caused the destruction of the Maple Leafs? In my opinion a two things, the referees putting away the whistles and allowing an anything goes last period and Randy Carlyle’s uncharastic stubbornness.
I understand in playoff hockey the referees should allow play to go and let minor things go uncalled; however when a player commits an act where it is borderline game misconduct, you need to man up and make the call whether it ends the season for a team or not. There were two plays that come to mind, one being an elbow Gordie Howe would be proud of and a hit from behind that was way worse then what Sedin got in overtime.
With James Van Riemsdyk finishing a hit on Chris Kelly, Kelly responded with a full cocked elbow to the face of JVR, which caused him to leak blood all over his jersey. With the evidence dripping in front of the referee, he was told to skate away. A few moments later, in typical careless Milan Lucic fashion, he drilled Carl Gunnarson in the numbers into the boards. Gunnarson fell awkwardly but was quickly able to get up. The only thing to described these non-calls were the fact the referees felt this would be the final straw for the Bruins and they thought the Leafs had done enough.
The second factor was Carlyle. All series long, Carlyle has adapted and changed lines through games, however the same thing was done in the final minutes of every game. Gunnarson and Dion Phaneuf were delegated to hold the lead. The two were easily the worst defencemen in the series for the Maple Leafs. Gunnarson has had a down season and this series made him the weakest blue liner of all. The two continued throughout the series to try and do the right thing and put the puck up the boards, but every time, they put it into the body of the opposition, who in turn kept the puck down low. While Phaneuf can play some solid minutes, he does not play well in front of his own net. He does not have stand still strength, meaning he needs momentum. As Don Cherry stated post game, Phaneuf allowed Zdeno Chara to just stand in front of the net. It is simply because he does not have the strength to move Brand Marchand out of the way let alone big Chara.
Over and over again, he relied on Phaneuf and Gunnarson to save the day and over and over again they failed. With the season on the line, he was scared to make the change and now we have the offseason to decide what the Leafs are to do next year. With all being said, the team made great strides.
Phaneuf and Gunnarsson are fine. Theyre our shutdown pair going forward. Gardiner and franson was on for 3 goals against. I like them but they got over handled in our zone at the end.
Phaneuf was a -3 that night. he plays to many minutes. he needs to play less ice time to be more effective.