Wednesday, November 2, 2011

Lupul drives the offense in Game 12


I don't think I will ever get tired of saying - Leafs win again!" Joffrey Lupul and Phil Kessel just won't cool off which means the Leafs keep winning. This time a 5-3 win over the Devils in New Jersey. The high flying offense is winning without the support of strong goaltending. Right now they are getting by with adequate goaltending. Here is the good and bad from tonight's game:

Good - The Leafs are generating offense this year from more than one line. But the first line is sizzling and Tim Connolly has yet to feel comfortable playing along Kessel and Lupul. It's been about 30 years since a Leafs player scored a natural hat trick (3 consecutive goals).



Bad - The penalty killing still sucks (2-4). Can you really make the playoffs with such lousy penalty killing?

Good - Faceoffs continues to be a strength as the Leafs win 30 out o48 against the Devils.

Bad - Devils out muscled the Leafs with 20 hits to the Leaf's' 9.



Good - Although the powerplay sputters at times and the penalty killing is terrible, the Leafs are scoring bunches of goals while evened strength. Quite a change from several years ago where many of their goals came off the powerplay with few were scored with even strength.

Bad - I'm afraid you cannot overlook the weak play of Jonas Gustavsson. The Leafs' offense is glossing over their weakness in net. Gustavsson is basically letting in about 3 goals per game and the Leafs' offense will not be able to compensate for 3 goals every night. As well Martin Bradeur helped the cause by stinking the joint out.

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