Toronto Maple Leafs Week That Was

With the week that was for the Maple Leafs for sports on the web, you’ll know that they are playing just well enough to be on the outside looking in come playoff time.

This is no surprise, and in fact I thought they would be closer to the bottom of the standings instead of playing .500 hockey.

The fan in me likes to see the win, but the realist wants to see a better job of going in the tank.

Last Tuesday, March 3, 2009: About twenty hours before the trade deadline, the Maple Leafs hosted the New Jersey Devils and a rejuvenated Martin Brodeur.

Vesa Toskala was outstanding in the net for Toronto and was the only reason that the Leafs got the game to overtime before falling 3-2 to the Devils. John Mitchell made the most of his increased ice time by scoring both goals for the Leafs.

Last Thursday, March 5: Martin Gerber made his debut in a Leafs uniform after being plucked from Ottawa on waivers. he was great in posting a 2-1 road victory over the Washington Capitals.

Gerber caught a bit of a break as Alex Ovechkin sat out the game after being hit on the foot with a shot the previous day in practise. The only thing he could have done better was stop the Alexander Semin wrist shot that spoiled the shut out was 39 seconds left in the game.

Last night the Leafs hosted a hungry Edmonton Oilers team in the thick of the playoff race out west. Gerber was okay but let in three goals on 18 shots. In his defense though, two were breakaways and one was deflected. Dwayne Roloson made sure those goals stood up for the victory by stopping 39 of 40 Leafs shots. Edmonton added am empty net goal to make the final score 4-1.

The Leafs defence was depleted down to four during the game as both Mike Van Ryn and Jonas Frogren went down with lower-body injuries. Van Ryn has had no luck with the injury bug this year and just seems to be getting back into the groove when another injury strikes.

The Leafs remain about nine points out of the last playoff spot in the East.