Maple Leafs- Ottawa and Carolina, Possible Four Points?

By Louis “King of Roncesvalles” Pisano

The Leafs have played some great hockey as of late, but are just coming up short in the points category.  They have out-played, out-shot and out-worked their opponents yet to no avail.

Tonight’s game in Ottawa against the Senators, in what has become quite a rivalry and battle for bragging rights in the province, will be a true tell of how Vesa Toskala reacts to Gustavsson challenging him for the starting job in net

Toskala will need that focus he seems to have on his face. 

He has been playing well after being seemingly edged out for the starting job, but after the Monster let in three quick ones in the first period against Calgary, Toskala came in and allowed only two in the next two periods.

But again, he couldn’t hold the gate when the Leafs were surging in the second and third facing few shots as most of the play was at the other end of the ice in the 5-2 loss.

Ottawa has a number of snipers the Leafs will have to deal with: Alfredsson, Spezza, Michalek, young Nick Foligno, and Johnathan Cheechoo, who has shown flashes of past brilliance as of late.  And of course, the always dangerous Alex Kovalev.

Ottawa has been playing fairly well defensively which seems to be the route they are taking this year. 

Aside from allowing five goals against the Flyers, they have held teams to three goals or less in five of the last six games, and in 11 of 17 games played this year.

The Leafs have allowed the important first goal against in a well documented 16 of 18 games this year. So, if they have any hope of moving up in the standings, they have to topple this trend.

Toronto must first and foremost get a strong game out of Toskala, then have sound defensive-zone responsibility protecting against those dangerous players who only need one good look to make it count.

Now in the attacking zone, if they pressure Ottawa’s defense, force turnovers, win battles on the boards and overall be more physical than their opponent, they should have a good number of scoring chances.

Yes, this applies nightly and could be said of any team.

But most importantly, they must score on the chances they generate.  They have had chances but seem to be either clutching their sticks too tightly when around the net or just as they say, getting bad bounces.

Let’s get some of the big bodies to the net and put the damn thing in.

The Leafs need a Dave Andreychuk, a Kenny Linesman, a Tomas Holmstrom type of players, who is rare, obviously. But, at least someone that will try to post up in the crease and attempt to bang it home.

This, will in-turn create space in the slot and on the perimeter for Phil Kessel, who’s been hot, and hopefully others to pick a few corners.

The Leafs have shown that they are close to turning a corner and have to just take that next step, digging a little deeper, and these next two games could be the start of a turnaround for the buds.

Hopefully, building on a win, or even just one point in tonight's game against Ottawa will equate to some payment for their hard work.  This will then create a confident team ready to pounce on the feeble Hurricanes on Thursday in Carolina.

GO Buds!