Toronto Maple Leafs-Philadelphia Flyers: Fist-a-Cuffs and Shoot Outs—Oh My Leafs

First and foremost when will someone get it that Alan Frew and that song HAVE TO GO!

Secondly Jay Rosehill’s hands must be sore because he didn’t drop them (gloves) as he did in the previous two games though he had a dance partner. Rosehill  and his line of would be goons (Mike Brown and Christian Hanson) did play with energy, savvy and generated a good number of quality scoring chances.

Darryl Sittler formerly of the London Knights and Toronto Maple Leafs was there in London Ontario at the John Labatt Centre to drop the puck before a packed house of mostly Leaf fans for the Leafs third pre-season game in three nights.

Jonas Gustavsson got the start between the pipes again for the Leafs as he did in the first pre-season game and in fashion he and the Leafs surrendered the first goal. Again last year 52 of the 82 games the Leafs gave up the first goal, a habit they really have to get out of preseason or not!

But it was a funny hop off the backboards (obviously more lively boards then the ACC) and with traffic in front of the Monster, he kicked it in himself and the goal was credited to defenseman Marc-Andre Bourdon.

Chalk it up to a crazy bounce, better to get it out of the way now.

A positive out of the 1-0 period was the line play of Nazem Kadri, Kris Versteeg and Colby Armstrong who moved the puck well and looked to have more chemistry than in the first game.

Another was young Toronto defenseman Danny Richmond who displayed some nice hands while he dipsy-doodled through a couple Philly players then fed Luca Caputi for a great scoring chance. Richmond again later in the third showed some real good patience with the puck leading to another good scoring opportunity.

In the second period Joe Bowen described an errant pass by Luke Schenn as a "Live hand-grenade with the pin out rolling up the middle."

But the Joe Bowen quote of the day: "Hopefully cabbage rolls weren’t the meal of the day!" If you watched the game, I’m sure you're laughing.

For another little side note, not only has Mike Brown had a great showing pretty much on every shift he is also certainly winning the best facial hair of the year award at this point!

Early in the second Kris Versteeg showed that he has some creativity with the puck when broke down the right side one on one and flipped the puck up in the air and then battled it out of the air at goalie Brian Boucher, who made the save but still, SLICK Move!

During a power play just over half way through the second a faint cheer from the crowd could be heard… "Go Leafs Go" music to any Leafs fans ears. Though they didn’t capitalize then, shortly thereafter…

Gregg McKegg, wearing the famed No. 69, Luca Caputi, and Ryan Hamilton went down on a three on one and after a bit of a battle behind the net, the puck bounced out in front and McKegg batted it in, big moment for a young guy playing so close to home and hopefully there are many more to come for the St. Thomas Ontario native.

No sooner had the announcement rang out Philly came back with a goal from the veteran Billy Guerin on a ricochet goal that James Reimer, who had come into the game in the second, had no chance on.

Yet another, get it out of the way early goal.

Funny how the expression "the bounces didn’t go our way", that we, in general take as an excuse, but is actually applicable in some games.

Shortly after, Luke Schenn dropped the gloves with Zac Rinaldo after Rinaldo took a couple runs at Schenn during the shift. Schenn certainly showed some pugilistic tendencies and got the best of the Flyers player.

In the final frame of regulation Russian rookie goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky came in the game and patrolled the Philly net for the rest of the contest.

Early in the third there was a good scoring chance by the Leafs and after a shoving match that ensued beside the net Christian Hanson dropped the gloves for a quick second fight of the pre-season and career, guess he didn't want to emulate his dad right off the bat but he seems to be growing into his fathers shoes, like it or not.

Midway through the third Schenn made another mental error that led to a breakaway wherein Schenn had to hook on and a penalty shot was called.

Lucky Luke was bailed out by Reimer who stayed with and stopped James Van Riemsdyk on a pretty week penalty shot attempt, apparently his first.

Reimer overall was fantastic between the pipes making a number of huge saves for the Leafs.

Richmond finally was rewarded with an assist for all his hard work, with just over 12 minutes remaining in the third, when he let a shot go at the net from the point eventually caroming in off Armstrong in front.

I kept hoping throughout this game that Brown would get a chance to get his hands on Philly freak Dan Carcillo. But alas it was not to be…for now.

Schenn certainly had an up and down game but late in the third he plastered Scott Hartnell into the end boards and that’s what he has to bring every game while minimizing his mistakes. He’ll be just fine in my estimation.

And they went to overtime tied at two’s something I expect to see a lot of this season with the Leafs, low scoring tight games.

For the betting man take the under ever game and I assure you, you will be up units at the end of the season.

Reimer was clutch again in overtime.

Nothing was solved in the overtime and that was something that was a bit of a thorn for the Leafs last year where they started the season with nine straight OT losses. But they were four and four in games that went to a shootout, led by Kulemin with three goals in four attempts and Kessel with three goals in seven attempts.

Neither were available tonight.

And an insane shootout followed! Go back and forth between teams.

Toronto Shooters

Toronto called upon 1) Kadri, who scored with a similar move he used with the Leafs last year,  a beauty forehand backhand forehand. 2) Kris Versteeg couldn’t finish, neither could 3) Greg McKegg, 4) Danny Richmond stopped, 5) Luca Caputi top shelf over the glove to tie it up, 6) Tim Brent couldn’t score, 7) Marcel Mueller stopped, 8) Korbinian Holzer stopped, 9) Christian Hanson has to score and knocks the water bottle off the net top cheese! 10) Mike Brown to win it stopped, 11) Armstrong gets his chance and makes no mistake, finally winning it for Toronto!

Philadelphia Shooters (Shot first)

Philly went with 1) Andreas Nodl stopped left pad Reimer, 2) James Van Riemsdyk stopped, 3) Jeff Carter with a backhand up stairs ties it. 4) Mike Testwuide no 5) Bill Guerin scored a slick quick goal five-hole to go up one, 6) Jeff Hartnell stopped by Reimer. 7) Matt Carle missed high, 8) Andrew Rowe made a great move but a better save by again Reimer, 9) Joonas Lehtivuori scores to go up one again, 10) Dan Carcillo stopped. 11) Jon Kalinski stopped.

Great game by James Reimer, did I mention Reimer? Reimer played well!

Good stuff for the Marlies, he was great down there last year and he looked NHL caliber tonight!

It’s still preseason but its got to feel good for the guys in the dressing room and Leafs Nation!