Atlanta Tops Leafs In Toronto, Game Thoughts, and Moore and Finger Fight

Make no mistake about it.  The Atlanta Thrashers out hit, out scored, and generally outplayed Toronto last night.  They were also able to capitalize on the chances they were given, and that was the reason they won the hockey game.

Well, that and goaltending.

A few weeks ago when some were suggesting the such, I was reluctant to join them.  But make no mistake about it, goaltending is costing the Toronto Maple Leafs hockey games.

The Maple Leafs are among the best in the league in shots for, and are among the best in least shots against, yet they continue to lose games at an alarming rate.

To be fair to Vesa and Curtis, the defense has been good, but when they break down, it is ugly.  In this league, with these skilled players, it only takes one mistake, one opportunity, and as well as they are playing, the Leafs defense seems to continually give the team that opportunity to get back in the game.

But still, there is something to be said here.  This is about the time when the Maple Leafs need a timely save, and they aren`t getting it.

Although it is still maybe a little too early to full-on sound the alarm, the time is drawing near.

Vesa Toskala is a notoriously slow starter, and I am willing to give him some slack.  After all it wasn`t until about December last season when he really started clicking.

But if this keeps up, I don`t think it`s out of the question to suggest we may see Justin Pogge before the season is over.

The Leafs certainly wouldn`t like to carry three goalies, but they may be forced to, and it`s not as if they don`t have the salary room to pull off such a move, but having three goalies and one net (two in practice) can simply become a bit of a headache.

Still, it`s a long season, but the goaltending pains, an area that was suppose to be a strength, are making it that much longer.

Live Game Thoughts

As many of you know I got the chance to attend last nights game with my dad, and despite the outcome we had a blast.  We did the usual, just like when I was younger.  Caught the go-train into Toronto, ate at Gretzky's and enjoyed the game. 

Here are my thoughts on the game itself last night.

--Lee Stempniak looked good for the Leafs last night, and got a great ovation when he was announced in the starting lineup, and when he picked up his first point, as assist on the Antropov goal.

--Would it be crazy to call him Ian "Wendel" White?  Yeah, probably.  But the small forward/defenseman with the Wendel stache played another good, chippy game last night, and had a great battle with Kovalchuk going.

--Speaking of Kovalchuk, he has a very underrated mean streak.  Not a lot of people talk about how physical he gets, but he likes to hit, and is willing to fight back.  The attack on White was a bit ridiculous, but still it's an aspect of his game that is sometimes overlooked.

--Jason Blake appared very wobbly after the hit by Colby Armstrong.  He was on all fours for a few moments before getting up.  It looked like he was considering going into the scrum, but ultimately turned away and was helped off the ice.  He didn't return, and it looks like he could be gone a while.  Leafs head coach Ron Wilson wasn't at practice today, and was apparently watching the Marlies game (they played at 11:30 this morning) to see which player deserved a call-up to the big club.

--Sorry to say this, but does Curtis Joseph remind anyone else of Andrew Raycroft?  He is guessing on a lot of his saves, and does the Raycroft patented go down on one knee technique, leaving the top half of the net wide open.

--He was a bother all night, but the Kovalchuk shift where he scored the powerplay goal was phenomenal.  He was buzzing around there, with speed and skill on full display before going top corner on Cujo.

Dominic Moore, Jeff Finger Involved in practice altercation

According to AM640, Toronto teammates Dominic Moore and Jeff Finger were involved in some sort of an altercation this morning, and had to be separated by teammates and coaches. 

More on this as it develops.