Monster saves RW's job!

Jonas Gustavsson, aka, the Monster, may have won a hockey game last night in Anaheim, but more importantly he may just have saved Ron Wilson's job.

Backstopping a team that was "struggling" to say the least, and a team with a penchant for falling behind, the Monster stoned Teemu Selanne with a gutsy poke-check at the side of the net in the early minutes. Moments later he made the save of the night with a sprawling post to post pad save of an Erik Christensen one timer, much to the chagrin of the less than full Honda Center.


The Leafs fragile make-up was still evident as they did give up the first goal for the 9th consecutive game, but something was changing, and for those of us with eyes to see, it was visible. Gustavsson would not be beat easily, nor would he allow a soft goal on this night. Instead the message was clearly sent to his mates, we have a chance to win on this night! No soft goals, no two goal deficits...only timely saves when his teammates needed them most.

I've heard more than one pundit over the last few weeks use the cliche, "show me a good goaltender and I'll show you a smart coach!"

“Monster save by Jonas Gustavsson that was the game breaker in Toronto’s 6-3 victory over the Ducks

For one night at least, Leaf fans, management and their coach, can feel that they do know what they are doing and they do have a plan.

On this morning RW is once again a smart coach, having his defense in the right positon, his line combos exquisite, the power play finely tuned, while potting a bushelfull of goals, all under his watchful eye, using his system. Oh yes, coach Wilson was pleased last night.

For this one morning there will be no talk of why certain players, including Gustavsson, were not in the opening day line-up. No, instead the talk will turn to what went right when the Monster single handedly took the proverbial 800 lb. gorilla and shucked it aside.

Years ago, there was a bumper sticker made popular in Boston that read, "Jesus saves, but Espo scores!"

On this night it might be apropos to say, Jonas saves pucks and RW too!

World's Most Famous Arena!

As head coach Ron Wilson and his not so merry band of winless Maple Leafs make their way up to the fifth floor tonight in the world's most famous arena, it is safe to say, that a win, against any opponent, in any building, will not be easy!

The Rangers, well rested and against a team that had played less than 24 hours prior to sunday's matinee; were relentless on the forecheck. They not only won convincingly but with their back-up netminder, Stephen Valiquette, shutting out the Ducks, 3-0. Of course he faced only 18 shots all night, with just one in the first period of a then still scoreless tie. The Ducks mustered some offense and energy in the second period but it didn't last long before penalities sapped any thoughts of a comeback.

So tonight, with the Leafs facing the Rangers number one netminder, Henrik Lundqvist, "easy" goals don't appear to be anywhere on the horizon. This means Wilson will be looking to find some sustained offensive pressure from a group of forwards that likely will be without Viktor Stalberg who is "questionable" for tonight's tilt.

John Tortorella points his finger during a game.

The good news is that this is the Rangers second game in as many nights and with such a young defense the Leafs should look to get them to cough the puck up. The Rangers are playing with 22 yr. old Marc Staal averaging 25 minutes a game and have two other rookies playing a regular shift as well. Michael Del Zotto, the 19 yr. old Ontario native has 5 points in 5 games and played just over 17 minutes against Anaheim while Boston University rookie, Matt Gilroy, played 18 minutes. One would think that getting pucks behind these guys on a consistent basis would be the game plan tonight. Along with those three youngsters, the 25 year old Guelph Storm product, Dan Girardi, is also playing a ton of minutes averaging almost 23 a game.

If they cannot play more of the game in the Rangers end tonight, it could spell another long night for their beleagured goalie, Vesa Toskala, who is expected to start again in net tonight. With a GAA of almost 5 and the 48th ranked goalie in the league right now...it's hard to tell who's make-up is more fragile, his or Leafs Nation?

With both teams trying to impose their pressure and pursuit systems on the other, it will interesting to see which team executes tonight at the Garden.

Two intersting side-bars: Colton Orr, the 27 year old Winnepeg native, returns to the place he spent the last 3 plus years and Vaclav Prospal who has been reunited with his old coach, John Tortorella, is not wearing a visor for the first time in as long as I can remember. He has a 4 game point streak...is he "seeing" the ice better?

Training camp be gone!

Just a few short days out of training camp and some teams, it could be said, are already starting some trends. Some continuing good ones from last year, and some, developing disturbing ones in this rudimentary part of the season.

In terms of who we trust to do what, when and how; many players have built up credibility and thus, we put very little credence into what might have happened in the pre-season, let alone camp. A few early season losses and shabby preformances will do little to dull our enthusiasm and faith in their abilities.

Roberto Luongo and Chris Osgood would, to most pundits, fall into that category.

As well as certain teams and their overall preformance, ie., Detroit, Vancouver and Anaheim; come to mind.

Because of their track record, we tend to put very little credence into what goes on in training camp and instead focus on what lies ahead, mainly the 82 game marathon. Makes sense.

But what about the team and it's players who haven't made the playoffs, and haven't built up credibility over the last 4 years, sans playoff appearences?

One might argue that almost every player in one of those camps would, should or could be fighting for his job daily? After all, we're not talking about the Crosby's, Ovechkin's or Datsyuk's here? Those superstars and many others are expected to use training camp to "sharpen" up, possibly get in game shape...certainly not worry about their jobs!

Those cliches that everyone's job is on the line, and we're starting over, are for the perenial losers, the doormats, the teams that year after year have been on the outside looking in at the playoff dance.

Now let's take a look at Maple Leafs training camp. Not our subjective point of view from the outside looking in...but let's say, from an insiders viewpoint, up close and personal if you will.

Coach Ron Wilson a week removed from camp said, "A few guys made this team based on what they did last year, not on how they preformed this year in camp."

What they did last year???

Ron Wilson a Liar?

Hello and welcome Maple Leaf Nation.

As this is my initial blog here for TMLForum.com, I may as well come right out of the gate, so to speak, with "the gloves off!"

Is head coach, Ron Wilson, a liar?

I'm not talking about the white lies and "spin" that is generally told to the media to keep them happy, all the while keeping what belongs "in house," exactly there. What I am referring to is what Mr. Wilson told one of his players, in particular, Nazem Kadri.

At the beginning of training camp, we were told that Nazem, among other new-comers, would have a chance to earn a roster spot. Going a step further, Wilson added, "that if Kadri is one of our top 6 forwards, we will keep him."

I want to caution right now, that this is not about where Kadri belongs or what is best for his development necessarily. This is about a coach and an organization's word.

As camp progressed and the kids play continued to stand out, prompting many pundits to laud Kadri as not only one of the top 6 Leaf forwards, but the best forward, Wilson's tune began to change.

All of a sudden Wilson was warning the media to curb their enthusiasm. Why coach? Well for one thing, the coach told the media, "he might be the most skilled guy we have, but you don't see how many pull-ups and push-ups he does?" In his best, "Dancing with the Stars" foxtrot, the coach began his backpeddle.

I have to wonder aloud how many pull-ups the great one(Gretzky/99) could do the season he scored 212 points? Good thing they didn't ask him to "drop, and give me 20," after each goal he scored, or else it wouldn't count. He was sort of a boney, stick figure back then, wasn't he? Heck, I'm not sure he could give us 20 now, pull-ups and push-ups combined; but I regress.

So let me make sure I understand this correctly coach? You said aloud, that if Nazem Kadri is one of your best 6 you'll keep him. Then you called him, "maybe our best." Then you told me he doesn't do a lot of pull ups? Am I following? By the way coach, didn't you test his strength at the combine? Aren't push-ups and pull-ups part of that weekend's testing? Just curious.

So it begs the question coach. If you knew he was too weak to make the team then, why would you tell us, not to mention Nazem, a month or so after the combine, that he had a chance to make the big club?

Or is this the prevailing wisdom at MLSE? That we'll teach this youngster a lesson in how we operate around here, even if he doesn't need one? After all, you did say, concerning Kadri's possible demotion at the time, "to give him an appreciation of the NHL and what it is to play for the Maple Leafs...so he never takes it for granted!"

Yeah, that little bugga Kadri...with an attitude like his, he's sure to learn his lesson now!

To Nazem's utmost credit, he departed with class and dignity, if not totally dissapointed. He said all the right things...and what could he say? The Leaf brass showed him, who's boss!

Nazem Kadri will be great no matter where he goes, and who he plays for. And it's ok coach not to tell the truth to the media and the fans. But please don't ever lie to Nazem again.

One thing's for sure...Nazem Kadri will never again take for granted, the truth. Not in this league and not in this organization.

Perhaps that will be the best lesson served for this young pro going forward in this National League.