tonytalkssports My Take on Sports, particularly the Yankees, Maple Leafs and Browns

Shaky Goaltending & Poor PK Lead To 5-3 Loss

About the only thing to like about Toronto's 5-3 loss to the Florida Panthers last night was the fact that this team does not quit. However, shaky goaltending, poor penalty-killing(what else is new!) and defensive mistakes by Jake Gardiner and Luke Schenn were too much to overcome. Gardiner seemed to have bounced back after being relegated to the pressbox last week against the Sabres but last night was shaky in his own end and pinched too deep in the Florida zone which led to a breakway that James Reimer overplayed and the Panthers were back on top 2-1. With John-Michael Liles out, Coach Ron Wilson may have to limit Gardiner's ice time until the rookie gets back into form.

After the Leafs had scored to make it 4-3 midway through the third period, Luke Schenn's ill-advised rush into the Florida zone resulted in Tomas Fleischmann putting one past Jonas Gustavsson that essentially put the game away for the Panthers. Schenn is still young but in his third NHL season, he should know better than to think that he is going to stickhandle through 4 Panthers. There was no need for him to try and make something happen as there was plenty of time remaiining and the Leafs seemed to have the Panthers on their heels.

James Reimer probably had his worst game as a Toronto Maple Leaf allowing 3 goals on 8 shots. He should never have allowed the breakaway goal as the Panther player whiffed on the shot and it trickled past Reimer who was obviously fooled. I also thought that he should have stopped the first Panther goal. Jonas Gustavsson relieved Reimer and made some nice saves to keep the Leafs in the game. However, I thought he should have stopped Fleischmann's goal. All in all, the Leafs did not get the goaltending it needed last night and at the other end Jose Theodore was solid for the Panthers.

The Leaf penalty-killing continues to be a major problem. I don't understand how you can get a "too many men on the ice penalty" when you are shorthanded which resulted in a 5 on 3 situation which means that the Leafs will more than likely give up a goal which they proceeded to do. If the Leaf penalty-killing continues to be ineffective, this team will have a difficult time making the playoffs.

With Liles out, Wilson had Tim Connolly on the point with the team's first power play unit. Based on last night, I think that Wilson should pair Phaneuf with Gunnarsson and the second unit could be Gardiner with Cody Franson. Connolly was not able to really generate anything and a couple of times the Panthers were able to have their own scoring opportunities while short-handed. By the way, Franson has really impressed me with his ability to get hard shots on net from the point.

The Leafs head out to Carolina to face the Hurricanes Thursday night, who usually give the Leafs a tough game. As I mentioned yesterday, the Leafs need to get 4 out of possible 6 points on this road trip which means they need to win Thursday and Saturday in Winnipeg. I would think that Wilson will come back with Reimer in goal and the young netminder will be looking to bounce back quickly. Hopefully, the Leafs will have recovered from all of their Christmas cheer and give Leaf fans something to cheer about Thursday night.