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

Four In A Row: Leafs Defeat Sabres 2-0

The Toronto Maple Leafs continued their winning ways by defeating the Buffalo Sabres 2-0 at the Air Canada Centre. The win was the Leafs fourth in a row and may have been one of the team's most defensively responsible of the year. Nikolai Kulemin and Mikhail Grabovski provided the scoring for the Leafs. Grabovski has been on a roll in this four game winning streak scoring 3 goals and registering two assists. Kulemin opened the scoring on the power play and made a nice pass to set up Grabovski's goal. If these two can get going, the Leafs will really be firing on all cylinders and provide them with a great compliment to the Kessel line.

Jonas Gustavsson registered his 2nd shutout in this four game win streak and has been solid in goal. While the Sabres out shot the Leafs, the number of really good scoring chances were limited. However, Gustavsson came up big when he needed to and seems to be gaining in confidence. More importantly, the team seems to be having more confidence in The Monster.

After the first period with a 2-0 lead, the Leafs played a very strong defensive game not allowing the Sabres to get anything going and playing very solidly in their own zone. A couple of weeks ago I mentioned that the Leafs needed to play smarter when they had a lead. Last night they did just that. For the second game in a row, they did not allow a power play for their opponent which indicates that they are skating well and being responsible with their sticks.

The fourth line of David Steckel-Darryl Boyce-Mike Brown has also made a difference. They provide energy and are a force when they are on the ice. Steckel was dominant in the face-off circle and Brown and Boyce were excellent on the forecheck. I don't see how the Leafs could send Boyce down to the minors. Since he has been called up, the Leafs have been on a roll.

One of the more gratifying moments last night was the excellent body check by Kulemin on Patrick Kaleta. Kaleta is a joke. I can't recall him ever getting into a scrap with a tough guy. I highly doubt that Pork Chop Jenneret called the hit, a "Carrubba Collision" but it certainly was the best hit of the night. In a Buffalo News article before last night's game, Kaleta talked about being physical against the Leafs but he was hardly a factor.

The Leafs now head to Buffalo for a rematch with the Sabres on Friday night. It will be interesting to see if Coach Ron Wilson will stick with Gustavsson or if he will start James Reimer with a back-to-back situation over the weekend. One could make the argument that he should continue to ride the hot hand and go with The Monster. Whoever starts in goal, the Leafs could really put the hammer down on the Sabres with a win on Friday night. Regardless of that, the Leafs have so far done what they needed to do with this current four game homestand by winning all four games. The wins have pushed them up from outside the top eight to sixth overall in the Eastern Conference. With 5 out of their next 7 games at home, if the Leafs can continue their winning ways at home they should set the stage for a playoff appearance in April