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Established in 2006 as a Community of Reality

Welcome to the Neno's Place!

Neno's Place Established in 2006 as a Community of Reality


Neno

I can be reached by phone or text 8am-7pm cst 972-768-9772 or, once joining the board I can be reached by a (PM) Private Message.

Established in 2006 as a Community of Reality

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Established in 2006 as a Community of Reality

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    Toronto Maple Leafs unleash offensive explosion in rolling past Colorado Avalanche 6-0

    jedi17
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    • Post n°1

    Toronto Maple Leafs unleash offensive explosion in rolling past Colorado Avalanche 6-0 Empty Toronto Maple Leafs unleash offensive explosion in rolling past Colorado Avalanche 6-0

    Post by jedi17 Sun 25 Dec 2016, 8:38 pm

    Toronto Maple Leafs unleash offensive explosion in rolling past Colorado Avalanche 6-0

    DENVER — The instructions from Leafs coach Mike Babcock this week were as simple as they were clear: Don’t worry about picking corners, get pucks on the net and take it from there.
    Facing the NHL’s listless 30th place team in what at times was glorified target practice, the Leafs offence broke out in a welcome and big way Thursday night at the Pepsi Center, leading to a 6-0 win over the Colorado Avalanche.
    Tis the season and all, but wins in the NHL rarely come as gift-wrapped as this one.
    After beating Avalanche goaltender Semyon Varlamov just once in 52 shots last week at the Air Canada Centre, the young Leafs turned snipers, pumping five of their first 18 by him for one of their easiest wins of the year.
    It was an overdue outburst of offensive confidence for a Leafs team that probably deserved a better fate in a handful of recent losses. With the cruise control win in the Mile High City, Babcock’s team improved to 13-12-7 overall and a more respectable 4-6-5 on the road.

    At the other end of the ice, Leafs goaltender Freddie Andersen was rewarded for his strong recent play, making 38 saves for his first shutout in blue and white.
    It didn’t hurt that the Leafs were facing a demoralized Avalanche group that has now lost five in a row and a goaltender offering no resemblance to the one they had just faced.
    But the Leafs were full value in using their speed to stymie the plodding Avs and taking advantage of their scoring opportunities.
    It all started 7:13 into the game with the team leader in goals and points and a player who continues to get better by the game, Auston Matthews.
    Tuning up for his return home to Phoenix on Friday, the first overall pick got his 16th goal of the season, an unassisted beauty. After making a move just inside the Colorado blue line, Matthews used his quick release to fool Varlamov, ripping a bullet shot to the top corner.
    It was yet another big goal for the sensational rookie and for a Leafs team looking to get off to a quick start in what they had to view as a winnable contest. In their previous eight games, Toronto had counted just 17 goals despite piling up the shots most nights.
    For Matthews, it was goal No. 16, putting him on pace for 41 in this remarkable debut season. He now has six goals in his past six road games and will look to continue that momentum Friday night against the Coyotes.
    Next up was Connor Brown on the power play, taking a slick feed from William Nylander and burying it from deep in the slot. Moving right along, it was Nazem Kadri’s turn, this time a deflection of a Roman Polak point shot, for his first of two on the night. And that was just in the first period.
    On it went with goals of all shapes and sizes. James van Riemsdyk, exited the penalty box and deposited a sharp wrist shot past Varlamov. That was followed by a score that was certainly popular on the Leafs bench as towering centre Frederik Gauthier got the first of his NHL career.
    And how about this: The wrist shot that found the top corner made Gauthier the eighth Leafs rookie to score a goal this season. At that point, Avs coach Jared Bednar had seen enough, giving Varlamov the hook and replacing him with Calvin Pickard.
    The goals aren’t going to come by the bushel every night for this Leafs team, obviously. But considering the young talent on Babcock’s roster, they should be finding the back of the net more regularly than they had lately.
    The win over the Avs was accomplished with the Leafs down a pair of injured regular centres — Tyler Bozak and Ben Smith. Twice the Leafs killed off lengthy 5-on-3 Avs power plays to keep the comfortable lead and pound them into submission.
    That said, they best keep the latest win in perspective, considering the woeful state of the Avalanche, a team that finished ninth in the Western Conference last season but is spiralling out of control.
    Filling the net this time validated the recent losing effort, though, and will allow the Leafs to pack some momentum onto their charter to Arizona where on Friday, they will try to win games on back-to-back nights for the first time this season.
    This road trip comes at yet another hectic spot in the Leafs schedule, adding to the importance in terms of staying in touch with the Eastern Conference playoff race. Following Friday’s game in Phoenix and a rushed Christmas break, they’ll hit another back-to-back set next week in Florida and Tampa.

    Thanks to the Avalanche, Christmas came a little early for the Leafs, however.
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