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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

Many Topics Including The Oldest Dinar Community. Copyright © 2006-2020


    Toronto Maple Leafs stay on a roll to end 2016 by edging Florida Panthers for fourth straight road v

    jedi17
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    Toronto Maple Leafs stay on a roll to end 2016 by edging Florida Panthers for fourth straight road v Empty Toronto Maple Leafs stay on a roll to end 2016 by edging Florida Panthers for fourth straight road v

    Post by jedi17 Fri 30 Dec 2016, 4:53 pm

    Toronto Maple Leafs stay on a roll to end 2016 by edging Florida Panthers for fourth straight road victory

    SUNRISE, Fla. — The Toronto Maple Leafs are ending the 2016 calendar year in pursuit mode.
    Auston Matthews is chasing Wendel Clark’s rookie goal record, the search of defensive consistency goes on and yes, that’s the Leafs just three points out of third place in the crowded Atlantic Division behind Boston, an automatic playoff berth if they can use their games in hand to keep the heat on Florida, Tampa Bay and Carolina and reel in the Bruins.
    The question is, can head coach Mike Babcock’s nerves handle more overtime, with Wednesday night’s 3-2 shootout win over the Panthers the 10th extra time decision for the club.
    The win came after the Leafs blew a two-goal lead right off the bat in the third period, forcing the coach to use a timeout and hang on for dear life as the two clubs traded chances through a wild overtime. Mitch Marner, Toronto’s last shooter, won it with a low shot that just made it over Roberto Luongo’s stick.
    “I don’t know if things really calmed down (after the timeout), but we found a way to win,” Babcock said. “I don’t think we were as defensively strong as we have been.”

    But when you have Frederik Andersen making 45 saves, including a penalty shot and all three shootout swings, it becomes apparent how the Leafs have won four straight road games — a Babcock era high — and could get back-to-back sweeps of back-to-back games the past two weeks if there’s enough reserve gas Thursday at Tampa Bay.
    “We’re close in the standings, so we have to be ready for these kind of games,” said Andersen. “We’d like to take all the points.”
    Matthews is coming hard after Clark’s rookie goal record of 34, now halfway behind No. 17 with his own 17th Wednesday.
    “I don’t think about that kind of stuff,” insisted Matthews, who benefited by the strong forecheck of linemates Zach Hyman and Connor Brown and was in front to knock in a Brown shot that hit his big frame.
    “It’s numbers and all that stuff. I’m just playing hockey and having fun.”
    Everyone on the Toronto bench was in celebration mode when William Nylander scored on a second period 4-on-3 power play. That had followed some adversity when a James van Riemsdyk goal was nullified by goalie interference by Nazem Kadri.
    But less than 2:40 into the third, the Leafs gave up their hard-fought gains. Jonathan Marchessault just had his stick barely at legal height to knock down a puck and beat Andersen. Then the Leafs got running around and Vincent Trocheck was in great position to chip in a big glove rebound from the Toronto goalie.
    Marner “could have had six tonight” declared Babcock of a couple of breakaways, one a stretch pass by Andersen. But after his determined backcheck helped stop a Florida rush during 3-on-3 time and the Leafs couldn’t score on a Florida bench minor, it was Marner’s time to shine — in the building he was drafted fourth overall in almost two years ago.
    Marner had a move in his head and though Luongo’s made the save, he couldn’t get all of his stick on the low shot.
    Five of the Leafs’ past seven games have been one-goal decisions, including two extra-time wins by shootout and overtime.
    “I don’t know if (recent games) are too much fun,” Marner laughed. “But it’s good to keep our composure and get these wins. In the past, we’ve had trouble giving up leads. Tonight, it was important to take that game over.”   
    The Leafs had to survive the first three minors against them, two assessed on penalty kill specialist Frederik Gauthier.
    “Our discipline has to be better, I don’t know what was going on out there” grumbled Babcock of being short four times, but killing them all to go 14-for-14 the past three games.
    Luongo never got to play in Toronto after much talk a few years ago he’d be acquired from Vancouver. But he has managed to work himself in the conversation with a couple of Leaf goaltending greats. He’s poised to pass 1967 Leaf Cup champion Terry Sawchuk in wins (both were at 447) with one-time Leafs Curtis Joseph (454) and Ed Belfour (484) next on the career victories list.
    Tom Rowe, the 60-year-old GM/interim coach of the Panthers, would’ve seen Sawchuk play a bit and having a presence such as Luongo has eased a difficult transition from the fired Gerard Gallant. Rowe also has the NHL’s resident Methuselah, Jaromir Jagr, on the team, setting points and longevity records almost every time he steps on the ice.
    Turning 45 in a couple of months, Jagr’s making noises about playing until age 50.
    “I love coaching both and the other coaches love being around them,” Rowe said at the morning skate. “They’re so professional and so disciplined. I love their approach every single day. They’re great for our young guys with their personalities. Jagr is always in a good mood, always keeping things loose around the room, but he gets serious when he needs to be.
    “Louie, you know why he’s had the success he’s had. He’s been incredible as far as goaltending for us and he’s been good for James (Reimer) as a partner.”
    Andersen, meanwhile, is off to a fine start in his five-year deal with 29 appearances in the team’s 34 games and a save percentage that was up to .925 after Wednesday. Not only is he stopping pucks, a dandy glove save on top Cat Aleksander Barkov in the middle period before Denis Malgin’s weak penalty shot deke, he’s growing more comfortable knowing where his defence and forwards are to assist the breakout.

    But Babcock confirmed after the game that Antoine Bibeau get the call in Tampa.
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