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| t semifinals. Earlier in this series, Stephenson sai |
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| 1445 Beiträge - Hardcoreposter
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TORONTO – The Leafs will have a different look to their ailing penalty kill when the Carolina Hurricanes come to town on Tuesday night. Just off the shelf from a 23-game absence (ankle injury), Colby Armstrong is set to see significant action on a unit that has fallen to second-worst in the league at 74.3 per cent. The Leaf penalty kill had shown gradual improvement in November (82 per cent) – following an opening month of inadequacy (71 per cent) – but has struggled to start December, never more clear than this past week when they allowed two in a 3-2 overtime loss to New Jersey and four in a 4-2 loss to Washington. Its hard to imagine a team losing two games when allowing just a single goal at even-strength, the one of course being David Clarksons overtime winner on Tuesday. "Sometimes youre going to have games like that," David Steckel said of Fridays loss to the Capitals. "Unfortunately we gave up four." Generally speaking, the Leafs view Washingtons four goal outburst as a blip on the radar – a few unfortunate bounces – but thats a difficult point to press when youve allowed more powerplay goals than any team in the NHL (29). "Its not like they were going corner to corner, we were chasing our tails around," Steckel said. "We didnt block a shot from the point [on Dennis Widemans first goal]; it grazed me and it goes by three guys and hits the post and goes in. A five-on-three goal, not saying that you should score every time, but it goes off my skate to [Nicklas Backstrom] backdoor, hes got a tap-in. That other five-on-four, were helping out, Dion blocks a shot – were in great position – it goes right to [Mike] Knuble who turns around and I get my stick on a puck and it goes right to [Dennis] Wideman. Boom, powerplays are over." Bad breaks or not, Steckel knows the job didnt get done. Friday marked the ninth time in 29 games that the Leafs surrendered two powerplay goals or more, of which theyve won a surprising four times (4-4-1). But consider the last two losses as proof of its potential destruction; despite allowing just one even-strength goal in two games, the Leafs picked up just a single point. Not surprisingly, additional work was on the docket after Sundays practice with assistant coach Greg Cronin tackling some adjustments with a group of penalty-killing forwards, including Armstrong and his partner last season, Tyler Bozak. "Weve watched a lot of video today and worked on some things after practice," Ron Wilson said. "I think its just two games that have popped up and weve got to get back to what we were doing for a month [in November]." "We were more aggressive than October," Steckel said, noting the shift between recent struggles and those in the opening month. "If youre going to go back and look at October tape, we were just standing there trying to block shots. At least we were aggressive in this [last game]; we made them make plays and the result was not the way we wanted it to [go]." Wilson is ready and willing to experiment with some change up front. Steckel and Phillipe Dupuis have consistently formed the primary pairing with Tim Connolly and Joey Crabb to follow on the second unit. Armstrong was among the Leafs most effective penalty killers last season – mostly alongside Bozak – and will return to greater duty effective immediately. Bozak meanwhile, has sat in on penalty-killing meetings all year, but has been used only sparingly. Wilson is admittedly hesitant to utilize the 25-year-old because of the big minutes (17:23/game) he already logs in a front-line role with Phil Kessel and Joffrey Lupul. Mikhail Grabovski and Nikolai Kulemin are being considered for further action, but have struggled in earlier stints this season. "Were trying to figure out different pairs," Wilson said. "Armies only played one game so its hard to just say Boom, were going to give you 17 or 18 minutes and a lot of penalty killing so weve got to gradually break him in there. "But theyll be some different pairs and different looks in the next game." Five Points 1. Grabovski has seven goals and 13 points in 23 games this season, just about on par with the five goals and 16 points he had at this point a year ago. The 27-year-old went on to post 24 goals and 42 points over the next 58 games, production hes looking to replicate over the coming five months. "Yeah, its kind of bumpy start," he said, noting injuries and the birth of his second child. "I know I still have more than half a season. Just think positive, work hard and do my best on the ice." 2. One person particularly helpful to Grabovski in good times or bad is his dad, Juri. The two talk daily. "I call him always after the game to talk a little bit about hockey," Grabovski said. "He just tells me what I need to do on the ice." The senior Grabovski typically watches games online from his native Belarus, but has been in town recently for the birth of Mikhails second child, Jaeger. Juris latest observation? Foot speed. "He says Im very slow," Grabovski cracked with a smile. 3. Matt Frattin played alongside Tim Connolly and Colby Armstrong against the Capitals on Friday, but looks to be back with Grabovski and Kulemin heading into Tuesdays game. Each unit requires some subtle adjustment for the rookie winger. Connolly and Armstrong rely on a cycle game down low in the offensive zone, while Grabovski and Kulemin tend to look for offence in transition with speed entering the opposing blueline. The 23-year-old Frattin has moved around quite a bit in his first pro season, a vast change from the University of North Dakota where he played consistently on a line with Brad Malone (recently recalled to the Colorado Avalanche) and Evan Trupp. 4. A broken left pinky finger has derailed Steckels efficiency on the draw. Once atop the league in faceoffs this season, the 29-year-old has fallen to sixth overall at 57 per cent. "Unless you have 4-6 weeks without a game in the season, its not going to get better that quick," Steckel said. Swollen and without a nail, the finger is without much feeling and a real detriment for one of the NHLs top faceoff men. Steckel is 27-64 (42 per cent) since injuring the finger in Dallas on a blocked Stephane Robidas point shot. 5. James Reimer is 0-2-1 with a 3.62 goals against average and .864 save percentage since returning a from six-week absence. The Leafs are in a catch-22 of some sorts with Reimer. The 23-year-old needs to play to regain past form, but sitting on the sidelines is Jonas Gustavsson, a winner in five of his past six starts. Its entirely justifiable to run with Reimer – the number one and most stable option – but for how long in the short-term? Disappointing in spurts, Gustavsson has looked comfortable and confident with each start, notably in New York a week ago when he stopped 30 shots in a 4-2 win. DeAndre Levy Authentic Jersey . They had already blown a double-digit lead, fans were hitting the exits, and a long seven-game road trip waited at the end. Reggie Bush Jersey . The Texas Rangers quickly got even, and the right-hander felt like he was starting over when he got back on the mound. http://www.thelionsshoponline.com/Youth-Cassius-Vaughn-Lions -Jersey/ . -- Three close looks at the bucket, three misses. James Ihedigbo Lions Jersey . Owens was roughed up in Torontos 20-9 defeat to Montreal on Tuesday, needing treatment twice after hurting his neck and taking a hard shot to the abdomen. In other news from Fridays practice, Jerious Norwood took most of the snaps at running back for Curtis Steele. Norwood also did some returning, although Milanovich said returns would likely be done by committee. Stephen Tulloch Lions Jersey . Rep. Henry Waxman, D-Calif., sent a letter Friday to the chairman of the Committee on Energy and Commerce citing the derogatory nature of the word "redskins" and suggesting the committee use its influence to persuade team owner Dan Snyder and the NFL to change the name.MIAMI - Lance Stephensons ear-blowing antics are over. That was the order the Indiana guard got from Pacers president Larry Bird, who took issue with Stephensons antics in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference finals against the Miami Heat. Stephenson was caught by television cameras blowing into the ear of Heat star LeBron James. That led to a conversation between Stephenson and Bird. "He said, Dont do it again," Stephenson said Friday, recalling his talk with Bird. "So Im not going to do it again." Stephensons non-play-related words and stunts have largely become the story of the East finals, starting from when he talked about the health of Dwyane Wades knees before the series. In Game 5, not only did he blow into James ear, but also walked into a Heat huddle while Miami coach Erik Spoelstra was talking things over with a couple players. And on Thursday, Stephenson was quoted in NBA-provided transcripts referring to Heat guard "Cole Norris," instead of the players actual name, Norris Cole. "Itd be good just to play basketball," Pacers guard Paul George said. "When youve got antics and stuff being bigger than the game, then of course its going to raise some eyebrows. But here, we just want to play basketball. Its the conference finals. Everything else can just kind of sit on the side." Stephenson has created some Heat-related storylines in each of the last three postseasons, starting when he directed a "choke" sign toward James during the 2012 East semifinals. Earlier in this series, Stephenson said that when James talks to him during a game, the four-time MVP is showing signs of "weakness.dddddddddddd" But Friday, hours before the Heat and Pacers were to play Game 6 of the series, Stephenson said, "I dont think I can get into his head. Hes the best player in the league. He knows how to play through that stuff." Wade and fellow Heat star Chris Bosh said they wouldnt stand for one of their teammates creating such a stir. "If theyre focused on that," Stephenson said, "thats good." The Heat were taking a 3-2 series lead into Friday night, and were one win away from ousting Indiana for a third straight season. And given that its now win-or-else time for the Pacers, Indiana forward David West said hed encourage Stephenson to do whatever it takes in Game 6. "Thats a part of who Lance is," West said. "I didnt even know (what he did) until after the game. Obviously, were in a must-win situation. So everything is a go in my opinion. Weve got to try to win this game. Weve got to try to do whatever we can to get whatever type of advantage we can get to try to win the game." Stephenson said multiple times Friday that hes simply trying to have fun and help the Pacers win. But when asked by a reporter after Indianas shootaround practice "How does blowing in the ear contribute to winning?," he didnt respond for several seconds. With that, a member of the Pacers media-relations staff told Stephenson to go shoot, and he walked away. ' ' '
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| Beitrag vom 01.12.2014 - 05:26 |
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