Leafs: three outta six…with room to build

There are plenty of positives to take away from the last three games, which yielded a total of three of six possible points; more positives than negatives…

1.We have a goalie that can steal us a point or two along the way to an eventual post-season appearance whether it be this season, or (more likely) next…

If Jonas Gustavsson’s reliable and often downright unbelievable goaltending has lowered the anxiety level across Leaf Nation, just imagine the affect he’s having on the bench. When a goalie bails his team out with an impossible save, there’s a visible shift on the bench, on the player’s faces, and also on the ice. The Monster has that ability to burn a forward with a last-ditch scramble or by simply flashing that lightning quick mitt of his to pluck a goal out of the air before it counts. What that does to rally the troops can be huge. And in his second straight start, Gustavsson did just that, turning away shot after shot during a period two barrage that should have produced a Dallas advantage.

2. The old guard is stepping up…

Kaberle quashed the mounting uproar that he waive his NTC , by notching four assists and a goal recently, and with another solid game last night, assisting on the Stempniak goal, while logging just under 25 minutes of ice time. Blake rewarded bench boss Ron Wilson for his patience with 3 assists on the night while providing some deft forechecking. When he is left to do what he does best, which is playing the opportunist by cashing in on turnovers created by both his speed, and his active stick-work, he can be worth the asking price. Blake’s been miscast in Toronto as a ‘sniper’ since his arival. What he is, is a very good hockey player with a boatload of speed, tenacity and determination, who excels at creating chances and providing SECONDARY offensive opportunities. I’m a big Blake supporter, just not as a primary weapon.

3. The ‘middle of the pack guys’ are finding their stride…

By this I mean the Ian Whites, Matty Stajans and the Nik Kulemins of the team.
Whitey has once again proven his worth, often being the most determined D-man out there, and he continues to empty the tank on every shift, making smart decisions all over the ice. How can you not love the kid’s effort and impact on a struggling blueline?

Matt Stajan continues to go from strength to strength, and has developed a nice, determined style of play in which he is comfortable chasing pucks down low and making some pretty nice feeds in the high slot from the corners. If he’s anointed with the playmaking center’s role when Kessel makes his debut, it’s that kind of determination that will yield results. He’s no Mats Sundin, but he’s a willing soldier with a great attitude and he’s rounding into a very effective player in Toronto.

Kulemin broke out with a pair of goals last night in Dallas, by just outworking Dallas defenders and driving hard to the net. That should provide ample inspiration to start using his frame effectively to create more of the same. He’s going to be an exciting NHL player once he puts it all together. The skill is there. I’d love to see more of that physical edge that initially drew our attention to the one-time Malkin linemate.

Exelby is playing exactly as advertised, using his ability to punish to maximum effect, and may appear to be edging Finger out at this point. We’ll see who Wilson dresses against Buffalo before we can declare a winner in the battle for the 6 spot.

The negatives are obvious…

1. Schenn is slumping.
Whether it’s a confidence thing or something deeper, the kid is seeing much less ice time this season. Whether it is the cause, or the remedy, Wilson is being jusicious with the young rearguard, who will no doubt emerge even more determined and confident. Talent requires experience to produce excellence…

2. Beauchemin needs to start putting points up.
It will come, as he’s a talented player, and a great back end presence. The chemistry will emerge over time…

3. Stalberg isn’t converting.
He was lights-out in pre-season, and since returning from a knock on the melon, he’s being held off the board. What he needs are some people to create room for him to wheel and deal and to cash in on rebounds. He’s not the guy you want crashing the crease, he’s the guy you want banging in the garbage as a result of those opportunities created by others creating traffic.

The Stars found the equalizer they needed with under five minutes remaining in regulation, ultimately forcing overtime, with slick sophomore winger James Neal cashing in on a rebound that Kulemin was unable to clear, in the absence of any Leaf defender . There were some late-game defensive breakdowns and some questionable calls, such as a phantom high stick on Komisarek, courtesy of some stellar acting by Mike Ribeiro, which led to a 5 on 3 and a subsequent goal by Dallas. Ribeiro’s Oscar winning performance may be what cost the game, but that’s hockey. Personally I’d like to see an unsportsmanlike penalty for those kinds of things…

Gustavsson was visibly irked as the Blue and White left the ice, after putting in a very strong effort in spite of the four goals that showed on the scoreboard.

Whoever Wilson ends up starting against the Sabres, the team will likely be in the mood for a little retribution after a tough overtime loss in Dallas. I think we’ll be seeing a pretty physical tilt in Buffalo, against a red-hot goalie and a very capable offense with scoring depth all over the roster. The most disciplined team should prevail, as this one could be decided by the power play, as well as goaltending…

A day of rest will do them all some good after a respectable Western swing away from the media glare in Toronto…