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Toskala left shell-shocked
Leafs goaltender peppered with 52 shots as team defence disappears against Penguins
By LANCE HORNBY, SUN MEDIA
Vesa Toskala wandered on to a firing range last night.
When the shooting stopped, 52 pucks in all, the Maple Leafs' new goaltender had his skin, but few wits about him in giving up five goals to the Pittsburgh Penguins in a 6-4 loss.
In what is becoming a dangerous repitition when Toskala starts, the Leafs team defence drops its shield and takes too many penalties. Combined with Tuesday's 7-1 loss to Carolina, he has been torched for 12 goals in two games on 91 shots. Pittsburgh's barrage --only defenceman Rob Scuderi failed to get at least one shot -- was one shy of the most on the Leafs in two years. That game, a 5-4 win over Boston, went to overtime and a shootout with Ed Belfour in goal.
"What do you say to the kid after that?," asked Leafs' exasperated coach Paul Maurice.
Sorry doesn't cut it, though Toskala and the Leafs deserve credit for holding the fort through the first six Pens' advantages. With seven minutes to play, Darcy Tucker was nailed for knocking a bouncing puck over the glass and Sidney Crosby supplied the winner.
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Poor guy - He has my sympathy. He didn't stand a chance, but the Toronto media is going to tear him up even though it was clearly not his fault anyway. Same can be said for that blowout loss to Carolina.
I think that this says it all about this team.
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Toskala said he hadn't seen that many shots in a game since he played for San Jose's farm team in Cleveland.
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CANOE -- SLAM! Sports - Hockey NHL - Toronto - Toskala left shell-shocked
Things need to change.
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"It's not the way it's going to be. We have to be very, very patient and build this the right way. We have to go through a process. It may be painful. I hope it isn't. But we're prepared for all the bumps and pratfalls and potholes in the road ahead. I'm prepared for it anyway, or I wouldn't have come." - Ron Wilson, Head Coach of the Toronto Maple Leafs.
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