What exactly is Sundin's injury? And how bad?? I know it's mostly just rumours, and really they could all just lie about everything, since it's the insanity of the playoffs ... but ... I WANNA KNOW! Ankle? Knee? Groin? Hip? I've heard it all ... I'm just worried either he's not coming back, or he'll come back to early ...
really, i'm just blabbering ... call it nervous blabbering.
On the sunject of nerves...What should Quinn and the Leafs do to beat Philly? Comments?
What exactly is Sundin's injury? And how bad?? I know it's mostly just rumours, and really they could all just lie about everything, since it's the insanity of the playoffs ... but ... I WANNA KNOW! Ankle? Knee? Groin? Hip? I've heard it all ... I'm just worried either he's not coming back, or he'll come back to early ...
really, i'm just blabbering ... call it nervous blabbering.
On the sunject of nerves...What should Quinn and the Leafs do to beat Philly? Comments?
I think it's a groin injuries (according all the report from Toronto). I also believe it's a strategic move to hide from the Flyers and suprise them to bring Sundin into the game at last min. I think Sundin will play the opening game (if not, the 2nd game for sure).
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I am a Leafs fan, but more importantly, I am a hockey fan.
1) Minimize the penalties; The Flyers absolutely killed New Jersey on the PP, and many of the four wins they had were close games.
2) Pay close attention to Roenick-Zhamnov-Amonte line; this line was Philly's best. Yes, they have depth, but these three did the most damage to the Devils.
3) T.O.'s big bodies have to mind Primeau; in last year's playoff meeting Keith Primeau ran wild, especially with Nik Antropov injured. I say switch Antropov to centre to counter big Keith Primeau. You don't want to be checking Primeau with Reichel, Stajan, Francis or Nieuwendyk...
4) Keep scoring first; The Leafs scored first in all seven games vs. Ottawa, and the Flyers tallied first in all five games vs. New Jersey. Something's gotta give. If Leafs keep it up, they'll win.
5) Clear the front for Eddie; If The Eagle can see it, he'll stop it. Big guys on the Flyers like Handzus, Primeau, LeClair etc. will be in front trying to bother Ed Belfour. Leafs D like Marchment, Klee and McCabe have to play big and clear the front. I would consider a move of Kaberle out of the lineup in favour of Calle Johnasson, Kaberle doesn't move people well and was awful vs. Philly last year in the playoff loss.
dump and chase, dump and chase...I know it sounds boring, but if you are looking for obvious weaknesses in the Philadelphia Flyers, look no further than their defensive corp. I won't say their goaltending right off the bat, although I wouldn't be surprised if we see Burke in this series. I digress...here are the expected defensive starters...Pitkanen, Malakhov, Ragnarsson, Markov, Johnsson (possible), Timander. Kapanen might play D as well. Not a corp that strikes fear into the hearts and minds of most, I dare say. I do like Markov though and think that Quinn was stupid to let the Russ...errr Canadian go. Just thought I'd throw in my Don Cherry moment and mention that all of them are European, although not entirely soft...
Now, the Flyers have the edge in forwards, that I will give them especially without Nolan, Renberg (not a HUGE fan, but is streaky), and possibly Sundin for a game or two...now to eliminate that edge we/they MUST get it deep into the Flyers end and work the cycle as neutral zone play will be won by the speed, skill and size of the Flyer forwards. (No passes up the middle Kaberle!!!)
If TO spends most of the night in their own end as they did with Ottawa, they/we are dead...Philly will simply walk out from the corners and crash the net...
Another Key is going to obviously be discipline...the emotions will be supercharged, man and if Eddie can frustrate Philly early, they will take dumb penalties. Conversely, Eddie has GOT to remain cool, and that is up to the Leaf defensemen...they have to remain between Eddie and the Flyer players as much as possible and clear them out after the whistle because Eddie will blow.
(Almost done, hang in there) I think the schedule actually favours Toronto as they will ride an emotional high from the previous series even if Sundin doesn't go and come sunday, the Flyers will have only played 1 game in 8 days. (I think my math is right)
Additionally on the plus side is OBVIOUSLY Eddie's play as of late, although he sucked this year against Philly 5.03 GAA, highest against any team...p.s. anybody know what he is all-time vs. philly...can't seem to find it anywhere, because as in the Ottawa-TO series, I think it sometimes is a case of a goalie just not having success against certain teams for one reason or another moreso than the team itself (although Tugnutt was in net for one of our playoff series wins).
Sorry 'bout the long one, but this is my maiden post (got sick and tired of bs on Sportsnet) and I am jacked up beyond belief for this one. I'm praying for Montreal-TO and Col-Det, with TO-DET final...dare to dream, right, dare to dream...besides these dreams may have to last all of next year, so let's enjoy 'em... tor:
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Anybody remember the guy who used to yell "Goooooooooooooo Leeeeeeaaaaaaafffffffssssss Gooooooooooo!" at the Gardens in the 80's? I loved that guy!
1) Minimize the penalties; The Flyers absolutely killed New Jersey on the PP, and many of the four wins they had were close games.
2) Pay close attention to Roenick-Zhamnov-Amonte line; this line was Philly's best. Yes, they have depth, but these three did the most damage to the Devils.
3) T.O.'s big bodies have to mind Primeau; in last year's playoff meeting Keith Primeau ran wild, especially with Nik Antropov injured. I say switch Antropov to centre to counter big Keith Primeau. You don't want to be checking Primeau with Reichel, Stajan, Francis or Nieuwendyk...
4) Keep scoring first; The Leafs scored first in all seven games vs. Ottawa, and the Flyers tallied first in all five games vs. New Jersey. Something's gotta give. If Leafs keep it up, they'll win.
5) Clear the front for Eddie; If The Eagle can see it, he'll stop it. Big guys on the Flyers like Handzus, Primeau, LeClair etc. will be in front trying to bother Ed Belfour. Leafs D like Marchment, Klee and McCabe have to play big and clear the front. I would consider a move of Kaberle out of the lineup in favour of Calle Johnasson, Kaberle doesn't move people well and was awful vs. Philly last year in the playoff loss.
the Leafs let in 3 out of 35 powerplay goals against Ottawa....however, i remember in the sweep the Leafs let in 0 for 25 penalties and then balloned to 2 powerplay goals a game in the Devils match up.
I doubt that the Leafs could keep scoring first....but then i didn't think they'd keep doing it to Ottawa....this could work.
the Leafs have GOT to get the first pass. Belfour handles the Puck and hitchcock KNOWS he handles the puck so the forwards etc etc are gonna make sure that he CAN'T handle the puck. so henceforth when forward/defenseman gets the puck, clink it up the glass hard and fast.
the battle alongside the boards will be key...we did it a LOT in the ottawa series...we need to keep it up
and of course as pointed out. net needs to be clear.
__________________ The Ottawa Sentators have Phyllophobia.
Sounds like Sundin is going to be out for a long time. Not back for this series anyhow. Nolan, on the otherhand, may come back - but with a brace. So we can't expect him to be 100%... he'll require surgery in the off season with a long recovery period.
4/24/2004 According to a report in The Globe and Mail, Maple Leafs' captain Mats Sundin could be out of the Toronto lineup longer than expected and likely won't be able to play in the team's Eastern Conference semifinal series against the Philadelphia Flyers.
Sundin has not played since injuring his left leg in the fourth game of the Leafs opening round series against the Ottawa Senators.
The team has never released a timetable for Sundin's return, but there were suggestions that he might return in time to face the Flyers - perhaps as early as Game Two. On Friday, head coach Pat Quinn dismissed such talk.
"We always held it out as a possibility, but one that's quite remote," he told The Globe and Mail. "That is misleading the public."
Sources told The Globe and Mail that Sundin's injury is worse than feared. Initially thought to be a torn quadriceps muscle, the injury reportedly extends from Sundin's abdomen through his groin and into his quadriceps.
Sundin has been skating, but still appears to have trouble pushing off with any power. Sources told The Globe and Mail that surgery is unlikely, but Sundin's rehab stint would likely last until the end of the Flyers' series at the earliest.
At this point, winger Owen Nolan appears closer to a return to action. He was injured on March 27 and could return against Philadelphia with the help of a knee brace. Sources told The Globe and Mail that Nolan tore two ligaments in his knee and will need surgery in the offseason. His post-surgery re-hab could last six months or more.
Getting Sundin or Nolan back would be a big boost to the Leafs, who were man-handled in Game One by the Flyers. Philadelphia leads the series 1-0.
Sundin's injury & how do we beat Philly
Sundin's injury & how do we beat Philly
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