[BE-LEAF-ABLE]

@

Now 1-5 in games after defeating an opponent by 4 or more goals after a 6-1 loss to the Vancouver Canucks in the annual Hockey Day in Canada game Saturday Night, the Toronto Maple Leafs now begin a roadtrip where they visit their opponents for 7 of their next 8 games when they play the Tampa Bay Lightning tonight (7:30PMET).

Inconsistency continues to be the story with the Leafs, who not only follow up wins with losses, but "good" wins with "bad" losses, the loss in Vancouver being the latest example.

Related Topic: http://www.hockeyforum.com/toronto-maple-leafs/6823-hockey-day-canada-game-2-vancouver.html

Toronto continues to walk the fine line of .500, while Goaltender Andrew Raycroft continues to shoulder the blame for the Leafs' woes.

Captain Mats Sundin made it clear that he doesn't agree.

"It is heartbreaking. For a guy who plays his heart out and has, in my opinion, had a f-----g pretty solid first half of the season..."

Raycroft is 18-15-4, with a 3.07 Goals Against Average and .892 Save Percentage in 37 games played.

The Leafs will continue to be without the same players they were missing from the line-up in their win over the Buffalo Sabres Thursday night, with forwards Darcy Tucker (foot), Alexei Ponikarovsky (shoulder), Kyle Wellwood (hip), and Defenceman Ian White (shoulder) all out with injuries.

Related Topic: http://www.hockeyforum.com/toronto-maple-leafs/6817-tucker-wellwood-still-not-ready-return.html

Meanwhile, Mats Sundin continues to lead the team in points with 41 in 39 Games played (18G, 23a), as the Leafs are now 10th in the Eastern Conference with a 20-20-6 record overall, and 10-12-3 record at home.

Their 46 Points in 46 Games also rank them 4th in their division, just 2 Points up on the Boston Bruins, and 19 back of the Division leading Buffalo Sabres.

The Lightning, originally inconsitent at the time of their last game against the Maple Leafs, are currently riding a 5-game winning streak and are now tied with the New York Rangers for 7th in the Eastern Conference. Tampa Bay's 50 points in 47 Games, put them 4 up on the Toronto Maple Leafs and New York Islanders.

The team's spark as of late due in big part to the outstanding play of forwards Vincent Lecavalier and Martin St. Louis, both ranked 2nd in the NHL in Point with 62 in 47 games played, 4 back of Sidney Crosby. ([Lecavlier - 28G, 34A], [St. Louis - 29G, 33A]).

Both players have been named to the All-Star game to be played in Dallas, along with Maple Leafs Defenceman Tomas Kaberle.

Tampa 24-21-2) is most recently coming off of a win over the New York Islanders.

Related Topic: http://www.hockeyforum.com/tampa-bay-lightning/6964-lecavalier-lifts-lightning-over-isles.html

Goaltender Johan Holmqvist has all but taken over the starting job, going 13-9-0 and having a 2.88 Goals Against Average and .890 Save Percentage in 23 Games played.

Other Lightning Goaltender, Marc Denis 3.10 has a Goals Against Average and .881 Save Percentage. In 27 Games he is 10-12-2.

This will be the 3rd meeting between the two teams, with Toronto winning the 1st two 2-1 in Tampa and the last 5-4 in Toronto.

 

[panoo]

Leafs look to bottle red-hot Lightning

The Sports Network
1/16/2007 11:14:24 AM

(Sports Network) - The Tampa Bay Lightning go in search of a sixth consecutive victory when the red-hot club returns home to host the Toronto Maple Leafs tonight at St. Pete Times Forum.

Viewers in the Maple Leafs Region can watch the game live on TSN at 7:30pm et.

Tampa Bay extended its season-best win streak on Monday, when it held on for a 4-3 victory over the New York Islanders at Nassau Coliseum.

Vaclav Prospal finished with a goal and two assists for the Lightning, while Martin St. Louis extended his scoring streak to 11 games with a goal and one assist. Brad Richards also scored once and assisted on another in the win, while Johan Holmqvist made 33 saves in goal.

St. Louis' tally was his league-leading 29th of the season and the All-Star forward has amassed six goals and 10 helpers during his current tear. Teammate Vincent Lecavalier, who had the eventual game-winning marker in the third period, is one behind with 28 goals.

Lecavalier is currently riding a seven-game point streak and has notched 12 points (seven goals, five assists) during the run.

Tampa Bay hasn't won six games in a row since its Stanley Cup campaign of 2003-04, when the club reeled off eight consecutive victories from February 25-March 6.

The Lightning have not had much recent success against Toronto, however. The Maple Leafs have won three straight in the series, including a pair of matchups already this season.

FULL STORY

 

[Leafer4Life]

Very important road swing, must win tonight!

GO LEAFS GO

 

[BE-LEAF-ABLE]

So far this year, Toronto has played much better on the road then at home. Maybe it's because they have to fight more for their victories.

At home, they relax in the mostly quiet ACC, rather than have to battle the cries of fans jeering against them.

If they win tonight, it won't be a surprise.

If they lose, it won't be a shock either.

I guess that's why this team has lost a "something" about them this season (and last). :dunno:

 

[gagley25]

i hope they dont let st. louis score any more goals!
hopefully they will pull through this one, and not be bood off the ice.

 

[panoo]

i hope they dont let st. louis score any more goals!
hopefully they will pull through this one, and not be bood off the ice.

The game is in Tampa, so I would expect some booing!!

 

[gagley25]

The game is in Tampa, so I would expect some booing!!

lol, makes sense.. haha my blonde moment of the day, yes i agree some booing is definetely in order then

 

[BE-LEAF-ABLE]

LOL!

Yeah, that makes sense.

 

[Amanda]

Going to be a great game Go Tampa !!!
A 6th straight win would be awesome!

 

[Amanda]

GOAL! Lecavalier!!!

Denis made a GREAT save before this goal.

 

[Cass-Loves_the.Leafs]

Gar.
Yes that was a great save.
But then Raycroft should've had his.
Then again, it was Lecavalier.

 

[Amanda]

GOAL!!! Dan Boyle!! 2-1 lightning

 

[Amanda]

Pohl scores... game tied 2-2 with 6 seconds left in the 2nd period.

 

[BE-LEAF-ABLE]

That shorthanded goal by Tampa... man, Toronto could have done better on that.

Anyway, scoring summary (at the end of the 2nd):

1st Period:
1. Vincent Lecavalier, from Martin St. Louis and Cory Sarich (SH)

2nd Period:
2. Nik Antropov, from Alexei Ponikarovsky and Chad Kilger
3. Dan Boyle, from Ruslan Fedotenko and Brad Richards
4. Jonny Pohl, from Bryan McCabe and Tomas Kaberle

 

[BE-LEAF-ABLE]

It's 3-2 Toronto.

Alexander Steen, from Matt Stajan and Tomas Kaberle.

 

[Amanda]

Lecavalier should really wear a visor that puck could have smoked him in the eye!

 

[BE-LEAF-ABLE]

With less than a minute to go, it's now 4-2 Leafs.

Alexei Ponikarovsky scores into an empty net. (Assists go to Mats Sundin and Nik Antropov)

 

[Amanda]

1 shot on goal for Tampa in the 3rd period! Thats just sad.
Good game though Raycroft made some amazing saves! And Denis did good.
Note to Vinny: Get a visor, Tampa can not afford to lose you for a few months OR have you not play ever again.

 

[BE-LEAF-ABLE]

I listened to the game for the most part, only saw the highlite of Tampa's 1st goal.

I'll have to check things out on TV to see how Vinny nearly lost an eye (since I didn't hear all of he broadcast).

I know Raycroft made a big save... or at least that's the way Joe Bowen made it seem. I just have to see it.

 

[panoo]

Steen nets winner as Leafs down Lightning

Associated Press
1/16/2007 10:35:53 PM

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) - Alex Steen snapped a third-period tie with a power-play goal and Andrew Raycroft made 21 saves to help the Toronto Maple Leafs beat the Tampa Bay Lightning 4-2 on Tuesday night.

Rebounding from a poor performance in a 6-1 loss to Vancouver last Saturday, the Maple Leafs also got goals from Nik Antropov, Alexei Ponikarovsky and John Pohl, the latter wiping out a 2-1 deficit late in the second period.

Vincent Lecavalier scored a short-handed goal in the first period for Tampa Bay, which was stymied by Raycroft on several second-period scoring opportunities before managing only two shots in the third.

FULL STORY