Friday, September 25, 2009

Leafs win another pre-season tilt in Gustavsson debut!




Mikael Grabovski scored with about 71 seconds left in regulation to tie things up at 4. Young star Viktor Stalberg scored twice and added a helper, and wonder kid Nazem Kadri rounded out the scoring in regulation.

Kulemin and Mitchell scored in the shoot out to put the icing on the cake of this 5-4 Toronto win, they are now 5-2 in the pre-season.

"We're trying to get ready for the season," Red Wings coach Mike Babcock said. "We've got to play better."

"I don't think we were as sharp as you have to be to play in this league," Red Wings captain Nicklas Lidstrom said. "Especially in our own zone."

The Leafs led by 3 goals halfway through the second period before the Red Wings, led by Kronwalls 2 goals, stormed back with four un answered goals.

"We fell apart for a couple of minutes in the third," Stalberg said. "A few mistakes, which is easy to do against the Red Wings when they're pressuring."



In his NHL debut, Jonas Gustavsson looked sharp stopping all seven of the shots he faced in the first period. Toskala also made 27 stops on his way to a win including a timely one late in the third against Detroits Dan Cleary that eventually led to the chance Grabovski converted to tie the game.

This was the fist of three games in three nights for the Buds who close out the pre-season Sunday at home against these very same Red Wings. As always, you can hear all of the action, right here on Bench Brawl!

Until next time, you kids play safe!

Thursday, September 24, 2009

A Grinding Halt!


The Leafs lose to Buffalo 3-2 in what could only be described a messy game.

Ryan Miller can't wait for the NHL regular season to begin.

The Buffalo goalie made nine of his 23 saves in the third period to help the Sabres beat the Toronto Maple Leafs 3-2 in exhibition play Wednesday night.

Miller had a 42-save performance Saturday in Detroit, and appears to be ready for games that count.

``I've had two games that have worked out pretty well,'' Miller said. ``At a certain point, you want to play for two points. It's good to tune your game up, but you like the games to mean something.''

``He seems like he's in mid-season form,'' added forward Jason Pominville, who assisted on Buffalo's first goal. ``I can't wait to see him when we get to the middle of the season.''

Joey MacDonald was very sharp in the first period, but couldn't seem to hold his form much past that, although he went on to stop 28 of 31 shots, including 18 in the third period alone for the Maple Leafs.
Nathan Paetsch, Jochen Hecht and Cody McCormick scored for Buffalo (3-0-1), which played its second and final home game of the pre-season.

Jiri Tlusty scored on a penalty shot and John Mitchell added a goal for Toronto (4-2-0). Joey MacDonald made 28 saves.


Paetsch and Hecht scored in a four-minute span early in the second period to put Buffalo up 2-0. Paetsch scored during a delayed penalty, firing a slap shot from the high slot. Hecht's shot from the left faceoff circle got through MacDonald's legs.

Tlusty's score, midway through the second period, pulled Toronto to 2-1. Miller made the initial save off Tlusty's backhand, but the puck trickled through.

``I didn't mean to do that, but I count every goal,'' Tlusty said. ``It doesn't matter how it went in.''

McCormick put Buffalo up 3-1 on a swat of a loose puck late in the second period, but Mitchell, 94 seconds into the third, made it 3-2 on a tap-in from the slot.

Toronto outshot Buffalo 10-2 in the third period, but couldn't get the equalizer past Miller.

``We were putting it to them pretty good in the third period,'' MacDonald said.

Buffalo concludes its pre-season schedule with road games in Montreal on Saturday and Toronto on Sunday.

The Maple Leafs have three games left. They will visit Detroit on Friday before hosting Detroit and Buffalo on Saturday and Sunday.

Until then, you kids play safe!

Wednesday, September 23, 2009

Kadri !, Kadri !, Kadri !!



The Leafs make it 4 in a row with another come from behind pre-season win. This one on the back of rookie Nazem Kadri, who not only scored the tying goal late in the third, also scored the winner in a shoot out to make the final 3-2

Kadri's goal in the shoot out made the ">highlight reels everywhere. After the game, Kadri made no secret about his desire to stay with the big club. `Hopefully, I'm making the decision hard,'' said Kadri. ``I appreciate (coach) Ron (Wilson) giving me the opportunity to go out there in some big situations. I think it's really building my confidence.''

While Coach Wilson still remains reluctant to heap to much praise on any one player, he did say this about Kadri's performance. ``All it takes special players is one moment and they can change the outcome (of a game),'' said Wilson. ``He did. Just being in the right spot at the right time, he picked up the puck and buried it big time.''

The Leafs rang the iron twice in overtime and once in the third period, Pittsburgh goaltender John Curry must have brought his horse-shoe, or this game may have had a much different outcome.

After looking a little ordinary in the first, Leafs net-minder Vesa Toskala, settled in well and gave his team a chance to come back, while making a couple of big stops in the over time before thwarting Staal and Conner in the shoot out.

Jamal Mayers got his bell rung pretty good and went down in a heap after getting the wrong end of a clean check from Pittsburghs Wallace, all indications are he'll be fine, but there is still plenty of time for Burke and Wilson to make any adjustments that may be needed.

The Leafs are back in action tonight against the Buffalo Sabres at 7:00pm est. As always, you can hear all of the action right here on Bench Brawl, just click on Listen Live

Until next time, you kids play safe!

Sunday, September 20, 2009

Plan the parade route!!


I'm just kidding, it's waaaaay too early for that...........right?

Fresh of they're third win in a row, the Buds are enjoying a much needed, and deserved day off today.

``It's fun when you win,'' said Leafs coach Ron Wilson. ``We can build a little momentum. At least we'll know what it feels like to win (heading into the regular season).''

Last nights game was they're second against a Flyers team this pre-season that produced a win, and although it is just pre-season hockey, this was the kind of gutsy, come from behind overtime win that leave a warm felling in you're belly, kind of like our Uncle Keiths fish balls!

The final score of 5-4, was indicative of a game that was a little too loose and full of penalties from both sides. The Leafs had the advantage of not one but two five on three-power plays in the last five minutes of the game and managed to score on one of them.

Hagman scored his second of the game, 1:23 into overtime to give the Leafs the win.


``When I see (a teammate) do a big hit or get in a fight, it inspires me to play better,'' said Hagman, who snapped the winner past Flyers goalie Brian Boucher.

``It makes me want to crash the net and try to score a goal. When I see them do their job, it makes me want to do mine.''

Stajan, Ponikarovski and Beauchemin also scored for the Leafs, Toskala, (who really does not look comfortable in net quite yet), stopped 21 of 21 shots. The highlight of the night though belongs to Hangman, who's first goal, was on many was on many a highlight reel.


The Leafs next action come Tuesday against the Penguins, and we should look to see coach Wilson starting to trim the roster a little in the coming week. Look for the team to keep youngster Nazim Kadri with the team for the rest of the pre-season, and possibly the opening ten games of the regular season as well.

Till next time, you kids play safe!