...but the Leafs had plenty of chances, you knew something would happen the other way if they couldn't deliver...and it did. Hey, Phil. Welcome to the Blue and White. It gets harder as a Maple Leaf, not easier.
1-for-8 with the man advantage isn't good enough for one of the NHL's "best" pp's. It should have produced more. Would've won the game that way. Considering the heart displayed and effort produced, it appears this team isn't that far off from seriously competing for a (better) result. But to get out of the basement, it's gotta happen soon. I think another adjustment to the line-up is in order.
So, points in a 5 straight games. Okay, not bad, but not great either. It still has to stop playing like the reaper is lurking. It has to be more assertive, if that's even possible...with this group?
Kessel is a gamer, he's lethal, a seriously gifted sniper. His accuracy and decision making were abit off in his debut, but signs of an incredibly effective player are there. I'm encouraged by the amount of shots he unloaded, most of them quality. In time, most of those snipes won't end up in the goaltender's chest, but in open spots of the net. Right now its up to the genius, BB to pair Kessel with a facilitator. Yeah, Marc Savard joins this team, but not until the off-season. So that doesn't do much for this season, now does it? Well, unless some adjustments are made.
As for Jonas Gustavsson...there's not much that needs to be said. If you don't think he's going to be a superstar goaltender in this league, you're either too jaded, blind or completely hate anything that wears the beautiful Blue and White. Sure, he can learn how to handle that puck a bit better, but there's way more upside to this guy than down.
Quote o' da day...courtesy of Billy Agua: "that's the future, there's two" referencing Phil Kessel and Jonas Gustavsson, two studs.
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