Leafs Report: Monster Win

October 27th, 2011

Leafs 4 – Rangers 2 (Madison Square Gardens)

I’m going to keep this Leafs Report short and sweet.

I’ll start by again stating the obvious. Or at least obvious to any Leafs fan that’s been paying attention. ANOTHER SLOW START.  When the Leafs start playing 3 complete periods, they’re going to be a real problem for the rest of the league.  They didn’t show up for the whole first period!  They were lucky to go into the second period only down 1 – 0.  16 shots on net in the first period! 16!!! And no Reimer! The Leafs put the Reim Minister on the seven day injured reserve, so we may even get a Ben Scrivens sighting at some point over the next week, I’m looking forward to seeing how the kid plays.

Now in the Rangers’ defence they’ve been on the road for the start of the 2011-12 season while the Gardens were undergoing rennovations, so that’s tough for a team to be on such a long road grind, to have their home opener this late into the season.

The Leafs flipped the switch for the second and third periods, and absolutely dominated the Rangers.  They outshot them 26 – 14, Lombardi tied the game, and Lupul, MacArthur (his first of the season) and even heavyweight Mike Brown scored after beating Kris Newbury’s ass down! One assist and he’d have had a Gordie Howe hat trick.

The Rangers scored late to make the score looked interesting.  Gustavsson was solid in net. The first goal he let in shouldn’t have gone in but a win is a win is a win.  Tim Connolly made his long awaited debut on the first line with Lupul and Kessel and he looked good! He’s the kind of centre that Burke has been wanting to saddle up beside Kessel.  A big body that moves the puck well and makes good decisions.

NEXT UP: The Buds return home to the ACC Saturday to host the Pittsburgh Penguins, 7pm on CBC

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