Leafs Postgame: Shark Tanked
10 years ago
The Leafs have a lot of the roster pieces in place to be a high flying, strong skating transition team full of fearless individuals, many of whom have big bodies. The San Jose Sharks are actually that team, with even more depth and a coaching staff that takes advantage of the abilities of their skaters. Tonight was a game destined for heartbreak, but if the Leafs could beat the Ducks, maybe they could pull it off agai… make it stop
The Rundown
I don’t want to talk about it. ..I’ve been told I have to talk about it, at least a little bit. Okay. I’ll make this short.
First the Sharks scored a goal because the Leafs weren’t well positioned. Then Jake Gardiner rushed up with Mason Raymond and tied the game a few seconds later. Then Troy Bodie and Mike Brown decided that this game was too exciting and skill-filled and decided to punch each other in the face a lot. Then a Sharks goal that should have counted got waved off. Then a Sharks goal that shouldn’t have counted was ruled a goal after initially being waved off. Then the Leafs got a penalty, then the Sharks took a lot of shot, and then the period ended.
They started a new period. The Sharks scored. And then they scored again. Eventually, some from the Sharks went to the box. The Leafs powerplay unit wasn’t so hot. Then David Clarkson decided to start punching Andrew Desjardins, and vice versa. Then people took a bunch of penalties. Mason Raymond also fell on a breakaway at one point.
Third period time. The Sharks scored another goal. Tim Gleason also wanted to punch Andrew Desjardins. Then Jake Gardiner scored another goal while the Leafs were on the penalty kill. Then Joffrey Lupul decided to fight Tommy Wingels as a response to Dion Phaneuf getting all up in Havlat’s face a few seconds after his goal. Then the game ended and I came here and wrote this.
Also, Dion Phaneuf went for a hit at one point and almost took James van Riemsdyk’s head off. JVR came back and played again, despite the game being close a lost cause at this point, and the fact that his potential injury involved his brain.
Why The Leafs Lost
Consider that the Leafs had about half a game of “score effects” time and still looked that bad.
Blue Warrior
In a game with few bright spots, I’ll give this one to Jake Gardiner. After being burned on the first goal, the Leafs moved him back to his preferred left side and he paid them back by righting his wrong. Outside of that quick recovery, he was generally in good position, scored a nice shorthanded goal, and played a team-high 26 minutes tonight.
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