How Long Will this Last

Switching up basically the entire line-up going into tonight's game against the Wild seems a bit unreasonable. The Leafs need to fight through this struggle on their own. Yeah the Kessel/Lupul line has been scored against but to put the blame on them seems ridiculous. The team as a whole hasn't been able to get their speed going through the neutral zone and this has stalled the teams offense. Over the past 3 game losing streak the team has given up 3 goals each game which by no means is horrible. All games were close for the most part.



The team is still 4-3 on the month. A quick swing around tonight can make this a good week with Montreal coming up on Saturday. Glad to see the Monster back between the pipes. Seems as though Reimer is losing confidence in himself which isn't good for any athlete. A prime chance for Jonas to take control of the #1 tender spot tonight.

The Leafs are averaging 3 goals a game this month which is average. Also giving up 15 goals this month for a 2.14 GAA this month which is great. The last couple games were tough tests which were unsuccessful but over the course of the whole season that was the first three games Toronto has lost in regulation in a row. Its going to be a battle to make the play-off's and every team we face is in the same fight.

Not all loses have to be pin pointed at a particular player. As a team they have lost. As a team they need to give that extra push and bear down on opportunities to finish the opponent off. Winning 2-0 in the first the Leafs had the man advantage after Chris Neal took an interference call. Had the Leafs finished on that man advantage the game would have been a lot different. The pp is now struggling with the pk looking more structured and smart.

I say by the first period Lupul will be with Kessel and Lombardi is back on the third line. Which still gives this team plenty of depth and scoring options.

Projected line-up

Lombardi-Bozak-Kessel
Macarthur-Grabo-Kulemin
Lupul-Connolly-Kadri
Crabb-Steckel-Brown

Schenn-Phaneuf
Gunnarsson-Komisarek
Gardiner-Franson

Gustavsson
Reimer