Metal Reviews

Regular season only 8 days away. The count down is on.

Hell yeah!
can't wait for the season to start!

Leafs vs. Habs Saturday October 13th 2007. I'll be in Ottawa the weekend of this game.

I just found out that I am going to Buffalo to see the leafs play the Sabres (obviously) on October 15th, should be tons of fun. First NHL game I have been to in almost 5 years.

Well the regualr season has begun, and the Leafs had the worst week of their life. They lose 7-1 to the Hurricanes and find out that Jason Blake has cancer. Looks like another long season...But we will beat the Islanders on Thursday and I will be at the game against Buffalo next monday.

Yeah Mapple Leafs definately had it rough, and I don't see it getting much better during the rest of the season unless the goaltenders play spectacular hockey night after night.
Toskala was pretty good against the hurricanes, unfortunately his defense left him to himself too many times.

The Leafs suck. I don't know if there's really any other words for it. Sure, it's early in the season, but I think it's going to be a long one for them (to say the least). To be honest, I kinda think it's a waste of Paul Maurice's talents as a coach. That organization just does not have its shit together. Yes, it's a shame that Blake has cancer, but frankly I thought he was a terrible signing before the season even began. You give a one-season wonder (which is a generous way of putting it) at 34 years of age a 5 year deal on an already long over the hill team? And on top of that he has been known for being detrimental to the locker room environment... What???!

That game against Carolina last night was just abysmal.

On the flip side, I have caught a couple Edmonton games, and although they probably won't make the playoffs, I think they're a really interesting team to watch. Young, fast skaters that fly around the ice and just don't seem to ever quit makes for an entertaining game. Detroit beat them the other night, but the Edmonton players were literally skating circles around them most of the game. And they've put together some pretty sick goals already, so I think there is some skill and chemistry there too... Of course, their power play is a disaster, mainly, I think, because a power play is too controlled of an environment to suit their style, but I don't know if you can get a team like this to "tone it down" without destroying what they have going for them either. It takes the right kind of coach to work with a team like this and keep things in that necessary but precarious balance. It'll be an interesting season though, and I'm really curious to see how they grow and develop as time goes on.

Several games on tonight, so I'll be watching some other teams. I'm interested in seeing Minnesota play. Rangers too...

-Tyrion

I'm a Blackhawks fan, and I often use a similar statement to describe them. They've still got a long way to go, but they've been stockpiling high draft picks like Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews who look like the real deal and are fun to watch. Now, with Havlat out for possibly the rest of the season, they're going to rely on their young guys a lot more. They probably won't make the playoffs, but they should round into a strong team in the next few years with Toews and Kane anchoring their #1 line.



How's that? If you still don't like it, you can change the name of the thread by editing the subject line of your initial post.

Canucks sucking so far >_<

It's cause the 'nucks suck. joking, oh god im joking

The Leafs are going back and forth, we play some good games then play some shit ones. I was at the game last Monday night against Buffalo in Buffalo. We were leading 2-0 going into the 3rd period, then Buffalos tied it up in like 30 seconds. Leafs would regain the lead, but Buffalo would tie it up shortly after. Leafs would regain the lead again, but as usual we gave it up and the Sabres tied it. Now we go into OT and then we take a stupid penalty and McCabe puts the puck in his own net with 3.7 seconds to go in OT. Oh boy did he get booed last night in the game against the Panthers. Which we won 3-2. Very nice. Vesa Toskala is starting to shine for us. Plus Sundin passed Sittler for all time point and goal leader in Toronto. But some Leaf fans still hate him...idiots.

I think the Leafs are going back and forth, as much as anything, because they're playing a lot of other weak times right now. A win against the Panthers? Not much to get excited about. And if I'm not mistaken, I believe they've been playing a lot of teams' backup goaltenders too. Still, I think they hit rock bottom already, so it's reasonable that they're going to have their moments / ups and downs. I just don't think it's going to be enough to make the playoffs. ... That game against Buffalo the other night was a wild one! And you were there! Loss or no, that must have been pretty cool to see with the way both teams exploded offensively in the 3rd, trading goals every minute.

People honestly hate Sundin there? What the hell for? It's not his fault the organization was too stupid to trade him. He's always been a really good player and still is (though I'd be a lot happier if he still played for Quebec in Quebec ).

-Tyrion

Yeah a lot of people hate Sundin because he's not Canadian. They call him a big dumb lazy swede. Not everbody is like this, but some fans say that the day Wendal Clark got traded for Sundin was the day the Leafs died. But that's stupid because we got Clark back just a few short years later. And the fact that Sundin is a great player and has set the record in Toronto, which will be a long time until anyone gets close to getting that record as he is adding to it everygame. Sundin is tied for 5th in the league for points.

And as for the Leafs not being able to make it, I still disagree. Toskala is really starting to shine, and the Leafs can score it's our defence that kills us. McCabe and Kubina suck, they both need to go. Plus the Leafs can score Nik Antropov as of Thursday night is first in the league with goals and the Leafs are 3rd in the league for goals for. If we can crack down on defence and get consistent goaltending, which Toskala is starting to do, we will definitely be in the playoffs.

Oh hockey...

EDIT: one more thing about Sundin, he doesn't want to leave Toronto, he wants to retire here. So it's not totaly managements fault that he's still here. But our GM's have really sucked over the last couple of years. Pat Quinn and JFJ are garbage.

Ah, I hadn't even thought about him being from Sweden. You know, I can vaguely remember Wendel Clark, but I don't remember the trade really. To be really honest, the seasons and games have blurred together or faded away completely from my memory since I started watching it.

Anyway, I think if the Leafs make the playoffs, it'll be more because some other teams have fallen off (NJ, Buffalo...) than because they're really good. But with teams like Boston, Carolina, and Philadelphia showing some improvement (at least so far), I still don't think there will be room. We'll see. As much as I'd rather see the Leafs in over a few other teams, I also think it might be one of the worst things that could happen to them in the long run. Though it shouldn't take missing the playoffs three times in a row to get things in gear...

And I agree with you about their defense. However, on the issue of scoring. 5 goals against Buffalo, a team still trying to find its way again. In net? Thibault, not Miller. Against the Penguins before that, another team that hadn't hit its stride yet (though they might finally be getting there now). 4 goals, and they still lost, but also, they were horribly out shot for two of the three periods. And going back to that 8-1 win over NYI? Again, against Dubielewicz and not di Pietro. And they played so poorly the previous game that it's no wonder they came out like they did in that one. .... Oh and most recently, the win against Florida and again, not against Vokoun but against Anderson.

I'm honestly not trying to be negative here, but you have to keep in mind that they really haven't been going up against top tier teams or even middle of the pack teams playing at full strength. We'll see what they do when the schedule gets a little tougher (which as far as I can tell isn't for a few games yet...).

Of course, in my NHL 2K5 season, they're steamrolling through the playoffs with only one loss so far and just two more wins away from the Cup.



-Tyrion

NHL 2K5 ftw!

My NHL 2K8 keeps freezing right after I beat Montreal. Game 32 of the regualr season.

I agree with you mostly, but even last season we were 3rd in the NHL with goals for. We can score, it's our defence. Antropov no longer leeds the league in scoring...And we have gone up against one good goalie so far, Gerber. He's been playing great, and our first 2 games were against him. Sure we didn't win, but we did get at least a point. The season is still young and I remain optimistic, Chad Kilger is really having a good season and hopefully Nik can stay the way he is. Plus Sundin just popped in another 2 goals last night, he's in the top 5 for points so far, that's a welcome change. Again we can score, it's our defence that sucks. Way too many shots against and too many giveaways, and too many penalties. That's why we are so middle of the pack. Hopefully John Ferguson can bring us one good d-man. If that happens, than maybe you will be singing a different tune. Danny Markov is a free agent...

Man, brand new game and it's freezing up on you like that? Ugh. Hope you get it resolved. ... It's funny: I have NHL '08 but have barely played it. I got 2K5, because it got excellent reviews and is widely considered the best hockey game for the PS2, for 3 dollars. And I've played it a LOT. Great game. ... I haven't decided to sell back the other one though because I do like it (just not as much, and the menus are god-awful) and it's nice to have a game with (mostly) up to date rosters. (Keep in mind I hadn't played a "recent" hockey game since NHL 2001 )

Still, for me, nothing really touches NHL '94 on Genesis.

But yeah, Toronto really needs to improve their defense, and I think it would be interesting to see if they could continue to score like they are right now. Again, we have to keep in mind who they've been playing and the goalies they've faced when they've scored all these, but still. ... Anyway, another "ouch" last night against the Blackhawks, eh? Yikes.

I know their actual defensemen leave something to be desired, but... how are their forwards defensively? Are they having trouble winning faceoffs or matching up defensively against other top lines? Or is it all just bad mistakes and turnovers and a lack of quality guys on the blue line? I really haven't seen enough of their games with my full attention to be able to look at that...

-Tyrion

We can win faceoffs, or Sundin can win faceoffs. It's just too many shots against and too many giveaways that is screwing us. And yes that game against Chicago was bad, and the one against Atlanta two nights ago was bad to. And now Tucker is out indefinitely, but Mark Bell and Kyle Wellwood will be making their season debuts soon, so that should hopefully help.

Antropov has 7 goals this season in 9 games. It took him 32 games last season to get 7 goals. I think this is the season Leaf fans have been waiting for with him since we drafted him 1st overall 8 years ago. Anyway tonight we play the Penguins and hopefully we can get a win out of them, they did play last night.

In recent news, Toronto has been sucking balls, as usual.

so have the canoobs, they're pretty lucky to be 4-6 T_T

Oh and the habs are just doing great. Go Habs Go! I believe we beat you guys, and we will beat you guys again next week.

Yeah Vancouver has been slipping, even Luongo isn't playing too well.

Actually the habs are doing fairly good, and last time the Leafs won against them the habs basically gave them the win. I doubt it'll be like that every time.