Wallin Lifts Canes over Leafs in OT, 5-4

Im plannin on droppin a nice line or 2 on Pension Plans site

“Sergei Samsonov started the play by controlling the puck behind the neck.” – Fancy!

Nice article. I loved the way the Canes played in the first (Maybe their best single period of hockey this year.), but the second and third were tough to watch. They lacked intensity and let Toronto control the ice. It’s a good thing they got the win in OT because that would have been a tough loss to take.

Toronto deserves a lot of credit not only for not folding after the first period but for playing so well the rest of the game. That was a really good effort from a team that could easily have given up.

The Canes survived to go into OT on defense so it was only fitting that The Secret Weapon should score the winner. It was a game that turned out to be far more nerve wracking and exciting than it ever should have been.

TylerA – Still waiting for the nice line or two and something a bit better than random gibberish.

I was really impressed with Chad LaRose over these past two games. He is quite the ball of energy.

They have to figure out who is best to play with Samsonov and/or work to increase the complimentary chemistry the two other fwds have with him. Brind’Amour and Samsonov worked great last year. Maybe Rod’s knee and its continued healing have made him just a half step behind his usual quickness… and that would certainly impact being able to pass/receive at the speed Samsonov reacts. I dunno. The Samsonov line(s) and combinations have not worked to their potential. LaRose with Samsonov to match each other’s quickness and tic-tac-toes (and with a big beast for the other wing… Ruutu or LaCouture returning) might be interesting. Although I don’t want to split LaRose’s current line and its effectiveness. Samsonov has to better click with his line….

Toronto deserves a lot of credit not only for not folding after the first period but for playing so well the rest of the game. That was a really good effort from a team that could easily have given up.

Carolina taught the Rangers a thing or two about not folding up shop when the Leafs score a couple in a row too.

They have to figure out who is best to play with Samsonov and/or work to increase the complimentary chemistry the two other fwds have with him.

Yes. Please! I have him on my fantasy team and frankly am a little disappointed that he hasn’t meshed with any of the Canes yet.

But obviously the question is still who is best to Center with Samsonov??

Samsonov’s skill (and dedication/work-ethic… really!!) is awesome. Things will click again as they did last year and he will reach his potential… I hope!

Pension Plan Puppets wants to play nice now………what a bum…….talk trash….rip the south…….call us poor fans……..but after the MakeBeLeafs lose BACK TO BACK they wanna be friends……whats the saying…..if you cant beat em join em! LOSERS

I admit that I am impressed with the Leafs, they are better than I thought they would be. Wilson has done a good job with them so far.

Agreed, Bubba. The Leafs and their game were impressive and noone can question their heart.

The Leafs finally seem to be shedding the Sundin shadow. It would be funny if that was the only piece holding them back all these recent years.

They certainly have more heart than we have seen in the past. Plus Kyle Wellwood moving on is addition by subtraction ( hough he has seemed to find his game after his ride on the waiver wire). PLus I gotta say, Luke Schenn is looking very good! He and Drew Doughty are enough to make you wish we had not gotten so close to making the playoffs last year!

As far as Samsonov he has been put on lines with Staal, Rutuu, LaRose, Cullen and Brindy. To say he has not performed because of Brindy being a step slower carries no weight. Why has he not performed with the other Centers? He just needs to find it within himself and get his groove back which I believe he will, but I will not blame other players for it.

I wonder if this team is struggling with Lavi’s style vs Rowe’s style which is totally different. Rowe is in charge of the forwards, but under Lavi’s rule. I’m seeing a conflict of coaching skills affecting this teams play. What the solution is for it remains to be seen.

Certainly did not at all intend to blame other players for it! Especially Rod!! I tried to choose my words carefully. My point was that last year he and Rod seemed to flow better and click almost immediately. And the passing to and from both Rod and Samsonov was crisper.

They were anticipating each other and right where they both needed to be. I agree he has not performed to his potential with the other Canes. The common denominator is Samsonov.

I am not trying to allocate blame or fault… I agree he needs to get his groove back and I am just laying things on the table… the chemistry issue and he clicking with others and others clicking with him.

Sammy will be fine. He’s been playing well — I’m not worried. He now has points in two straight and I think once he gets one past the goalie he’ll break out.

I was a little disappointed there wasn’t more ice time for Dwyer. He was the only guy who seemed to have any jump (along with Walker). And there’s no doubt something’s wrong with Staal. I know he wants to play no matter what, but I wonder if he needs a couple games of rest .. I’m assuming it’s the shoulder.

Kulemin is so impressive … fast, great shot. He’s going to be a great player there. But wtf is wrong with Toskala? Man, he was terrible. He did make a couple good saves later, but early on he was dreadful.

That interview with Wallin after the game was kind of weird, wasn’t it?

Actually, I played nice yesterday too. It’s just friendly banted until your illiterate rage builds :)

But wtf is wrong with Toskala? Man, he was terrible. He did make a couple good saves later, but early on he was dreadful.

If you figure it out before us let us know because we are just as stumped. Very hot and cold this year.

I just read an interesting blog entry over at THN: Time for the Canes to toughen up

http://www.thehockeynews.com/articles/19579-THNcom-Blog-Time-for-the-Canes-to-toughen-up.html

Good article and good question. I think we have touched upon that here before, awhile back. Cam Ward gets run over, and nothing is done. Eric Staal gets boarded by a rookie and while he leaves the ice holding his shoulder, no one so much as skates over to say hello to Daughty.

C-Leaguer’s “guest post” touched upon this as well. It’s a valid question.

There’ll be no rage until you beat us, PPP ;)

John

I agree that Wallin’s interview was wierd. I have posted in the forum that I felt like along with the groin issues he talked about last season that he was also trying to say he is doing very well with Sidenberg since they can read each other on the ice and just click and maybe thinking but not wanting to say that last season he was skating with Kaberle and it wasn’t working for him. Just sayin…

SamsonovFan

Sorry, I didn’t mean to be such a butt wipe about Brindy. Several boards are giving him grief about his being slow and injured and forgets to look at the fact he has scored 5 goals and top 3 in faceoff wins in the NHL. I know what your saying about Sammy and Brindy last season they rocked. I really think later in the season we are going to be in awe by Samsonov again.

An interesting fact about Chicago Hawks player J Toews, he has not scored a goal this season either and was one of their top scorers and players last season, he’s in a slump too.