The Maple Leafs' Recipe for Success

So why are the Leafs winning? I know the commercial answer: “Duh, they have scored more goals.” Let me help with my analysis of the Maple Leafs’ recipe for success. 

The Chef

Every recipe needs a chef to make it come all together. The Toronto Maple Leafs’ Chef is Craig Berube. What makes him such an awesome coach is not just having great players, but also his knack for getting them to gel in a way other coaches can’t. He has built the perfect system for the Leafs to succeed. 

The Main Course 

The main dish is what everyone’s really here for, and right now, that’s the goaltending duo of Anthony Stolarz and Joseph Woll. They are like two brothers constantly trying to outdo each other. The combo gives the teams a chance to win every night—exactly what every team hopes their goalies can deliver! 

The Veggies and Salad

We all know that veggies and rabbit food are essential for getting those vitamins to keep us energized. The Toronto Maple Leafs’ veggies and salad are their defense. Chris Tanev leads the defense and won’t stop at anything to ensure victory. He is a stalwart defenceman who does not give up and stops at nothing to win. Morgan Reilly has been the glue holding the defense together. It is about time Morgan got some support on the blue line. Thankfully, Simon Benoit has stepped up big time this season and has been a fantastic surprise addition!

The Dessert 

Every dinner should have a dessert, which brings smiles to our faces. The Maple Leaf’s desserts have to be the offense. We’re talking about the glory of scoring goals, with Marner, Tavares, and, of course, Matthews leading the charge—oh, and can’t forget that guy named Nylander! And let’s not overlook how Kneis is really stepping up this season; he’s been a great support for the team.

There you have it.

Randy

NY Islanders: For the Love of Hockey

For the love of hockey, please teach the Islanders how to defend a penalty kill. With every penalty, the Islanders leave the player in the middle of the ice and let him stand there. You can’t keep giving teams scoring chances right in the slot! As a whole, they keep on missing their assignments. I wonder if this is on the coaching or the players? Can this be a miscommunication problem? They seem to lack confidence about where they should be positioned. Instead of staying calm, they’re panicking and chasing after the puck like chickens with their heads cut off. They can’t afford to be caught out of position like this all the time! The defense really needs to make it more challenging for players to get in front of the net. And those forwards? They’ve got to do a better job shutting down passing lanes and getting their sticks in the way. They are way too loosey-goosey.  

On the bright side, the Islanders have played better in the third period in the last two games. It’s also positive that the Islanders are mostly competitive, even without Barzal. They’ve shown some solid play during this stretch. They must try to stay in the race until the big guns return to the lineup.

Conclusion

Paul Kreischer says, “The young guns are still learning how to play in the NHL, and their offensive numbers were suffering at the beginning of this season. You can find Paul on Twitter @P_Kreischer. It’s an interesting point that these younger players need to get the hang of things in the NHL!

Randy

Leafs: Strong Start but Defensive Woes Persist

So far this season, the Maple Leafs could be sitting at 6-0 if not for a couple of goalies, Sam Montembeault and Igor Shesterkin, who both stoned the Leafs. Especially Montembeault with his 48-save shutout. The Maple Leafs had plenty of chances to pull out wins in both games, but just couldn’t get past those two.

But there are some warning signs here. The Leafs are still are giving up way too many chances. They really need to focus on their zone coverage, skate harder, and cut out those lazy penalties. The defensive play has to improve. If it doesn’t, goaltender Anthony Stolarz will have to sue the team for lack of support.

On a brighter note, there are a couple of players who I have to point out that have been stellar so far this season.

Chris Tanev

Chris has got to be one of the bravest players in the league, if not the bravest. Giving his body up to block shots left and right. I’ll bet Reilly is super grateful for Chris every shift he is on the ice.

Anthony Stolarz 

Did you see that save Monday night? Toronto Maple Leafs fans are totally convinced Anthony channeled his inner Gumby to keep that puck off the goal line. If you don’t believe me, take a look at it. 

It wasn’t just that save. He has been Mr. Steady all season and has been there to answer the calls; has stepped up big time with Joseph Woll injured. 

So far, things are looking good, but the defensive play has to improve. And those lazy minors late in the game? Not a fan of those at all. I’d give it a solid B+ so far!

Topsy-Turvy Islanders: Take the Shot!

 

If there was a term that fits the Islanders, what would it be? To me, what comes to mind is topsy-turvy. For the Islanders to be successful, they have to be consistent. If they outwork the opposition, they will win. But when they play like they’re just going through the motions, they’re in trouble. 

What I mean is the Eastern Conference is that loaded with some serious talent. If the Isles don’t outwork the offensive powerhouses, they will get run out of town. I promise it will spell doom if guys like Matthews, Tkachuk, and Panarin get too much space to operate. 

The Islanders are gearing up for battle. The third and fourth lines have to shut down the scoring chances. The offensive players have to remember there are two parts of the game. To be fair, the secondary scoring has to step up. They can’t just rely on the top six to compete. They must play a complete game. 

We know what we will get out of Barzal, Horvat, and Nelson. They will be there day in and day out. We need to know what we will get from Lee, Palmieri, and the most significant unknown, the Russian forward, Tsyplakov. If those last three meet expectations, it will go a long way toward the Islanders becoming successful. 

The defense is an interesting proposition. A lot hinges on Noah Dobson leading the way—he’s got to channel that first-half energy from last season and leave the second-half struggles behind. Then there is Ryan Pulock; he needs to unleash that killer shot of his more often. I mean, shoot the puck! Ryan has a lethal weapon in his shot; he needs to use it. The others just have to do their jobs, nothing more, nothing less. And let’s hope Adam Pelech stays healthy. It would be huge for the Islanders down the stretch. 

Here’s to a fun season ahead!

Randy. 

 

Hopes High for Maple Leafs’ Core Four

The Toronto Maple Leafs are heading into the season with some demons on their backs. This year, pressure is on the same soldiers: Matthews, Tavares, Marner, and Nylander. Of course, you can add on defense Reilly, who has been the anchor for years. 

You can hear the diehard Maple Leafs fans talking about how Morgan Rielly has some solid support this season. Enter Chris Tanev, an absolute monster at blocking shots. He is fearless and has more heart than most players. Sure, Rielly might not be the best defensively, but Tanev’s presence will definitely help take some of that pressure off him. Lots more beef on the blue line as the Leafs bring Jani Hakanpää. He brings in his 6’7” and 220 pounds, some much-needed size. Last season, they got run over way too often. Good to see the Leafs address that. 

When it comes to supplementary scoring, the club really needs some help beyond the big four. Nick Robertson needs to stand up with his scoring touch. He is a great winger. It’s time to show that off. On the other hand, Matthew Knies just wrapped up a solid 20-goal season, and I’m really excited about his future. He has a ton of speed. Matthew is a talented forward who fits nicely with that top four. As for Max, he needs to be a key part of the puzzle and help fill the gap left by the loss of Bertuzzi.

In short, the improvements made on defense are just to balance out the offensive losses. The Leafs have a ton of potential to make noise, but until they prove otherwise; it’s the same old, same old. 

Kissing Frogs: The Islanders' Quest for Goalie Greatness

The New York Islanders fans look towards the future as the season begins. A future that might start with—or should I say without—Ilya Sorokin, as nobody knows the extent of his injury. It definitely highlights just how crucial it is to have a solid backup goalie ready to step in!

Enter into the picture, Prince Semyon Varlamov! Varly has to be on his game to give the Isles a chance to win every night. If he controls his rebounds and keeps his head in the game, he will emerge as a Prince. The Islanders could end up finishing close to third place.

If, however, Varly turns out to be a frog, then the Isles have a problem. If he shows his age and does not perform, that leaves us with an exhausted Sorokin. Last year, Serokin was overworked and admitted he was tired. As with all of us, being tired makes Serokin vulnerable and more prone to mistakes and slips up. 

Dobson is going to need some support this season. If the Defense players are frogs, the goalies will have to work their magic; otherwise, Pulock, Pelech, and others must step up. Serokin’s nickname had better not be Gumby this year. Sorokin needs to be a rested goalie going into the playoffs. He must be a well-rested goalie heading into the playoffs. The Defense needs to actively participate in the game; if they don’t, we could be in for a lot of croaking this season. (See what I did there?)

Let me use my friend’s quote. Paul Kriescher said that if the Isles allow less than 230 goals, there is a 93 percent chance they will make the playoffs.You can find Paul on Twitter @P_Kreischer. Basically, their Defense will determine if they end up being frogs or princes this season!

I think the Islanders are a battling team with a competitive roster. I worry that the offense will not be enough for the team to be successful. I’ll dive into those offensive issues in another blog post. It will be a fun year to watch; I just hope we’re eating real food instead of a bunch of flies. Ribbit ribbit!

NHL Draft 2024 - Islanders

If I were the Isles in this year's draft, I would add one dman. I would also like to draft a quality power forward and a big centre. Otherwise, go with the best player available. I expect the Isles to make moves if they can to acquire more picks in this draft.

Round 1

20 Sacha Boisvert Centre

Sacha is an excellent skater who can break away from opponents. He uses his size in small corners and has exceptional puck-handling skills. Boisvert can rip it off the rush with a terrific shot. He has a ton of potential to improve his physical play. 

54 Raoul Boilard Centre

Raoul is a big, nasty center who excels in faceoffs. He uses his size to his best advantage. Boilard is willing to fight the corners and get his nose dirty. I like him because the Isles need some size.

61 Luca Marrelli Defense

Luca is a big, tough stay-at-home dman. He will be used against the big lines. He is a terrific stay-at-home man. Luca will smash and eat anyone that comes near him.

The following players I will just list

Fourth Round

115 Reiley Patterson Centre

Fifth Round

147 Dawson Cowan Goalie

Sixth Round

179 Matvei Babenko Right Wing