KingMatthews
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I don't think this team is dead. By a longshot.
We've seen all season the lack of consistency this team can display. Whether it be a prolonged winning or losing streak, we have that ability to either make or break an entire season in the last ten games. It's going to be a dogfight to the very end and the suffering may have just begun but I strangely feel like we'll turn things around.
Firstly, the key to this scenario is James Reimer. Here's a guy who worked his way up from junior hockey to the ECHL, the AHL and finally the big time. He captured all of our hearts and minds with his often spectacular goaltending and the ability to battle every shot like it was his last. Granted, it's not always the prettiest style, but for much of his NHL career he has gotten the job done. I'm not ready to throw in the towel on his time as a Maple Leaf just yet, even if this is likely his last season here. All he's ever done in his time as a Leaf was show up to battle, conduct himself professionally and endear himself to us with key saves in big moments. He single handedly saved our season in the playoffs last year against Boston in games 5 and 6. I agree that he must assert himself right now and get back to the level of play that he is quite capable of, but perhaps he just needs some encouragement from either Carlyle, his wife, his family or even us, the fans. With Bernier going down we must rely on James to save our season. I don't think we'd be misplacing our trust with him. But the support should be there. Does it really make a difference? Maybe not. But karmically? Who knows.
Realistically, we have to go maybe 6-4? 7-3? Let's look at the schedule.
Devils, Blues, Flyers, Wings, Flames, Bruins, Jets, Lightning, Panthers, Senators.
Maybe I'm crazy, but the only game I'm really worried about here is St. Louis. Being the inconsistent team that we are, they can capably go against basically every team here and bang out a win. Obviously Boston and Philly will be really tough games but in sports anything can happen. I'm no mathematician, but I'm guessing the law of averages should probably change things to our favour very soon. Our top line might suddenly get hot again and if Reimer can steal us a game or two, we might just be okay.
It's really terrible that we couldn't even squeak out a point tonight against our hated rivals. I thought aside from the weak goals and spotty coverage in the first period, we actually played good enough to win. At this point we need to find positives in just about anything. But I'm not ready to give up on this team, on the players or the coach. These are the ones we have, in place right now, and we can't do anything about that. A true fan to me supports his or her team no matter what the circumstances. I'm going to fight tooth and nail to the very end in my support because I couldn't see things any other way. I don't think there was any question that before the season started we thought we'd be in the hunt for a playoff position. Well, we're right there. Let's go and get it.
We've seen all season the lack of consistency this team can display. Whether it be a prolonged winning or losing streak, we have that ability to either make or break an entire season in the last ten games. It's going to be a dogfight to the very end and the suffering may have just begun but I strangely feel like we'll turn things around.
Firstly, the key to this scenario is James Reimer. Here's a guy who worked his way up from junior hockey to the ECHL, the AHL and finally the big time. He captured all of our hearts and minds with his often spectacular goaltending and the ability to battle every shot like it was his last. Granted, it's not always the prettiest style, but for much of his NHL career he has gotten the job done. I'm not ready to throw in the towel on his time as a Maple Leaf just yet, even if this is likely his last season here. All he's ever done in his time as a Leaf was show up to battle, conduct himself professionally and endear himself to us with key saves in big moments. He single handedly saved our season in the playoffs last year against Boston in games 5 and 6. I agree that he must assert himself right now and get back to the level of play that he is quite capable of, but perhaps he just needs some encouragement from either Carlyle, his wife, his family or even us, the fans. With Bernier going down we must rely on James to save our season. I don't think we'd be misplacing our trust with him. But the support should be there. Does it really make a difference? Maybe not. But karmically? Who knows.
Realistically, we have to go maybe 6-4? 7-3? Let's look at the schedule.
Devils, Blues, Flyers, Wings, Flames, Bruins, Jets, Lightning, Panthers, Senators.
Maybe I'm crazy, but the only game I'm really worried about here is St. Louis. Being the inconsistent team that we are, they can capably go against basically every team here and bang out a win. Obviously Boston and Philly will be really tough games but in sports anything can happen. I'm no mathematician, but I'm guessing the law of averages should probably change things to our favour very soon. Our top line might suddenly get hot again and if Reimer can steal us a game or two, we might just be okay.
It's really terrible that we couldn't even squeak out a point tonight against our hated rivals. I thought aside from the weak goals and spotty coverage in the first period, we actually played good enough to win. At this point we need to find positives in just about anything. But I'm not ready to give up on this team, on the players or the coach. These are the ones we have, in place right now, and we can't do anything about that. A true fan to me supports his or her team no matter what the circumstances. I'm going to fight tooth and nail to the very end in my support because I couldn't see things any other way. I don't think there was any question that before the season started we thought we'd be in the hunt for a playoff position. Well, we're right there. Let's go and get it.
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