Pre-Game Talk: No Dion & The Return Of Ben|Leafs vs Kings|Wednesday @ 7:30

[HockeyGuy82]

This Phaneuf thing might turn out to be a good one. Maybe this will wake up people. Everybody knows how Phaneuf is important. With him missing, might wake up some guys.

Phaneuf comes back, everybody keeps playing like when he was gone, we stay in the playoff hunt. I hope this prediction is right.

 

[p.l.f.]

Terry Koshan ‏@koshtorontosun 32s
Lupul wearing red at practice, along with Holland and Kulemin #Leafs

lemme guess:

jvr - kadri - kessel
raymond - smith - clarkson
lupul - holland - kulemin
d'amigo - mcclement - mclaren

David Alter ‏@DavidAlter590 1m
#leafs lines at practice. JVR-Kadri-Kessel, Raymond-Smith-Clarkson, Lupul-Holland-Kulemin, McLaren-McClement-D'Amigo-Ashton.

Ooh so close

Jonas Siegel ‏@jonasTSN1050 1m
Carl Gunnarsson paired with Cody Franson today. Jake Gardiner with John-Michael Liles. Paul Ranger with Mark Fraser.

 

[Ed Belfour]

Rielly just can't crack the lineup over freakin Mark Fraser? I get it, his development and all that crap about 60 games, but right now he gives us a better chance to win than Mark Fraser. He is a big, slow pylon who can't handle the puck to save his life. We can use Rielly's skating and passing back there more than Fraser's turnovers.

 

[Penalty Kill Icing*]

Rielly just can't crack the lineup over freakin Mark Fraser? I get it, his development and all that crap about 60 games, but right now he gives us a better chance to win than Mark Fraser. He is a big, slow pylon who can't handle the puck to save his life. We can use Rielly's skating and passing back there more than Fraser's turnovers.

I can understand your frustration, but both have been horrible defensively. With Rielly being slightly worse.

 

[Michael Gary Scott]

I can understand your frustration, but both have been horrible defensively. With Rielly being slightly worse.

You are on crack if you honestly believe that.

 

[Cor]

Ranger - Fraser pairing?

We are going to get destroyed

 

[Penalty Kill Icing*]

You are on crack if you honestly believe that.

Rielly leads the NHL in goals scored against per 60 minutes when he is on ice. Worse than Luke Schenn, or any other horrible defenseman you can think of. Yet, I am the one on crack.

P.S.: As horrible as Fraser is, he is nowhere near the top of the list.

 

[FlareKnight]

No clue why Carlyle is even keeping Rielly around. Let him go to the World Juniors at least he might play a couple games there...

The real victims here are the goalie anyways. All 3 of these pairings are potential for disaster.

 

[LeafOfBread]

Franson on the first pairing LOL. Oh boy, our defense is so immobile outside of Gardiner-Liles. That third pairing will get eaten alive by the likes of the Kings and Blues.

 

[Space Coyote]

Frattin will either score a goal or at least be on the scoresheet and Scribbles with a shutout.

 

[BayStreetBullies*]

I'm calling it now, Frattin hat-trick.

 

[Primary Assist]

The team lights up Benji since they know all his weaknesses, McLaren finally finds a good dance partner in Nolan and knocks him back to juniors, Clarkson goes on a tear against the team who stole his chance at a ring, Reimer shuts the door on their anemic offense and the team rallies around each other without their captain and brings a level we haven't yet seen.

I'm not even kidding, the Leafs can win this game. LA will be tired from chasing Montreal around all night going into the back-to-back.

 

[RedRenegade]

Or how about Rielly - Fraser instead of Ranger - Fraser? Bad idea to play him on the other side?

 

[RedRenegade]

Yet, I am the one on crack.

Rob is that you?

 

[p.l.f.]

Play Liles 25 min !

See what the man can do with an increased role

 

[Kessley Snipes*]

Sounds like Lupul is a go tonight.

 

[Peasy]

Fraser in the line up, really...My god, why does Carlyle have such a hard on for people with no skill or hockey iq.

 

[p.l.f.]

Sounds like Lupul is a go tonight.

Tomorrow

LA is in Mtl tonight, so cue JIm Carrey

 

[Space Coyote]

At least Crawford is out with an injury could miss up to 2-3 weeks but with our luck there is every chance even Chicago's backup could shutout the Leafs.

 

[frankthetank91]

Wish we re-signed Kostka instead of Fraser. Ranger-Kostka pairing is better than Ranger-Fraser. Hell even Ranger-Brennan. This guys going PPG in the AHL, that's got to warrant a shot no?

 

[ACC1224]

Rielly just can't crack the lineup over freakin Mark Fraser? I get it, his development and all that crap about 60 games, but right now he gives us a better chance to win than Mark Fraser. He is a big, slow pylon who can't handle the puck to save his life. We can use Rielly's skating and passing back there more than Fraser's turnovers.

Agreed. Fraser shouldn't see the ice again, he's been the worst defenseman by miles.

 

[Ed Belfour]

I can understand your frustration, but both have been horrible defensively. With Rielly being slightly worse.

Rielly hasn't been the best defensively, but at least he also offers elite skating, passing, and puckhandling skills. Fraser is just completely useless if he is having a bad defensive game, which is seemingly every game recently.

 

[paulhiggins]

Between now and Christmas, I like our chances against Florida on the 17th.

 

[LeafsMonster]

If our top line gets going and bernier plays well, we can win.

But with kings defensive system and our defense...

Its an open game. Should be exciting atleast.

 

[Penalty Kill Icing*]

Rielly hasn't been the best defensively, but at least he also offers elite skating, passing, and puckhandling skills. Fraser is just completely useless if he is having a bad defensive game, which is seemingly every game recently.

I hear you. That is why I hope leafs trade for a good defenseman soon. I really don't want Fraser anywhere near the playing 6.