Pre-Game Talk: Leafs vs Columbus | Mon. March 3rd, 2014 | 7pm EST

[leafstilldeath*]

CBJ 12-5-1 in their last 18

TOR 11-4-3 in their last 18.

Won't be an easy game. They are a hard working team.

Personally I would go with Reimer for this one - just freshen things up and make sure he gets a game under his belt because you will be using him at least once on that brutal road trip coming up

Leafs are always going to have trouble playing against those teams unless leafs show up to play and hustle as well. 5 on 5 it is very hard to out skill a hard working and grinding team.

 

[SprDaVE]

I EXPECT a loss! Anything better than that, well, it's a bonus!

Always expect a loss, it's a win-win for you!

 

[leafstilldeath*]

Always expect a loss, it's a win-win for you!

My math prof used to say:

H=1/X

H: Happiness
X: Expectations; X cannot equal 1


The higher the expectations the lower the Happiness and vice-versa. With leafs that equation has certainly held true

 

[I Am The Stig]

I would honestly be surprised if Reimer doesn't start tonight but I could see why Carlyle would want to start Bernier instead.

 

[cbjgirl]

The CBJ haven't looked sharp since the Olympic break. They came out flat versus NJ and went down 3-0 in the first 10 minutes (or so) of the game. They ended up beating the Panthers Saturday afternoon, but don't let the score fool you, the CBJ had 2 empty netters, 3 PP goals, and 1 SH.

I don't know whether they have put things back together since the break. Gaborik is back, so they've been shuffling the forwards. Tyutin is out, so they've been shuffling the d pairs. Bob seems to be taking his time readjusting to the NHL rink versus the Olympic one.

Hard to tell how tonight's game is going to go.

 

[zeke]

Cbj is no joke. They are a very deep team with skill through the entire lineup.

Their topend skill is a bit iffy but with gabby and horton back and bob in net, it can show up in any given night.

 

[Daisy Jane]

Cbj is no joke. They are a very deep team with skill through the entire lineup.

Their topend skill is a bit iffy but with gabby and horton back and bob in net, it can show up in any given night.

and Gabby eats Leafs for breakfast.

 

[Punn]

I know a lot of people aren't to optimistic about tonights game, but this will MAYBE brighten the mood:

Kevin Gibson ‏@TSNResearch 9m
TOR 7 straight home wins, longest home streak since 9 in a row Mar/Apr 2007

 

[BonMorrison]

At what cost? The Leafs missing them perhaps!

REAL Leaf fans SHOULD NOT be wishing for the Leafs to give up any points to any teams, EVER!

Okay.

I was obviously joking hence the ""

 

[SprDaVE]

I know a lot of people aren't to optimistic about tonights game, but this will MAYBE brighten the mood:

Kevin Gibson ‏@TSNResearch 9m
TOR 7 straight home wins, longest home streak since 9 in a row Mar/Apr 2007

This just means we are due for a loss.

 

[Punn]

This just means we are due for a loss.

Law of averages right? Haha

 

[ThePacific]

This just means we are due for a loss.

lol, exactly what I was thinking

 

[Mess]

Whenever Toronto plays Columbus I'm always intrigued to see the head to head comparison play of #2 overall Ryan Murray verses #5 overall Morgan Rielly.

So far Murray and his Columbus teammates have won the battle.

 

[Al14]

Okay.

I was obviously joking hence the ""

Maybe the use of this would've worked better!

 

[Swervin81]

The CBJ haven't looked sharp since the Olympic break. They came out flat versus NJ and went down 3-0 in the first 10 minutes (or so) of the game. They ended up beating the Panthers Saturday afternoon, but don't let the score fool you, the CBJ had 2 empty netters, 3 PP goals, and 1 SH.

I don't know whether they have put things back together since the break. Gaborik is back, so they've been shuffling the forwards. Tyutin is out, so they've been shuffling the d pairs. Bob seems to be taking his time readjusting to the NHL rink versus the Olympic one.

Hard to tell how tonight's game is going to go.

The Leafs have the most trouble against balls to the wall, hard working teams like the Jackets.

 

[ULF_55]

Bernier should play.

It is more important he get back on track then Reimer.

 

[Tak7]

Bernier should play.

It is more important he get back on track then Reimer.

It's more important to get the entire team back on track, than just one player.

 

[ULF_55]

It's more important to get the entire team back on track, than just one player.

Reimer isn't really part of the team going forward. He's just an insurance policy.

 

[zeke]

Whenever Toronto plays Columbus I'm always intrigued to see the head to head comparison play of #2 overall Ryan Murray verses #5 overall Morgan Rielly.

So far Murray and his Columbus teammates have won the battle.

They have?

Murray plays a couple more minutes a game on a team out of a playoff spot.

 

[Tak7]

Reimer isn't really part of the team going forward. He's just an insurance policy.

Not talking about Reimer, but the team.

Think it sends a strong message to everyone that the last 2 performances aren't acceptable, by putting Reimer in and trying to go for the shake-up.

It's why I felt Reimer might have started Saturday in MTL.

EDIT - You are also going to need Reimer on the road-trip coming up. No way Bernier plays all 5. Would you rather Reimer have a game under his belt? Or throw him in cold having not played in months?

 

[Cotton]

After two straight OT losses and the possibility that we'll lose the wildcard spot I imagine we'll come out looking to make a statement. Hopefully Kessel continues to roll and his supporting cast can add some secondary scoring, don't like tight games with Columbus, they grind out wins.

 

[ULF_55]

Not talking about Reimer, but the team.

Think it sends a strong message to everyone that the last 2 performances aren't acceptable, by putting Reimer in and trying to go for the shake-up.

It's why I felt Reimer might have started Saturday in MTL.

EDIT - You are also going to need Reimer on the road-trip coming up. No way Bernier plays all 5. Would you rather Reimer have a game under his belt? Or throw him in cold having not played in months?

Bernier needs to know the team has confidence in him.

Reimer's few starts will be throwaways.

Who cares about Reimer, it's the starter you have to be concerned about.

 

[Tak7]

After two straight OT losses and the possibility that we'll lose the wildcard spot I imagine we'll come out looking to make a statement. Hopefully Kessel continues to roll and his supporting cast can add some secondary scoring, don't like tight games with Columbus, they grind out wins.

So many times when you expect the Leafs to come out flying this season, they haven't.

 

[zeke]

Bernier needs to know the team has confidence in him.

Reimer's few starts will be throwaways.

Who cares about Reimer, it's the starter you have to be concerned about.

We can only hope management isn't making that kind of distinction between goalies with identical track records like you are.

Bernier's history tells us that a stretch of poor play would be no surprise, and it'd be a shame if management sacrificed wins due to unjustified labels.

 

[mikebel111*]

I think reimer needs a start. 2 sub par outings by bernier.
I give it to reimer today. Than go from there