Previous Meetings
The Leafs' four game win streak, which has given Brian Burke/Eyebeleaf so much hope, will run into a buzzsaw tonight:
I don't know about the Leafs being able to fire a tonne of rubber (British?) on Brodeur as the Devils' defense has been very proactive in their positioning. Today, the Flyers gave Martin Brodeur the most work with 27 shots on net - some very quality shots, too - and Brodeur was up to the task. Still, this is a Devils team that lost 4-0 to the Islanders last Saturday, so anything is possible. If I recall correctly, didn't the Leafs last beat the Devils in a shootout?
Anyway, in the last 3 games of the Brodeur Post Injury Era, the Devils have just ripped through opposition defenses. The neutral zone has really been the Devils' zone as they have just used it to retain possession and use it as a launching area for their attacks. Against Colorado, they put 34 on net. Against Florida, they put 46 on net. Today, against Philadelphia (a rival, a very good team), they put 42 on net. The Devils have put on net a combined 122 shots on net and scored 14 goals. Basically, if Ron Wilson isn't looking to clog the neutral zone and the Toronto defenders aren't willing to get in the Devils' face for 60 minutes, then it's going to be a long night for Toskala unless the Devils play half-hearted hockey.
I think the Devils are rolling. Maybe Toronto will be the letdown game? Maybe Brodeur won't even play in it? Who knows!
- John Fischer, In Lou We Trust
Of course, the Leafs have managed to beat the Devils twice this year with the kinds of efforts that could have seen the Leafs win game seven in 2001 as opposed to bowing out with six shots. I wouldn't be surprised to see Moore and Antropov have terrible games tonight in anticipation of their impending moves out of town.
On a good team it might be easier to pick out who had been told that they might be moved by their play. If the Leafs' throw up a stinker I don't know that we can take it as proof that the Leafs' are about to be blown up. It's definitely more proof that they should be blown up but maybe Brian Burke is going to hold the pin in until the draft. I hope not.
