Game 9 - Chicago 3, Leafs 1 - Defending champs teach Leafs a lesson

A familiar story to his post, as Toronto got badly beaten in Chicago. Getting outchanced for the third consecutive game, this time the Leafs weren't even enough in the game to benefit from some luck and weak goaltending, as in the Minnesota game, or to be felled by a weird game winner, as against Carolina. In fact, watching the game, it seems strange that the Leafs were as close as 3-1; Chicago did have a goal called back, but it felt as if they were much more secure than a two-goal margin.

The Leafs were on the back foot from the start, badly outchanced in the first, and generating only a single even strength chance. The second saw them get a goal, as well as generate a couple of chances, but they allowed even more, including three goals, with Mike Kostka's first NHL marker among them. The third was the team's best period, as they did manage a little fight early in the frame, but that's not saying much. The last ten minutes saw Chicago outchance the Leafs 6-1, and the game petered out for Toronto without much serious threat of posing a comeback.

Toronto had fewer chances in the Minnesota game, but had a better margin, as this was their worst game of the season. The 19 chances against at even strength were the highest of the season, as were the 25 overall.

A summary of the scoring chances:

Status	Overall		ES
Team	Toronto	Chicago	Toronto	Chicago
1	2	8	1	4
2	3	10	2	8
3	4	7	3	7
Total	9	25	6	19

Follow below the fold for details.




This was my list of scoring chances from the game. If you see any problems or omissions (here or anywhere else), please go ahead and leave a comment.

Club	St	P	Time	Note	Toronto						Chicago
CHI	ES	1	19:06	Saad from loose puck	63	81	19	3	36	45	19	81	20	2	7	50
CHI	ES	1	17:57	Hjalmarsson from Kruger	43	40	12	15	51	45	16	65	29	4	8	50
TOR	PP	1	17:25	Van Riemsdyk from Franson	42	81	21	3	4	45	16	26	4	27	50	-
CHI	SH	1	14:16	Toews wide from Kane	11	21	3	4	45	-	19	65	10	88	2	50
CHI	SH	1	14:07	Keith wide from Kane	11	21	3	4	45	-	19	65	10	88	2	50
CHI	ES	1	08:33	Hossa from Toews	42	81	21	3	4	45	19	81	20	4	27	50
TOR	ES	1	04:35	Van Riemsdyk from loose puck	42	81	21	15	51	45	19	81	29	2	4	50
CHI	ES	1	03:55	Kostka from Kruger	43	40	12	15	51	45	16	65	52	6	8	50
CHI	SH	1	02:08	Kostka wide from Kane	63	21	3	36	45	-	19	65	10	88	6	50
CHI	SH	1	01:58	Toews from rebound of Kane shot	63	21	3	36	45	-	19	65	10	88	6	50
CHI	ES	2	18:25	Sharp from Kane	63	19	32	4	44	45	26	10	88	2	7	50
CHI	ES	2	14:28	GOAL! Bickell from rebound	42	81	21	15	51	45	16	65	29	4	27	50
CHI	ES	2	14:00	Kane from Sharp	43	40	12	4	44	45	26	10	88	2	7	50
TOR	PP	2	12:57	GOAL! Kadri from Lupul	43	19	12	3	4	45	16	26	4	27	50	-
TOR	ES	2	12:20	Lupul from Bolland	63	19	32	36	44	45	19	81	20	2	7	50
CHI	ES	2	09:32	GOAL! Kostka from Pirri	11	28	46	15	36	45	37	42	52	6	8	50
CHI	ES	2	05:09	Kostka from Hossa	43	40	12	3	36	45	19	81	20	6	8	50
CHI	SH	2	04:42	Kane from Sharp	11	21	4	36	45	-	19	65	10	88	2	50
CHI	SH	2	03:11	GOAL! Pirri from Saad	63	12	15	51	45	-	37	81	20	7	8	50
TOR	ES	2	02:15	Kessel from Gunnarsson	42	81	3	15	45	-	19	20	4	27	50	-
CHI	ES	2	01:19	Kane from Seabrook	63	12	15	51	45	-	65	88	2	7	50	-
CHI	ES	2	00:59	Keith from Shaw	63	12	15	51	45	-	65	88	2	7	50	-
CHI	ES	2	00:25	Hossa from Toews	43	19	21	3	44	45	19	10	81	4	27	50
CHI	ES	3	18:31	Nordstrom wide from loose puck	43	19	12	15	51	45	16	42	29	6	8	50
TOR	PP	3	17:58	Lupul deflects Phaneuf shot	43	19	12	3	4	45	16	26	4	27	50	-
TOR	ES	3	14:07	Kadri from loose puck	11	43	32	15	51	45	16	42	52	6	8	50
TOR	ES	3	12:23	Raymond from Franson	63	19	12	4	44	45	37	65	29	2	7	50
CHI	ES	3	09:01	Toews wide from Sharp	63	19	32	44	51	45	19	10	88	6	8	50
CHI	ES	3	08:43	Kane from Sharp	11	63	32	44	51	45	19	10	88	6	8	50
CHI	ES	3	07:11	Toews from Saad	42	81	12	3	36	45	19	81	20	4	27	50
CHI	ES	3	06:14	Pirri from givewaay	63	19	28	15	36	45	37	42	52	2	7	50
CHI	ES	3	05:50	Kane wide from Handzus	63	19	28	4	44	45	26	10	88	2	7	50
CHI	ES	3	05:25	Sharp from Kane	63	19	28	4	44	45	19	10	88	2	7	50
TOR	ES	3	03:41	Raymond from rebound of Ranger shot	43	19	12	15	51	45	16	65	29	2	7	50

The Extra Skater game profile.

Beaten on Corsi again, the Leafs were down 40-67 overall and 28-50 5-on-5.

Some notes: 
1st - 17:57 - Nice timing by Hjalmarsson to jump into the play. Both Raymond and Kadri are in close attention to Kruger, who manages to get a pass through to the defenseman, who can walk into the slot.

1st - 17:25 - One of only two Leaf chances I have for the period, it isn't even a great one, as Van Riemsdyk tries his trademark through the legs shot from the side of the net on the power play.
1st - 14:16 - Toews fluffs on a one-timer wide on the powrplay, after a very nice pass from Kane finds him alone in the slot.
1st - 4:35 - The only ES chance from the Leafs in the period, as again JVR uses his quick hands, taking a puck out front and putting it on Crawford.

2nd - 18:25 - Kane goes wide, watched by Rielly, but Sharp is left alone by Leivo in front, allowing Sharp a chance to hammer a shot on net.
2nd - 14:28 - Bickell has his initial shot stopped on a 3-on-3 rush, but Bernier gives up a big rebound into the slot, and in trying to clear it, manages to push the puck out past Bozak, who had left Bickell to try and recover the puck. Bozak's then caught behind Gardiner in front of the net, leaving Bickell a lot of time alone to go around Bernier and finish. A nice patient play by Bickell.
2nd - 14:00 - An easy even-man rush, but Rielly really blows his assignment, leaving Kane alone and failing to interecept the pass across. Kane can't get alot on it, but he's not a guy you can leave that open.

2nd - 12:57 - A Leafs powerplay goal at a critical time. Oduya has the puck hop over his stick, allowing Lupul to get there instead. Lupul throws it in front to Kadri, who manages to get enough of it to tie the game.
2nd - 9:32 - Kostka, who went all season last year without scoring, gets his first NHL goal against his former team. Again, the Leafs are caught by a defenseman coming up, with both defenders watching Bollig in front of the net, and Broll's attempt to block the shot not working. Bernier gets a piece, but not enough to keep it out.

2nd - 3:11 - Saad finds Pirri with a good pass on the powerplay, as the Leafs get outmanned down low by Chicago's additional manpower.
2nd - 2:11 - Very impressive save from Crawford, as Kessel sifts into the slot and releases a quick shot that I think is headed to the top corner before Crawford deflects it with his stick. It might have been going wide, but still a good effort from the goalie.
2nd - 1:19 - Kane shows off his speed, blowing pass Gardiner on a 4-on-4, after getting a good long pass from Seabrook. Bernier does well to stop him.

3rd - 9:01  - McClement skates past the puck against the Toews line, and almost pays for it, as Sharp picks it up and feed Toews, who shoots high and wide from the slot.
3rd - 6:14 - Not totally sold on this as a chance, not sure Pirri had much to do with it, as Ranger's clearance attempt almost goes into the Leaf net off the Chicago forward. It's counted as a shot, so I'll count it as a chance.
3rd - 3:41 - Toronto's last chance of the game, Crawford knocks down Ranger's shot, but the rebound goes right to Raymond. Crawford makes the stop on a fairly weak, and pretty much hits Raymond in the face with his blocker for added measure.

The scoring chance numbers for the Leaf players:

Player	F	A	D	TOI	ESF	ESA	ESD	EVTOI	PPF	PPA	PPD	SHF	SHA	SHD
Phaneuf	4	9	-5	22:28	1	5	-4	15:18	3	0	3	0	4	-4
Franson	4	8	-4	22:12	1	5	-4	14:56	3	0	3	0	3	-3
Mcclement	1	5	-4	10:15	1	2	-1	07:30	0	0	0	0	3	-3
Raymond	4	9	-5	18:36	2	8	-6	14:34	2	0	2	0	1	-1
Ranger	4	9	-5	18:23	4	8	-4	16:31	0	0	0	0	1	-1
Lupul	5	8	-3	19:41	3	8	-5	16:12	2	0	2	0	0	0
Van Riemsdyk	2	8	-6	20:39	1	3	-2	14:14	1	0	1	0	5	-5
Orr	0	4	-4	06:00	0	4	-4	05:51	0	0	0	0	0	0
Leivo	2	3	-1	09:18	2	3	-1	09:07	0	0	0	0	0	0
Gunnarsson	1	8	-7	16:31	1	5	-4	13:56	0	0	0	0	3	-3
Bodie	0	4	-4	06:23	0	4	-4	06:23	0	0	0	0	0	0
Bozak	3	3	0	22:46	2	3	-1	16:20	1	0	1	0	0	0
Kadri	4	6	-2	17:32	2	6	-4	13:42	2	0	2	0	0	0
Rielly	2	7	-5	20:19	2	7	-5	17:11	0	0	0	0	0	0
Broll	0	1	-1	04:13	0	1	-1	04:04	0	0	0	0	0	0
Gardiner	3	9	-6	19:56	3	8	-5	16:22	0	0	0	0	1	-1
Bolland	2	12	-10	16:05	2	9	-7	14:09	0	0	0	0	3	-3
Kessel	3	4	-1	22:23	2	4	-2	18:03	1	0	1	0	0	0
Bernier	9	25	-16	58:26	6	19	-13	45:33	3	0	3	0	6	-6

The top line were offensively pretty quiet, but didn't have that bad a game, as they weren't all that vulnerable defensively for a change. Bozak's -1 is tied for the team's best, and in 16 minutes it's actually pretty impressive, given how poor the team played as a whole.

Dave Bolland had the worst game of his Leaf career, getting badly shown up in his return to Chicago. His -7 diff, and being on for nine chances against, are both the worst on the team. He did poorly against the Toews line, but had negative split against pretty much all the lines he played against. Mason Raymond had another poor game as well, on for 8 chances, as was Joffrey Lupul.

After Ranger started with some good games, he's had a tough time recently, on for another boatload of chances. Of course, no one on the defense looks even decent by these chances. Gardiner and Rielly are dismal -5's, worse even than Ranger, and Phaneuf and Gunnarsson were worse than their usual too, as they were -4's along with Franson. I remain convinced that Morgan Rielly should not stay the full season with the Leafs. He's got a lot of talent, for sure, but his defensive game needs work, and the pressure cooker of Toronto is not a place to get that work, especially if things take a turn for the worse.

The Blackhawks:
 

Player	F	A	D	TOI	ESF	ESA	ESD	EVTOI	PPF	PPA	PPD	SHF	SHA	SHD
Keith	11	4	7	23:55	8	4	4	19:05	3	0	3	0	0	0
Hjalmarsson	5	5	0	21:02	5	2	3	16:17	0	0	0	0	3	-3
Kostka	8	1	7	13:45	6	1	5	11:35	2	0	2	0	0	0
Seabrook	9	3	6	23:17	8	3	5	19:33	1	0	1	0	0	0
Leddy	8	1	7	14:11	7	1	6	11:46	1	0	1	0	0	0
Sharp	12	0	12	18:16	7	0	7	14:50	5	0	5	0	0	0
Kruger	4	5	-1	14:32	4	2	2	09:45	0	0	0	0	3	-3
Toews	13	3	10	23:08	8	3	5	17:30	5	0	5	0	0	0
Saad	5	2	3	17:46	4	2	2	14:54	1	0	1	0	0	0
Handzus	3	3	0	14:01	3	0	3	10:45	0	0	0	0	3	-3
Oduya	4	4	0	21:01	4	1	3	16:16	0	0	0	0	3	-3
Bickell	3	3	0	10:47	3	3	0	10:47	0	0	0	0	0	0
Pirri	3	1	2	09:37	2	1	1	07:53	1	0	1	0	0	0
Nordstrom	3	1	2	07:42	3	1	2	06:21	0	0	0	0	0	0
Bollig	3	1	2	05:27	3	1	2	05:27	0	0	0	0	0	0
Shaw	10	2	8	14:39	5	2	3	11:26	5	0	5	0	0	0
Hossa	6	2	4	18:46	5	2	3	14:20	1	0	1	0	0	0
Kane	13	0	13	17:42	8	0	8	14:24	5	0	5	0	0	0
Crawford	25	9	16	59:55	19	6	13	47:02	6	0	6	0	3	-3

Patrick Kane was a spectacular 8-0 at even strength, and 13-0 overall, the best performance this season by a player against the Leafs. Sharp was also excellent, at 7-0, while Toews also was on for 8 chances, but only three against. Kostka's +5 against his former team will surely make him very happy, while Nick Leddy also showed well, with a +6. 

Bickell, despite his goal, was probably the worst of the Hawks, as he was the only player who was not positive at even strength.

Players with nice chance numbers:
Toronto - .... Maybe Tyler Bozak?
Chicago - Patrick Kane, Patrick Sharp, Nick Leddy

Players with poor chance numbers:
Toronto - Mason Raymond, Dave Bolland, Morgan Rielly
Chicago - Bryan Bickell