Allgemeines » Most of the long ball play is coming from the back

TORONTO a€“ The team president stood there at ice-level in a corridor just beyond the Air Canada Centre glass for the first 18 minutes or so of an opening period that did little to bring a smile to his face. Kevin Newman Jersey . Brendan Shanahans Maple Leafs were already in a three-goal pit at that point late in the first frame, well on their way a second straight loss to open the season. They were dominated by Sidney Crosby, Patric Hornqvist, Evgeni Malkin and company on this night, Pittsburgh scoring three power-play goals in a rout of all kinds at the Air Canada Centre. Particularly ineffective (and often without the puck) in the loss was the teams top line, which has been held off the score-sheet entirely at even-strength in the first two games. Again, we didnt play that great, said winger Phil Kessel following the 5-2 loss, which comes three days after a season opening defeat to Montreal. My line in particular we didnt get [expletive] done. Its two games in, but its unacceptable so far. Weve got to be better. Kessel had just one shot attempt all night and was eventually bumped from his normal spot on the right side with Tyler Bozak and James van Riemsdyk, all part of a shuffling in the third period by head coach, Randy Carlyle. The Leafs were stuck down three at that point a€“ trailing 4-1 a€“ but it was earlier in the night that Carlyle expected and needed some sort of response from Kessel and the teams top guns. Joffrey Lupul brought it to 3-1 early in the middle frame, but then with the Leafs on a power-play, Kessel was called for hauling down Brandon Sutter in the offensive zone a€“ his second minor penalty of the night. Power-play over. Momentum zapped. When the tide of the game swung so hard against our hockey club we didnt have much of a response, Carlyle said. You look to those big guys on your team to be able to grab it back for you and right now, in these two games, theyve had some difficulty doing that. The Penguins scored twice in a minute early in the opening period, including the third already this season from Crosby and his 21st in 29 career games against the Leafs. Pittsburgh would add two more with the man advantage, wreaking havoc with Torontos continued trips to the penalty box. They also dominated the possession battle at even-strength, emerging with 55 shot attempts to just 32 for the home side. Part of the problem, said Stephane Robidas afterward, was the amount of lost puck battles, even singling himself out on the Crosby goal. They were hungrier on the puck, he said. Its a tough one to swallow. Its not the way were supposed to play. Its not the way we wanted to play. The compete level has just got to come up another notch. Its definitely not good enough so far, Kessel concluded. Tonight was not a good enough performance by us. Me in particular I didnt have a good night again. Ill be better [Sunday]. Five Points 1. Top Line James van Riemsdyk tried to dance around Paul Martin at the Pittsburgh blue-line late in the second frame and was vanquished. Martin picked the puck free and then pinned van Riemsdyk and Torontos top line in the defensive zone for upwards of a minute. Its been that kind of start for van Riemsdyk, Kessel and Bozak, one thats seen the line spend more time defending than creating much of anything offensively. The unit has gone point-less at even-strength in the first two games, only Bozak finding the score-sheet with a pair of power-play goals. We just havent got the puck very much right now, said Kessel, who owned 30 per cent possession rating at even-strength. I dont think any of us have really touched it. Its a little sloppy. Weve been in our defensive zone a little too much and I dont know if either way when were out there were getting the puck that much. Its just all over the place you know. David Clarkson replaced Kessel alongside van Riemsdyk and Bozak in the final 20 minutes. Kessel, who played about 17 minutes, finished the night with Lupul and Nazem Kadri. 2. Compete Level Carlyle talked about compete level early and often last season and it appears he may have to visit that well again here soon. The Leafs altered their system in training camp a€“ including in defensive zone coverage and the neutral zone a€“ but Robidas, the 37-year-old veteran, said that had nothing to do with what took place against Pittsburgh. I dont like to use excuses, said Robidas, who played just under 14 minutes. Its not a complicated system. Its just a matter of working and working as a unit of five. Thats what we didnt do. Youve got to win one-on-one battles. It doesnt matter which system youre playing, it doesnt matter which league youre in, if you dont win one-on-one battles youre not going to win too many games. The fifth Penguins goal in particular saw a series of Leafs a€“ Joffrey Lupul, Jake Gardiner and Nazem Kadri among them a€“ out-willed for the puck, Brandon Sutter eventually beating Kadri to the front of the goal. Robidas said it was unacceptable, additionally, that Crosby beat him to the puck on Pittsburghs second goal. Thats stuff that I cant personally do, he said. Thats something I need to focus on. 3. Bernier The opening two starts of Jonathan Berniers second season in Toronto have not gone to script. Bernier has allowed nine goals on 73 shots a€“ .877 save percentage a€“ including a pair that he needed to stop. Max Pacioretty scored on the Canadiens first shot Wednesday, sneaking one under the pad and then on Saturday it was Hornqvist scoring on the Penguins second shot, tucking it through the five-hole. Obviously you want to win every game and be sharp every night and I dont think Ive got my game yet, Bernier said afterward. James Reimer is likely to make his season debut at MSG on Sunday. 4. Hollands New Opportunity With no power-play minutes to go around, Peter Holland approached the coaching staff with another idea. He wanted an opportunity to kill penalties instead, something he hadnt done since he was in junior with the Guelph Storm. Two facets the head coach will be closely monitoring in regards to Hollands new duties is how he handles himself on the draw a€“ he went 2-0 in the opener a€“ and whether hes able and willing to clog shooting lanes and blocks shots. Those are the things were asking of Peter Holland, Carlyle said. For his part, Holland is not only keen on the added minutes, but on the potential scoring opportunities while shorthanded a€“ breakaways, odd-man rushes etc. 5. Richard Panik Debut Richard Panik scored the first goal of the Norfolk Admirals Calder Cup-clinching Game 4 at Ricoh Coliseum in early June 2012. And now the 23-year-old is back in Toronto as a member of the Leafs organization, claimed off waivers from the Lightning earlier this week. A second-round pick in 2009, Panik is a low-risk, high-upside type of get for the club, similar in some ways to the inexpensive one-year bets made on Mike Santorelli, David Booth, and Daniel Winnik in the offseason. Toronto was a little surprised to find him on the waiver wire given his age, size, and skill, but Tampa was crowded with forwards and ultimately failed in their attempt to sneak him through to Syracuse, their AHL affiliate. Were getting a guy that can make plays, said Carlyle of Panik, most of his exposure to the 6-foot-2 212 pounder coming during that AHL playoff series a couple years back. Hes a big strong kid. And hes got a skill-set that wouldnt designate him as a fourth-line hockey player. He can play higher than that in your lineup. The issue for Panik, Carlyle said, would be consistency. He initially teamed the Slovakian with Brandon Kozun and Holland, his former Guelph linemate. Over his past two NHL seasons a€“ 75 games a€“ Panik, who played eight minutes against the Penguins, tallied eight goals and 22 points. Stats-Pack 21 a€“ Goals for Sidney Crosby in 29 career games against Toronto. 0 a€“ Points in the opening two games by Phil Kessel and James van Riemsdyk. 55-32 a€“ Possession battle at even-strength on Saturday, favouring the visitors. 1 a€“ Shot attempt for Kessel in the loss. 9 a€“ Goals allowed by Jonathan Bernier in two starts this season. Special Teams Capsule PP: 2-5 Season: 37.5% PK: 2-5 Season: 57.1% Quote of the Night Again, we didnt play that great. My line in particular we didnt get [exceptive] done. Its two games in, but its unacceptable so far. Weve got to be better. -Phil Kessel, following a second straight poor performance to open the season. Up Next The Leafs get right back at it against the defending Eastern Conference champs in New York on Sunday a€“ their first of 18 back-to-backs this season. Al Oliver Jersey . Maximilian Arnold put Wolfsburg ahead in the eighth minute, when the stationary Fallou Diagne allowed him to guide Patrick Ochs cross beyond the helpless Freiburg goalkeeper, and Ivica Olic doubled the lead three minutes later after Luiz Gustavo did well to set him up. Yacksel Rios Jersey . Cleary also had two assists and Patrick Eaves added two goals for the Red Wings, who also ousted Phoenix in seven games during the first round of the 2010 postseason. Todd Bertuzzi had a goal and an assist for Detroit, which got a goal apiece from Tomas Holmstrom and Niklas Kronwall and suffered no shortage of offense despite the absences of Henrik Zetterberg and Johan Franzen. https://www.cheappiratesjerseys.us/1642e-sam-howard-jersey-pirates.html . Spains victory rendered Frances 3-0 win against Finland meaningless as Spain needed just one point to secure passage to Brazil. Franck Ribery and Karim Benzema scored either side of Joona Toivios own-goal as France advanced to the playoff among the eight best second-place finishers.An 80-minute struggle was overcome by one moment of brilliance. Glorious moments as experienced Saturday have come few and far between for Toronto FC over their not-so illustrious history. More times than not, Toronto FC has been on the receiving end of those game-changing moments, ending in disappointment and distraught. The script has been flipped in 2014. The most recent special moment came courtesy of Toronto FCs big-money striker. $6 million dollars, plus, is significant by Major League Soccer standards. You get what you pay for. And for Toronto FCs investment, theyve got themselves a true difference-maker and match-winner in Jermain Defoe. It was a picture perfect afternoon at BMO Field. The play on the field by Defoes Toronto FC and the visiting Columbus Crew was hardly a masterpiece. Choppy, disconnected, overall poor play was commonplace. The product was substandard and frustrating to watch. That was until the 81st minute. Queue Defoe. A typical searching, lazy ball was played forward by Toronto FCs backline as the Reds searched for an equalizer, down 2-1 to the Crew. Columbus was merely hanging on, bringing nothing to the proceedings. Toronto was similar, obliging their visitor. It was a Columbus mistake that opened the door. Michael Parkhurst the culprit, fresh off being left out of the US Mens National team 23 for Brazil, failing to control. The ball bounced high, then a poor header by the Crew defender before the ball fell on to the head of TFC substitute Gilberto. The Brazilian found Defoe between two Columbus defenders, only for Toronto FCs top scorer to hint right, before going left, hitting with his left-foot on the volley from outside the 18-yard box – a stunning finish out of nowhere. It was Defoes second goal on the day and sixth of the early season. It must be said Defoe hasnt been used to his fullest as of yet, lacking proper service over the course of 90 minutes. Hes spent far too much time chasing matches. Its his predatory instincts and quality in finish that make him who he is, and largely why Toronto FC can afford to hang around in matches and not get punished. Six goals in seven games played is an incredible return on investment. Another goal would come for TFC, a winner off the head of Doneil Henry in time added on to take the full three points. But it was Defoes special strike that was the TSN Turning Point. The goal lifted the team at a time it didnt seem a goal would come. Heads lifted, energy flowed and belief returned. "Sometimes it was painful to watch but they kept going," remarked Toronto FC Head Coach Ryan Nelsen post-match. Earning points while not at their best is becoming trademark of this Toronto FC team. For the second consecutive week, TFC trailed twice before coming back to earn points. Toronto FC finds themselves in a very good spot, on 16 points through 10 games played. Despite sitting fifth in the Eastern Conference, they have the third best points per game (1.6) and have at least three games in hand on any team ahead of them, including five games in hand on the fourth place Houston Dynamo. Here are my five thoughts after Toronto FCs 3-2 win. Doneil Does It – The roller coaster continues for the young Canadian central defender. Doneil Henrys game winner made him feel like the hometown hero for the day. The 21-year olds physical presence is plain to see, with a build and athleticism beyond his years. Henry was first to a set piece Wednesday scoring the opener against the Montreal Impact, and came up even bigger against the Crew. Earlier in the game, Agustin Viana beat Henry to a ball in the air on Columbus second goal. It wasnt entirely Henrys doing, with Toronto FC playing zonal defensively. Henry made amends on his match winner - the run and jump impeccable, coming to meet the ball with ideal timing and form. He was never going to be beat. The out-pouring of emotion was plain to see, shirt off and yelling to the crowd and his teammates. Despite his early season struggles, Henry doesnt lack confidence. His celebration was a signal of passion. Its channeling the passion and exuberance thats part of the growth process, becoming a complete player. Work is still to be done in improving positional discipline and proper timing in challenges. Its a process of patience and maturation. Saturdays goal is part of the journey. But you have to feel good for a player who works incredibly hard and ultimately has a very bright future. Nelsens A+ Adjustments – The Head Coach joked after the game things "couldnt get any worse." Changes were desperately needed. With Collen Warner missing (family wedding), Bradley Orr was again assigned the defensive midfield role. Nelsen prefers a true physical, defensive presence to sit on top of his back four. That was near essential playing the young duo of Henry and Nick Hagglund to lead the backline. The game changed with Orrr being forced from the match after 18 minutes with a hamstring issue. Rennie Stennett Jersey. Interesting enough, Dan Lovitz was preferred ahead of Alvaro Rey at outside left, raising further questions on Reys form and true future with the club. It was a real struggle on the day for Lovitz – indecisiveness and poor distribution throughout. Lovitz did make amends with a lovely set piece assisting on Henrys winner. The early change allowed Jonathan Osorio to move inside, a position he looks more influential than outside left. Nelsens second half adjustments were much more pronounced. The introduction of Gilberto was an impactful one. Gilberto was relegated to the bench to start; a good decision by Nelsen to take some pressure off the young Brazilian. Gilberto was put up front in the 66th minute, with Luke Moore moving wide left. Gilberto was an instant pest, using his speed and athleticism to cause problems in the Columbus backline. The response by Gilberto was ultimately a positive one. Some players let a demotion unsettle. No heads down and outward negativity by Gilberto. He put in an absolute shift, playing a part in both second half goals. Nelsens other change, Dwayne De Rosario, came at the right time, as TFC desperately needed to push forward. DeRo was deployed in the middle of the park, a place he looked comfortable and composed. De Rosario is still class on the ball and gives TFC another asset in that position. Perhaps this is where he is best utilized, to change the look and pace of the game. The in-game changes by the manager continue to improve. Nelsen has a good read on his team, strengths and limitations. It must be remembered its been a process thus far, with an improved squad in an awkward World Cup year. The way his team fights and plays for him allow room for tactical adjustments. Its coming along. Putrid Passing – There is no other way of putting it: team passing is downright awful. There continue to be far too many long, searching balls for a team with players more comfortable with the ball at their feet. Seventy-three per cent pass completion on the day, with 84 fewer completed passes than a sub-par Columbus team, minus Federico Higuain, while playing at home is unacceptable. Most of the long ball play is coming from the back, but its not entirely on the defenders. The movement off the ball simply isnt there. The only player really showing for the ball in accessible areas is the defensive midfielder. It was Kyle Bekker for most of Saturday. Hed come deep for the ball, get it, look up, and have no other option than going back or playing square to a central defender. This isnt good enough. The long ball stuff has to go. And better spacing/movement off the ball is essential. Mess in the Midfield – It was never going to be easy with Michael Bradley away on World Cup duty. Seven points in three league games is huge for TFC without their midfield general. For Nelsen and General Manager Tim Bezbatchenko, the midfield continues to be the biggest conundrum and area in need of improvement. Without Bradley, the team has been exposed despite the positive results. Nelsen and his team tactics relies upon a traditional holding midfielder to support the back-line and allow a more attack minded central player link up with the front-line. Orr did well in this role before injury, but doesnt provide a complete range in his game to be an every-day holding midfielder. Orrs injury makes the acquisition of Warner that much more important. Those scoffing at the Warner trade look foolish now. Bekker is proving ill suited to a holding role. Osorio will never be that player. There is no question Warner is the first choice at the position, and its not even close. Its about balance in the middle of the park. There are too many players playing out of position and very little natural depth. Look for this to be the area Bezbatchenko looks to alter as the season goes on. Home Field Advantage – The banner draping the Southeast entrance of BMO Field says Welcome to the Fortress. The home supporters played their role Saturday with BMO living up to that billing. Late in the match, when all seemed lost and the game was dire and slow, the crowd rose in voice, providing the energy the play lacked. The team was in desperate need of a lift and the supporters provided it. The interjection of life may be a little thing, but it absolutely matters. The team responded. Having Osorio and Bekker jump into the south-end post-match shows an understanding by the local products what the fan-base and their support means. It was a nice touch to cap off a dramatic comeback. Feel good vibes are returning. The second leg of the Amway Canadian Championship goes Wednesday night in Montreal against the Impact before Toronto FC returns home Saturday for a date with the San Jose Earthquakes (4-4-4) on TSN and TSN 1050 Radio. ' ' '