The Francis Report - Ep12 - 12 Days of Leafsmas

Latest episode of The Francis Report is out! Mike and I write our own version of the 12 Days of Christmas.  Talk about if the Leafs are for real this time, about The Big Ice chat, and what the Leafs should do to shed some salary.

Episode 6 - Voodoo Magic

The newest episode of The Francis Report is out!

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The Francis Report Podcast EP4 - Breaking New Ground

Episode 4 is up!

HGS: October 10th 2014

The Leafs lost the first game of the year, big deal.  It's only one game!  Even ask Phil Kessel, he knows!

"Guys, it's Game 1. You guys need to relax a bit here.” — Phil Kessell #Leafs
— Kevin McGran (@kevin_mcgran) October 10, 2014

Phil is right.  Stop over reacting to 1 game!  There are 81 left.

There is a never ending supply of reasons why Randy Carlyle should not be a coach in the NHL.  1) He would rather have 2 face punchers sit on the bench for 57 minutes a night than to have 2 guys there with actual skill.  I know you might say "But Jeff, the Leafs farm is bare, they don't have anyone with skills" and you would probably be right. Just having two players who are going to play 3 minutes a game is just a giant waste.

Then there was that time when he said Reimer was "Just ok."  Even if this was the case, and it was, you don't throw your goalie under the bus, ever.  There isn't a player on a team with a more fragile confidence than the starting goalie who is going through a bit of a rough patch.  Or in this case, a sub-par season.

Today, Randy was at it again.  This is what he had to say.

Carlyle on Phaneuf's transition from right to left side this season: "I don't think it's really that difficult, personally"
— Mark Masters (@markhmasters) October 10, 2014

Is he nuts?  Is this his way of getting back at Leafs management for getting rid of his cement heads fighters?  If you ask me, and by reading this blog post I assume you are asking me, get rid of this guy.  He is a hindrance to the youth on this team and is way behind the times.


Here are some note about tomorrow's game:

Franson looks doubtful for Saturday's game. Sunday probably a better fit. Only possible lineup change would be Panik for Frattin. #TMLtalk
— Paul Hendrick (@HennyTweets) October 10, 2014

Jonathan Bernier was the first goalie off the ice at practice today. Would think he starts tomorrow with James Reimer to follow on Sunday.
— Jonas Siegel (@jonasTSN1050) October 10, 2014

You'll notice in the first tweet there that Henny mentions "Panik"  Richard Panik, who failed to make the roster of The Tampa Bay Lighting, was picked up off waivers by the Leafs.  Here is the 411 on Panik, who by the way will wear #18 in Saturday night's game.

Head over to BarDown @ TSN.  Check out this weirdo.

Yes, this is a Tom Brady Helmet Tattoo. See the rest of this crazy guy's head HERE: http://t.co/dmLMXzr4EK pic.twitter.com/jfTQz2taTQ
— BarDown (@BarDown) October 10, 2014

Test

PS.  It looks like Thor is back in the NHL.  Striking resemblance? Na, they are twins separated at birth!

OFFICIAL: #NYR have recalled defenseman @Kostka85 from the @WolfPackAHL. Kostka had 1a & was +2 in 4 preseason games. pic.twitter.com/klbAJjVMMi
— New York Rangers (@NYRangers) October 10, 2014

Round #1: Leafs VS Bruins

9 years, blah blah, who cares at this point.  The Leafs are facing the Bruins in the 1st round of the 2013 Stanley cup playoffs.  On April 20th, the Leafs beat the Sens 4-1 to clinch a playoff spot.  

This was my reaction..

Everyone knows the Leafs have had a hard time with the Bruins over the last 40 some games. Also how Kessel seems to turn into a ghost when playing the same Bruins, scoring something like 0 even strength goals in 22 games.  Although he does have 3 power play goals in that stretch, ya, I know, no big deal.

Here are the keys to the series that could be a big deal.

Patrice Bergeron:

The best two way forward on this Bruins team could be a huge factor.  He ould shut down the Leafs while scoring big time points, or he could be hit on the 1st shift in game 1 and have another concussion.  Flip of a coin really.

Tuukka Rask:

Every goalie who wins in the playoffs, does it with better numbers than the regular season.  Rask is a great goalie, and in the regular season, is as good as any in the East, maybe in the entire league.  One thing that stands out to me tho, is his record in the playoffs.  7-6 with a 2.61 GAA and a 0.910 SV% in the playoffs.  Not very good compared to his career regular season stats, 2.20 GAA and a 0.926 SV%.  

Don't forget the year (2010) that Rask and the big bad Bruins had a 3-0 series lead vs the Flyers and blew it, losing the series 4-3.  Rask let in 15 goals in the last 4 games, including blowing a 3-0 lead in game 7 of that series.

Chara, Redden, Jagr:

Playoff series combine where these 3 players eliminated the Leafs: 0

Some people may think I'm grasping at straws, and hey, maybe I am.  But Phil Kessel struggles against a specific team, and why can't other players struggle against specific teams?  Who cares if they played the Leafs 10-15 years ago in the playoffs, I'm trying to do whatever I can to give faith to a Nation that hasn't had much to cheer for nearly a decade.

James Reimer:

Please save everything.  I'd like nothing more than 4 straight shutouts from you Optimus Reim.  We have never seen Reimer in the NHL playoffs.  I'm not going to write him off, though he definitely needs to make sure he has the best 4-7 games of his career.   

Lupul:

Joffrey Lupul needs to not get hurt or suspended.  He has not gone more than 6 games this year without being hurt or suspended, and it's hurt the Leafs in certain ways.  Example. He has 11 goals and 18 point in just 16 games played this season.  Including a nice goal from beside the net against Boston, during his 1st game back after being suspended 2 games.

Kessel:

Kessel doesn't have to do a single thing this series other than keep trying his hardest.  Bruins want to spend all their energy shutting down Kessel, go right ahead.  Lupul and Kadri will continue to light the lamp while Julien keeps putting Chara on Kessel.  It would be nice to see Kessel get some mad points this series.  Maybe all this negative attention from the media will light a fire under his arse and he might score some goals.  Who knows.

Random Stats

 I was bored at school today so I thought I would check into some stats for you guys.  Check them out!

• Last season the Leafs were at 19 points through 22 games (8-10-3)
• This season they are at 26 points through 22 games (12-8-2)
• They didnt get their 12th win until Dec 14 last year. 
  Leafs are on pace for 96 points this season, which would be their highest total since 03-04 when they set a franchise record for most points in an 82 game season.
• Wilson's record as the Leafs coach 113w 115l 40otl.
• Formula for the next three goalie stats is (minutes played)/(60) to get games played.  Then (goals for)/(games played) to give you goals per game.

• Leafs score 3.17 goals per game for Reimer (based on minutes played) over the last 40 games.
• Leafs score 2.83 goals per game for Gustavsson (based on minutes played) over the last 30 games.
• Leafs score 2.12 goals per game for Scrivens (based on minutes played) over his  7 game career.

• Kessel didnt get his 16th goal until Jan 6 and 30th point until Jan 10th.
• Kessel is on pace for: 59g 52a 111p, passing both his career highs of 36g, 32a, and 64p.
• Only once in Kessel's 5 full seasons in the NHL has he finished with more assists than goals. 

• Lupul took 40 games last year to get his 26th point of the season, he already has 26 points through 22 games this year.
  
• Lupul is on pace for: 41g 55a 96p beating his careers highs of 28g, 26a, and 53points