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Posted by
on 10/29/2008 - 05:43 AM
In many ways, the Maple Leafs and the Lightning are the same: each has a new coach, a new management team and a first-round pick around which they can build their future.
But the Lightning have something the Leafs do not: a game-breaking superstar.
There was no stopping Vincent Lecavalier last night, the difference in a 3-2 Tampa win that ended the Leafs' modest two-game winning string.
"We don't have a Vinny Lecavalier," said Leafs coach Ron Wilson, stating the obvious. "We should have been aware of where he was. We talked at length about knowing who you're playing against and a few times we didn't. He slipped in behind and took advantage."
Lecavalier scored twice – with top draft pick Steve Stamkos getting his first NHL point in assisting on Lecavalier's game winner.
Both were beauties – one a breakaway, the other a patient play in front of Vesa Toskala that had the Leaf goalie guessing wrong both times.
"I just saw that he (Toskala) kind of moved with the puck," said Lecavalier of his breakaway goal. "When I made my move to the left, he really moved with it. I stopped, and went back, and I got it."
The Leafs had more chances, outshooting Tampa 39-25, but the Lightning, thanks to Lecavalier, made the most of theirs.
"We had plenty of opportunities; a guy like that buries them," Wilson said of Lecavalier. "He's one of the best players in the league. You give him three opportunities, he might score two. ... Some of our guys need five opportunities to score one."
Wilson didn't sound nearly as disappointed in the loss as one might expect, but he did single out Matt Stajan for questionable play, despite Stajan scoring his first goal of the year.
Stajan's goal tied the game 1-1 in the first period. He tapped in Nik Antropov's centring pass from the corner, a reward for his hard work in front of Tampa goalie Mike Smith.
"He went to the net that time," Wilson said of Stajan. "He spent the rest of the night standing behind the net instead of in front.
"You'd think he'd learn: `Geez, I went to the front of the net, and I scored. I'll go stand in front of the net and let Antropov and Pony (Alexei Ponikarovsky) control the area in behind the net and I'll get some garbage goals.'
"That's something we'll talk about."
Jussi Jokinen opened the scoring for Tampa. Mike Van Ryn had the Leafs' second goal.
Some billed this game as a battle between Stamkos – the first pick in last June's draft – and Luke Schenn, No. 5 overall.
Schenn got his usual minutes (22:56) in his first game since getting word the Leafs don't plan to send him back to junior. He has no points yet in nine games, and he's minus-4 on the season, victimized last night at even strength by Lecavalier. Stamkos had a huge cheering section at the sold-out Air Canada Centre.
The former Markham Waxer said before the game he had to get 50 tickets for the game for family and friends. Stamkos's ice time is gradually rising. He played 12:58 including 4:16 on the power play. He outhustled Alex Steen for the puck off a faceoff, helping set up Lecavalier's winner at 13:15 of the second.
"That was his first point tonight, his first of many in this league," Lecavalier said of Stamkos. "He's going to get his first goal and go from there."
The Leafs go from facing one of the best shooters in the league to one of the best puck stoppers, with a game tonight against Martin Brodeur and the Devils in New Jersey.
In many ways, the Maple Leafs and the Lightning are the same: each has a new coach, a new management team and a first-round pick around which they can build their future.