Game recaps, Phil Kessel lashes out at the Toronto media for its treatment of teammate Dion Phaneuf, and more.
TORONTO STAR: The Maple Leafs got their first road win of 2015 by downing the Florida Panthers 3-2 in a game which saw Panthers goalies Roberto Luongo and Al Montoya sidelined with injuries. Panthers goalie coach and former NHL goalie Rob Tallas suited up to play, but ultimately he took a backup role as Luongo (still suffering from an apparent neck injury) returned in the third to finish the game.
An unhappy Phil Kessel defends teammate Dion Phaneuf from media criticism.
This game was overshadowed by Leafs news off the ice. Phil Kessel lashed out at the Toronto media for its treatment of teammate Dion Phaneuf, calling it “embarrassing” and “disrespectful”. Leafs assistant GM Kyle Dubas ripped TSN for its accidental airing of a distasteful tweet from a fan regarding Phaneuf, his wife Elisha Cuthbert and teammate Joffrey Lupul during its trade deadline show. Phaneuf, Cuthbert and Lupul are prepared to take legal action against TSN, which issued a formal on-air apology to the trio last night.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Kessel is already receiving media backlash for his remarks, but I don’t blame Kessel at all for defending his teammate. As for that malicious tweet, TSN screwed up allowing it on the air, while the fan who wrote it could face legal consequences for his actions.
Some fans will say, “You’re professionals, suck it up and stop whining.” Yes, they’re professional athletes and criticism from fans and media comes with the territory. Yes, the Leafs are playing poorly and there needs to be changes. Yes, the fans and pundits are fed up with years of mediocrity and have the right to voice their frustration. Of late, however, it just seems like flogging a dead horse.
The players are still human beings, with feelings and faults just like everyone else. They can only take so much abuse. Kessel and his teammates have had enough. It put me in mind of the incident in Edmonton earlier this season when several fans waited in the concourse following a lopsided loss to Chicago to heap abuse upon the Oilers walking back to their dressing room. At some point, criticism turns to unnecessary abuse. These incidents will ensure that Toronto and Edmonton remain high on the “no-trade” lists of NHL stars.
CALGARY SUN: Jiri Hudler scored in overtime as Karri Ramo backstopped the Flames to a 3-2 win over the Philadelphia Flyers.
THE VANCOUVER SUN: Matt Nieto scored twice while Joe Thornton and Patrick Marleau each collected two assists as the San Jose Sharks thumped the Vancouver Canucks 6-2.
OTTAWA CITIZEN: Charlie Coyle scored in a shootout as the Minnesota Wild downed the Ottawa Senators 3-2, snapping the Senators five-game winning streak with call-up goalie Andrew Hammond between the pipes.
EDMONTON JOURNAL: The Los Angeles Kings down the Edmonton Oilers 5-2. The Oilers have scored only six goals in their last five games.
WINNIPEG FREE PRESS: Recently-acquired (and well-traveled) Lee Stempniak could have major benefits for the Jets.
MONTREAL GAZETTE: New Canadiens’ Torrey Mitchell and Brian Flynn are excited about joining a potential Stanley Cup contender.
Stick tap to the Panthers for seemingly using the odd situation to galvanize as a team and minimize the damage the Leafs possibly could have done given Montoya was trying to minimize his movements to avoid further aggravation/damage and for MacKenzie and Upshall apparently willing to step in if required and play goal.
I found it great to see them rally around the situation and fight back against it when they could’ve just rolled over and gave up. Good on them for showing heart and cohesiveness as a team.
I find it kind of amusing that they keep poking the bear…
Ya know whats going to happen and in all honesty would be poetic justice? The Leafs are going to finnally be ticked off enough, play like they have something to prove again, and play their way out of a top pick and get traded out of town in the summer. Ya I know shut out twice this weekend but besides that won 3 of their last 5…Karma is a bitch.
unfortunately the Canucks game was over in the first 8 minutes as Markstrom was brutal allowing 3 goals on 4 shots. Lack came in and gave Vancouver a chance the rest of the way and Henrik had a couple of nice goals but Vancouver was in tough with the injuries continuing to play a factor as Kassian was out with the flu leaving an already depleted lineup even thinner.
Local station Team 1200 yesterday had a tweet contest for the best caption to accompany a photo of Kessel in this morning’s papers. The best one by far was “Phil Throws A Check At Media (his 1st in 5 years)”
“while the fan who wrote it could face legal consequences for his actions” . Really?
Yes really. Just because his tweet got past the filters, doesn’t make him any less responsible for his comment.
Burke, who is also a partner in the firm representing the trio, won his suits against the guy(s) that did the same to Burke. There are laws against slander and Twitter or any public form is not exempt even under a false name or handle and rightfully so. Sue the pants off of them and donate the money to a charity or charities of your choice…something like bullying.
Fallout from the trade deadline: I think that no trade, and no movement clauses should be banned. The NHL finally got a cap system to level the playing field between the have and have not teams. Now the no movement clauses are making it much harder for a lot of Canadian teams to sign quality free agents. Can you remember when a Canadian team has signed an elite player as a free agent? That’s why a Canadian team hasn’t won the Cup since ’93. I was in the Canadian Forces as a career, and you could get posted to Cold Lake, North Bay, or Wainwright as the least preferred destinations! You had to suck it up and go!
Funny how Kessel decided to lash out in Florida… where there is minimal media and interest in hockey. However, good for him to speak out. If I was a player, I wouldn’t want to play in Toronto. It was similar in MTL but if my memory serves me right, the Habs had done something to try to protect the team and players… with minimal and controlled access.
Too many reporters blow-up theirs stories just to make it on the front page and I have no respect for that. The Leafs should do the same. They should keep the bad reporters out. What will they write about and how will they harass players if they don’t have access to the dressing room. Too bad its like that.