Wednesday, September 23, 2009

Kadri !, Kadri !, Kadri !!



The Leafs make it 4 in a row with another come from behind pre-season win. This one on the back of rookie Nazem Kadri, who not only scored the tying goal late in the third, also scored the winner in a shoot out to make the final 3-2

Kadri's goal in the shoot out made the ">highlight reels everywhere. After the game, Kadri made no secret about his desire to stay with the big club. `Hopefully, I'm making the decision hard,'' said Kadri. ``I appreciate (coach) Ron (Wilson) giving me the opportunity to go out there in some big situations. I think it's really building my confidence.''

While Coach Wilson still remains reluctant to heap to much praise on any one player, he did say this about Kadri's performance. ``All it takes special players is one moment and they can change the outcome (of a game),'' said Wilson. ``He did. Just being in the right spot at the right time, he picked up the puck and buried it big time.''

The Leafs rang the iron twice in overtime and once in the third period, Pittsburgh goaltender John Curry must have brought his horse-shoe, or this game may have had a much different outcome.

After looking a little ordinary in the first, Leafs net-minder Vesa Toskala, settled in well and gave his team a chance to come back, while making a couple of big stops in the over time before thwarting Staal and Conner in the shoot out.

Jamal Mayers got his bell rung pretty good and went down in a heap after getting the wrong end of a clean check from Pittsburghs Wallace, all indications are he'll be fine, but there is still plenty of time for Burke and Wilson to make any adjustments that may be needed.

The Leafs are back in action tonight against the Buffalo Sabres at 7:00pm est. As always, you can hear all of the action right here on Bench Brawl, just click on Listen Live

Until next time, you kids play safe!

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