Olympics Bloggette 2/11 5:15 GMT

[Smitty-48]

It's more stressful when they play well, if they don't show up and just get rinsed, there's nothing to get stressed about, but giving the Bolts a run for their money, now I'm jacked up, need a Johnny Walker rocks already.

[Smitty-48]

Well they got out of the period 1-0, regroup time. That Matthews strip on Stamkos was dope.

Yeah, problem being the Bolts are just getting warmed up, the Leafs handed momentum back too easily, if they can't get it back and keep it, it's just a matter of time until the Bolts get to Freddie.

This is the plateau the young Leafs are on now, they don't have the confidence yet to hang with the good heavy teams, they can beat up on tier two, but tier one is still a mountain to climb.

They've separated themselves from the also rans, but they haven't yet stepped into tier one with the big dogs. All part of the process, but a work in progress none the less.

You see the Bolts start clicking like clockwork and taking the momentum away like it ain't no thang, the Leafs just ain't there yet, they're hanging in there, but they're hanging on with their fingernails.

[Smitty-48]

See this is why I just want moneyball grinders who play heavy, the Leafs have plenty of dipsy doodle, but they don't have the puck/game managers to just grind with teams like Tampa, it's the grinders who keep the momentum for you once you get it, the Rick Nash types are of no utility to a team like the Leafs.

[Smitty-48]

Oh Willy baby, Nylander is on a tear of late.

[StCapps]

Oh Willy baby, Nylander is on a tear of late.

What a play, Matthews making some sweet passes tonight, even sweeter finish by Nylander.

[StCapps]

Tampa might want to cover that Matthews to Nylander breakaway pass, any time now. Lulz, almost got burned again.

[Smitty-48]

Oh Willy baby, Nylander is on a tear of late.

What a play, Matthews making some sweet passes tonight, even sweeter finish by Nylander.

Indeed, but what was more important was them coming out with heavy shifts right after and keeping the Bolts bottled up in their own end, we know they got skills to pay the bills, the name of the game now is getting them to manage the puck consistently.

[Smitty-48]

See, bad play by J-Gards, doesn't have much of a scoring play, but he just blasts the puck at the net without thinking, ends up being a giveaway and comes right back down their throats, puck management is about just keeping that puck down low until you get a better look, classic example of bad puck management there.

Without the puck management, the Leafs are ever in a track meet, and with the heavy teams, it's just a matter of time until they get burned.

[Smitty-48]

J-Gards redeems himself, that was the look to be looking for, right thur.

3-0, this is where the Leafs need to stop the track meet and just start grinding, but that of course, is always the problem, getting them to keep the pressure up and play heavy, after they have the lead, that's the trick.

[Smitty-48]

Ridiculous dive call from the Stamkos dick sucking NBA ref, the officials in the NHL are a joke.

I don't have a problem with giving the benefit of the doubt to the team which is working harder, but giving that call to Stammer is the opposite, basketball reffing fail.