Keefe giving the veterans one more shot
If you had, one shot, one opportunity, capture everything you ever wanted. Would capture it? Or just let it slip? Ok.. you got me. That's an Eminem lyric, but the point stands. It's put up or shut up time for Wayne Simmonds and Kyle Clifford.
That's basically the mantra Keefe is using with the fourth line of Simmonds, Spezza and Clifford tonight as they suit up in what will be a heated, physical battle against the Jets. Dressing this fourth line tonight while having Blackwell watch from the press box is Keefe not only preparing for a war, but also giving two of their bruisers a chance to play their crash and bang style of hockey and do something - anything - to stand out and to prove that they belong in the lineup.
Colin Blackwell has been excellent since joining the Leafs, but will find himself watching tonight as Keefe stated he has a leg up on tonight's fourth line and will draw back into the lineup Saturday regardless.
"I wanted to get these veteran guys an opportunity to play in a very hard & competitive game versus a team that, you know, those guys played & it didn't go so well for us last time around. So, here we go. Give them another opportunity.
"All three of them, to me, have to continue to get better. Blackwell's come in & done a great job for us & he's got a leg up on them. Those are veteran guys that we respect greatly & we want them to continue to find their game."
Sheldon Keefe on Clifford, Spezza and Simmonds
"All three of them, to me, have to continue to get better. Blackwell's come in & done a great job for us & he's got a leg up on them. Those are veteran guys that we respect greatly & we want them to continue to find their game."
Sheldon Keefe on Clifford, Spezza and Simmonds
As well as Blackwell has played since coming over from Seattle, there's nothing wrong with the Leafs opting for a little more size in tonight's lineup, given how the last meeting between the two teams went. It should be an old fashioned, rough and rowdy game down at Scotiabank Arena tonight with lots of hits, maybe a fight or two and probably a whole lot of penalty minutes issued. Hope you're all buckled up for this one.
| POLL | ||
MARS 31 | 336 ANSWERS Keefe giving the veterans one more shot Who is most likely to be a scratch from here on out? | ||
| Spezza | 34 | 10.1 % |
| Simmonds | 94 | 28 % |
| Clifford | 122 | 36.3 % |
| Two or all three of the above | 86 | 25.6 % |
| List of polls | ||
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