[GDT] Vancouver Canucks @ Toronto Maple Leafs, Scotiabank Arean, Nov 11, 4PM PST - Bring your Leaf Blower to the Game Game

[Rocket-68]

A Random Hockey Story

 

Lady Byng and the Men Who Earned the Trophy: Sprague Cleghorn was not one of them.

 

Sprague Horace "Peg" Cleghorn, (March 11, 1890 – July 12, 1956), was a Canadian professional player who played for the Boston Bruins, Montreal Canadiens, Montreal Wanderers, Ottawa Senators, Renfrew Creamery Kings and Toronto St. Patricks in the National Hockey Association and National Hockey League from 1911 until 1929.

 

Playing Career

Born in Montreal, Cleghorn had a Hall of Fame career but was regarded as one of the dirtiest players of his era. He played on Stanley Cup-winning teams in 1920, 1921 and 1924.

 

In 1909–10, Cleghorn began his career with the Montreal Wanderers, becoming a professional with Renfrew of the National Hockey Association (NHA) the next season. He then played for the Montreal Wanderers for six seasons. In the NHL, he played defenceman for the Ottawa Senators from 1918 to 1920. In an attempt at league parity, the NHL transferred him to the Hamilton Tigers in December 1920, but Cleghorn refused to report. The Senators asked that he be allowed to return to their team. George Kennedy, owner of the Montreal Canadiens, threatened to have Ottawa thrown out of the league. Cleghorn eventually signed with Toronto, but was released in March after the St. Pats lost their play-off and he signed with Ottawa during the playoffs in time to be a member of the 1921 Stanley Cup-winning team.

 

The league transferred Cleghorn to Hamilton in 1921, and again he refused to go. Just before the start of the 1921–22 NHL season, Sprague was traded to the Montreal Canadiens for Harry Mummery and Amos Arbour. He played four seasons in Montreal and after the 1924–25 NHL season, was purchased by the Boston Bruins for $5,000. Sprague played his final three seasons in the NHL with Boston (1925 to 1928). He then moved to the minor-league Newark Bulldogs (1928–29) as a player-coach. Later, he coached the CAHL Providence Reds (1930–31) and NHL Montreal Maroons (1931–32). He later coached the Pittsburgh Shamrocks of the International Hockey League (1935–36) and the Cornwall Cougars of Quebec's Provincial Senior League in 1947-48..

 

Even in an era of rough play, Cleghorn was notorious for being among the dirtiest of the lot, and ranked amongst the league leaders in penalty minutes for nine of the first ten seasons of the NHL's history. In 1923, Cleghorn hit Ottawa Senators player Lionel Hitchman in the head with his stick. Charged with aggravated assault, Cleghorn was found guilty and fined $50.

 

The following quote is from the book, The Ottawa Senators: The Best Players and Greatest Games by J. Alexander Poulton and describes Cleghorn's actions in a 1922 game against the Senators, who had just let him go after the previous season:

 

“Cleghorn did little to hide his contempt for his former club after the puck was dropped. He started by viciously checking Senators captain Eddie Gerard and then slashing him on the head, opening up a cut above Gerard's eye that required five stitches to close. A short while later, Cleghorn set his sights on Ottawa's top scorer, Cy Denneny, and gave him a nasty cut above the eye that spurted blood all over the ice. Not yet satisfied, Cleghorn set his sights on the Sens' Frank Nighbor. Cleghorn got his chance when Nighbor had the puck in the corner with his back to the play. Cleghorn rushed into the corner and slammed Nighbor down to the ice, landing on his elbow hard enough that Nighbor couldn't play the rest of the game. Cleghorn had single-handedly removed three of the Senators' best players from the match. Ottawa police on hand that night offered to arrest Cleghorn and make him spend the night in jail for his obvious assault on the Senators players, but the referees persuaded the police to let the NHL handle its own discipline. For his offences, Sprague Cleghorn received a match penalty, a warning from the league president Frank Calder and a $15 fine.”

 

Cleghorn was arrested for on ice assault more than once in his career and appeared in court facing a variety of charges related to playing in NHL games. He ended his career boasting that he was involved in at least 50 on ice instances where he intentionally hurt players to get them out of the game and ended more than a few careers prematurely by permanently injuring the players.

 

Cleghorn was hit by a car in early June 1956, and died of his injuries in Montreal on July 12, 1956. His funeral was July 14, 1956 and he was buried in Montreal. Cleghorn's brother, Odie Cleghorn, was found dead in his bed just hours before the funeral, as a result of heart failure, perhaps induced by the stress of the loss of his brother.

 

Sources:

https://www.habseyesontheprize.com/lady-byng-and-the-violence-of-sprague-cleghorn-montreal-canadiens-history/

https://habslegends.blogspot.com/2007/04/sprague-cleghorn.html

https://icehockey.fandom.com/wiki/Sprague_Cleghorn

 

************Now for the Game Day Thread**********

 

Overview

Vancouver is off to the best start in franchise history over 13 games with a sparkling record of 10 - 2 - 1. The next best start was in 2005 - 2006 when the Canucks went 8-2-2 only to falter with 92 points on the season and miss the playoffs. Will this happen here, somehow it doesn't feel like it will. The 2005/06 Canucks rotated Cloutier / Noronen / Ouellet / McVicar / Auld with Clouts getting the most starts, a goalie rotation that can't compare to the current, albiet small sample size, pairing of Demko / DeSmith.

 

Keys to the current run of success start with the core of Huggy Bear, the Alien, Demmer and JT Miller. All 4 are firing on all cylinders and with Hughes and Pettersson seeming to be leveling up over last year's impressive performances. These 4 stay healthy and keep clipping along at the current pace, then it will be hard to imagine going on an extended losing streak to say nothing of missing the playoffs! Surrounding the core are excellent contributors like Hronek, Boeser, Kuzmenko and Mikheyev. The stellar coaching staff (Tocchet, Gonchar, Foote, Sedins, Clark, etc.) are squeezing what seems like every last ounce of performance from the supporting cast (PDG, Meyers !?!?!, Lafferty, Suter, Hoglander ...). It may just be me, but I do recall the 2005 / 06 team having watched that particular blend play a lot and this team just seems more complete to this point. Do the Canucks have holes to fill - yes. Does the play need to improve - yes. But the sun is shining brightly so far, GO CANUCKS GO!!

 

Now, AHEM, the Maple Leafs ... setting aside the core on each team, would you pick 6 players from the Canucks (exclude Kuz, the Alien, JT, Huggy & Hronek, Demko, Boeser) and trade them for 6 from the Toronto Maple Leafs (excluding the big 4 plus the obvious 2 D-men) thus making the Canucks a better team? I thought about this, then the brain started to hurt so I switched to making this thread with a dram of Crown Royal Northern Harvest Rye by my side.

 

Toronto is coming off of a SO win over the 'Lames being up 4-1 until the Flames woke up midway through the second and had the Leafs gripping their sticks extra tight after tying the game up in the 3rd. Toronto, along with Edmonton, was picked as a Stanley Cup contender. Unlike the Coilers, TO is still somewhat in the mix but not having the start expected of them. John Klingberg didn't suit up for the game citing "working through some injuries" so a chance he won't dress for tomorrow's game with the Canucks. Playing for the Canucks as a 24th member of the squad will be Ryan Reaves. RR sports a blistering -9 while averaging 7:46 TOI and are outscored 6-0 with Reaves on the ice - almost like having a powerplay for the opposing team even though RR makes it a 5-on-5. As long as he doesn't run Huggy or Alien, glad to have him on the team helping the Canucks beat the Leafs.

 

Canucks are looking great at both ends of the ice - dear God, what has Foote & Gonchar done with Meyers, more of that please - popping in 4.54 goals per game with 28 in the last 5 games. Elias Pettersson, J.T. Miller, and Brock Boeser have scored 23 goals and 31 assists to lead the top two lines but the rest of the offense has been great as well. Andrei Kuzmenko, Sam Lafferty, and Ilya Mikheyev have combined for nine goals and 13 assists while defensemen Quinn Hughes and Filip Hronek have added five goals and 28 assists from the point to put the offense over the top.

 

Quote of the day:

 

 

By the Numbers

Canucks vs. Maple Leafs Odds

We have sourced the best betting odds in America for this game, which are listed here:

• Puck Line: Maple Leafs -1.5 (+180), Canucks +1.5 (-200)
• Moneyline: Maple Leafs -130, Canucks +114
• Total: Over/Under 6.5 (-125/+115)

Odds are correct at the time of publication and subject to change.

The Maple Leafs are -1.5 favorites versus the Canucks, with +180 at DraftKings Sportsbook.

For the underdog Canucks (+1.5) to cover the puck line, BetMGM has the best odds currently on offer at -200.

 

Put $100 on the Canucks to win and take the over ... the Canucks will come out hungry after playing badly enough to still win against the Senators. 

 

 

 

 

Media

As usual, buying a ticket to the game is best followed closely by swilling beer at your favorite watering hole while throwing chicken bones at the screen. If none of these are an option, then we have the following:

 

TV: SN Pacific, CBC HNIC ... and just about every station within the GTO area

Radio: Sportsnet 650

Streaming: go see Reddit and do a search, there is always someone streaming a game live

 

Matchup Info

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Da Zebras

To be added tomorrow

 

 

Now for Some Fun Stuff

All Hell Breaks Loose Canucks vs Leafs

 

 

All Hell Breaks Loose Canucks vs Leafs ... 1994 Game 3 Semi-Finals

 

Best Canucks Goals All Time until 2017

 

Edited November 11, 2023 by Rocket-68

[Bob Long]

Hopefully the overtime in the Treliving Cup gives us some tired Leafs legs. 

[Believe In Blue]

Well,  traveling to the centre of the universe is always entertaining. 
 

Being here, you just know the Eastern media will be Leaf blowing out their ass 

 

Let’s crush this wannabes. 

Edited November 11, 2023 by Believe In Blue

[Jaimito]

Beatable team

 

Need to start strong, and stay out of the box. 

[Chickenspear]

[footsteps]

I'm hoping that once again I can wear my Canucks jersey to church on Sunday morning. (I live in Ontario)

 

 

[snowman955]

Dysfunctional  , overpaid Laffs. Need l say more. 

Can we gift them the for allowing us Mikayev and Lafferty.

 

They would then have a 5th line right shot.

[Toni Zamboni]

[Ghostsof1915]

 

[RookieFan]

HOW are Leafs favorites in this game...some times I have to shake my head.

 

Leafs played a very hard long game today, they are tired and almost blew a 3 goal lead.

 

Canucks are the hottest team in the NHL, you think they will lose to the Laffs on SNL?

[gwarrior]

Sucks I'll miss most, if not, all of the 1st. But I'll be off at 4:30, so I'll be ready for the puck drop of the 2nd. Enough talk, let's do this!!!!

[Barn Burner]

This should be a great game. Plus, Mikheyev and Lafferty will be pumped more than ever. 

 

Edit: My buddy in Vancouver is from Toronto and he always cheers for the Canucks, much to the dismay of family and friends. 

Edited November 11, 2023 by Barn Burner

[Cromeslab]

We play our game consistent we win.Guaranteed Tor is shakin in their boots on this one,and we have Demko in net for this one.

 

GO CANUCKS!!!!

[John.Tallhouse]

 

[Iron Man]

Leafs struggled against the struggling Flames, and are playing back-to-back against a team that is good even when we aren't playing so well. Let's destroy them.

[John.Tallhouse]

Our 4th line gonna eat 

[John.Tallhouse]

[AlwaysACanuckFan]

Canucks need to have a strong game to blow the Leafs away

[RomanPer]

I'm wondering if the refs will try anything funny tomorrow. What do you think, @Sharpshooter lol

[Lemon Face]

Blueger.We want Blueger tommorow

[Chicken.]

Just came by to remind everyone Hronek is on an 8 game point streak.. boy has he played great this year and averaging more ice than Huggy

 

[Wing]

Leafs won tonight but they gave up 4 goals again. If we put out our A game effort there's a good chance we can win this.

 

[Slegr]

There are some games that are must win, for me. This is one of them. We need to crush the Leafs. No mercy. Keep the crowd silent and the commentators weeping. 

[Snoop Hogg]

The zebras will prove to still be egg sucking dogs and their mothers still whores.

[Metal Face Doom]

Incoming W.  We are burning hot right now.