Toews started off the playoffs like we all hoped he would – he had 5 points in 3 games and put the team on his back and scored the wining goal for Game 2.
The last few games, not so much.
In a press conference today, Q said that Toews has been sick for the past week and that should explain the drop in ice time and the overall level of play. Plenty of people think that’s BS though and think Toews is hurting. A few others think Toews was just massively hungover after his 21st birthday on Wednesday – you guys are all joking with that, right? … right?
Here are some more numbers for you:
| Goals | Points | +/- | Shots | Faceoff% | TOI | |
| Flames G1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 71.4 | 17:18 |
| Flames G2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 53.8 | 15:40 |
| Flames G3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 46.7 | 17:18 |
| Flames G4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 62.5 | 17:28 |
| Flames G5 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 80.0 | 12:41 |
| Flames G6 | 0 | 0 | -1 | 3 | 57.1 | 14:10 |
| Canucks G1 | 0 | 0 | -2 | 3 | 27.3 | 13:46 |
The slide for Toews really begins around Game 5 with the Flames. Only 12:41? In arguably the most important game of the post-season? That ought to raise a few eyebrows. Still even with that lack of ice time Toews managed a point with an assist on Sharp’s goal 11 minutes in. He also won 80% of the draws.. very good.
Last night’s game was probably the worst seen Toews not just in the playoffs, but possibly in his entire career. 27.3% on the draw? Ouch. Toews also took the first penalty of the night and a lazy one at that. The Captain also was responsible for the turnover in the 2nd that lead to one of the Sedins’ goal..
While Q did say that Toews has been battling the flu (same thing Kane had?) he also said he was feeling better today. Does anyone really believe anything he says though? Take it all with a mountain of salt…
In Game 4 though we did mention in the recap that Toews was damn near invisible.. That’s most likely the start of his sickness there – That is the first game Kane came back from when he was sick. So there’s some backup for the idea he’s sick, not injured.
Ultimately we won’t know what’s wrong with Toews until the season is over -but really, nothing seems to be wrong with his physical play. Sure he was horrible on faceoffs last night but his faceoff numbers before last night habe been good, even if the rest of his play hasn’t been. I haven’t noticed any fault in his skating though that’s harder to see on TV where you can’t watch him unless he has the puck.
His errors, the penalty and the turnover (which was more like getting knocked around by a Sedin.. ew), really seem to be more mental problems. If he can get rest, get healthy, we should see the return of our Captain.
Q did say that this morning’s practice was the best of the year – so lets hope for something out of that tomorrow.