2017-18 Toronto Maple Leafs - General Discussion
- Thread starter herman
- Start date
Nik the Trik said:
There's still time!
herman said:
You forgot the great "Connor Brown will score more goals in his 2nd season because that's just how things work*" debate?!
* - I may be over-simplifying that side, or I may not be.
bustaheims
Active member
bustaheims said:
With most of the Atlantic now eliminated, it's time to get to counting down the team's magic number to clinch a playoff spot by looking at exactly the number of points won by the Leafs/lost by the other team to eliminate everyone else behind them in the conference standings.
Washington (1st in Metro): 21
Pittsburgh (2nd in Metro): 17
Florida: 15
Philly (3rd in Metro): 14
New Jersey (2nd Wildcard): 14
Columbus (1st Wildcard): 13
Carolina: 5
NYI: 4
NYR: 3
Once four of these teams have been officially scratched off, the Leafs clinch a playoff spot.
bustaheims
Active member
Zee said:
Yes. If the Leafs win, the Rangers lose, and the Isles lose in regulation, the NYR and NYI will be scratched off the list.
Zee said:bustaheims said:
I pointed out to my buddy in Edmonton that if the Oilers won their remaining games they'd have less points than the Leafs currently do. He wasn't too happy with me. Perhaps it's the manner in which I delivered this fact?
He was probably just in a bad mood. Try telling it to him again tomorrow.
Coco-puffs
New member
https://twitter.com/DarrenDreger/status/974719174755921920
Assuming that even if it comes back negative he'll be out on Saturday night and maybe a game or two beyond that. I wonder who of Johnsson, Brown, or Kapanen get moved up the lineup (unless Matthews makes his return). Some lineup options:
Marleau - Nylander - Hyman
Johnsson - Kadri - Marner
JvR - Bozak - Brown
Martin/Leivo/Moore - Plekanec - Kapanen
Or
Hyman - Nylander - Kapanen
Marleau - Kadri - Marner
JvR - Bozak - Brown
Johnsson - Plekanec - Leivo
Or
Marleau - Nylander - Hyman
Brown - Kadri - Marner
JvR - Bozak - Kapanen
Johnsson - Plekanec - Leivo
Sign me up for the first one (Leivo version) please.
Assuming that even if it comes back negative he'll be out on Saturday night and maybe a game or two beyond that. I wonder who of Johnsson, Brown, or Kapanen get moved up the lineup (unless Matthews makes his return). Some lineup options:
Marleau - Nylander - Hyman
Johnsson - Kadri - Marner
JvR - Bozak - Brown
Martin/Leivo/Moore - Plekanec - Kapanen
Or
Hyman - Nylander - Kapanen
Marleau - Kadri - Marner
JvR - Bozak - Brown
Johnsson - Plekanec - Leivo
Or
Marleau - Nylander - Hyman
Brown - Kadri - Marner
JvR - Bozak - Kapanen
Johnsson - Plekanec - Leivo
Sign me up for the first one (Leivo version) please.
Coco-puffs said:
Can't see Babcock putting Johnsson on Kadri's shutdown line like that right away.
Coco-puffs said:
Shifting Brown to the left wing probably doesn't happen.
Coco-puffs said:
Bingo. Maybe (or more likely probably) swap Kapanen and Brown. Babs might want Martin's veteran presence in the line-up with Komarov out too so I'm not sure Johnsson would get back in.
herman
Well-known member
CarltonTheBear said:
Not sure about Martin coming in as he got clocked pretty good in his stupid fight.
Seeing as we're home to the Canadiens, I wouldn't be surprised to see Babcock load up the offense on the Nylander and Bozak lines again.
Hyman - Nylander - Marner
Marleau - Kadri - Brown/Leivo
JvR - Bozak - Leivo/Kapanen
Johnssen - Plekanec - Kapanen/Brown
Hard to separate Brown from the Bozak line as it's currently clicking, but there's a lot more shuffling in-game nowadays. Maybe Babcock is feeling cheeky and throws Leivo up with Kadri instead, thinking that Kadri + Marleau are solid enough and wants Brown with Plekanec to insulate Johnsson. I don't think Babcock trusts Leivo in the DZ, and he basically always gives Plekanec DZ draws...
Or Brown/Kapanen on DZ draws, and Marner/Leivo on OZ draws for whichever line is out there. I think it'll be OTF match ups with Kadri coming on with whichever wingers are on anytime Drouin comes over the boards, other than Nylander's shifts.
Highlander
Active member
I would say as long as the Leaf keep winning then they will keep Matthews out of the lineup as long as they can, better to let that shoulder heal up rather than risk him again. He is far more important in the playoffs than right now. As long as McBackup is playing like McFirststring then we should be fine.Coco-puffs said:
I guess Komarov is good defensively and for penalty killing but I haven't been too impressed with him this season. He's missed a lot of golden opportunities offensively. With him out it will be interesting to see the young guys step into his role. I have a feeling they will do a better job at it overall.
Same thing with Martin. However with him I feel even more strongly that the young guys are better.
Same thing with Martin. However with him I feel even more strongly that the young guys are better.
Guilt Trip
Active member
Komarov is good on the pk. I don't find him all that good 5 v 5 in the D zone. I see him failing to clear the puck quite a bit. In the O zone, he's flat out terrible. I think Johnsson and Leivo get into the lineup tomorrow....well I hope.sickbeast said:
Coco-puffs
New member
CarltonTheBear said:
According to morning skate lines you were right. Marleau and Johnsson swap spots from above and Moore comes in (probably for PK reasons)
Coco-puffs
New member
Guilt Trip said:
Alot of this year Komarov has been on his off wing and it's been noticeable. Probably doesn't help that when he's on the RW he also is getting lots of terrible passes/rims/dumps from our exceptional right d-men.