2017-18 Toronto Maple Leafs - General Discussion

[bustaheims]

I think Mirtle might have missed something entirely in that side of the analysis though.  WHO and WHERE are they drawing in?  Is Polak getting more road games and against better teams?  If the other d-pairs are struggling more when he's in the lineup, maybe its not Polak and maybe its because they aren't controlling the matchups (ie on the road) and/or are playing better teams?

Probably because the difference is pretty insignificant. The number of games Polak has played in at home and on the road is fairly even (28 at home, 24 on the road), and he's played enough games the quality of opponents would even out (though, interestingly, he's only played once against the Bruins).

 

[herman]

I think Mirtle might have missed something entirely in that side of the analysis though.  WHO and WHERE are they drawing in?  Is Polak getting more road games and against better teams?  If the other d-pairs are struggling more when he's in the lineup, maybe its not Polak and maybe its because they aren't controlling the matchups (ie on the road) and/or are playing better teams?

Probably because the difference is pretty insignificant. The number of games Polak has played in at home and on the road is fairly even (28 at home, 24 on the road), and he's played enough games the quality of opponents would even out (though, interestingly, he's only played once against the Bruins).

Was it the one we lost?

Ron Howard: It wasn't.

 

[herman]

https://www.tsn.ca/video/i-was-shocked-marleau-s-unusual-routine-amazes-leafs~1361689

This is a two minute video is supposed to be about the sports science behind cold immersion therapy, but it's really about the Leafs marveling at how fast Marleau gets undressed.

 

[Strangelove]

Daily reminder that Leo should not be in the line-up: https://theathletic.com/300982/2018/04/05/where-the-maple-leafs-would-benefit-from-keeping-both-andreas-johnsson-and-kasperi-kapanen-in-the-lineup/

The article also helps to dispel the narrative that "it doesn't really matter which fourth liner plays".

 

[rdowdall]

Daily reminder that Leo should not be in the line-up: https://theathletic.com/300982/2018/04/05/where-the-maple-leafs-would-benefit-from-keeping-both-andreas-johnsson-and-kasperi-kapanen-in-the-lineup/

The article also helps to dispel the narrative that "it doesn't really matter which fourth liner plays".

Travis Yost also had this on TSN:

https://www.tsn.ca/talent/johnsson-adds-to-toronto-s-impressive-forward-depth-1.1047763

 

[hockeyfan1]

Daily reminder that Leo should not be in the line-up: https://theathletic.com/300982/2018/04/05/where-the-maple-leafs-would-benefit-from-keeping-both-andreas-johnsson-and-kasperi-kapanen-in-the-lineup/

The article also helps to dispel the narrative that "it doesn't really matter which fourth liner plays"

I always thought fourth liner selections mattered.  A shoutout to The Athletic for telling it like it is.  Someone should fax it to Babcock. 

 

[hockeyfan1]

A milestone a long time a-coming...

[tweet]982036904446083072[/tweet]

 

[Zee]

A milestone a long time a-coming...

[tweet]982036904446083072[/tweet]

Amazing that Matthews did it while missing 20 games

 

[CarltonTheBear]

This doesn't get talked about much but Babcock's been leaning on Gardiner a ton lately:

And last night he and Rielly essentially played the entire final 3 minutes of the game while we were pushing for a goal. They went to the bench for 7 seconds before Marner's penalty and then jumped back on for the face-off after that.

 

[CarltonTheBear]

Tampa beat Boston 4-0 last night. That puts the two teams even at 110 points each, but Boston still has a game in hand. These are their remaining schedules:

Boston: Thurs. @ FLA, Sat. vs OTT, Sun. vs FLA

Tampa: Fri. vs BUF, Sat. @ CAR

So both teams have a back-to-back left. Florida still technically has playoff hopes but they'll likely need to win out to even have a shot. Tampa's playing two teams with no playoff hopes, but they're only 1-1-1 against Buffalo so far this season.

Boston burned their game in hand by losing to Florida last night. Both teams are still tied at 110 points and now both have 2 games left.

 

[Zee]

Tampa beat Boston 4-0 last night. That puts the two teams even at 110 points each, but Boston still has a game in hand. These are their remaining schedules:

Boston: Thurs. @ FLA, Sat. vs OTT, Sun. vs FLA

Tampa: Fri. vs BUF, Sat. @ CAR

So both teams have a back-to-back left. Florida still technically has playoff hopes but they'll likely need to win out to even have a shot. Tampa's playing two teams with no playoff hopes, but they're only 1-1-1 against Buffalo so far this season.

Boston burned their game in hand by losing to Florida last night. Both teams are still tied at 110 points and now both have 2 games left.

They're both playing crappy teams too -- well Boston has Florida which would be tough, if Florida is still in it at that point (I believe Philly can clinch with a point)

Tampa I fully expect to win their final two games against Buffalo and Carolina, so I think we're getting Boston next week.

 

[CarltonTheBear]

Tampa I fully expect to win their final two games against Buffalo and Carolina, so I think we're getting Boston next week.

Tampa will be Stamkos-less until the playoffs though. Obviously they should still beat those two teams but they aren't at 100%.

 

[Zee]

Tampa I fully expect to win their final two games against Buffalo and Carolina, so I think we're getting Boston next week.

Tampa will be Stamkos-less until the playoffs though. Obviously they should still beat those two teams but they aren't at 100%.

I hear what you're saying, but Buffalo and Carolina have absolutely nothing to play for.  Buffalo at least gets up for games against the Leafs, but for Tampa?  They'll most likely mail that in and the game is in Tampa so they have last change and all that.  Carolina has atrocious goaltending so Tampa should be able to score a handful in that game, although on a back to back you never know.

 

[princedpw]

Daily reminder that Leo should not be in the line-up: https://theathletic.com/300982/2018/04/05/where-the-maple-leafs-would-benefit-from-keeping-both-andreas-johnsson-and-kasperi-kapanen-in-the-lineup/

The article also helps to dispel the narrative that "it doesn't really matter which fourth liner plays".

I note that while the article repeatedly states "don't read anything in to small sample sizes", it still ..... presents an analysis based on very small sample sizes.  I would be interested to see where Johnsson lies when one throws out the Montreal game (and say, his worst game as well).  It's wonderful and amazing he got something like 7 shots in that game but it also probably skews his results and isn't representative going forward.  In other words, I don't expect him to continue to have shot rates at an Auston Matthews/JVR level for the next year.

 

[CarltonTheBear]

I hear what you're saying, but Buffalo and Carolina have absolutely nothing to play for.  Buffalo at least gets up for games against the Leafs, but for Tampa?  They'll most likely mail that in and the game is in Tampa so they have last change and all that.  Carolina has atrocious goaltending so Tampa should be able to score a handful in that game, although on a back to back you never know.

Buffalo beat Nashville 7-4 in Nashville last week. Carolina beat Washington 4-1 in Washington last week. I get what you're saying, they aren't good teams, but in the NHL no games are guaranteed even if the teams have nothing to play for.

 

[Zee]

I hear what you're saying, but Buffalo and Carolina have absolutely nothing to play for.  Buffalo at least gets up for games against the Leafs, but for Tampa?  They'll most likely mail that in and the game is in Tampa so they have last change and all that.  Carolina has atrocious goaltending so Tampa should be able to score a handful in that game, although on a back to back you never know.

Buffalo beat Nashville 7-4 in Nashville last week. Carolina beat Washington 4-1 in Washington last week. I get what you're saying, they aren't good teams, but in the NHL no games are guaranteed even if the teams have nothing to play for.

Tampa will have something to play for in securing top seed in the east and home ice throughout.  With only 2 games left they'll want to be playing their best before next week.

 

[CarltonTheBear]

I hear what you're saying, but Buffalo and Carolina have absolutely nothing to play for.  Buffalo at least gets up for games against the Leafs, but for Tampa?  They'll most likely mail that in and the game is in Tampa so they have last change and all that.  Carolina has atrocious goaltending so Tampa should be able to score a handful in that game, although on a back to back you never know.

Buffalo beat Nashville 7-4 in Nashville last week. Carolina beat Washington 4-1 in Washington last week. I get what you're saying, they aren't good teams, but in the NHL no games are guaranteed even if the teams have nothing to play for.

Tampa will have something to play for in securing top seed in the east and home ice throughout.  With only 2 games left they'll want to be playing their best before next week.

Alright Zee, I'm gonna bet my life-savings on those 2 games. This better work!

 

[herman]

I was going through old posts (on a lark, also Friday at work): things like Dubas Day, Babcock's signing, how everyone felt about the Draft Lottery 2017...

We haven't won anything yet, and this edition of the playoffs looks like it'll be quite the gauntlet for us, but things have turned around generally very well for the franchise (minor hiccups here or there) with a lot of runway ahead.

Thank you all for letting me talk things out here and enjoying this ride with you all.

I would be remiss to not share this gem that I came across on my trip down into the archives:

I think far more of you are really gonna appreciate the Matt Martin signing as the season gets underway.

I have posted my fair share of gems like that, but I don't think I'll ever reach those heights.

Edit: I definitely meant Draft Lottery 2016. I definitely gave no forks about 2017's.

 

[Zee]

I hear what you're saying, but Buffalo and Carolina have absolutely nothing to play for.  Buffalo at least gets up for games against the Leafs, but for Tampa?  They'll most likely mail that in and the game is in Tampa so they have last change and all that.  Carolina has atrocious goaltending so Tampa should be able to score a handful in that game, although on a back to back you never know.

Buffalo beat Nashville 7-4 in Nashville last week. Carolina beat Washington 4-1 in Washington last week. I get what you're saying, they aren't good teams, but in the NHL no games are guaranteed even if the teams have nothing to play for.

Tampa will have something to play for in securing top seed in the east and home ice throughout.  With only 2 games left they'll want to be playing their best before next week.

Alright Zee, I'm gonna bet my life-savings on those 2 games. This better work!

I will take no blame when you're walking around in a potato sack.

 

[Zee]

I was going through old posts (on a lark, also Friday at work): things like Dubas Day, Babcock's signing, how everyone felt about the Draft Lottery 2017...

We haven't won anything yet, and this edition of the playoffs looks like it'll be quite the gauntlet for us, but things have turned around generally very well for the franchise (minor hiccups here or there) with a lot of runway ahead.

Thank you all for letting me talk things out here and enjoying this ride with you all.

I would be remiss to not share this gem that I came across on my trip down into the archives:

I think far more of you are really gonna appreciate the Matt Martin signing as the season gets underway.

I have posted my fair share of gems like that, but I don't think I'll ever reach those heights.

I remember the old days when the team was garbage and we had outright hostility on the board.  We also had some Habs and Sens fans who used to post and generally snicker at the fortunes of the Leafs which pissed me off back then.  The turnaround is quite amazing, I hope this lasts for a long long time.