Flyers @ Leafs - Dec. 20th, 7:00pm - CBC, Fan 590

[GhostofPotvin29]

And as long as I'm grousing, Rielly has been pretty disappointing offensively so far.  He doesn't seem to have much of a shot, or at least not yet.  Having said that, it is hard as hell for really young defensemen in this league.  It took Hedman years, for example, to blossom and he was touted as the next Pronger when he went #2.

I think part of what is impacting Gardiner is also impacting Rielly. Carlyle's system discourages defencemen from skating with the puck, and, well, for both Rielly and Gardiner, their ability to skate with the puck is one of their best assets.

I seem to remember something similar said about Wilson and Kaberle. You can't skate the puck faster than passing it, so you have to learn to pick your spots, and frankly Gardiner is still very much a pupil.

Absolutely unrelated, but that made me google Ron Wilson & Tomas Kaberle and first result was a Steve Simmons column that I read that included this gem:

Here is the strange contradiction of this season for Kaberle: He played his best hockey when the Leafs played their worst. In the first 20 games of this disastrous season, he was almost all-star like. Twenty-two points in 20 games.

Over a PPG for a defenseman - ALMOST all-star like!

 

[bustaheims]

I seem to remember something similar said about Wilson and Kaberle. You can't skate the puck faster than passing it, so you have to learn to pick your spots, and frankly Gardiner is still very much a pupil.

That's true, but, passing the puck is only helpful if there's worthwhile passing lanes available. Otherwise, you're just giving it away. There's definitely a lot of benefit in skating the puck, protecting possession and making the defensive team back off. That often opens up better passing opportunities. In a league where controlled entries and such are how teams are winning games, skating with the puck seems like the preferable option. I also don't think it's a coincidence that Gardiner looked a lot better under Wilson's system that had him picking his spots than under Carlyle's that actively discourages him doing so. While Gardiner is definitely still a pupil, I'm thoroughly unconvinced that Carlyle is the right teacher - though, I've made that pretty clear.

 

[Deebo]

[quote author=Twitter]Eric Prime ‏@PrimeSN590  10 minutes ago
Jake Gardiner getting extra reps this morning. Healthy scratch tonight?

Seems likely. Jake also agreed with Randy's description of his recent play.

So Holzer comes in?  He of the 36.2% CF% since November 20. 

"But he's tough and competes!"
[/quote]

I read somewhere that Holzer's GF% is over 60 and Gardiner's is slightly under 40 though. Holzer's getting a much better on ice SV%, but how much of that is related to Gardiner's errors seemingly resulting in high quality scoring chances?

 

[Arn]

Hope the Leafs put a few past Emery and chase him. Philadelphia backup came to them from Berlin Eisbaren - Rob Zepp. Was a big fan of his and would love to see him get a game.

 

[LittleHockeyFan]

 

[LittleHockeyFan]

 

[herman]

Franson with the fake and angle change in one motion

 

[Stronger Than All]

We'll that lead didn't last

 

[L K]

So the 1st line has been awful defensively.  Let's put arguably our worst defensive player on the line in place of JVR.  Carlyle logic.

 

[TML fan]

If the wingers would stop waiting for the puck to come to them, they'd have more success getting out of their zone.

 

[LittleHockeyFan]

aaaaaand Philly ties it 

 

[TML fan]

This is ridiculous...

 

[Arn]

We'll that lead didn't last

Nor did the tie game!

 

[Arn]

Or that lead

 

[L K]

3-3.  Both goalies are going to get pulled.

 

[Stronger Than All]

Oh we got another lead.  Then that one didn't last either.

 

[GhostofPotvin29]

Thank god Randy got Gardiner's defensive play out of the lineup or they might allow a lot of goals against.

 

[GhostofPotvin29]

So the 1st line has been awful defensively.  Let's put arguably our worst defensive player on the line in place of JVR.  Carlyle logic.

Another nice shot of Bozak just standing there while Couturier scored.  Another reply that doesn't mention him whatsoever.  It's always Kessel, or Phaneuf, or someone else.  Bozak just (literally) glides past criticism by commentators.

 

[Bullfrog]

What the heck? I just turned the game on and it's 3-3 already?

 

[Stronger Than All]

What the heck? I just turned the game on and it's 3-3 already?

It's all a lie.