Flyers @ Leafs - Mar. 8th, 7:00pm - CBC, SN 590

[ZBBM]

The Leafs are just losing every single battle.

They have all year, it seems.  Not exactly what you want from a team that aspires to playoff success.

I think, quite legitimately, that's the sort of thing the Clarkson deal was meant to address. It flopped but that getting outworked/outmuscled stuff is a real issue for the club going forward, no matter how many pretty goals the top line scores.

Exactly.  And why he can't do just that -- win battles -- is a mystery.  He coasts all the time.

 

[CarltonTheBear]

Clarkson has 10 points in 43 games, which translates to 19 points over 82 games. Bodie has 9 points in 30 games, which translates to 24 points over 82 games.

Clarkson plays on the 2nd and 3rd lines and aside from a game that he was injured in has never played less than 11:28 in a game. Bodie averages 7:36 a game and is either on the 4th or 3rd line.

If you look at the games in which Bodie plays more than his average ice-time, he has 8 points in 13 games. In the games he plays less than his average, it's 1 point in 17 games.

 

[drummond]

Kuli with 6 hits, that?s pretty impressive

 

[2badknees]

The Leafs are just losing every single battle.

They have all year, it seems.  Not exactly what you want from a team that aspires to playoff success.

I think, quite legitimately, that's the sort of thing the Clarkson deal was meant to address. It flopped but that getting outworked/outmuscled stuff is a real issue for the club going forward, no matter how many pretty goals the top line scores.

Exactly.  And why he can't do just that -- win battles -- is a mystery.  He coasts all the time.

I'll bet he's been battling that groin injury for some time. He just isn't as ineffective as he's shown at full health. On the devils he was consistently a chris neil with more offense, and he's shown nothing this year.

 

[Derk]

Leafs 2 pts up on Tampa after their SO loss to Boston, and 6 pts up on 9th place Washington.

Big five game road trip now. This will probably go a long way to determining their playoff positioning.

 

[drummond]

Leafs 2 pts up on Tampa after their SO loss to Boston, and 6 pts up on 9th place Washington.

Big five game road trip now. This will probably go a long way to determining their playoff positioning.

Hopefully Sharks beat Habs, it would be just perfect

 

[Rebel_1812]

They really need to change the defence in the offseason.

 

[Kin]

Clarkson has 10 points in 43 games, which translates to 19 points over 82 games. Bodie has 9 points in 30 games, which translates to 24 points over 82 games.

Clarkson plays on the 2nd and 3rd lines and aside from a game that he was injured in has never played less than 11:28 in a game. Bodie averages 7:36 a game and is either on the 4th or 3rd line.

If you look at the games in which Bodie plays more than his average ice-time, he has 8 points in 13 games. In the games he plays less than his average, it's 1 point in 17 games.

What to do with Clarkson is going to be a real problem going forward. On the one hand I hope he gets every opportunity to jump start his game and become, maybe, a tradeable player. On the other, the stark reality that there are more effective guys on the 3rd line is getting harder and harder to ignore.

 

[Jalili]

Leafs 2 pts up on Tampa after their SO loss to Boston, and 6 pts up on 9th place Washington.

Big five game road trip now. This will probably go a long way to determining their playoff positioning.

Hopefully Sharks beat Habs, it would be just perfect

Is Price back yet?

I don't like their odds anyhow. The Sharks are among the toughest teams in the league to beat at their home rink.

 

[Jalili]

They really need to change the defence in the offseason.

Yeah I think so too, but it's gonna be easier said than done.

 

[CarltonTheBear]

What to do with Clarkson is going to be a real problem going forward. On the one hand I hope he gets every opportunity to jump start his game and become, maybe, a tradeable player. On the other, the stark reality that there are more effective guys on the 3rd line is getting harder and harder to ignore.

I think he really just needs to play on the 4th line for the rest of the season. If we keep playing 11 forwards it wouldn't even be so bad for him. Have him and McClement as the two staples and rotate in the other left-winger. Or if we go with 12 play Bodie/Ashton/Orr (ugh) with them. Give the line 8 minutes a game and just tell him to go out there and hit guys. Re-evaluate if he can fit into the top-9 at training camp next season. But it's clear as day that he doesn't fit into the top-9 right now, and especially with Lupul-Kadri.

 

[Strangelove]

What to do with Clarkson is going to be a real problem going forward. On the one hand I hope he gets every opportunity to jump start his game and become, maybe, a tradeable player. On the other, the stark reality that there are more effective guys on the 3rd line is getting harder and harder to ignore.

I think he really just needs to play on the 4th line for the rest of the season. If we keep playing 11 forwards it wouldn't even be so bad for him. Have him and McClement as the two staples and rotate in the other left-winger. Or if we go with 12 play Bodie/Ashton/Orr (ugh) with them. Give the line 8 minutes a game and just tell him to go out there and hit guys. Re-evaluate if he can fit into the top-9 at training camp next season. But it's clear as day that he doesn't fit into the top-9 right now, and especially with Lupul-Kadri.

That would absolutely be the right thing to do based on how this year's gone. But I can't see Carlyle doing it. Would love to be proved wrong though, since any line Clarkson plays on automatically becomes a liability.  He finally came around to putting McClement in his proper role; maybe he'll figure it out with Clarkson.

 

[bakeapples]

Redlight Budaj gives up a weak one - 1-0 SJ

 

[CarltonTheBear]

Credit where it's due, that was a nice play by Phaneuf.

I've always liked it when he jumps into the offence like that. Wish he was able to do it more often.

 

[Stronger Than All]

Redlight Budaj gives up a weak one - 1-0 SJ

Head scratcher for sure

 

[Kin]

I think he really just needs to play on the 4th line for the rest of the season. If we keep playing 11 forwards it wouldn't even be so bad for him. Have him and McClement as the two staples and rotate in the other left-winger. Or if we go with 12 play Bodie/Ashton/Orr (ugh) with them. Give the line 8 minutes a game and just tell him to go out there and hit guys. Re-evaluate if he can fit into the top-9 at training camp next season. But it's clear as day that he doesn't fit into the top-9 right now, and especially with Lupul-Kadri.

I feel like that's contingent on Carlyle being less stubborn about how he uses his 4th line which, while ideal, seems like a longshot.

 

[GhostofPotvin29]

That would absolutely be the right thing to do based on how this year's gone. But I can't see Carlyle doing it. Would love to be proved wrong though, since any line Clarkson plays on automatically becomes a liability.  He finally came around to putting McClement in his proper role; maybe he'll figure it out with Clarkson.

Check this out: http://stats.hockeyanalysis.com/showplayer.php?pid=235&withagainst=true&season=2013-14&sit=5v5

First, look at GF20 under "When on ice together" to see the Leafs' goals per 20:00 when Clarkson is on the ice with each player.  Then compare it with GF20 under "Teammate when apart" to see the Leafs' goals per 20:00 when that player is on the ice without Clarkson.

 

[GhostofPotvin29]

Only an .895 SV% for Bernier since the Olympic break.  Hope he's not wearing down.  Still made some fantastic saves tonight.

 

[Stronger Than All]

Only an .895 SV% for Bernier since the Olympic break.  Hope he's not wearing down.  Still made some fantastic saves tonight.

Reimer deserves better IMO

At least give him more starts down the stretch.

 

[CarltonTheBear]

I feel like that's contingent on Carlyle being less stubborn about how he uses his 4th line which, while ideal, seems like a longshot.

If he's got two guys he really likes and has given top-9 minutes to in the past playing on the 4th line though it might help him ease off of that. But yeah I'm not actually expecting it to happen either.