Game 35: Hurricanes @ Leafs - Mar. 28, 7:00pm - LeafsTV

[Kin]

60 minutes divided by 6 dman > 60 minutes divided by 7 dman.  Sure he could keep the top pairings minutes the same but then the other dman would have their ice time further lowered.  It only makes sense have 7 defenseman if you don't want to give much icetime to any of you defence.

Actually, the time can be divided in just about any way the coach wants. If 6 defensemen split the time like this:

1st Pairing: 25 minutes
2nd Pairing: 20 minutes
3rd pairing: 15 minutes

Then 7 could split it like so:

1st pairing: 25 minutes
2nd pairing: 20 minutes
5th, 6th and 7th defensemen: 10 minutes each

Or any billions of other ways.

All a seventh defenseman has to mean is that one guy sees his ice time reduced. Considering that an argument could be made that the Leafs are maybe playing some guys too much, it's an idea that could work out.

 

[Redleaf]

Not a good feeling about tonight for some reason. Perhaps the evitable letdown game? In saying that, I was wrong with in my prediction for the FLA game, so....

Looking past tonight's game, if the Leafs can beat the Sens on Saturday, Im assuming were looking down the barrel of what should be the first shot of playoff excitement to hit Toronto in nearly a decade!!! Hard to believe there are young fans who have never experienced it. I for one have two sons who have never seen a city go hockey crazy yet.

 

[WhatIfGodWasALeaf]

I'm doing an Alfie, guaranteed 2 points tonight.

 

[GhostofPotvin29]

Not a good feeling about tonight for some reason. Perhaps the evitable letdown game? In saying that, I was wrong with in my prediction for the FLA game, so....

Inevitable?

Chances are if you say it for every game they're going to lose one of them.  Every loss is a letdown.

 

[Heroic Shrimp]

I'm doing an Alfie, guaranteed 2 points tonight.

Given the outcome, I'd be more comfortable if you were doing a Messier.

 

[lamajama]

I'm doing an Alfie, guaranteed 2 points tonight.

Oh please don't do this....plus if you remember Alfie was a little
off-side.....

 

[WhatIfGodWasALeaf]

I'm doing an Alfie, guaranteed 2 points tonight.

Given the outcome, I'd be more comfortable if you were doing a Messier.

;D Touche

 

[cw]

I like how these GDT list the streaming options.

Agreed. Great job once again CTB!

+ 1

It's an important game tonight:
http://www.hockey-reference.com/friv/playoff_prob.cgi

A regulation win by the Leafs would really help to improve their chances for the playoffs. Carolina has to know that.

If the Flyers can beat the Islanders in regulation, that would be a nice bonus. (I don't care to cheer for the Flyers but in this case ...)

 

[Optimus Reimer]

never ike playng Carolina.. I don't care how they have been playing. Hope we can take advantage of the kid in net... The Staals seem to kill us.. 2 points would be a huge step towrds post season

Kid in net is a local boy, hope he doesn't have the game of his life.

Wow didn't know that. Of course he is. Plenty of family and friends at game blah blah blah.. Damn

Wouldn't that work for Reimer in Winnipeg, then?

Their fans cancel it out by being loud/mean.

"Reeeeiiii-mer"

Those animals.

'You're not Crosby' everytime Ovechkin touched the puck was the best one I ever heard. 

I think all this time not having a team, the fans in Winnipeg would be insane making it hard for any team to beat the Jets in the first round.

 

[pnjunction]

I wonder if he's scared of Jake the Snake Gardiner in his own end and wants another dman back there to give him the option of restricting Gardiner. He started rolling five dmen at times last game after a few gaffes from Gardiner.

I would be, based on what we saw the other night. 

Wondering if people who were freaking out as to why Carlyle was holding Gardiner in the AHL so long understand why they did that now.

I've always thought that Gardiner was a tad overrated. Even during his rookie season he struggled in his own end. And while I know he's still young, he'll likely never be much better than just average defensively. I think those who expect him to be a top pairing defenceman need to adjust their expectations a little bit. Obviously I'll be pretty happy if he proves me wrong.

His offensive production was really quite good, though.  He'll likely be one of those offensive d-men who we hope to be average in our own end - but he is still great to have back there for moving the puck up ice.

I would like to think that at 22 he will be able to improve his defensive game somewhat as he matures.  He's only one NHL season into his career and has his skating ability going for him.  If he's regressing 3-4 years in like a certain other D-man we bailed on, then we can worry...

 

[Deebo]

never ike playng Carolina.. I don't care how they have been playing. Hope we can take advantage of the kid in net... The Staals seem to kill us.. 2 points would be a huge step towrds post season

Kid in net is a local boy, hope he doesn't have the game of his life.

Wow didn't know that. Of course he is. Plenty of family and friends at game blah blah blah.. Damn

Wouldn't that work for Reimer in Winnipeg, then?

Their fans cancel it out by being loud/mean.

"Reeeeiiii-mer"

Those animals.

'You're not Crosby' everytime Ovechkin touched the puck was the best one I ever heard. 

I think all this time not having a team, the fans in Winnipeg would be insane making it hard for any team to beat the Jets in the first round.

I thought it was "Crosby's better"

"Sil-ver Med-al" to Ryan Miller was pretty good too.

 

[GhostofPotvin29]

I wonder if he's scared of Jake the Snake Gardiner in his own end and wants another dman back there to give him the option of restricting Gardiner. He started rolling five dmen at times last game after a few gaffes from Gardiner.

I would be, based on what we saw the other night. 

Wondering if people who were freaking out as to why Carlyle was holding Gardiner in the AHL so long understand why they did that now.

I've always thought that Gardiner was a tad overrated. Even during his rookie season he struggled in his own end. And while I know he's still young, he'll likely never be much better than just average defensively. I think those who expect him to be a top pairing defenceman need to adjust their expectations a little bit. Obviously I'll be pretty happy if he proves me wrong.

His offensive production was really quite good, though.  He'll likely be one of those offensive d-men who we hope to be average in our own end - but he is still great to have back there for moving the puck up ice.

I would like to think that at 22 he will be able to improve his defensive game somewhat as he matures.  He's only one NHL season into his career and has his skating ability going for him.  If he's regressing 3-4 years in like a certain other D-man we bailed on, then we can worry...

I am saying he can improve, but I think there's only so much we can realistically expect his D to improve.  He can get better positionally, and that should do him well, I'm just not expecting his D to come anywhere near what his offensive contributions will be.  Which I'm sure means we're not too far off from "Should we try Gardiner at C?" posts.

 

[Bonsixx]

As always, beautifully done CTB. Though I'd add Kessel to who's hot... I understand that as good as Kadri's been, Kessel actually has more points this month?

Hard to describe him as being on any kind of a hot streak after he pulled a no show in two games against boston.

I don't think games against Boston count for Kessel.

 

[Kaberle15]

Must win, can't let Carolina cut the lead the Leafs have on them.

Go Leafs Go!

 

[ZBBM]

Not a good feeling about tonight for some reason. Perhaps the evitable letdown game? In saying that, I was wrong with in my prediction for the FLA game, so....

Looking past tonight's game, if the Leafs can beat the Sens on Saturday, Im assuming were looking down the barrel of what should be the first shot of playoff excitement to hit Toronto in nearly a decade!!! Hard to believe there are young fans who have never experienced it. I for one have two sons who have never seen a city go hockey crazy yet.

Quit worrying.  I already predicted that the drought is over.  We WILL be in the playoffs.  Take that to your bank, write in on a deposit slip, and hand it to the teller.  With a smile.

 

[Redleaf]

Not a good feeling about tonight for some reason. Perhaps the evitable letdown game? In saying that, I was wrong with in my prediction for the FLA game, so....

Looking past tonight's game, if the Leafs can beat the Sens on Saturday, Im assuming were looking down the barrel of what should be the first shot of playoff excitement to hit Toronto in nearly a decade!!! Hard to believe there are young fans who have never experienced it. I for one have two sons who have never seen a city go hockey crazy yet.

Quit worrying.  I already predicted that the drought is over.  We WILL be in the playoffs.  Take that to your bank, write in on a deposit slip, and hand it to the teller.  With a smile.

Done. Although I'm pretty sure the teller would press that silent emergency button they have for robberies and crazies, but I could still try. 

 

[Derk]

Go Leafs!!!

 

[Deebo]

Seigel is saying that Liles is back in and Gardiner might be the one sitting if they don't dress 7 D

 

[GhostofPotvin29]

@mirtle 55s

Leafs scratches tonight are MacArthur, Komarov and Gardiner.

Ugh - from 20:00+/game to scratched.

 

[ZBBM]

@mirtle 55s

Leafs scratches tonight are MacArthur, Komarov and Gardiner.

Ugh - from 20:00+/game to scratched.

Well, Carlyle's lineup decisions can be baffling but I give him credit for not being reluctant to bench people.