Guru Tugginmypuddah
Well-known member
Bobby
Islanders @ Maple Leafs - Dec. 21st, 7:00pm - SN, Fan 590
- Thread starter CarltonTheBear
- Start date
barney_rebel
Well-known member
We stink dudes
4EVRLEAFAN
Member
Who switched to the Jr's on TSN. Lol
L K
Well-known member
I feel like McCabe shoots into shin pads a lot...in fact most of our defensemen do
L K
Well-known member
I'm not annoyed by this loss. There are concerning things with the overall defensive letdowns but this is a tired team playing a dumb schedule. It's great that we got a bunch of players back from injury just in time to play games every other day. Practice time will be nonexistent. When you are constantly travelling it limits ideal video coaching as well.
December 2/4/6/7 - 4 games in 6 nights. The first three at home and then travel to play Pittsburgh at home. Pittsburgh did play the night before but went from New York while the Leafs had to cross the border.
December 10/12/14/15 - 4 games in 6 nights. They alternated road/home so that adds to the travel crossing the border four times. Buffalo played at home the night before the Leafs back to back.
December 18/20/21/23 - 4 games in 6 nights. Travel again on their back to back against a rested Islanders team. Their 4th game is being played at 2PM
To date on the season the Leafs have played 8 back to backs. They are 4-3-1 in the second half of their back to backs. The Leafs have played a team on the back half of a back to back 5 times. They are 4-1-0 (the one loss against Pittsburgh when the Leafs were also on a back to back...they are 4-0-0 when playing rested against a team on a back to back
Rested teams have a massive advantage in professional hockey. 21 of 32 teams have a .500 PT% in the NHL. 26 of 32 teams earn at least a point on 1 days rest. 24 of 32 teams earn at least a point on 2 days rest. 25 of 32 teams earn at least a point on more than 2 days rest. 16 of 32 teams earn at least a point on zero days rest. (Florida/Boston/Tampa have played a combined 8 back to backs so far to the Leafs 8)
I think there are a lot of disappointing periods during this stretch but I don't feel like the team has been lazy. They have been in most games even when getting outplayed because the defensive structure is keeping shots to the outside. They are clearing the net much better.
The only real concern I have (aside from Stolarz and Will both exploding before Game 2 of the playoffs is that Matthews is acting like a guy who needs season ending surgery or has a non surgical back injury that will just be a persistent problem and the Leafs chances of winning with a 70% Matthews are drastically worse
December 2/4/6/7 - 4 games in 6 nights. The first three at home and then travel to play Pittsburgh at home. Pittsburgh did play the night before but went from New York while the Leafs had to cross the border.
December 10/12/14/15 - 4 games in 6 nights. They alternated road/home so that adds to the travel crossing the border four times. Buffalo played at home the night before the Leafs back to back.
December 18/20/21/23 - 4 games in 6 nights. Travel again on their back to back against a rested Islanders team. Their 4th game is being played at 2PM
To date on the season the Leafs have played 8 back to backs. They are 4-3-1 in the second half of their back to backs. The Leafs have played a team on the back half of a back to back 5 times. They are 4-1-0 (the one loss against Pittsburgh when the Leafs were also on a back to back...they are 4-0-0 when playing rested against a team on a back to back
Rested teams have a massive advantage in professional hockey. 21 of 32 teams have a .500 PT% in the NHL. 26 of 32 teams earn at least a point on 1 days rest. 24 of 32 teams earn at least a point on 2 days rest. 25 of 32 teams earn at least a point on more than 2 days rest. 16 of 32 teams earn at least a point on zero days rest. (Florida/Boston/Tampa have played a combined 8 back to backs so far to the Leafs 8)
I think there are a lot of disappointing periods during this stretch but I don't feel like the team has been lazy. They have been in most games even when getting outplayed because the defensive structure is keeping shots to the outside. They are clearing the net much better.
The only real concern I have (aside from Stolarz and Will both exploding before Game 2 of the playoffs is that Matthews is acting like a guy who needs season ending surgery or has a non surgical back injury that will just be a persistent problem and the Leafs chances of winning with a 70% Matthews are drastically worse
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I'm not sure it is my only real concern but it is large enough, it probably feels like it.
With Matthews healthy, it is plausible for them to add a dman and a decent center and this team has real possibilities.
With Matthews chronically injured or out, that lets a lot of air out of the playoff balloon.
Health is part of the luck a team needs to win.
L K
Well-known member
Yeah that's fair. I think I'd like an upgrade on Timmins for another guy with offensive ability but more reliable defensively. I still think they would benefit from a better 3C who is more defensively responsible than Domi who probably is still a better winger in the playoffs. They also need to find a way to have the 4th line score more than 3 goals on the season
We have to learn from our mistakes in life. I don't think hockey teams are much different in that regard.
Hopefully, they review losing 65% of their faceoffs last night.
I do concede that it will be tough to plan lines for the forwards with Matthews injury.
Hopefully, they learned something from the combinations they tried last night.
I'm delighted the 3rd line found some scoring but their last two games haven't been so hot defensively. However, a few of the goals while they were on the ice were not all their fault.
Hopefully, they settle down some on trying dman pairings. Berube has been a little trigger happy over the last few games. I think there is a risk of over doing it.
Hopefully, they review losing 65% of their faceoffs last night.
I do concede that it will be tough to plan lines for the forwards with Matthews injury.
Hopefully, they learned something from the combinations they tried last night.
I'm delighted the 3rd line found some scoring but their last two games haven't been so hot defensively. However, a few of the goals while they were on the ice were not all their fault.
Hopefully, they settle down some on trying dman pairings. Berube has been a little trigger happy over the last few games. I think there is a risk of over doing it.
Can't time travel but I'd be happy with a partner like Schenn from 2 years ago with Rielly
Domi doesn't have the mental outlook for "more defensively responsible" He belongs on a wing
If Matthews needs surgery, I might not do much - save up the assets for next year.
Solution for 4th line scoring:
Send Reaves down to AHL eating $200k or whatever cap.
That alone should help.
(... Give Nylander or McMann his ice time)
