Leafs @ Bruins - Nov. 10th, 7:00pm - CBC, TSN 1050

[Guilt Trip]

It's understandable after that performance, wanting Sparks out, but who would they replace him with?

There is no one now. I've never liked Sparks. Well I did when we were tanking. We better how he can get better or Freddie will never get out of the net.

 

[herman]

Shot clock in the first was a mirage: Leafs weren't allowed to get into their preferred shooting space and had to take less contested options.

Bruins are quite good at both ends of the ice, and continue to serve as a benchmark for us. Would it have made a significant difference if we were able to get both Kadri and Matthews line against their non-top line? Probably, as Lindholm and even the 4th line held sway on many of their shifts, but came up empty due to scoring not being a forte.

Would Sparks be more confident in net if he played more regularly? Probably, but his role is to back up Andersen, and that takes a different mentality he needs to figure out.

All in all, I thought we played pretty well, but ran into a motivated Bruins squad off our B2B and had some PDO regression kick in. Rest and regroup and keep winning as many of the individual battles as you can.

 

[gunnar36]

Sparks has terrible rebound control sits on the goal line and he committs way too early. He's an AHL goalie and I believe only  had great numbers because of a stacked Marlies team.

Exactly

 

[princedpw]

Ug. Darn.

 

[sickbeast]

Well, for better or for worse, Sparks and McElhinney both have nearly identical save percentages thus far this season.  So it's hard to say we made the wrong move at this point.  A better backup would be good.  We'll see.  Good players cost money.

 

[hockeyfan1]

Well, for better or for worse, Sparks and McElhinney both have nearly identical save percentages thus far this season.  So it's hard to say we made the wrong move at this point.  A better backup would be good.  We'll see.  Good players cost money.

Babcock's choice wasn't Sparks but McElhinney.  We can see why.  It's debatable on whether Sparks has the mentality or composure, or whether it's a matter of not playing regularly that  hampers him.

Sparks sports the highest Expected Save Percentage in the league.  Small sample size on account of the fact that he played nary a few games.  It would be interesting to see what would happen if he were given play on a more consistent basis.

Dubas had faith in going with Sparks as the backup (and perhaps as the eventual go-to frontrunner in replacing Freddie at some point in time).  Or didn't he?

 

[Guilt Trip]

I think Dubas thought 1 or both of McBackup/ Pickard would slide through. Chances were high that Sparks wouldn't make it through. Babs def wanted McBackup. Sparks was horrible in the pre season and has been horrible in 2 of 3 games so far. I don't think the Leafs see Sparks as Frddie's replacement.

 

[OldTimeHockey]

Important point to remember.

We can pin this on Sparks all we want but if we're expecting goalies to win games 1-0 for us against a team like the Bruins, we're in trouble.

 

[Zee]

Important point to remember.

We can pin this on Sparks all we want but if we're expecting goalies to win games 1-0 for us against a team like the Bruins, we're in trouble.

Watching the replay of the game. Leafs were coming on at 3-1, chance after chance and then the Bruins got a 4 minute powerplay and there was nothing Sparks could do on that 4th goal. Game was over at that point.

 

[OldTimeHockey]

Important point to remember.

We can pin this on Sparks all we want but if we're expecting goalies to win games 1-0 for us against a team like the Bruins, we're in trouble.

Watching the replay of the game. Leafs were coming on at 3-1, chance after chance and then the Bruins got a 4 minute powerplay and there was nothing Sparks could do on that 4th goal. Game was over at that point.

I also just watched the game in 6. I find Sparks has poor lateral movement and as it has been mentioned, plays a little deep in his net. That being said, the only goal that was downright awful was the 5th one(when the game was out of reach). The first one is a goal you'd like your goalie to save at that time for a couple reasons. One, because it was a cheap deflection, and two because you have all the momentum and that sucks the life out of a team(regardless of how it goes in).

The first Pastarnak goal wasn't a terrible goal but Sparks seemed to struggle to get across. #3 and #4 were beautiful passing plays that the goalie isnt going to stop very often.

 

[Highlander]

Sparks maybe should have had the first one, after that the Leafs hung him out to dry.  He should have played the Devils, Freddie the Bruins.

 

[Highlander]

Basically Babcock threw the white flag by starting the backup today.  You have to coach with the intent to win.  Not set your schedule in July and say you have nothing left to do.

I highly doubt Fredo would have won this game, the Leafs stunk.

 

[Zee]

Just so you know, watching the game on replay when you already know the outcome, makes Jim Hughson's joy at the Leafs misery less annoying

 

[Phileas Fogg]

Yeah, anyone pinning this loss on Sparks or Babcock for the starting order need to give their head a shake.

One thing, though, that's starting to get a bit concerning is the lack of production on the powerplay since Matthews went on IR. The Marner slap-pass has been pretty obviously scouted, and they don't have the same cross-seam weapon that Matthews was to spread out the coverage. Despite all the talent on the team, they really don't have a bunch of guys with an impressive shot that stands a chance of beating a goalie at  the hash marks. There's a hell of a dropoff between Matthews and the rest of the group. Probably Nylander would be second in that regard.

The second unit is a straight up disaster. I like Gardiner and Ennis, but they need someone who can be in the slot and fire the puck - ie - not Leivo. I think they should move Kadri to the second unit, and as some have suggested, put Kapenen on there as well.