Leafs defensive play

[moose1706]

I have watched just about every game this year and have been quite happy with the teams record.  There is a couple of areas of their game I would say in the last 3 games that have been concerning.  They did get the win but it is a bad habit to get into

Shots on Goal

Their shot totals are down and if it wasn't for a weak goaltender in the last 2 games we would have been in trouble.  We seem to be spending a little too much time in our own end and relying on our good goaltending rather than taking the play to them.

Penalty Kill and Power Play

Both these areas have been pretty pitiful and if it wasn't for a few lucky bounces the PP would be ranked much lower.  We cannot seem to get the puck out of our end on the PK and continue to throw it around the boards only to be help in by the defence.  The powerplay often has trouble getting over the blue line and setup.  We often give up more scoring chances on our PP then 5 on 5.

Physical Play

The leafs do not seem to play with the same physical play as in other years.  Our fowards are smaller and against the bigger stronger teams like Boston and Philidelphia we are going to struggle.  We could still use a bigger centre or winger to help add that needed net presence.  I feel we also miss a big stay at home defensman like Jason Smith who routinely finished his checks and was nasty in front of the net.  Maybe Aulie can give us more of that.

There has been a lot of positives in this years campaign but like any other good team the need to improve is there.  This years leafs are really fast and are tough to keep up to.  They just have to find a balance between offence and defence.  They do say that good defensive teams win the stanley cups.  I just feel we have to tighten up defensively and allow less quality scoring chances against.

How do others feel?

 

[Number 5]

How do others feel?

I'm hungry, and a bit sleepy, thanks.

 

[Madferret]

How do others feel?

I'm hungry, and a bit sleepy, thanks.

I've had 4 beers and a plate of spaghetti...feeling pretty good.

 

[McPwnage]

Overall they have been playing a lot better offensivly than in past years which has hidden their defensive more of the same.  It is easy to look at a lot of their wins and look two points in the mouth but at the end of the day a win is a win. 

Both these areas have been pretty pitiful and if it wasn't for a few lucky bounces the PP would be ranked much lower. 

This kind of statment ignores the fact the powerplay is about producing lucky bounces that make goals.  Our penealty kill would be much better too if not for a few lucky bounces on the other team, dumb statment is dumb. 

Still they are dead last in penealty killing and 24th in goals against.  They need to play better defensivly if they want to stay a playoff team because sooner or later the offence is going to cool down. 

Honestly though I think a lot of the problem has been Gustavsson, he is one of those goaltenders that generally lets in at least a goal a game that he should have had which really inflates the goals against and makes the defence look worse than it is. 

 

[McPwnage]

How do others feel?

I'm hungry, and a bit sleepy, thanks.

I've had 4 beers and a plate of spaghetti...feeling pretty good.

I'm procrasinating about doing homework, doesn't feel too good.

 

[Madferret]

How do others feel?

I'm hungry, and a bit sleepy, thanks.

I've had 4 beers and a plate of spaghetti...feeling pretty good.

I'm procrasinating about doing homework, doesn't feel too good.

Homework? On a Friday?

 

[McPwnage]

How do others feel?

I'm hungry, and a bit sleepy, thanks.

I've had 4 beers and a plate of spaghetti...feeling pretty good.

I'm procrasinating about doing homework, doesn't feel too good.

Homework? On a Friday?

I've got a book report for a book I'm half finished and another assignment due monday, then two more due wednesday so when I eventually get down to them it is going to suck.

 

[Madferret]

How do others feel?

I'm hungry, and a bit sleepy, thanks.

I've had 4 beers and a plate of spaghetti...feeling pretty good.

I'm procrasinating about doing homework, doesn't feel too good.

Homework? On a Friday?

I've got a book report for a book I'm half finished and another assignment due monday, then two more due wednesday so when I eventually get down to them it is going to suck.

What are you doing wasting time with these losers here then?



I have extremely low self esteem - that's my excuse.

 

[L K]

Good offense masks a lot of bad defense.  I think they still play roughly as sloppy as they did last year, but the goaltending is better AND the quality of the forward group is better.  The forwards still don't do a good enough job of coming back to help the defensemen out.  They don't always create a good man along the boards to accept passes. 

What really seems to be a struggle for this team is crossing mid-ice and switching.  Far too often 2 guys go chasing one puck carrier in the corner because a skater takes the puck from one side of the ice to the other.  You don't need to have two guys chasing the puck, unless there is a tight puck battle and numbers are going to help you gain possession.  They leave a guy open far too often because of it.

 

[ZBBM]

Somebody in another thread listed a whole bunch of reasons why this start is undeserved/may be a mirage.  There are a LOT of issues with the Leafs play so far, of that there is no doubt.  Ferraro said it best the other night in Jersey: so far they have managed to outscore their problems.

Yet, as much as I hate to invoke a cliche, they somehow find a way to win.  So far.

 

[GhostofPotvin29]

Somebody in another thread listed a whole bunch of reasons why this start is undeserved/may be a mirage.  There are a LOT of issues with the Leafs play so far, of that there is no doubt.  Ferraro said it best the other night in Jersey: so far they have managed to outscore their problems.

Yet, as much as I hate to invoke a cliche, they somehow find a way to win.  So far.

So they're 9-3-1 despite not playing their best yet? 

 

[ZBBM]

Somebody in another thread listed a whole bunch of reasons why this start is undeserved/may be a mirage.  There are a LOT of issues with the Leafs play so far, of that there is no doubt.  Ferraro said it best the other night in Jersey: so far they have managed to outscore their problems.

Yet, as much as I hate to invoke a cliche, they somehow find a way to win.  So far.

So they're 9-3-1 despite not playing their best yet? 

Don't you agree?

 

[GhostofPotvin29]

Somebody in another thread listed a whole bunch of reasons why this start is undeserved/may be a mirage.  There are a LOT of issues with the Leafs play so far, of that there is no doubt.  Ferraro said it best the other night in Jersey: so far they have managed to outscore their problems.

Yet, as much as I hate to invoke a cliche, they somehow find a way to win.  So far.

So they're 9-3-1 despite not playing their best yet? 

Don't you agree?

I do.

 

[leafplasma]

Good offense masks a lot of bad defense.  I think they still play roughly as sloppy as they did last year, but the goaltending is better AND the quality of the forward group is better.

Take out a handful of games and I wouldn't say the goaltending has been better then pre-Reimer last season.  The PK if even average would bring our goals against to more respectable levels.  The goaltending has a lot to do with the PK and it just isn't to the level it was last year after Reimer came on board. Like has been discussed ad-nauseum the passive box pk strategy is hurting the leafs as well.  Once the Leafs regain the confidence in their goaltending again, maybe they will be more willing to rush the attack rather then just try to block shots.

 

[moon111]

Three Jagr breakaways is the type of exposure the Leafs constantly gave Raycroft.  Hopefully NHL teams won't be able to write a book on 'How To Beat Reimer/Gus/Scrivens' as easily.

 

[Optimus Reimer]

I have watched just about every game this year and have been quite happy with the teams record.  There is a couple of areas of their game I would say in the last 3 games that have been concerning.  They did get the win but it is a bad habit to get into

Shots on Goal

Their shot totals are down and if it wasn't for a weak goaltender in the last 2 games we would have been in trouble.  We seem to be spending a little too much time in our own end and relying on our good goaltending rather than taking the play to them.

Penalty Kill and Power Play

Both these areas have been pretty pitiful and if it wasn't for a few lucky bounces the PP would be ranked much lower.  We cannot seem to get the puck out of our end on the PK and continue to throw it around the boards only to be help in by the defence.  The powerplay often has trouble getting over the blue line and setup.  We often give up more scoring chances on our PP then 5 on 5.

Physical Play

The leafs do not seem to play with the same physical play as in other years.  Our fowards are smaller and against the bigger stronger teams like Boston and Philidelphia we are going to struggle.  We could still use a bigger centre or winger to help add that needed net presence.  I feel we also miss a big stay at home defensman like Jason Smith who routinely finished his checks and was nasty in front of the net.  Maybe Aulie can give us more of that.

There has been a lot of positives in this years campaign but like any other good team the need to improve is there.  This years leafs are really fast and are tough to keep up to.  They just have to find a balance between offence and defence.  They do say that good defensive teams win the stanley cups.  I just feel we have to tighten up defensively and allow less quality scoring chances against.

How do others feel?

I'm feeling a bit hungry right now.  Thanks for asking.