Leafs @ Flyers - Dec. 12th, 7:00pm - TSN4, Fan 590

[CarltonTheBear]

The good news is that the Leafs have banked a lot of points (regardless of if they earned them or not) and our division is absolute garbage. There's almost no way that they fall out of the 2-3 slots in the Atlantic, which is really the ideal place to be given the set-up. So they do have time to figure all of this out.

Step one should be making sure Matthews is 117% healthy. He shouldn't play another game until that happens.

 

[ZBBM]

I understand Babcock wants to teach them to be able to play this way, but he's asking thoroughbreds to plough the fields.

He's asking snowmobiles to heat the house.

That's very well put.

 

[wnc096]

But the way they sit back and let teams come at them bound to bite them in the ass on some nights .Almost doubled up on shots again. Great job Mike. Idiot.

Dude what exactly are your expectations?  They are on pace for 105 points. 

The Leafs were playing their third game in 4 nights...missing their best player...on the road...against team that had been off for 5 days.  I think you need to relax

 

[Zee]

I mean, yeah they lost, but 3 games in 4 nights is bound to catch up to any team.

 

[Strangelove]

I mean, yeah they lost, but 3 games in 4 nights is bound to catch up to any team.

The issue, I think, is that the team didn't really look any different last night than they have for the past 10-15 games or so. They just weren't as lucky as they've been.

In other words, the issues are systemic and not related to fatigue.

 

[rdowdall]

I mean, yeah they lost, but 3 games in 4 nights is bound to catch up to any team.

The issue, I think, is that the team didn't really look any different last night than they have for the past 10-15 games or so. They just weren't as lucky as they've been.

In other words, the issues are systemic and not related to fatigue.

I think part of the possession lag is due to missing a 100% Matthews.  You look at the early games and his possession stats and they were off the charts.  Then he got hurt, and he wasn't the same.  He has a big impact on the Leafs ability to control the flow of the game.

 

[WhatIfGodWasALeaf]

Jeff Veillette on twitter has a decent look at the Leafs analytics on his twitter this morning.

He has arrived at the same conclusion as many here, Babcock's attempt to impose a dump and chase style on the team is neutering what actually makes them a good team/allowed them to have success and dominate early in the year.

 

[Strangelove]

Jeff Veillette on twitter has a decent look at the Leafs analytics on his twitter this morning.

He has arrived at the same conclusion as many here, Babcock's attempt to impose a dump and chase style on the team is neutering what actually makes them a good team/allowed them to have success and dominate early in the year.

Yep. The Leafs' transition game and neutral zone possession is non-existent right now, and it seems to be by design.

 

[Bender]

But the way they sit back and let teams come at them bound to bite them in the ass on some nights .Almost doubled up on shots again. Great job Mike. Idiot.

Dude what exactly are your expectations?  They are on pace for 105 points. 

The Leafs were playing their third game in 4 nights...missing their best player...on the road...against team that had been off for 5 days.  I think you need to relax

I agree with most of that as Azzuri flies off the handle during any loss. But I think they've been very lucky to get the wins they've been getting, riding high on good goaltending. If the goaltending comes back down to earth it will not be pretty. If at any point is was just slightly below average I think we'd be barely clinging to a playoff spot. The other aspects of their game are getting bailed out by good goaltending.

 

[Kin]

I agree with most of that as Azzuri flies off the handle during any loss. But I think they've been very lucky to get the wins they've been getting, riding high on good goaltending. If the goaltending comes back down to earth it will not be pretty. If at any point is was just slightly below average I think we'd be barely clinging to a playoff spot. The other aspects of their game are getting bailed out by good goaltending.

But you know I always feel that one of the thing that really plagues fan criticism is a lack of context or comparison. The best teams in the league are still only going to win 50 or so out of 80 games. They do that by virtue of generally winning when they're on their game(while still being vulnerable to a hot goalie) but also being able to squeak out points when they're off their game because of good goaltending or luck or whatever. No team is great for the whole season, all teams hit rough patches.

So right now the Leafs are in a bit of a rough patch but they're still figuring out ways to earn points most nights. That's what a good team does. Yes, if the goaltending gets worse and nothing else improves that would be cause for concern long term but that's sort of a cross the bridge when you get there thing.

 

[herman]

It's also mid-December games, just get to the stretch run healthy.

Also stealth nerf Nylander and Marner so their $alary cap hits are suppressed.