Leafs @ Lightning - Feb. 26th, 7:30pm - SNO, TSN 1050

[herman]

Something?s not working on that unit as they?re just trying outside shots. It?s not just Matthews and Nylander playing their shooting sides instead. And we are probably losing a key part of the first unit next season.

Since December 1st Matthews and Nylander have just 1 PP point each. That's 30 games for Matthews, 37 for Nylander. It's baffling.

Brown has 1 PP point and Marleau has 2 in that same span.

Judging by how they play it, it?s not surprising.

Unit 1 eats a lot of the two minutes. There?s very little net crash or chaos. Mostly looking for style points. I?m fine with that from Matthews and Nylander to an extent but Marleau usually just vamps outside waiting for something to come to him and then takes lots of low percentage shots from stationary. At least Brown digs for it and retrieve the puck even if he doesn?t quite have the hands in tight.

 

[Hobbes]

Something?s not working on that unit as they?re just trying outside shots. It?s not just Matthews and Nylander playing their shooting sides instead. And we are probably losing a key part of the first unit next season.

Since December 1st Matthews and Nylander have just 1 PP point each. That's 30 games for Matthews, 37 for Nylander. It's baffling.

Brown has 1 PP point and Marleau has 2 in that same span.

Ian Tullock had a theory about the lack of PP scoring by those two. Loosely he suggests it's because for most of that time they're playing on switched sides which doesn't favour their particular strengths. Full details in his Athletic article

 

[CarltonTheBear]

Unit 1 eats a lot of the two minutes. There?s very little net crash or chaos. Mostly looking for style points. I?m fine with that from Matthews and Nylander to an extent but Marleau usually just vamps outside waiting for something to come to him and then takes lots of low percentage shots from stationary. At least Brown digs for it and retrieve the puck even if he doesn?t quite have the hands in tight.

I wouldn't even be completely opposed to trying Hyman there. Hyman!

Hyman
Matthews-Kapanen-Nylander
Gardiner

 

[herman]

I?m pretty sure he talked about that specifically re Matthews on the PP.

Well, Matthews has 7 powerplay points so mission accomplished there. If he "let" him score more there we might have home ice advantage in the playoffs locked up right now.

Yeah probably.

It isn?t even Babcock that calls out the PP deployment.

It's effin stupidity by Babcock. I can't understand the reasoning in his PP decisions. You play your best offensive players on the PP plain and simple. I don't believe how much little time Matthews gets on the PP a player who is top 3 in the league who I would take to lead or start a franchise. Take a look at Laine a player some said should have been picked 1st overall. Kid has how many points on the PP. If he didn't get them there he'd be putting up average numbers. Matthews does it all 5 on 5 thanks to Babcock. Plain stupidity.

More ranting and cussing will definitely help people understand and sympathize with your opinion and take you seriously.

 

[Guilt Trip]

I?m pretty sure he talked about that specifically re Matthews on the PP.

Well, Matthews has 7 powerplay points so mission accomplished there. If he "let" him score more there we might have home ice advantage in the playoffs locked up right now.

Yeah probably.

It isn?t even Babcock that calls out the PP deployment.

It's effin stupidity by Babcock. I can't understand the reasoning in his PP decisions. You play your best offensive players on the PP plain and simple. I don't believe how much little time Matthews gets on the PP a player who is top 3 in the league who I would take to lead or start a franchise. Take a look at Laine a player some said should have been picked 1st overall. Kid has how many points on the PP. If he didn't get them there he'd be putting up average numbers. Matthews does it all 5 on 5 thanks to Babcock. Plain stupidity.

We'll be thanking, Babs later when Matthews signs for 6 mill a, year because he doesn't have the points to warrant a 11 million dollar contract... <enter sarcasm here> I don't get the pp choices either.

 

[lc9]

I?m pretty sure he talked about that specifically re Matthews on the PP.

Well, Matthews has 7 powerplay points so mission accomplished there. If he "let" him score more there we might have home ice advantage in the playoffs locked up right now.

Yeah probably.

It isn?t even Babcock that calls out the PP deployment.

It's effin stupidity by Babcock. I can't understand the reasoning in his PP decisions. You play your best offensive players on the PP plain and simple. I don't believe how much little time Matthews gets on the PP a player who is top 3 in the league who I would take to lead or start a franchise. Take a look at Laine a player some said should have been picked 1st overall. Kid has how many points on the PP. If he didn't get them there he'd be putting up average numbers. Matthews does it all 5 on 5 thanks to Babcock. Plain stupidity.

Yes.  Makes no sense how Babcock uses his best players. It has to change soon.  Matthews should be killing penalties too.

 

[CarltonTheBear]

Ian Tullock had a theory about the lack of PP scoring by those two. Loosely he suggests it's because for most of that time they're playing on switched sides which doesn't favour their particular strengths. Full details in his Athletic article

It's a fair theory. Ian says that the Leafs moved the two of them to their off-wing around January 1st, and I'll take his word for that. But in the month of December Matthews and Nylander didn't record a single PP point, so the move was reactionary to them going cold in the first place.

 

[herman]

I wouldn't even be completely opposed to trying Hyman there. Hyman!

Hyman
Matthews-Kapanen-Nylander
Gardiner

They don?t want guys playing all three game situations the way some did last season, so until they come off that, these are probably the guys we are going to see, give or take a Leivo. I do really like playing JvR for the full PP as he?s a non/negative factor otherwise. He plays the angles perfectly and can switch up a deft pass to the weak side/bumper as easily as he handles the tips.

 

[barney_rebel]

We stink btw

 

[CarltonTheBear]

It's been Dermott-Rielly for a couple shifts so far this period.

 

[barney_rebel]

We rule man

 

[Guru Tugginmypuddah]

T. BO!

 

[CarltonTheBear]

BOZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ

 

[Al14]

Bozak scores!  TB 3 - Leafs 3

Why you not traded?

Go Leafs Go!

 

[lc9]

What a pass by Marner.  Weird what happens when he is on the PP.

 

[ZBBM]

Nice.

 

[herman]

What a pass

 

[CarltonTheBear]

Marner needs to slow down. That 2nd contract is getting more expensive every day now it seems.

 

[Redleaf]

I truly believe we?re seeing the beginning stages of the career of next great player in the NHL in Marner .

 

[ZBBM]

Something?s not working on that unit as they?re just trying outside shots. It?s not just Matthews and Nylander playing their shooting sides instead. And we are probably losing a key part of the first unit next season.

Since December 1st Matthews and Nylander have just 1 PP point each. That's 30 games for Matthews, 37 for Nylander. It's baffling.

Brown has 1 PP point and Marleau has 2 in that same span.

Judging by how they play it, it?s not surprising.

Unit 1 eats a lot of the two minutes. There?s very little net crash or chaos. Mostly looking for style points. I?m fine with that from Matthews and Nylander to an extent but Marleau usually just vamps outside waiting for something to come to him and then takes lots of low percentage shots from stationary. At least Brown digs for it and retrieve the puck even if he doesn?t quite have the hands in tight.

I remember when the PP went stale when Kessel was here, it was the same thing.