Leafs @ Oilers - Jan. 30th, 7:00pm - SN, Fan 590

[CarltonTheBear]

Eking out these skinny 4-3 victories might get them more used to having to play a more complete game until the final buzzer, but I'd sure rather them be able to limit opponents to low 2's in goals against per game.

Low 2's? Is that really a realistic expectation? Last season the team with the lowest GA/GP was Boston and they were at 2.39 with Dallas in 2nd at 2.52.

So far this season, they're goals for per game is at 3.33, which is good for 9th in the league.  Goals against is 2.78, which is a mediocre 16th in the league.  PDO is 14th best in the league.

Being 16th in something in a 31 league team seems more like being average at it than mediocre, but I'm not going to squabble too much about that. 2.78 is also the 2nd best among teams in the Canadian division, which has been the highest scoring division so far by a pretty wide margin. It's also a significant improvement over our last 2 seasons where we had GA/GPs of 3.04 and 3.17.

At 5-on-5 the Leafs are allowing just 50.43 shot attempts per 60 minutes, good for 11th in the league right now. The 2 seasons prior to that they were at 58.08, 23rd in the league. They've allowed 2.02 GA/60 at 5-on-5 so far, 11th in the league. Again in the 2 seasons before that they were at 2.60, 23rd in the league.

 

[Kin]

I really don't want to make this a semantic thing but do you guys not use mediocre to mean roughly in the middle of things?

 

[CarltonTheBear]

I really don't want to make this a semantic thing but do you guys not use mediocre to mean roughly in the middle of things?

Huh, I've always considered "average" to a be a little better than "mediocre". Maybe that's just me?

 

[CarltonTheBear]

Minor programming note, games only on Sportsnet, not CBC tonight.

 

[herman]

1-goal games (or 2-goal games with empties) is not a sustainable way to win, especially when nearly 50% of the goal production is on the PP, which is at the whims of NHL refereeing (a paragon of truth, justice, and constancy, right?). That being said, 7-2-0 while playing somewhat like ass on even strength offense is okay as long as the coaching staff and management aren't holding up those victories as some indicator that the team is in good shape (haha Ottawa 2017). By and large, the party line from coaching staff and players alike is that they'll take the points but know they have things to develop and build on and clean up.

Come playoffs, the process should be dialed in, and the team needs to know how to both curbstomp opponents 7-1 or eke out a gutsy ugly come rom behind sudden death win banking a puck off a butt and every possible way in between.

 

[herman]

It took them long enough to figure out how to deploy all the talent on the PP but it sure is working finally like we all had hoped.

Wonder how much the new assistant coaches are helping in this.

https://twitter.com/kristen_shilton/status/1355587649872998400

 

[Frank E]

I really don't want to make this a semantic thing but do you guys not use mediocre to mean roughly in the middle of things?

Huh, I've always considered "average" to a be a little better than "mediocre". Maybe that's just me?

Yeah, Carlton is being a dick.

So anyways, my low 2's target was just having a look at the season to date figures, which would get them into the top 10 in the league. 

I just pulled last year for some further context, and indeed low 2's is elite.  2.78 is a good number, in comparison to 19-20 when they were 3.16 and 27th in the league.  So point taken, Carlton...dick.

 

[ZBBM]

Minor programming note, games only on Sportsnet, not CBC tonight.

The world has gotten 10% grayer since HNIC detethered from CBC.

 

[cujo4ever]

GO LEAFS GO!

 

[herman]

https://twitter.com/leafspr/status/1355661831155703810
https://twitter.com/leafsalldayy/status/1355661865611894786

Matthews and Marner demoted! Rift in the dressing room!

 

[Phileas Fogg]

I like them shirts.

 

[azzurri63]

I like the jerseys but you think they would of had white letters and numbers.

 

[Phileas Fogg]

is vesey slow as bananas or was that "breakaway" at the end of a shift?

 

[Guru Tugginmypuddah]

Not sure what I'm looking at but I don't like it.

 

[azzurri63]

Engvall dumb play at centre.

 

[ZBBM]

I like the jerseys but you think they would of had white letters and numbers.

That low contrast is not favorable to my vintage eyes.

 

[herman]

A worthwhile penalty shot to take

 

[L K]

Yep.  Good play from Lehtonen.  Not worth the risk of it going in by trying to flub it.  The announcers criticizing Lehtonen here seems absurd.  He saved a goal.  End of story

 

[Guilt Trip]

A worthwhile penalty shot to take

Yes. Great job Lehtonen.

 

[herman]

Just watch the game on mute. You will feel better.