Leafs @ Wings - Mar. 18th, 7:30pm - SN, SN 590

[Corn Flake]

That is insane. That's gotta be as bad as some expansion teams.

Well, the Leafs are currently on pace to have the 5th or 6th worst shots against per game in the last 25 seasons . . . so, yeah, it's as bad as or worse than most expansion teams.

Accept these metrics don't appear to be hurting the team in the win column.

If you accept that fighting and clawing for a playoff spot is as good as this team's talent level is with elite goaltending.

Not the first, nor will they be the last team to get there that way.

 

[bustaheims]

Accept these metrics don't appear to be hurting the team in the win column. It's kind of like saying Neil Armstrong had an ugly broken toe inside his space boot when he walked on the moon. I mean, he was still able to take that one small step.

Well, that's only partially true. It's not hurting them in the W column, but it is hurting them in the ROW column. Their shootout proficiency has helped their record look a lot better. They're 20th in the league in ROW and they would be sitting outside the playoffs in a non-shootout league.

 

[Redleaf]

Accept these metrics don't appear to be hurting the team in the win column. It's kind of like saying Neil Armstrong had an ugly broken toe inside his space boot when he walked on the moon. I mean, he was still able to take that one small step.

I'm just going to leave it out there that you just compared one of mankind's greatest scientific achievements with the Maple Leafs currently sitting 12th in the NHL standings.

Im not denying it was a 'giant leap'.

 

[GhostofPotvin29]

That is insane. That's gotta be as bad as some expansion teams.

Well, the Leafs are currently on pace to have the 5th or 6th worst shots against per game in the last 25 seasons . . . so, yeah, it's as bad as or worse than most expansion teams.

Accept these metrics don't appear to be hurting the team in the win column.

If you accept that fighting and clawing for a playoff spot is as good as this team's talent level is with elite goaltending.

Not the first, nor will they be the last team to get there that way.

I'm not arguing whether they are or are not the first or last team to do that.

 

[Kin]

Im not denying it was a 'giant leap'.

If you think terrible arguments are helped by puns, well, you've come to the wrong saloon.

 

[Redleaf]

Im not denying it was a 'giant leap'.

If you think terrible arguments are helped by puns, well, you've come to the wrong saloon.

And you're the sheriff of 'Pun Town', so....well.....you would know. 

 

[Strangelove]

According to Hendricks, Holland will be a healthy scratch again tonight, so, this:

Hope_Smoke: Dave Nonis at the trade deadline "we need guys from the Marlies to step up"
Carlyle subsequently scratches Holland & plays Ashton 2:29

I wonder if there's some tension between the two. Clearly, they're not on the same page in terms of the message they're putting out there for the public.

That decision is utterly incomprehensible, particularly given the panicked line shuffling that went on last game.

 

[Zee]

Accept these metrics don't appear to be hurting the team in the win column. It's kind of like saying Neil Armstrong had an ugly broken toe inside his space boot when he walked on the moon. I mean, he was still able to take that one small step.

Well, that's only partially true. It's not hurting them in the W column, but it is hurting them in the ROW column. Their shootout proficiency has helped their record look a lot better. They're 20th in the league in ROW and they would be sitting outside the playoffs in a non-shootout league.

It's a good thing they're not in a non-shootout league then. 

 

[Kin]

It's a good thing they're not in a non-shootout league then. 

For 4 more weeks, anyway.

 

[Redleaf]

I really hope Reimer is able to rediscover his form from last season and grab the reins here with Bernier out. I have a feeling he'll be out longer than anyone's letting on.

What I have seen most of the season is a team that comes out flat for the first 5 or 10 minutes of the game, let's their goalie get peppered with shots, then starts to find their legs, often after they've let their opponents take the lead.

That strategy may have worked with Bernier, but Reimer doesn't look ready to play either until the second period.

My point is, they need to realize this and stop the onslaught in the first half of period one. If we see some early pressure tonight, and Reimer isn't ready, this game could be over quickly. If they make it through the first without giving one up, they should win tonight.

The first ten minutes are crucial, but I think they get the W tonight!

 

[Zee]

It's a good thing they're not in a non-shootout league then. 

For 4 more weeks, anyway.

Who's to say the Leafs wouldn't win in OT if the game keeps on going though?  I'm happier getting into the playoffs instead of looking out, even if it is on the back of a bunch of shootout wins in the regular season.

 

[GhostofPotvin29]

It's a good thing they're not in a non-shootout league then. 

For 4 more weeks, anyway.

Who's to say the Leafs wouldn't win in OT if the game keeps on going though? 

No one, it can't be known.  However, the fact they are unable to defeat more teams in regulation suggests it is less likely than other teams with more ROW wins.  The fact they give up more goals than they score suggests it isn't in their favour.  Their style of play leaves them more susceptible to a goal going in (aka giving up a ton of shots).  They're just not positive indicators really. 

 

[bustaheims]

It's a good thing they're not in a non-shootout league then. 

Well, maybe. That deficiency in regulation still has potential to cost them a playoff spot, and, even if it doesn't, it also has serious potential to cost them home ice in the first round or turn their 1st round opponent from one of Montreal or TBay to one of Boston or Pittsburgh.

 

[Kin]

Who's to say the Leafs wouldn't win in OT if the game keeps on going though?

Well, that's where you get back to the fact that the Leafs aren't very good at outscoring the other team.

 

[AvroArrow]

According to Hendricks, Holland will be a healthy scratch again tonight, so, this:

Hope_Smoke: Dave Nonis at the trade deadline "we need guys from the Marlies to step up"
Carlyle subsequently scratches Holland & plays Ashton 2:29

I wonder if there's some tension between the two. Clearly, they're not on the same page in terms of the message they're putting out there for the public.

I really hope Nonis has the cojones to replace him this off season....

To get more competitive and put less strain on our cap situation, we really need our talented young players to be taking key roles.

 

[AvroArrow]

That is insane. That's gotta be as bad as some expansion teams.

Well, the Leafs are currently on pace to have the 5th or 6th worst shots against per game in the last 25 seasons . . . so, yeah, it's as bad as or worse than most expansion teams.

Accept these metrics don't appear to be hurting the team in the win column. It's kind of like saying Neil Armstrong had an ugly broken toe inside his space boot when he walked on the moon. I mean, he was still able to take that one small step.

The Leafs are winning thanks to talent.  They're losing due to poor effort and poor coaching (which includes personnel decisions and systems).

 

[ZBBM]

The Leafs have an uncanny ability to play down to an opponent's level when it is decimated by injuries.  (See under "Isles sans Tavares.)  So you can expect an epic struggle tonight for us to make up for a 3-0 1st-period deficit.

 

[bustaheims]

jonasTSN1050: Peter Holland looks to be re-entering the Toronto lineup tonight.

jonasTSN1050: Lines vs. DET: van Riemsdyk-Bozak-Kessel. Lupul-Kadri-Kulemin. Raymond-Holland-Clarkson. McClement-Bodie.

jonasTSN1050: Defence: Gunnarsson-Phaneuf. Gardiner-Franson. Gleason-Rielly. Ranger. Goaltender: Reimer.

So, no Ashton instead. Apparently, only one is allowed in the lineup at a time.

 

[BlueWhiteBlood]

jonasTSN1050: Peter Holland looks to be re-entering the Toronto lineup tonight.

jonasTSN1050: Lines vs. DET: van Riemsdyk-Bozak-Kessel. Lupul-Kadri-Kulemin. Raymond-Holland-Clarkson. McClement-Bodie.

jonasTSN1050: Defence: Gunnarsson-Phaneuf. Gardiner-Franson. Gleason-Rielly. Ranger. Goaltender: Reimer.

So, no Ashton instead. Apparently, only one is allowed in the lineup at a time.

Well, we do like Holland over Ashton, right? So, at least the one we think can help more is in the line up.

 

[bustaheims]

Well, we do like Holland over Ashton, right? So, at least the one we think can help more is in the line up.

Yeah. It's a step in the right direction, but . . . well, I guess it doesn't matter since Carlyle wouldn't play them any way, but a complete 4th line would probably be pretty useful as well.