Lightning @ Leafs - Mar. 19th, 7:00pm - TSN, TSN 1050

[bustaheims]

Right, but we have elite goaltending, a pretty darn good offense, and a winning record. Not to mention what looks like a second consecutive trip to the playoffs, with a very young team. Which team would you rather have, this one, or the team Burke and Wilson ran?

With all those things, they still have a negative goal differential and have lost 30 of the 57 games they've played that haven't gone to a shootout. So, you know, things are still not all that good.

 

[Redleaf]

Right, but we have elite goaltending, a pretty darn good offense, and a winning record. Not to mention what looks like a second consecutive trip to the playoffs, with a very young team. Which team would you rather have, this one, or the team Burke and Wilson ran?

With all those things, they still have a negative goal differential and have lost 30 of the 57 games they've played that haven't gone to a shootout. So, you know, things are still not all that good.

That aren't all good. But they aren't ALL bad. That's kind of my point.

 

[bustaheims]

That aren't all good. But they aren't ALL bad. That's kind of my point.

They're not all bad, but they're certainly trending in the wrong direction.

 

[GhostofPotvin29]

I don't even know what this team would be without great goaltending.  It's scary to think about.

But we don't have to think about it. That's the luxury of having it.

It is relevant if almost every other area of your team's game is poor and you require that level of goaltending in order to win.  This team has made no significant improvements in any areas on the ice since Ron Wilson was fired other than received better goaltending.  PK is still one of the worst in the league, GA still one of the worst in the league, possession numbers are even worse, shots against are even worse.

It's completely relevant to demonstrate how this is a poor team being propped up by an elite goaltender.  It's sad, because I don't think this is a poor roster, and I do not think it is a worse roster than in '11-'12.

Right, but we have elite goaltending, a pretty darn good offense, and a winning record. Not to mention what looks like a second consecutive trip to the playoffs, with a very young team. Which team would you rather have, this one, or the team Burke and Wilson ran?

I would rather have this roster, as I've stated it is better.  I do not think it is performing better as a whole, but has individual performances (Bernier #1) that are contributing the most to their current record.  My issue is solely with how the team is deployed/the systems in place.  I have not seen any improvements in that area, and I'm not crediting Carlyle with Bernier's skill to stop pucks.  I had hoped that between when Wilson was fired and now, with the improvements to the roster, the team would be playing a much better game overall.  Instead, I think the team's overall play has regressed but the goalie has bailed them out from the 18-wheeler going off the cliff.

I'm not unhappy with having great goaltending, I just feel it is being wasted this season when it could be so much more.

 

[Redleaf]

That aren't all good. But they aren't ALL bad. That's kind of my point.

They're not all bad, but they're certainly trending in the wrong direction.

You mean game to game or year to year?

2013-14 70-36-26-8 80pts (so far)
2012-13 48-26-14-6 57pts.
2011-12 82-35-37-10 80pts
2010-11 82-37-34-11 85pts.
2009-10 82-30-38-14 74pts.

This very much looks like a team trending upwards to me, at least going by a 5 year comparison.

 

[Deebo]

That aren't all good. But they aren't ALL bad. That's kind of my point.

They're not all bad, but they're certainly trending in the wrong direction.

Since their last shoot out (Jan 15), they've won 12 of 21 games (.571)

Before that, they won 15 out of 36 games that didn't go to a shoot out (.417)

Wouldn't that be an improvement, or trending in the right direction?

 

[Bullfrog]

I don't even know what to feel about this team right now.  The way they come out to play good teams, and hand over their points and lunch money to the crappy ones has me so confused.  Especially since Tampa is just kind of mediocre right now.

I'm having trouble getting worked up about what is actually a really crucial game. 

Completely agreed.

I feel the same. Of course, I'll still watch. 

 

[WhatIfGodWasALeaf]

18 Wheeler is revving it's engines.

 

[Bullfrog]

I hope Drew starts just to make things more antagonistic with Reimer.  It's the Carlyle way.

 

[Jalili]

I notice a lot of references to the Leafs playing well against good teams and not so well against lesser teams. Is there any truth to that?

I don't know if the Leafs are a good enough team to make that claim.

 

[Frank E]

I'll be watching from my box seat, enjoying the free beer and buffet-style dinner.

You can all go to hell.

 

[GhostofPotvin29]

That aren't all good. But they aren't ALL bad. That's kind of my point.

They're not all bad, but they're certainly trending in the wrong direction.

Since their last shoot out (Jan 15), they've won 12 of 21 games (.571)

Before that, they won 15 out of 36 games that didn't go to a shoot out (.417)

Wouldn't that be an improvement, or trending in the right direction?

Depends on your starting point, and what was originally being referred to.  If it's referring to their overall play, then this link suggests it is trending in the wrong direction lately: http://www.extraskater.com/team/toronto-maple-leafs/2013#rolling-10-game-5v5-pdo

Their PDO is just the addition of the 5on5 SV% + SH% to get a number - when the Leafs went through that tough stretch mid-season it dipped to ~100 or lower - which is the direction it is heading right now.

That could all change quickly, but right now it is trending in the wrong direction.  It is very tough for a team to stay much above 100 for very long, and the Leafs are particularly susceptible because of the number of shots they give up and the lack of shots they get in comparison.

 

[Redleaf]

I'll be watching from my box seat, enjoying the free beer and buffet-style dinner.

You can all go to hell.

Frank baby, you don't mean that. Take me with you Frank... 8)

 

[Redleaf]

That aren't all good. But they aren't ALL bad. That's kind of my point.

They're not all bad, but they're certainly trending in the wrong direction.

Since their last shoot out (Jan 15), they've won 12 of 21 games (.571)

Before that, they won 15 out of 36 games that didn't go to a shoot out (.417)

Wouldn't that be an improvement, or trending in the right direction?

Depends on your starting point, and what was originally being referred to.  If it's referring to their overall play, then this link suggests it is trending in the wrong direction lately: http://www.extraskater.com/team/toronto-maple-leafs/2013#rolling-10-game-5v5-pdo

Their PDO is just the addition of the 5on5 SV% + SH% to get a number - when the Leafs went through that tough stretch mid-season it dipped to ~100 or lower - which is the direction it is heading right now.

That could all change quickly, but right now it is trending in the wrong direction.  It is very tough for a team to stay much above 100 for very long, and the Leafs are particularly susceptible because of the number of shots they give up and the lack of shots they get in comparison.

Go back and look at the five year I posted. Let's stick with a bigger sample size for the direction this team is taking.

 

[GhostofPotvin29]

That aren't all good. But they aren't ALL bad. That's kind of my point.

They're not all bad, but they're certainly trending in the wrong direction.

Since their last shoot out (Jan 15), they've won 12 of 21 games (.571)

Before that, they won 15 out of 36 games that didn't go to a shoot out (.417)

Wouldn't that be an improvement, or trending in the right direction?

Depends on your starting point, and what was originally being referred to.  If it's referring to their overall play, then this link suggests it is trending in the wrong direction lately: http://www.extraskater.com/team/toronto-maple-leafs/2013#rolling-10-game-5v5-pdo

Their PDO is just the addition of the 5on5 SV% + SH% to get a number - when the Leafs went through that tough stretch mid-season it dipped to ~100 or lower - which is the direction it is heading right now.

That could all change quickly, but right now it is trending in the wrong direction.  It is very tough for a team to stay much above 100 for very long, and the Leafs are particularly susceptible because of the number of shots they give up and the lack of shots they get in comparison.

Go back and look at the five year I posted. Let's stick with a bigger sample size for the direction this team is taking.

I'm talking about how the rest of this season's trend is looking.  A 5 year sample does nothing for that.

 

[ZBBM]

I don't even know what this team would be without great goaltending.  It's scary to think about.

Sure you do.  We'd be down around 11-12-13 in the conference, and only that high because of the first line.

Our defense is terrible, and Carlyle sucks.  Until those two things are addressed, this team is going nowhere.

 

[Redleaf]

That aren't all good. But they aren't ALL bad. That's kind of my point.

They're not all bad, but they're certainly trending in the wrong direction.

Since their last shoot out (Jan 15), they've won 12 of 21 games (.571)

Before that, they won 15 out of 36 games that didn't go to a shoot out (.417)

Wouldn't that be an improvement, or trending in the right direction?

Depends on your starting point, and what was originally being referred to.  If it's referring to their overall play, then this link suggests it is trending in the wrong direction lately: http://www.extraskater.com/team/toronto-maple-leafs/2013#rolling-10-game-5v5-pdo

Their PDO is just the addition of the 5on5 SV% + SH% to get a number - when the Leafs went through that tough stretch mid-season it dipped to ~100 or lower - which is the direction it is heading right now.

That could all change quickly, but right now it is trending in the wrong direction.  It is very tough for a team to stay much above 100 for very long, and the Leafs are particularly susceptible because of the number of shots they give up and the lack of shots they get in comparison.

Go back and look at the five year I posted. Let's stick with a bigger sample size for the direction this team is taking.

I'm talking about how the rest of this season's trend is looking.  A 5 year sample does nothing for that.

The rest of the season is a total of 12 games. These game by game comparisons are useless, as the direction changes so rapidly you can hardly stick a pin in them

 

[Deebo]

That aren't all good. But they aren't ALL bad. That's kind of my point.

They're not all bad, but they're certainly trending in the wrong direction.

Since their last shoot out (Jan 15), they've won 12 of 21 games (.571)

Before that, they won 15 out of 36 games that didn't go to a shoot out (.417)

Wouldn't that be an improvement, or trending in the right direction?

Depends on your starting point, and what was originally being referred to.  If it's referring to their overall play, then this link suggests it is trending in the wrong direction lately: http://www.extraskater.com/team/toronto-maple-leafs/2013#rolling-10-game-5v5-pdo

Their PDO is just the addition of the 5on5 SV% + SH% to get a number - when the Leafs went through that tough stretch mid-season it dipped to ~100 or lower - which is the direction it is heading right now.

That could all change quickly, but right now it is trending in the wrong direction.  It is very tough for a team to stay much above 100 for very long, and the Leafs are particularly susceptible because of the number of shots they give up and the lack of shots they get in comparison.

This is what was originally being referred to:

With all those things, they still have a negative goal differential and have lost 30 of the 57 games they've played that haven't gone to a shootout.

 

[Deebo]

I don't even know what this team would be without great goaltending.  It's scary to think about.

Sure you do.  We'd be down around 11-12-13 in the conference, and only that high because of the first line.

Our defense is terrible, and Carlyle sucks.  Until those two things are addressed, this team is going nowhere.

The Leafs are only good because their best players are good.

 

[GhostofPotvin29]

Lightning have a pretty fast team from what I recall (Stamkos, Johnson especially) so the Leafs D will have to watch out for that.  Got caught last night.