Panthers vs. Maple Leafs - Apr. 8th, 7:00pm - TSN4, TSN 1050

[L K]

MLHS got their game story up quick and Petrielli flays the skin off L1, deservedly. Nobody was much good in this one other than Woll. To me, unless Auston can miraculously find his game in the playoffs (how, though?) I don't see them doing much. They are built around him and he just can't get it done.

And I agree with LK, if they aren't executing the new playbook to a T they have no fallback to generate offense.

The defense and goaltending will keep them in games but unless 41/60 go lights out I am not optimistic.

This felt like the Boston games where we used to be completely stuffed in the neutral zone until we started doing the flip passes into the neutral zone that forced the Boston forecheck back on their heels. Far too much of last night was the Leafs getting hemmed in their own zone, then being too tired to forecheck so we would get to centre ice and dump the puck wtih only one guy attacking the puck. We would lose that battle and the puck would come right back.

To Florida's credit they were really aggressive on not letting the Leafs reset behind their net. The Robertson play in the first period was notable for that. He made a nice move to use the net to get free and start moving the puck up the ice but he had to make that play because Florida took their forecheck behind the net and forced a quicker decision with the puck. The Leafs seem to struggle when they are forced to make quick decisions.

It doesn't help that Tanev isn't good with the puck. Benoit is atrocious with the puck. Carlo is bad with the puck. And we should all be praying to every deity that Hakkanpaa is actually healthy and will be our actual 7D over Myers.

 

[cw]

Didn't see the game. Perspective from a distance: They had a chance to close out home ice in the first round. I'm not seeing accounts that they put up much of a fight. Recent games they were looking pretty good - like they were finally coming together. This team can drive you a little crazy. You don't know what you are going to get. I guess the glass is half full.

 

[herman]

Didn't see the game. Perspective from a distance: They had a chance to close out home ice in the first round. I'm not seeing accounts that they put up much of a fight. Recent games they were looking pretty good - like they were finally coming together. This team can drive you a little crazy. You don't know what you are going to get. I guess the glass is half full.

They were unable to work past Florida's forecheck to assert their own game. Woll held them in it for longer than the skaters deserved.

 

[Guilt Trip]

Didn't see the game. Perspective from a distance: They had a chance to close out home ice in the first round. I'm not seeing accounts that they put up much of a fight. Recent games they were looking pretty good - like they were finally coming together. This team can drive you a little crazy. You don't know what you are going to get. I guess the glass is half full.

Funny thing Holmberg with 89 and 18 didn't give up anything last night. Not 1 scoring chance against. When L4 is your only line with a positive XGF% you know it's bad. L3 and L2 were absolutely horrible. L1 wasn't much better but at least they didn't get scored on and only gave up 1 HDCA. Not much to hang your hat on tho. Not good enough from any of them.

 

[cabber24]

The 3 shots combined from the Core 4 was their lowest ever combined shot total in a game they all played in according to the FAN590.

 

[cw]

Funny thing Holmberg with 89 and 18 didn't give up anything last night. Not 1 scoring chance against. When L4 is your only line with a positive XGF% you know it's bad. L3 and L2 were absolutely horrible. L1 wasn't much better but at least they didn't get scored on and only gave up 1 HDCA. Not much to hang your hat on tho. Not good enough from any of them.

I've been wondering about a L3a and L3b
They need some offense from the bottom six

So Domi, Laughton, Jarnkrok & Robertson probably should be skating
(looks like Jarnkrok's skating speed is getting close to last year according to NHL Edge)

Then take two of Kamp, Holmberg & Lorentz.
At some point, Pacioretty is likely to be added to the mix.

I don't mind Domi & Robertson together in terms of a passer and a finisher but they both tend to be defensively weak on what they do with the puck. So maybe they're best on separate lines.

Domi Laughton Jarnkrok (Domi on the wing is better defensively and he's with two capable defenders who can score)
Robertson Holmberg Lorentz - based on good numbers last night

Just a loose thought ..

 

[cabber24]

If you don't want Mitch and Austin shut down by Barkov… you don’t play them together! God damn regular season globe trotters, we have done nothing to prep our forwards for the playoffs.

Shut them down and win x9.