Predators @ Leafs - Oct. 6th, 7:00pm - TSN4

[herman]

https://twitter.com/x/status/2107805200866296091

We needed more of this exact sort of thing on the PP

 

[herman]

I'm not so sure about that but
His 34.3kmh skate up the ice to that goal while carrying a puck (which slows one down some) is currently 7th on the Leafs this season. Everyone's times are slower at the start of the season on NHL edge. That will probably change when the OT skating gets added tonight. It is not amazing or breathtaking and won't even be average by the end of the season. But I'm not ready to declare him a slug yet because I've seen it a few times this season.
He was only 94% in the faceoff dot. It helps if you don't have to face Claude Giroux 6 times (who is probably 2nd or close to it to Bergeron in faceoffs over the last number of years).

https://twitter.com/x/status/2107625557559267656

The Claude Giroux model is how the Leafs should develop Tavares’ evolution. Which of his strengths are still at a very high level? Lean on that and buttress the rest with his linemates and deployment.

They need to separate Nylander and Tavares. Nylander covers the transition game and feeds him good pucks, but doesn’t really cover Tavares’ actual issues outside the OZ. Leafs have lots of burners now, so a more defensive winger with speed and someone that can still cycle down low is all Tavares needs, even with janky passes. The man has made an Islander career out of taking yucky puck bounces and roofing them. Make his line heavy and chaos-generating, rather than rush oriented and save that Willy firepower for where it can really do damage (with 34)

 

[cw]

I agree with Hiller. That is the best game I've seen Matthews play in quite some time.
It wasn't a shot or fancy scoring stuff. He was on a mission in puck battles.
He was really going after it, fought back hard and willed them to win.

 

[herman]

https://twitter.com/x/status/2107649125529612583

https://twitter.com/x/status/2107658740816359465

These are single game reads, and slightly differing models of interpreting the recorded metrics, but the picture painted is relatively consistent. Spread out the skill that was sheltered on the original L2 and make a more balanced top 9.

I like Hiller adjusting to the hot hands, other than curtailing McKenna even though he was really going offensively. Given how they're holding him off a lot of optional skates, I assume McKenna's on some sort of regiment for ramping up his strength and stamina over the course of the season so he doesn't crash into that 40 games played wall that kills the momentum of a lot of rookies.