Predators @ Maple Leafs - Jan. 11th, 7:30pm - SN, TSN 1050
- Thread starter CarltonTheBear
- Start date
Zanzibar Buck-Buck McFate said:
JT in front, 2 guys on the half boards and 2 point players is what I've felt usually happens except when they had Bunting out there. Having players like Willie and/or Mitch down low is ideal and something I look for intently every game, not as a happenstance but out of deliberation.
I can remember something like 2 or 3 years ago towards the end of another season where TO's PP was again struggling, Mitch would set up behind the net line, the opposition was forced to watch him which gave one or two Leafs freedom to move into position to receive the puck in prime scoring positions, it appeared to be working but was abandoned, I couldn't understand why?
Another peeve I have about the PP, the d-men normally pass the puck back in the neutral zone which is fine, I guess,
and it's usually Mitch(good) or Matthews(not so good) who get these passes, I think it should be Mitch or Willie, Matthews is a great player but he isn't as good a puck handler/passer as those two.
Actually between Willie and Mitch, I think Willie is the better puck handler and Mitch the better passer, both great skills for accessing the offensive zone.
herman
Well-known member
The Leafs do use the behind the net play deliberately, but it is not option #1 because a missed pass is a little extra bad. The risk is usually worth it in the right context (i.e. after the PK unit has been hemmed for a good while).
https://twitter.com/TicTacTOmar/status/1613371227921432576
This is a good example of what NBA parlance calls 'gravity': how much a player pulls in coverage. Obviously the puck has its own gravity, and stars with and without the puck compound that effect to shape a defensive structure.
Lots to like on this play:
Tavares scoops up the puck behind the net; the PK is tired otherwise they might have contested this better. A puck retriever (Hyman/Bunting on the high end) would normally just bear down and try to jam the puck in tight and hope for the best. Elite grinders (Tavares, Crosby) use their strength and puck holding abilities to create opportunities for themselves and their linemates. Tavares' head is up the whole way looking not at the pass he's about to make, but at the future expected pass/shot and where he needs to be to support a rebound.
Unheralded on this play is Bunting, who is not the star on the ice but makes his presence known to the defense and draws a lot of attention for someone without a shooting window. He pinches low in the slot as Tavares loops and telescopes back up as the pass comes up to get himself open. He ends up providing a screen for...
Nylander with a very Nylander-esque pass: perfect reception in his hip pocket to load a shot or slip a cross-body pass, and even does a shooting weight-shift (goalies look for that). Given the way he'd been stymied all night after several good chances, everyone and their extended families expected Willy to pull the trigger here. Instead, he uses the lane Bunting opened up at the top of the PK structure to find...
Marner fields a hard pass about as cleanly as you can and makes no mistake on the empty netter with a good hard shot. Saros actually covers the puck path, but too late to make contact.
Rielly is just watching the magic; I can't believe he even wound up to one-time a theoretical Marner bump-pass.
https://twitter.com/TicTacTOmar/status/1613371227921432576
This is a good example of what NBA parlance calls 'gravity': how much a player pulls in coverage. Obviously the puck has its own gravity, and stars with and without the puck compound that effect to shape a defensive structure.
Lots to like on this play:
Tavares scoops up the puck behind the net; the PK is tired otherwise they might have contested this better. A puck retriever (Hyman/Bunting on the high end) would normally just bear down and try to jam the puck in tight and hope for the best. Elite grinders (Tavares, Crosby) use their strength and puck holding abilities to create opportunities for themselves and their linemates. Tavares' head is up the whole way looking not at the pass he's about to make, but at the future expected pass/shot and where he needs to be to support a rebound.
Unheralded on this play is Bunting, who is not the star on the ice but makes his presence known to the defense and draws a lot of attention for someone without a shooting window. He pinches low in the slot as Tavares loops and telescopes back up as the pass comes up to get himself open. He ends up providing a screen for...
Nylander with a very Nylander-esque pass: perfect reception in his hip pocket to load a shot or slip a cross-body pass, and even does a shooting weight-shift (goalies look for that). Given the way he'd been stymied all night after several good chances, everyone and their extended families expected Willy to pull the trigger here. Instead, he uses the lane Bunting opened up at the top of the PK structure to find...
Marner fields a hard pass about as cleanly as you can and makes no mistake on the empty netter with a good hard shot. Saros actually covers the puck path, but too late to make contact.
Rielly is just watching the magic; I can't believe he even wound up to one-time a theoretical Marner bump-pass.
L K
Active member
With McMann, Abruzzese, Anderson, Gaudette in the AHL and then a guy like Knies potentially turning pro (although kind of disappointed that he hasn't taken a bigger offensive step this year). Do we need to make bottom 6/depth improvements at the deadline. Obviously there are better 3C guys who we could acquire but are they going to be worth giving up 2nd round picks for.
Highlander
Active member
Gaudette has been tearing it up. Like to see him get another look.L K said:
Guilt Trip
Active member
Only seen a few games but the knock on him is on the D side of things. Abruzzese and Steeves are better in that department. SDA had also been very goodHighlander said: