Red Wings @ Leafs - Oct. 18th, 7:30pm - SN1, TSN 1050

[ZBBM]

I think you could make a pretty good case for Nylander being the second best Leaf after Matthews so far this season.

FTFY

Matthews has been dazzling, no doubt.  Nylander hasn't gotten the goals, but his play with the puck has been nothing shy of amazing. Like somebody wondered, how many times has he carried it into the offensive zone with speed?  He's winning puck battles too. And his play without it has been very solid.  No more talk of floating, that's for sure.

I agree with everything you've said. I just think Matthews has been better.

A good disagreement to have!

 

[herman]

Bourne: Has the NHL 'figured out' Dylan Larkin, and if so, what can he do?
https://theathletic.com/131094/2017/10/18/bourne-has-the-nhl-figured-out-dylan-larkin-and-if-so-what-can-he-do/

Here?s a good breakdown of Larkin?s main game, and how most defenders have neutralized it.

Obviously Larkin?s calling card is his speed. Early on he was a surprise. Now he is monotonous in his approach (it?s a good note, but not an elite note).

This is a cautionary tale for the likes of Kapanen, played out in the career of Michael Grabner. Fortunately, Kapanen has more tools to work with than just his speed and grew up in the European leagues learning to play East-West as well as North-South.

 

[CarltonTheBear]

Another game where we basically only used 2 PKers on defence:

Hainsey 4:41
Zaitsev 4:16
Rielly 0:38
Gardiner 0:13
Borgman/Carrick 0:00

Went 3 for 3 though on the kill.

 

[Kin]

Another game where we basically only used 2 PKers on defence:

Hainsey 4:41
Zaitsev 4:16
Rielly 0:38
Gardiner 0:13
Borgman/Carrick 0:00

Went 3 for 3 though on the kill.

If it works it works but it makes the team super vulnerable if either guy gets hurt.

 

[CarltonTheBear]

If it works it works but it makes the team super vulnerable if either guy gets hurt.

I haven't been able to watch very closely the last couple of games but I'm curious to see if this is entirely by design. I'm sure Babs wants to lean heavily on those 2 for minutes but that's a little extreme. Like are the Leafs clearing the puck a minute or so after kills and just leaving them on the ice? I know forwards are changing but it's a little easier for them. Are they staying on after a minute or so if our goalie covers the puck for a face-off? Do they look gassed when they're staying on or is their PK set-up enabling them to play pretty conservatively? It'll be something I hope to remember to watch out for on Saturday.

 

[herman]

The defense don't look gassed (yet) and they're not running around in the DZone all that much. Flex coverage is largely on the forwards, rather than the defense.

 

[Frank E]

And the Borg unlessed on some Detroit dude.

I get this joke.

Do I win anything?

 

[Andy007]

Whatever happen to the days of knocking someone down? Man watching us in our own end is frustrating.

You're still on this? I mean hockey in this day and age isn't just that simple anymore, what with the crackdown on obstruction and interference and what not. Did you notice the Detroit defenders slamming players down in their end? Current hockey is more about speed and positioning; the Scott Stevens era of defense is over.

 

[Andy007]

I think you could make a pretty good case for Nylander being the second best Leaf after Matthews so far this season.

FTFY

Matthews has been dazzling, no doubt.  Nylander hasn't gotten the goals, but his play with the puck has been nothing shy of amazing. Like somebody wondered, how many times has he carried it into the offensive zone with speed?  He's winning puck battles too. And his play without it has been very solid.  No more talk of floating, that's for sure.

I agree with everything you've said. I just think Matthews has been better.

I agree with all of this but I'd even float Kadri's name into the mix. He has just being doing so much in all facets of the game with great consistency, not to mention the sustained offense output. I'm still over the moon on his contract.