#TheLeafsAreActuallyGood...?

[bustaheims]

Fun fact: the Leafs are tied 6th in the League for regulation losses with 23. Trailing only Washington, Pittsburgh, Columbus, Chicago and Minnesota. This team is competitive and takes it deep almost every game. And O/T in the playoffs is unlimited 5-on-5...

Not having to deal with the shootout is definitely a bonus. Not sure about the 5-on-5 OT - the Leafs are 6-7 in OT in this year, and haven't been great late in games (the 3rd period has been their worst in terms of both goals for and against). They have a better chance in the playoff format, but - and this feels like stating the obvious, as well as something that applies to all teams - they're much better off avoiding OT altogether.

 

[mr grieves]

There'll be time to step back from the thrill of the playoffs later, but I wanted to leave this here, before I forget where I found it.

"I think Toronto right now is the third-most talented team in the East," the coach said Sunday over the phone. "Now, they're young, but who cares? That was a tough draw for Washington. Outside of Pittsburgh and Washington, to me the Leafs are the third-most talented group in the East. Their D aren't great, but they're all good skaters and they can gap well the way [coach Mike Babcock] likes to gap. As a forward group, boy, I would put them up with anybody. They can go depth for depth up front with Washington. They're one of the few teams that can go line for line with Washington.

"I know when we played them, I thought Toronto was a matchup nightmare because you couldn't match them line for line," added the Eastern coach. "So, to me, what's happened so far in that series of how representative of how close they are. I expect the Leafs to be an Eastern Conference final team a year from now."

 

[herman]

There'll be time to step back from the thrill of the playoffs later, but I wanted to leave this here, before I forget where I found it.

"I think Toronto right now is the third-most talented team in the East," the coach said Sunday over the phone. "Now, they're young, but who cares? That was a tough draw for Washington. Outside of Pittsburgh and Washington, to me the Leafs are the third-most talented group in the East. Their D aren't great, but they're all good skaters and they can gap well the way [coach Mike Babcock] likes to gap. As a forward group, boy, I would put them up with anybody. They can go depth for depth up front with Washington. They're one of the few teams that can go line for line with Washington.

"I know when we played them, I thought Toronto was a matchup nightmare because you couldn't match them line for line," added the Eastern coach. "So, to me, what's happened so far in that series of how representative of how close they are. I expect the Leafs to be an Eastern Conference final team a year from now."

From here: http://www.espn.com/nhl/story/_/id/19172226/2017-stanley-cup-playoffs-secret-toronto-maple-leafs-success

 

[ZBBM]

That clanging sound you hear is the sound of sophomore slump alarm bells going off....

 

[mr grieves]

That clanging sound you hear is the sound of sophomore slump alarm bells going off....

I'd guess most are the result of playing against tougher competition in the second year or a season of shooting luck regressing to the mean. Brown probably doesn't score 20 next season, but a lot of the rest looks pretty solid.

 

[Highlander]

There'll be time to step back from the thrill of the playoffs later, but I wanted to leave this here, before I forget where I found it.

"I think Toronto right now is the third-most talented team in the East," the coach said Sunday over the phone. "Now, they're young, but who cares? That was a tough draw for Washington. Outside of Pittsburgh and Washington, to me the Leafs are the third-most talented group in the East. Their D aren't great, but they're all good skaters and they can gap well the way [coach Mike Babcock] likes to gap. As a forward group, boy, I would put them up with anybody. They can go depth for depth up front with Washington. They're one of the few teams that can go line for line with Washington.

"I know when we played them, I thought Toronto was a matchup nightmare because you couldn't match them line for line," added the Eastern coach. "So, to me, what's happened so far in that series of how representative of how close they are. I expect the Leafs to be an Eastern Conference final team a year from now."

From here: http://www.espn.com/nhl/story/_/id/19172226/2017-stanley-cup-playoffs-secret-toronto-maple-leafs-success

Thanks Herman, that is a great and exciting read.  Speed Kills!!

 

[herman]

Thanks Herman, that is a great and exciting read.  Speed Kills!!

We're heading in a great direction, but there are still many steps to take, and we must continue to adjust course as the game changes. We haven't won anything just yet, but I'm very glad to be watching this unfold with you and everyone here.

 

[Zee]

IF the Leafs win tonight....oh man....

 

[AvroArrow]

Small sample size, but Matthews, Nylander and Marner all with 4 points in 5 playoff games.  Bodes very well for us.

Edit: add Reilly to that same list.

 

[disco]

They've been our most dangerous line as the series has gone on. And Trotz knows it.

 

[Kin]

Small sample size, but Matthews, Nylander and Marner all with 4 points in 5 playoff games.  Bodes very well for us.

Edit: add Reilly to that same list.

Including Marner on that list seems like less of an issue of sample size and more of a case of taking the wrong lessons from an assist or two. Two of Marner's points came from assists in game 4 where he was generally not good at all for the game and, broadly, he hasn't been good in the series.

Matthews and Nylander though, I agree, have looked good.

 

[ZBBM]

Marner hasn't been great but 4 points in 5 games is all right. I do agree with the proposition that he's hit a wall. His lack of size is finally being exposed against this particular team.

 

[Kin]

Marner hasn't been great but 4 points in 5 games is all right.

Well, except if those points aren't indicative of play it's a meaningless measurement. He got an assist in game four because he passed it back to the point before Gardiner passed it to JVR who put it in off a skate.

 

[ZBBM]

Marner hasn't been great but 4 points in 5 games is all right.

Well, except if those points aren't indicative of play it's a meaningless measurement. He got an assist in game four because he passed it back to the point before Gardiner passed it to JVR who put it in off a skate.

No, not entirely meaningless.  It's way better than his having no points at all, for example.  Even a cheap 2nd means he's involved in a scoring play.  But yes, if someone were to just put it up against Nylander and Matthews' point totals and use that to say he's played as well as they have, then of course that's false.

 

[Kin]

No, not entirely meaningless.  It's way better than his having no points at all, for example.

Right, but it's not as good as if he had less points but had played well. Being the third last guy to touch the puck before it goes in the net doesn't have inherent value.

 

[ZBBM]

No, not entirely meaningless.  It's way better than his having no points at all, for example.

Right, but it's not as good as if he had less points but had played well. Being the third last guy to touch the puck before it goes in the net doesn't have inherent value.

I mean, we are agreeing here, I think: points as a metric have obvious value because they are the name of the game, but where they fall short is in measuring the not-so-obvious factors that influence the game's outcome.

Anyway, I predict Marner busts out in Game 6 and helps send it to 7.

 

[Kin]

I mean, we are agreeing here, I think: points as a metric have obvious value because they are the name of the game, but where they fall short is in measuring the not-so-obvious factors that influence the game's outcome.

Well, no. Points have a sort of value in the aggregate because you can't realistically fluke your way to a 60 or 70 point season. Individually, though, points or even goals can mean nothing. In the most extreme example a player can be credited with a goal for losing a faceoff and never touching the puck.

A player can have a multiple point game and have contributed nothing of real value or even have played poorly. In that sort of scenario I don't think scoring those points is better than not scoring them because I think the contribution to the outcome of the game is the same.

 

[disco]

https://twitter.com/Real_ESPNLeBrun/status/856336542960418816
Class. Caps are battle-hardened, could be their year.

 

[hockeyfan1]

I've always liked the Washington Capitals from their inception.  Still remember those Mike Gartner slapshots back in those days.

If there is one team that I choose to win this year's Cup, it's Washington.  That of course is a big if...they beat Crosby's Penguins first.

Classy coach.  Classy organization.  The Maple Leafs should be standing with their heads held high for having taken the NHL's #1 team nearly to the brink.

We as Leafs fans are so proud of our team for showcasing the best the game has to offer against one of the game's best.

Wow, what a ride! 

THE MAPLE LEAFS FOREVER!!

 

[disco]

https://twitter.com/TLNdc/status/871719037390082050
Great comparison here from when the Hawks, Pens and Kings went from rags to riches.