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Blue Jackets @ Maple Leafs - Jan. 22nd, 7:30pm - SN, Fan 590

Yeah. I know, but, the league is often weird about stuff like that. He's considered in the lineup if he's dressed, but, doesn't get credit for a game played if he doesn't see the ice. I could be wrong, but that's how I've understood it working in the past.

A quick look at the CBA seems to say the only time a back-up goalie is deemed to have "played" a NHL game is in regards to some qualifying offer stuff. I'm pretty sure with the waiver thing a game played has to be an actual game played.
 
At the risk of sounding like a Marner, I thought the Leafs generally played well! but got some bad results at both end of the ice and there was no momentum to swing it back.
Watching live it didn't feel that way. I was also up very high, second last row in the corner....
 
At the risk of sounding like a Marner, I thought the Leafs generally played well! but got some bad results at both end of the ice and there was no momentum to swing it back.

Before things went downhill they were outshooting them 2 to 1. Would have been nice to see a bit more pushback after that happened but yeah I don't think the score was really quite as bad as it looks.

Also just a bit of a tough stretch of the schedule, especially with a goalie hurt. Columbus is one of the highest scoring teams in the league right now which isn't a great spot for Hildeby but you also probably don't want to throw him in against divisional rival games like Montreal, Tampa, and Ottawa especially when all 3 of those teams are also in big playoff races.
 
A quick look at the CBA seems to say the only time a back-up goalie is deemed to have "played" a NHL game is in regards to some qualifying offer stuff. I'm pretty sure with the waiver thing a game played has to be an actual game played.

I would think that's where the games played and days on the roster distinction comes into play. I don't think sitting on the bench counts as a game played, but obviously counts as being on the roster.
 
I would think that's where the games played and days on the roster distinction comes into play. I don't think sitting on the bench counts as a game played, but obviously counts as being on the roster.
Definitely counts as being on the roster, whether he's on the bench or in the pressbox. Being dressed means he's also in the lineup, but, not seeing the ice means he doesn't get credit for the game played in his stats. The question is does the waivers clock count games played or games in the lineup.
 
Yeah, this isn't a loss I'm upset at. The Leafs had the better scoring chances. I do think they played to the outside too much where Columbus couldn't get things going so they just let the Leafs control play around the perimeter. The Leafs had a number of good chances in tight too though so I'm not sure that it wasn't more a problem of a hot goaltender. When you dominate the play for 5-6 minutes and then the first chance ends up in your net the other way though it's deflating and it becomes harder to come back. Good teams getting bad goaltending struggle. Look what was happening in Colorado when they had a sieve in net.

It's also glaring how bad the defence is at getting pucks to the net. I can't see the team scratching Rielly but man the 4 Nations break can't come soon enough for him to clear his head. I think the Leafs might need a guy who can move the puck more than a shutdown guy if they are looking to add to the blueline.

As for the crowd not getting up for Reaves....while it was an entertaining fight, it really highlighted the lack of significance of it. He had his first fight two minutes into a game against arguably the toughest SOB in the game. A guy with 10 goals and 18 points so far this season. Reaves had arguably his best game of the year but he ultimately put up zeros.

The Leafs are 13-6-0 (.684 PT% - 112 point pace) with Reaves in the press box. They are 17-11-2 (.600 PT% - 98 point pace) with him in the lineup. Reaves isn't the reason we are losing games but when a big part of your reason for existing is "protecting the stars" and "allowing the team to play tougher", the argument falls apart when we win more when he's not playing.
 
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