Devils @ Leafs - Dec. 30th, 7:00pm - SN

[ZBBM]

Effort was great but again, without Woll, they lose this game.
Devils out chanced the Leafs 53(18 HD) - 35(10 HD) in scoring chances at all strengths. They out chanced the Leafs 40(13HD) -16(4HD) at 5v5.
The Tavares/Domi/Knies line got destroyed tonight....5v5 ~ 0 shots, 6 against. 0 scoring chances for, 15(6 HD) against.
Laughton/McMann/Maccelli wasn't that good either....5v5 ~ 2 shots, 6 against, 2 scoring chances for, 10(2 HD) against.

Sounds like another game of leaning on the goalie. That said, missing out top two forwards, best or second-best d-man.

 

[Guilt Trip]

Sounds like another game of leaning on the goalie. That said, missing out top two forwards, best or second-best d-man.

Their effort was really good tonight and they didn't do a lot of dump and chase crap. The Rob/Roy/Cow line was buzzing and easily our best. McCabe was something else tonight as well. 8 blocked shots. Domi was a disaster, easily the Leafs worst.
Woll was so good and so calm. He actually, for the most part made it look so easy. Probably his best game this year. Anyway not taking anything away from the team, they did play well overall despite the chances differential.

 

[L K]

Day to day this is going to change with how bunched up the standings are but the Leafs are now 19th in the NHL by point percentage. They are 3 points back of a playoff spot and only 7 points back of 1st in the Atlantic.

 

[ZBBM]

Day to day this is going to change with how bunched up the standings are but the Leafs are now 19th in the NHL by point percentage. They are 3 points back of a playoff spot and only 7 points back of 1st in the Atlantic.

This thing is just a big ol' Hamilton-Beach blender.

 

[cw]

I think the Leafs are playing like a team tonight.

For that reason, I enjoyed this game more than any I can recall offhand this season.
Both teams are underachieving but with the injuries the Leafs added recently, I feared this game could get ugly for them.
Woll played well but it kinda of was a team shutout - he didn't have to stand on his head for 60 shots - though they were outchanced

 

[cw]

Robertson needs to be a fixture in the top 9 - end of debate. 4th line duty with him is a silly notion now.

Re-signing McMann & Robertson is going to cost some cap space:

Last 2 1/2 seasons
Leafs Top 6 goals per 60 with +/-
--------------------------------------------
Auston Matthews 1.36 +46
Nicholas Robertson 1.14 +1
William Nylander 1.08 +10
Bobby McMann 1.03 +29
John Tavares 0.99 +8
Matthew Knies 0.96 +15

McMann at $1.35 mil/yr might be one of the best forward contracts in the NHL this year for non entry level deals.
He'll probably get $3-4 mil or more on his next deal.

Berube on Nic at 4:10