Hurricanes @ Leafs - Jan. 19th, 7:30pm - TSN, TSN 1050

[CarltonTheBear]

@

15-25-5, 35 pts | 22-21-3, 47 pts

Projected Lines

E.Staal-J.Staal-Tlusty Gerbe-Rask-Terry Skinner-Nash-Lindholm Malone-McClement-Dwyer Sekera-Faulk Gleason-Murphy Hainsey-Bellemore Ward ​

JVR-Bozak-Kessel   Winnik-Kadri-Santorelli  Panik-Smith-Clarkson Booth-Carrick-Bodie Phaneuf-Franson Gardiner-Holzer Rielly-Polak Bernier​

Scratches

John-Michael Liles Andrej Nestrasil Alexander Semin ​

Stephan Robidas  Leo Komarov Matt Frattin​

Game Notes

CAR
?Khudobin, winner of 4-straight, will likely start for the Hurricanes
?Both Liles and Semin were healthy scratches in Carolina's previous game, their status is unknown

TOR
?Bernier likely starts, but that's not confirmed
?No injury update on Komarov at this moment

Injuries

​

[td]

[/td]
[td]

?Leo Komarov - Shoulder - Questionable Monday
?Peter Holland - Upper Body - Injured Reserve
?Joffrey Lupul - Lower Body - Injured Reserve​

[/td]

Statistical Leaders

E. Staal - 13 Tlusty - 11 Skinner - 10 Faulk - 18 E. Staal - 13 Gerbe - 13 E. Staal - 26 Faulk - 26 Skinner - 19 Bellemore - +1 Malone - 47 McClement - 55.0% Faulk - 24:05 Ward - 11 Ward - 2.45 Ward - .911​

G A P +/- PIM FO% TOI/G W GAA SA%​

19 - Kessel 19 - JVR 14 - Bozak 24 - Kessel 21 - JVR 21 - Franson 43 - Kessel 40 - JVR 32 - Bozak +14 - Winnik 71 - Phaneuf 51.8% - Bozak 23:18 - Phaneuf    16 - Bernier 2.70 - Bernier .915 - Bernier​

Season Overview

15 25 5 (28th)        35 (29th)      2.02 (14th)      2.56 (22nd)  16.9% (4th)  87.4% (20th)      29.6 (6th)      27.6 (9th)  51.6% 5-16-3 5-4-1 Won 1​

W L OT P G/G GA/G PP% PK% S/G SA/G FO% A | H L10 Streak​

22 21 3 47        (21st) 2.94      (9th) 3.06      (25th) 19.2%  (14th) 82.6%  (12th) 29.0      (23rd) 33.5      (28th) 48.7%  (20th) 15-9-0 2-8-0 Lost 4​

Stream Options

http://www.reddit.com/r/NHLstreams
http://vaughnlive.tv/leafstreamer
http://ourleafs.blogspot.ca/
​

 

[L K]

That lineup is bad.  I don't think we could catch them in a draft collapse.

 

[CarltonTheBear]

That lineup is bad.  I don't think we could catch them in a draft collapse.

I think the current bottom-5 is locked in, even if the Leafs start selling off pieces. Teams like Columbus and Philly could theoretically start playing better in the 2nd half. Also, somewhat off-topic, Buffalo has lost 11 in a row holy crap.

 

[freer]

This all sounds like a broken record. Please score more then 1 goal.

 

[Bullfrog]

Statistical Leaders

E. Staal - 13 Tlusty - 11 Skinner - 10 Faulk - 18 E. Staal - 13 Gerbe - 13 E. Staal - 26 Faulk - 26 Skinner - 19 ​

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​

CtB, there appears to be a big mistake in your GDT. It appears you haven't updated the 'Canes stats for the last 20 games or so.​

 

[CarltonTheBear]

CtB, there appears to be a big mistake in your GDT. It appears you haven't updated the 'Canes stats for the last 20 games or so.

You're right, something does seem fishy. Must be something wrong with their stats on NHL.com I took them directly from there!

 

[Boston Leaf]

first game back after road trip is always difficult for at a lot of teams.... Hurricanes 4 Leafs 3

 

[CarltonTheBear]

first game back after road trip is always difficult for at a lot of teams.... Hurricanes 4 Leafs 3

Man, if the Leafs lose to this team, watch out.

 

[Guru Tugginmypuddah]

first game back after road trip is always difficult for at a lot of teams.... Hurricanes 4 Leafs 3

Man, if the Leafs lose to this team, watch out.

For flying waffles.

 

[Andy007]

first game back after road trip is always difficult for at a lot of teams.... Hurricanes 4 Leafs 3

Man, if the Leafs lose to this team, watch out.

For flying waffles.

I'm going to toss my Hakan Loob jersey on the ice if they get blown out!!

 

[Redleaf]

first game back after road trip is always difficult for at a lot of teams.... Hurricanes 4 Leafs 3

Man, if the Leafs lose to this team, watch out.

Agreed. Although I think they get the win tonight, I'm almost hoping they lose badly.

This team doesn't appear to be able to play the 'lunch bucket' style of game Horachuk is trying to implement. (I know, I know. It's only been 6 games)

Short of going back to their old ways, something big has to happen to this core group in order to get this team playing winning hockey.

Two options for legitimate change: 'Trade or Tank'. But either will only happen (in any significant way) if the skid continues.

 

[GhostofPotvin29]

This team doesn't appear to be able to play the 'lunch bucket' style of game Horachuk is trying to implement. (I know, I know. It's only been 6 games)

What makes you say that?

 

[Redleaf]

This team doesn't appear to be able to play the 'lunch bucket' style of game Horachuk is trying to implement. (I know, I know. It's only been 6 games)

What makes you say that?

I dont agree with Pierre very often, but he makes a good point, that management needs to find the right type of players for the style of hockey they are trying to implement.

If it is a tight checking defensive style, then they probably need to find more of those types of players to compliment that style. Are the players they have now tight defensive minded guys?

Even without taking into account this recent road trip, can this current group of players play the style they are being asked to play? I have serious doubts that they can. At least not without some additions and subtractions to the current roster.

You have to suffer through the whole interview to get to the part where he makes some sense...
http://www.tsn.ca/radio/mcguire-leafs-can-t-afford-a-loss-to-carolina-1.186242

 

[GhostofPotvin29]

This team doesn't appear to be able to play the 'lunch bucket' style of game Horachuk is trying to implement. (I know, I know. It's only been 6 games)

What makes you say that?

I dont agree with Pierre very often, but he makes a good point, that management needs to find the right type of players for the style of hockey they are trying to implement.

If it is a tight checking defensive style, then they probably need to find more of those types of players to compliment that style. Are the players they have now tight defensive minded guys?

Even without taking into account this recent road trip, can this current group of players play the style they are being ask to play? I have serious doubts that they can.

http://www.tsn.ca/radio/mcguire-leafs-can-t-afford-a-loss-to-carolina-1.186242

Well I think that's different than what I asked/what you said.  You said the team "doesn't appear to be able to play" that style, so I took that to mean that you saw something in the 6 games that tells you they won't be able to play that style. 

The stats say the team has cut somewhere around 7-8 shots against per game in that time frame but have been able to keep their scoring chances for at the same or higher level than before.

I don't know if they'll be able to keep it up, but at the very least there are indications they can play a more rounded game than they were playing previously.

 

[Redleaf]

This team doesn't appear to be able to play the 'lunch bucket' style of game Horachuk is trying to implement. (I know, I know. It's only been 6 games)

What makes you say that?

I dont agree with Pierre very often, but he makes a good point, that management needs to find the right type of players for the style of hockey they are trying to implement.

If it is a tight checking defensive style, then they probably need to find more of those types of players to compliment that style. Are the players they have now tight defensive minded guys?

Even without taking into account this recent road trip, can this current group of players play the style they are being ask to play? I have serious doubts that they can.

http://www.tsn.ca/radio/mcguire-leafs-can-t-afford-a-loss-to-carolina-1.186242

The stats say the team has cut somewhere around 7-8 shots against per game in that time frame but have been able to keep their scoring chances for at the same or higher level than before.

I don't know if they'll be able to keep it up, but at the very least there are indications they can play a more rounded game than they were playing previously.

That's fantastic, but it is a small sample size of better analytical numbers.

And, the bigger question still remains. Do you think the current roster, as it stands, can play the tight checking defensive game Horachuk wants from them over the long haul?

 

[ZBBM]

CLASH
O'
THE
TITANS

 

[Frank E]

This team doesn't appear to be able to play the 'lunch bucket' style of game Horachuk is trying to implement. (I know, I know. It's only been 6 games)

What makes you say that?

I dont agree with Pierre very often, but he makes a good point, that management needs to find the right type of players for the style of hockey they are trying to implement.

If it is a tight checking defensive style, then they probably need to find more of those types of players to compliment that style. Are the players they have now tight defensive minded guys?

Even without taking into account this recent road trip, can this current group of players play the style they are being ask to play? I have serious doubts that they can.

http://www.tsn.ca/radio/mcguire-leafs-can-t-afford-a-loss-to-carolina-1.186242

Well I think that's different than what I asked/what you said.  You said the team "doesn't appear to be able to play" that style, so I took that to mean that you saw something in the 6 games that tells you they won't be able to play that style. 

The stats say the team has cut somewhere around 7-8 shots against per game in that time frame but have been able to keep their scoring chances for at the same or higher level than before.

I don't know if they'll be able to keep it up, but at the very least there are indications they can play a more rounded game than they were playing previously.

I have to agree with Potvin here...I think they've obviously been playing a tighter game, it's the scoring that's dried up.  If there is one thing I'm not concerned about with this bunch, it's an extended scoring problem.

Having said that, I'm not too pumped about them going .500 from here on in and picking around 15th.

 

[Redleaf]

This team doesn't appear to be able to play the 'lunch bucket' style of game Horachuk is trying to implement. (I know, I know. It's only been 6 games)

What makes you say that?

I dont agree with Pierre very often, but he makes a good point, that management needs to find the right type of players for the style of hockey they are trying to implement.

If it is a tight checking defensive style, then they probably need to find more of those types of players to compliment that style. Are the players they have now tight defensive minded guys?

Even without taking into account this recent road trip, can this current group of players play the style they are being ask to play? I have serious doubts that they can.

http://www.tsn.ca/radio/mcguire-leafs-can-t-afford-a-loss-to-carolina-1.186242

Well I think that's different than what I asked/what you said.  You said the team "doesn't appear to be able to play" that style, so I took that to mean that you saw something in the 6 games that tells you they won't be able to play that style. 

The stats say the team has cut somewhere around 7-8 shots against per game in that time frame but have been able to keep their scoring chances for at the same or higher level than before.

I don't know if they'll be able to keep it up, but at the very least there are indications they can play a more rounded game than they were playing previously.

I have to agree with Potvin here...I think they've obviously been playing a tighter game, it's the scoring that's dried up.  If there is one thing I'm not concerned about with this bunch, it's an extended scoring problem.

Having said that, I'm not too pumped about them going .500 from here on in and picking around 15th.

I don't think there is a right or wrong answer. Its just whether or not you believe this team can make the defensive adjustments without augmenting the roster. Potvin seems to think they don't, and I think that they'll need to.

 

[bustaheims]

Having said that, I'm not too pumped about them going .500 from here on in and picking around 15th.

If they only go .500 the rest of the way, they'll be picking in the 6-10 range. That's where ~.500 teams end up now.

 

[Redleaf]

Having said that, I'm not too pumped about them going .500 from here on in and picking around 15th.

If they only go .500 the rest of the way, they'll be picking in the 6-10 range. That's where ~.500 teams end up now.

That sounds about right, unless they decide to become sellers at the deadline. I'm certainly not counting on it, but that would be ideal. It could possibly put them in a better position at the draft table too.