Leafs @ Blackhawks - Oct. 22nd, 7:00pm - CBC, TSN 1050

[Redleaf]

But you have to admit he doesn't look very good right now.

If someone were to say "The Defensive coverage late in games has been awful and Andersen hasn't been very good" I'd have absolutely no problem with that. Saying he's the only reason they're blowing leads is just flat out wrong.

I agree. To me at least, Andersen's starting to turn it around and appears to be playing a little better each time out. The defence is another story altogether. I'm sure Babcock has been working on their coverage in practise, but its still a work in progress. A LOT of patience will be required from Leaf fans this season. Some fans have it and some expect to see a winning club firing on all cylinders by game 5.

 

[Al14]

#FireBabcock.

I jest, I jest.  ;D

But, really? Hunwick and Polak on the ice late in the 3rd?  :-\

Holland as the #1 shooter in the shootout?  :'(

Like really? 

 

[Kin]

The issue right now with the defense is that nobody has been great. Gardiner/Zaitsev have been the best option the team has but they can't be out there all the time and they've had their issues too.

 

[bustaheims]

The issue right now with the defense is that nobody has been great. Gardiner/Zaitsev have been the best option the team has but they can't be out there all the time and they've had their issues too.

They haven't been getting a lot of help from the forwards either, which isn't surprising for such a young group. They still have a lot of work to do on that part of the game.

 

[Al14]

The issue right now with the defense is that nobody has been great. Gardiner/Zaitsev have been the best option the team has but they can't be out there all the time and they've had their issues too.

They haven't been getting a lot of help from the forwards either, which isn't surprising for such a young group. They still have a lot of work to do on that part of the game.

Wait?  What?  Is Ron Wilson, or Randy Carlyle still coaching this team?  Cause if not, why hasn't the best coach in the world not corrected that after game #1?  Why?

 

[bustaheims]

Wait?  What?  Is Ron Wilson, or Randy Carlyle still coaching this team?  Cause if not, why hasn't the best coach in the world not corrected that after game #1?  Why?

Because, as most reasonable people know, you can't just flip a switch and change things.

 

[dappleganger]

Guys come on. Win as a team. Lose as a goalie.

Nice one.

 

[dappleganger]

To turn the subject a bit I don't know about his stats but I for one am a bit concerned about Rielllys defensive play. He largely escapes the criticism heaped on the lower guys but he wasn't good tonight and hadn't been all that good so far this year.

I don't want to admit it, but I'm feeling similar about Rielly. Purely an eyeball test, but I don't think he's developing into the player the Leafs desperately need him to be.

He makes good offensive plays but doesn't really pile up points. He's ok in his own end but doesn't make a lot of smart defensive plays you see from other elite defensemen. I don't know. I want to see more from him.

Not a lot separating him from Ian White 2.0.

 

[freer]

To turn the subject a bit I don't know about his stats but I for one am a bit concerned about Rielllys defensive play. He largely escapes the criticism heaped on the lower guys but he wasn't good tonight and hadn't been all that good so far this year.

I don't want to admit it, but I'm feeling similar about Rielly. Purely an eyeball test, but I don't think he's developing into the player the Leafs desperately need him to be.

He makes good offensive plays but doesn't really pile up points. He's ok in his own end but doesn't make a lot of smart defensive plays you see from other elite defensemen. I don't know. I want to see more from him.

Not a lot separating him from Ian White 2.0.

Are you sure your not talking about Gardiner.

 

[GhostofPotvin29]

I was in and out but seemed like the Leafs dominated the 3rd except for 2 shifts and were scored on those 2 shifts.

 

[hockeyfan1]

Golden Rule #1:  Never acquire a penalty in OT.
Golden Rule #2:  Versatility and sharpshooting are keys in the shootout.

Thanks to Andersen's stalwart netminding,  the (penalized) Leafs came out of the OT unscathed.

Marner nearly took Darling out to sea, but natoh, he didn't shoot high enough.  If he had, it would have been a hi-lite reel goal no doubt.

 

[herman]

[tweet]790022305959194624[/tweet]
Hockey is a game of inches. There's a reason we're more focused on our team generating chances than the number of goals they actually score. Same thing going the other way, chances against are more important right now than what actually goes in or stays out. It's the first true year of the build and we are still tearing down.

There are lots of good things happening. There's some bad that shows up at the end of games when the other team is freewheeling and pressing for goals with 6 on. We aren't even playing our optimal lineup yet so why make heated emotional assessments of the team 5 games into the season?

5 pts in 5 games is... 82 pts. We are one point off a 98 point pace. I doubt we stay at that mark, but that's one shot bouncing to one cm the other way from being a playoff team by the numbers. Rielly is struggling a bit (like the entire defense corps) but let's remember he is 22. Gardiner didn't start immediately magical either.

Chill out. Enjoy the games for what they are, so that you can tell your existing/future progeny you were watching when Matthews started with 4 goals. When Marner would routinely outpace and strip Keith. When Nylander was automatic from the circles. Etc.

 

[Zee]

Golden Rule #1:  Never acquire a penalty in OT.
Golden Rule #2:  Versatility and sharpshooting are keys in the shootout.

Thanks to Andersen's stalwart netminding,  the (penalized) Leafs came out of the OT unscathed.

Marner nearly took Darling out to sea, but natoh, he didn't shoot high enough.  If he had, it would have been a hi-lite reel goal no doubt.

I get that Holland had a nice record in the shootout, but would have been nice to see Nylander get a shot considering his two goals. My three shootout picks would always be Nylander, Matthews, Marner until those guys show me otherwise.

 

[Redleaf]

[tweet]790022305959194624[/tweet]
Hockey is a game of inches. There's a reason we're more focused on our team generating chances than the number of goals they actually score. Same thing going the other way, chances against are more important right now than what actually goes in or stays out. It's the first true year of the build and we are still tearing down.

There are lots of good things happening. There's some bad that shows up at the end of games when the other team is freewheeling and pressing for goals with 6 on. We aren't even playing our optimal lineup yet so why make heated emotional assessments of the team 5 games into the season?

5 pts in 5 games is... 82 pts. We are one point off a 98 point pace. I doubt we stay at that mark, but that's one shot bounding to one cm the other way from being a playoff team by the numbers. Rielly is struggling a bit (like the entire defense corps) but let's remember he is 22. Gardiner didn't start immediately magical either.

Chill out. Enjoy the games for what they are, so that you can tell your existing/future progeny you were watching when Matthews started with 4 goals. When Marner would routinely outpace and strip Keith. When Nylander was automatic from the circles. Etc.

Yeah. I look at it this way, I'd much rather have them giving up late leads and losing in OT to begin the season, than not having the ability to score goals or stay in games with more experienced opposition. The former can be worked on and tightened up. The latter is skill that you got or ain't got.

 

[CarltonTheBear]

Babcock doesn't seem too interested in fiddling with his lines so far, but something needs to be done with the Kadri unit. Last night definitely wasn't Naz's best game but I think he's been pretty good aside from that this season. His wingers though definitely haven't done enough, Michalek especially. If it wasn't for not having a natural centre on the 4th line I'd actually like to try Holland-Kadri-Brown if Babcock wants to leave the Bozak and Matthews lines untouched.

 

[herman]

I really liked seeing Holland with Kadri last year and I think it'll work nicely when Gauthier moves up.

Right now we could roll:
Hyman - Matthews - Nylander
JvR - Bozak - Marner
Komarov - Kadri - Griffith
Martin - Holland - Brown

Rielly - Zaitsev
Gardiner - Carrick
Marincin - Corrado

Some good options after the deadline too in Gauthier, Leipsic, Soshnikov, and maybe Kapanen, Valiev, and Loov. 

If we can lose Komarov and Bozak and Michalek at the deadline:
JvR - Matthews - Marner
Hyman - Nylander - Griffith
Holland - Kadri - Brown
Martin - Gauthier - Soshnikov
Leivo

 

[McGarnagle]

Yeah. I look at it this way, I'd much rather have them giving up late leads and losing in OT to begin the season, than not having the ability to score goals or stay in games with more experienced opposition. The former can be worked on and tightened up. The latter is skill that you got or ain't got.

100% agree. There's a ton to like - especially the fact that they've played 5 games now and been more than competitive in all of them, despite being the youngest team in the league. Quite frankly, if someone told me they would have one regulation loss in those considering the inexperience, I'd have called it a great start. The fact that we gave away the lead and the extra point is frustrating, but I'd much prefer to see them lose that way than from the puck drop.

 

[McGarnagle]

  If we can lose Komarov and Bozak and Michalek at the deadline:

I'll give you the other two as roster spots/salary dumps, but I think Komorov is only worth trading if there's a decent return.

 

[rdowdall]

  If we can lose Komarov and Bozak and Michalek at the deadline:

I'll give you the other two as roster spots/salary dumps, but I think Komorov is only worth trading if there's a decent return.

See, if they trade Bozak then it could expose a problem at centre ice or at least with their overall depth.  Matthews and Nylander have been swapping face off duties but I think they have a real dynamic between the two of them.  You break them up and they may not be able to capture the same dynamic with another player.  That Hyman - Nylander - Griffith line isn't something that looks all that frightening.

 

[GhostofPotvin29]

Babcock doesn't seem too interested in fiddling with his lines so far, but something needs to be done with the Kadri unit. Last night definitely wasn't Naz's best game but I think he's been pretty good aside from that this season. His wingers though definitely haven't done enough, Michalek especially. If it wasn't for not having a natural centre on the 4th line I'd actually like to try Holland-Kadri-Brown if Babcock wants to leave the Bozak and Matthews lines untouched.

Yeah that line looked awful last night and hasn't been anything special other nights.