Leafs @ Flames - Apr. 4th, 9:00pm - TSN4, Fan 590

[Chris]

I think Thornton needs a break. He is just killing that line. He really isn't doing anything out there.

Not as bad as Simmonds is killing the Engvall line.

The bottom 6 lines are kind of a mess right now. But if they're not moving Hyman or Galchenyuk from their spots I don't know what else they can do.

If Simmonds wasn't so slow Id move Kerfoot back to the 3rd line or bring up Robertson.

Is there someone on the taxi squad they could sub in for either Thornton or Simmonds occasionally? I don't pay much attention to the cap situation so maybe there's a reason for it but could definitely use a speed injection on the bottom lines. Not sure if Robertson is ready but I hope so.

 

[Kin]

Doubling up the opponent on the road, starting the 3rd goalie. Life could be worse.

Well, sure but what about the PP? 

They need to shoot more. That will solve things.

 

[Guilt Trip]

I think Thornton needs a break. He is just killing that line. He really isn't doing anything out there.

Not as bad as Simmonds is killing the Engvall line.

The bottom 6 lines are kind of a mess right now. But if they're not moving Hyman or Galchenyuk from their spots I don't know what else they can do.

If Simmonds wasn't so slow Id move Kerfoot back to the 3rd line or bring up Robertson.

Is there someone on the taxi squad they could sub in for either Thornton or Simmonds occasionally? I don't pay much attention to the cap situation so maybe there's a reason for it but could definitely use a speed injection on the bottom lines. Not sure if Robertson is ready but I hope so.

They could use Barabanov on B2B games.. He's got some speed.

 

[BrownRolo]

Doubling up the opponent on the road, starting the 3rd goalie. Life could be worse.

Well, sure but what about the PP? 

They need to shoot more. That will solve things.

They need to stop coming in with speed and then lazily playing the puck back to whoever. Gain the line quickly instead of allowing the opposition to get set up.

 

[CarltonTheBear]

If Simmonds wasn't so slow Id move Kerfoot back to the 3rd line or bring up Robertson.

Yeah that's the thing, ideally the 3rd line would be something like Mikheyev-Kerfoot-Engvall (granted that line doesn't scream success either) but it leaves Thornton-Spezza-Simmonds as the 4th line together and that just isn't going to work.

 

[Guilt Trip]

If Simmonds wasn't so slow Id move Kerfoot back to the 3rd line or bring up Robertson.

Yeah that's the thing, ideally the 3rd line would be something like Mikheyev-Kerfoot-Engvall (granted that line doesn't scream success either) but it leaves Thornton-Spezza-Simmonds as the 4th line together and that just isn't going to work.

We're going to have to hope Simmonds can get into game shape pretty quick then.

 

[CarltonTheBear]

If Simmonds wasn't so slow Id move Kerfoot back to the 3rd line or bring up Robertson.

Yeah that's the thing, ideally the 3rd line would be something like Mikheyev-Kerfoot-Engvall (granted that line doesn't scream success either) but it leaves Thornton-Spezza-Simmonds as the 4th line together and that just isn't going to work.

We're going to have to hope Simmonds can get into game shape pretty quick then.

They'll probably just have to play through it for a little bit. I'd probably try swapping Kerfoot and Engvall though. Engvall's game is too up and down and right now he's down. Drop the 4th lines minutes a little bit if the old timers need a bit of a break.

 

[ZBBM]

Ray was kind of over praising Simmonds but he did look better than anytime since coming back.  Granted, not a high bar.  If he can get back to being more of a presence consistently it will help a lot.

Sent from my moto g(7) power using Tapatalk

 

[Guilt Trip]

Ray is the best..
In other news, Keefe said we'll see if Jack will start Monday..that doesn't sound promising..maybe we'll see Dbl V?

 

[rdowdall]

Doubling up the opponent on the road, starting the 3rd goalie. Life could be worse.

Well, sure but what about the PP? 

I get the concern over the PP, but you know what doesn't happen a lot in the playoffs?  Penalties. 

I also think that it'll sort itself out eventually.  I'm happier that the Leafs have found a way to do the following things on a regular basis:
1.  Play a solid defensive game for a whole 60 minutes.
2.  Not just rely on skill to win a game, but really grind out a win when needed.

I know I flew off the handle in game 2.  That game though was indicative of how they had played in the past.  They would take what seemed to be a lackadaisical approach to the game and figure that their talent would eventually win out.  And it would work most of the time, until they hit the playoffs.

 

[Bullfrog]

Brodie flashing the secret Flames stick tap for blind passes off rims to try to fool the winger lol

sometimes I have no idea what you're talking about.  ;D

 

[herman]

Brodie flashing the secret Flames stick tap for blind passes off rims to try to fool the winger lol

sometimes I have no idea what you're talking about.  ;D

The Flames recovered a turnover in their zone and rimmed it up the boards to a winger to break out as the Leafs backed off. Brodie was above the play and beaver tailed when the winger turned for puck retrieval to try to lure him into a touch pass off the boards.

My assumption is that, like many teams, Brodie knows the Flames' non-verbal communication system and tried to generate an error to his advantage. Kind of like those forecheckers that try to pretend they're a support winger and yell 'reverse!' when defensemen turn their backs to pick up pucks off the end boards.