Leafs @ Jets - Oct. 24th, 7:00pm - SN1, Fan 590

[Zee]

Man, can you imagine how many goals this team would score if they ever got PP's?

It's pretty amazing that a winning team with this much speed and skill, not to mention one completely devoid of grinders/enforcers, obtains so few PP opportunities.

The theory (amongst sports analysts/commentators) is because teams don't want to get too many penalties against the speedy & dangerous Leafs, by not hitting them as much as they should be hit.  Also, by being fleet of feet, the only way to truly stop them is by the grabbing, holding style -- the old-fashioned way -- subject to penalties.

Today's game and it's relative absence of enforcers (& grinders to an extent) has paved the way for many of the young talent to play with far less fear, thus making for a better performance both game-wise and skill-wise.  This also applies to generational players such as Crosby, Tavares, et al.

What's the theory behind the Leafs being 5-0 on the road and only 2-3 at home?  I've heard it suggested that Babcock is over-thinking the line matching with home ice advantage instead of just rolling lines more often like they need to do on the road.

 

[Frank E]

Man, can you imagine how many goals this team would score if they ever got PP's?

It's pretty amazing that a winning team with this much speed and skill, not to mention one completely devoid of grinders/enforcers, obtains so few PP opportunities.

The theory (amongst sports analysts/commentators) is because teams don't want to get too many penalties against the speedy & dangerous Leafs, by not hitting them as much as they should be hit.  Also, by being fleet of feet, the only way to truly stop them is by the grabbing, holding style -- the old-fashioned way -- subject to penalties.

Today's game and it's relative absence of enforcers (& grinders to an extent) has paved the way for many of the young talent to play with far less fear, thus making for a better performance both game-wise and skill-wise.  This also applies to generational players such as Crosby, Tavares, et al.

What's the theory behind the Leafs being 5-0 on the road and only 2-3 at home?  I've heard it suggested that Babcock is over-thinking the line matching with home ice advantage instead of just rolling lines more often like they need to do on the road.

I wouldn't be extrapolating much from such a small sample size.

 

[hockeyfan1]

LOL

[tweet]1055267135738408960[/tweet]

Well, it was actually for good luck as in immunity from press box duty.

 

[louisstamos]

Also, we harp on Gardiner a lot - justifiably in most cases - but every now and then he does something like this:

https://twitter.com/TheFlintor/status/1055241281855610880

 

[herman]

https://twitter.com/NHLGIFs/status/1055254073920888832

If any of these resulted in goals you might remember them for life. Pretty hard to pick them out in the midst of game flow especially when there is no tangible result.

 

[CarltonTheBear]

Forward ice-time leaders last night were Hyman, Lindholm, and Brown. Just like you'd expect.

 

[herman]

Forward ice-time leaders last night were Hyman, Lindholm, and Brown. Just like you'd expect.

Because it was a game we never relinquished the lead; I'd much prefer we continue to press for goals, but I also recognize that our goal scorers are really good at giving up chances.

 

[Frank E]

Forward ice-time leaders last night were Hyman, Lindholm, and Brown. Just like you'd expect.

Absent the penalty, I actually thought Brown played pretty well last night.  That pass to Kadri on the goal was quite lovely.

 

[CarltonTheBear]

Because it was a game we never relinquished the lead; I'd much prefer we continue to press for goals, but I also recognize that our goal scorers are really good at giving up chances.

Admittedly I didn't #watchthegame, I was just looking over the stats and that caught my eye. At 5-on-5 the top-9 forwards were all basically even at least.

What was a little more surprising actually was Marinciganov's ice-time. Gardiner/Rielly/Zaitsev almost played twice as much. Sounded like the bottom pair had a pretty solid game though.

 

[Strangelove]

To me, Brown looks like a career AHLer. Consistently terrible possession numbers, stone hands, below average speed and offence. He makes up for his faults slightly by having decent hockey intelligence, but doesn't really seem to have the skillset to match, unfortunately.

The rest of the team looked pretty good. Kadri played like a beast and the Leafs' D was as positionally sound as I can recall them being.

 

[Kin]

Brown has consistently terrible possession numbers?

 

[herman]

Forward ice-time leaders last night were Hyman, Lindholm, and Brown. Just like you'd expect.

Absent the penalty, I actually thought Brown played pretty well last night.  That pass to Kadri on the goal was quite lovely.

https://twitter.com/TopherScott_/status/1055419740905242624

Zaitsev's pass to Brown was nicer. But even though he has his head up and is looking for this, I think Z was aiming for Kadri; Brown coming down off the blueline boards for support makes this happen.

Defensively, you're boned if the puck ends up on the same side as the player you're marking and Kadri's check didn't stay above him properly, probably sensing blood in the water with Zaitsev touching the puck.

 

[Strangelove]

Brown has consistently terrible possession numbers?

Eh. I had recalled looking it up and seeing a CF% well under 50% but it turns out I misremembered and he's right around 50%. You live and you learn.

I still think the third line would benefit from a more dynamic player than Brown, but obviously that's not a make or break thing for the team at this stage.

 

[Kin]

I still think the third line would benefit from a more dynamic player than Brown, but obviously that's not a make or break thing for the team at this stage.

Seems like adding a certain Calgary-born RW would push Kapanen down to that spot.

 

[OldTimeHockey]

Because it was a game we never relinquished the lead; I'd much prefer we continue to press for goals, but I also recognize that our goal scorers are really good at giving up chances.

Admittedly I didn't #watchthegame, I was just looking over the stats and that caught my eye. At 5-on-5 the top-9 forwards were all basically even at least.

What was a little more surprising actually was Marinciganov's ice-time. Gardiner/Rielly/Zaitsev almost played twice as much. Sounded like the bottom pair had a pretty solid game though.

Did they have a solid game because they were sheltered though?