Leafs @ Penguins - Dec 9, 7:00pm - CBC

[L K]

Further to that, the game plan was to zero out Crosby, Malkin lines and let Bozak?s line and hopefully Nylander run roughshod over Pittsburgh?s depleted bottom 6.

To that end, it was a success. The Penguins got next to nothing in the high danger areas other than on the PP. With the top 3 lines in defense mode (other than Bozak), who do you swap Nylander in for?

I guess for me, I don't view keeping Crosby in the offensive zone for long shifts all game as good defensive strategy, even if he's kept to the outside.  So for me it goes back to Nylander and Brown.  What I would like to see is Brown replace Komarov on the Kadri line and bump Komarov to the 4th line/PK.

I wouldn?t characterize the strategy as keeping Crosby/Malkin in the OZ, seeing as how they are premier players and generally have their way with opponents. It?s not like I don?t agree with you either. It?s just easy to see who Babcock trusts in a lockdown scenario and who he trusts to get goals and who he trusts to do both.

I understand it.  Sure, Crosby is going to dominate the game and sometimes you just can't do anything about it.  I just think there were a few times where there was push back against the Malkin line.  I didn't really see much of any push back from the Matthews line.  I think it's a line that is really struggling right now and if anything I think it's more due for a bad game where they get a few goals scored against it than a line that is on the verge of a scoring outburst.

 

[princedpw]

Further to that, the game plan was to zero out Crosby, Malkin lines and let Bozak?s line and hopefully Nylander run roughshod over Pittsburgh?s depleted bottom 6.

To that end, it was a success. The Penguins got next to nothing in the high danger areas other than on the PP. With the top 3 lines in defense mode (other than Bozak), who do you swap Nylander in for?

I guess for me, I don't view keeping Crosby in the offensive zone for long shifts all game as good defensive strategy, even if he's kept to the outside.  So for me it goes back to Nylander and Brown.  What I would like to see is Brown replace Komarov on the Kadri line and bump Komarov to the 4th line/PK.

I wouldn?t characterize the strategy as keeping Crosby/Malkin in the OZ, seeing as how they are premier players and generally have their way with opponents. It?s not like I don?t agree with you either. It?s just easy to see who Babcock trusts in a lockdown scenario and who he trusts to get goals and who he trusts to do both.

I understand it.  Sure, Crosby is going to dominate the game and sometimes you just can't do anything about it.  I just think there were a few times where there was push back against the Malkin line.  I didn't really see much of any push back from the Matthews line.  I think it's a line that is really struggling right now and if anything I think it's more due for a bad game where they get a few goals scored against it than a line that is on the verge of a scoring outburst.

Count me as a vote who would like to see Nylander used more with Matthews as well.

 

[Chris]

I can understand the argument for keeping Nylander off the Matthews line in the 3rd period...to a point. But...Nylander, while perhaps not as good defensively as Brown, is definitely quicker. So he might be able to get to loose pucks that Brown can't, which could lead to possession and maybe more offensive chances. And he definitely increases the chances of maintaining possession and actually accomplishing something compared to Brown. As was evident in the first period, get the Penguins in their own zone and good things can happen.

Playing long stretches in the defensive zone is not a recipe for long term success, even if most of the play is on the outside. Eventually there will be a bad bounce or deflection or collision (see Matthews/Rielly) and the puck is in the net.

 

[Guilt Trip]

So yea...that Bozak line is great, like I said earlier...

Anywho, it's continually surprising how few PP's this team gets. For a team with this much skill and this many wins, how do they always end up taking considerably more penalties than the opposing teams? It's truly bizarre.

The noncall when Rielly's stick was held, and which directly resulted in a PIT goal, was downright outrageous.

It sure was...And the non call when they slashed Moore's stick out of his hand on the pp...Joke refs..