Leafs @ Rangers - Dec. 23rd, 7:00pm - SN, TSN 1050

[drummond]

PUCK WATCHERS - fitting description of the Leafs

 

[bustaheims]

Fantastic Carlyle hockey.  Play 20 minutes a night (maybe) and have guys out of position constantly.

Also, when things aren't work, make some meaningless changes to the 3rd and 4th lines or the defence pairings.

 

[L K]

Leafs response to a NYR goal?  More turnovers and scoring chances for the Rangers.

 

[drummond]

The 4:00 of PK time helps temper that somewhat.

Sure, but he's still getting way to much ES ice time. The more he's out on the PK, the less he should be seeing otherwise.

Honestly, his ine with Kuli and Clarkson has been better than Kadri?s with Kessel and JvR

 

[Derk]

Another shot right along the ice right into the butterfly.

 

[ZBBM]

Carlyle sucks and all, but these guys aren't exactly warriors when it comes to fighting for pucks. 

 

[Stronger Than All]

Leafs with a 1 goal lead in the third = for sure tie game

Leafs down a goal late in the third. For sure loss

 

[L K]

Another shot right along the ice right into the butterfly.

The Leafs can't seem to hit the net when they shoot high though.  Kind of like my first few years of peewee hockey.

 

[L K]

Carlyle sucks and all, but these guys aren't exactly warriors when it comes to fighting for pucks.

That's very true.  And is a perfect example of why making a trade is unlikely to change the fortunes of the team.  It's a fundamental system +/- personnel problem. 

 

[ZBBM]

These guys don't want it enough.  Not upset enough with getting outworked.  I really think that's the root of the team's problems.

 

[GhostofPotvin29]

If the coach can't motivate them, get a new coach and see if he can.  Easiest thing to do right now.

 

[bustaheims]

Carlyle sucks and all, but these guys aren't exactly warriors when it comes to fighting for pucks.

That's also partly systemic. They're not set up to attack the offensive zone with speed, so, they're not going to get in with a good chance at winning a puck battle, and they're playing a very passive system in the defensive zone, which also gives the advantage to the other team in puck battles. They need to be better at that, but, that's on the coach as well as the players. Carlyle needs to have them playing a more aggressive system and the players need to actually play more aggressively.

 

[Derk]

Another shot right along the ice right into the butterfly.

The Leafs can't seem to hit the net when they shoot high though.  Kind of like my first few years of peewee hockey.

Yeah, that is a conundrum.

I just have flashbacks to the days where a point blank shot into the goalie's crest was considered a "great save" by the tv announcers.

 

[Derk]

Cry-der is faster than Kadri?

 

[L K]

Standstill hockey.  The Rangers look like the faster team.

 

[Stickytape]

Leafs defense spend almost a minute circling behind the net trying to break out, and where are the wingers?  On the wrong side of the red line, making for the blue line, waiting for that stretch pass that hasn't worked once this season.  This is what I want to stop happening forever.

 

[Derk]

I need to see that again, but that looked like goalie interference.

 

[GhostofPotvin29]

Leafs defense spend almost a minute circling behind the net trying to break out, and where are the wingers?  On the wrong side of the red line, making for the blue line, waiting for that stretch pass that hasn't worked once this season.  This is what I want to stop happening forever.

I don't know, I saw a couple Leafs forwards down around the top of the circle a few times and were never given the puck, then Raymond missed it when he was given it.

 

[bustaheims]

Cry-der is faster than Kadri?

Because Kadri, like most Leaf forwards, has to start from a stationary state, whereas most opponent forwards seem to focus on moving their feet.

 

[Derk]

The way they're going, Rangers are going to easily score into an empty net when the Leafs have to pull the goalie.

And here we go, a powerplay. Do or die.