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Stars @ Maple Leafs - Jan. 14th, 7:00pm - TSN4, Fan 590

This team in first place right now? Looking kind of mirage-y to me. And not just because of this 3-game losing streak. They don't look dominant much in any particular game and haven't really all season.
 
Trailing 4-1 and the Leafs have 7 shots in the 3rd period. Bérubé hockey is stupid if you need 45% shooting percentage to come back when trailing. There are times to play the system and times to play the score
 
Aside from the first five minutes nothing about this game made me feel any better about this team. Our skill guys still can't make passes. Our team continues to be too slow on the forecheck to make dump and chase hockey work
 
L K said:
Because scoring goals is apparently bad for this team. Still 5-3 since the Christmas break but they played well in maybe two of those games
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Let's face it, the main reason they are still in first (and ever were, really) is because of the way Stolarz was playing before the injury.
 
L K said:
Aside from the first five minutes nothing about this game made me feel any better about this team. Our skill guys still can't make passes. Our team continues to be too slow on the forecheck to make dump and chase hockey work
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Are they too slow, or do they just not really know how to play that style yet? Lots of meaningless dump-ins without someone anywhere near a position where they can even challenge for the puck. I remember reading (or maybe seeing an interview) where a former player said it could take a whole season to really get this type of system established to the point that it is instinctive for the players. I have to say I'm not really seeing any signs of progress and in many ways it looks less effective than it did earlier in the season...which is strange.
 
Another game of why the hell is Reaves in the lineup. He throws meaningless hits and does absolutely nothing to generate momentum.

Nylander has been AWOL

Rielly score and OT winner and builds nothing from that.

Tavares saying the PP has been better than it looks. I'm tired.

Leafs can't score in tight games. Should be fun losing playoff games like this
 
It's too bad they didn't run with that momentum at the beginning of the game and had 3 posts during that first powerplay. Went from heroes to zero's quite rapidly in that game. Oh well, January and we're in first.
 
Ozzie said:
Woll's play doesn't seem to be at the level he had several weeks ago. This pace maybe too much for him.
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Woll has been just fine and I don't think there's been one game when we've said, goaltending costs us that one. Both guys have been great overall and the Leafs would probably be in a fight for a playoff spot without them. Goalies are going to have some less then elite moments. Leafs have been a lot worse lately. They're just not playing well right now and goalies can't save you every night. It'll be nice when Stolarz gets back though so they can push each other. It's so different then last year when Sammy was letting in weak goals all the time. That really hasn't happened much this year at all by comparison.
 
The goals against look like it means our defense and goaltending has been baaad, but really, it's our offense not establishing layers of attack on a consistent basis. They just look like individuals out there most shifts because everyone is thinking and trying, but not quite doing it together. Dump and chase can work if it's done with purpose, but right now the dumpers are not really giving the chasers any real chance of winning a puck, which leads to more zone time against. Essentially it's their PP issue bleeding out all over the 5v5 game.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1879363086127415804
 
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