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Leafs at Islanders -- Tuesday, 7 pm

LeafOfFaith said:
Also, Carlyle sucks. It's so obvious we win in spite of ourselves so far this year. If Bernier stands on his head and the first line is firing, nobody is beating us.

But big ****ing deal. What about when those aren't going for us?

The ****ing New York Islanders were playing an organized and dangerous game for much of the early part of the night, while we were doing our usual running around aimless routine, but Bernier was saving us until Kessel was able to start picking corners.

We can't win this way, and it's clear the coach is the issue. We've turned over all other members of the coaching staff. We've turned over half the team in the bottom 6 and bottom pairs. And yet we still play the exact same way and have the exact same problems. Is it so tough for them to see that fat **** Carlyle is what is holding us back??
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Leafs won the possession battle handily through the first 2 periods before it turned into a blowout. If it wasn't for some stupid penalties in the first, we probably would have buried them earlier. Bernier also let in yet another stinker to open the game and put us behind the eight ball right off the bat.

The Leafs' possession has improved by a massive amount already this year. Our Corsi Close last year was an abysmal 42%, this year its all the way up to a league average 51%. That's pretty encouraging.

Not only have all of our wins been convincing wins, but two of our losses have been pretty unfortunate, both the opening night loss to MTL and the OT loss to detroit.
 
zeke said:
I'd say the second line was our best line for the first 5gms.
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Aside from the occasional flash that Lupul will show by keeping possession for 20 seconds, or Kadri with some dangles, they haven't done anything of substance, as far as I've seen. Winnik is just no good in that spot. He can clog up the boards here and there, maybe make a nice rush once in a while, but the guy is not a top six player, and it's hurting us because it seems to be hurting Kadri and Lupul. They need a strong guy with hands to crash the net on that line. Basically another JVR.

I'd have been happier seeing Nylander in that spot at least, and go for the speed and dangles throughout that line.

We can't trade Franson fast enough. He clearly deserves to sit - I mean, what is this guy good for when he's not even putting up points - but it's obvious they're keeping him on the ice to showcase him, get someone interested, and get him out of here. I wonder if we can somehow pry a young forward loose from someone in need of a dman by flipping him.
 
The second line hasn't been producing, but they've been our best line from game one. They have been the most dominant on the puck, and likely have created the most scoring chances.

And I am fine with that. The goals will come from guys like Kadri and Lupul.
 
zeke said:
Leafs won the possession battle handily through the first 2 periods before it turned into a blowout. If it wasn't for some stupid penalties in the first, we probably would have buried them earlier. Bernier also let in yet another stinker to open the game and put us behind the eight ball right off the bat.

The Leafs' possession has improved by a massive amount already this year. Our Corsi Close last year was an abysmal 42%, this year its all the way up to a league average 51%. That's pretty encouraging.

Not only have all of our wins been convincing wins, but two of our losses have been pretty unfortunate, both the opening night loss to MTL and the OT loss to detroit.
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You can cherry pick like that, but you would also have to admit that two of the losses saw Pittsburgh and Detroit mop the floor with us.

And even in the wins, there are prolonged or sporadic stretches where we are just totally dominated. Last night, NYI was all over us for the first 20 to 30 minutes. If they didn't keep missing the net or Bernier didn't keep coming up with the saves, it could've easily been 4-0 or 5-0 after the first.

We just can't play this disorganized, everyone do what you want kind of style. How often are guys just left wide, wide open in front of our net? It's absurd how frequently that happens. And yet we don't see the same privileges granted to our guys. I don't know about you all, but I'm pretty disappointed in the way we play this year. It looks just like last year, and when we win, we win with firepower from a few guys and goaltending. That's our formula. Neutralize the top line, and put a few past the goalie, and we're toast generally.
 
leafman101 said:
The second line hasn't been producing, but they've been our best line from game one. They have been the most dominant on the puck, and likely have created the most scoring chances.

And I am fine with that. The goals will come from guys like Kadri and Lupul.
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I don't know. I'm not encouraged so far.

A general comment I have is that the compete level in the NHL this season looks unprecedented. I've never seen players playing as hard. It looks like every shift is a monumental struggle for time and space, if you can even get your hands on the puck.

I don't think a line with two stars and one plug can cut it for an offensive line. You need three fully able offensive players to have it work.
 
Winnik isn't ideal there, but he's been good. He didn't start on that line. He earned that opportunity.

Ideally you have a guy who plays like Winnik but also has some offensive ability, but the Leafs just don't have anyone to plug in there at the moment that would be better than Winnik. Maybe a healthy Booth, or Leivo in a couple months.
 
I don't see how Winnik has been great on that line at all.

He's produced next to nothing and always seems two steps behind.

But true, our alternatives are limited at best. That's why we need to flip Franson for a good forward pronto.
 
LeafOfFaith said:
And even in the wins, there are prolonged or sporadic stretches where we are just totally dominated.
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that's hockey.


Last night, NYI was all over us for the first 20 to 30 minutes. If they didn't keep missing the net or Bernier didn't keep coming up with the saves, it could've easily been 4-0 or 5-0 after the first.
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this just isn't true.

isles scored early and dominated a bit, leafs scorrd and then dominated right back for a bit, then we took three penalties in a row and have up a goal on one of them. it was a pretty even period marred by a some stupid penalties at the end. 2-1 was at worst fair and it might nave been harsh.

then we dominated the second from start to finish.

We just can't play this disorganized, everyone do what you want kind of style. How often are guys just left wide, wide open in front of our net? It's absurd how frequently that happens. And yet we don't see the same privileges granted to our guys. I don't know about you all, but I'm pretty disappointed in the way we play this year. It looks just like last year, and when we win, we win with firepower from a few guys and goaltending. That's our formula. Neutralize the top line, and put a few past the goalie, and we're toast generally.
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seems to me all our goals are our guys wide open on front of their net.
 
Yeesh, reading this GDT thread you'd think we got blown out.

LOF, the 2nd line was by far our best line in terms of possession and zone time in the first few games. They haven't produced the results to match it yet, but if they keep spending all their time in the o-zone with the talent they have that will come.

I'm not sure what your problem is with Winnik, he is what he is, a great bottom liner who ideally you don't want on your second line, but a guy who's holding his own. He's responsible defensively, has a pretty solid IQ, can skate, and has decent hands. You'll never see the high end skill from him that Naz & Lups have, but he's there to do the dirty work on the boards and create space for them. I mean, he's no Kulemin though.
 
I miss a lot of the games when I'm at work so I appreciate when people post whatever their opinion is of what they're watching at that moment. I can get the actual updates of what's happening online but not an impression of how they're looking.
 
hockeylover said:
I miss a lot of the games when I'm at work so I appreciate when people post whatever their opinion is of what they're watching at that moment. I can get the actual updates of what's happening online but not an impression of how they're looking.
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Isles came out with better jump than us, Bernier let in a real softie early again. Leafs bounced back on a lucky bounce off the zamboni door, puck lands on Kessel's stick, feeds JVR in the slot. Lupul takes two stupid penalties, Tavares scores off a carom that lands right on his stick early in the PP.

Second period Leafs take over. Top line looked dangerous all night. Third line was great again, think them and the Kadri unit had the Tavares matchup and really shut him down. For the Isles the Strome line was really their best all night. Second goal was a quick breakout off a missed Isles shot, Clarkson to Leo to a streaking Phil down the wing, vintage Kessel. Polak earned the third goal.

Third period Bernier stood strong in the early going when the Isles came out with some jump, then things settled down and we cruised to victory.

Best game of the season for the fourth line IMO, Panik-Holland-combination of Lupul/Clarkson/Winnik. Holland killing penalties with JVR in Kozun's place.

On D Polak had a really strong game (really starting to like him), Robidas looked a lot better, the kids didn't make too many mistakes, and Franson Fransoned.

After the first goal Bernier was really solid, although rarely spectacular. Did make a great save on Cizikas when he was down and out and reach backed with his stick.
 
I miss a lot of the games when I'm at work so I appreciate when people post whatever their opinion is of what they're watching at that moment. I can get the actual updates of what's happening online but not an impression of how they're looking.
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Let me know if you want torrents of the actual games. Usually available the next night around 3-4 am. Sometimes, I miss games as well but I try not to get spoiled and watch the games afterwards.
 
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