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Avalanche @ Leafs - Oct. 14th, 7:30PM - TSN4, Fan 590

CarltonTheBear said:
Bullfrog said:
so. Kessel = bad?
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His lines Corsi Against is bad. Even in the games where they've put up points they've still been in their own zone the majority of the game. Nothing new though. They're great offensively but a trainwreck defensively. It's largely why some people want that line split up.
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Don't think it will ever change without a true #1 C.  The position just has too many responsibilities at both ends of the ice in comparison to wingers and there are just too many other C's around the league who will outplay Bozak in a head-to-head matchup.  I think that's why you see, even if it is a limited sample, that Bozak's possession (and other) numbers tank when he is away from Kessel.

EDIT: From an article I posted elsewhere:

Through the past four years, Bozak?s lines have garnered 47 percent of the team?s 5v5 goals, which ranks 70th amongst the top 89 centres in the NHL over that span. This despite playing 3,214:04 of his 3,793:25 of 5v5 ice time (84 percent) alongside Kessel, the 15th ranked NHL goal scorer at 5v5 in terms of G/60 over the same time frame.

The unfortunate reality here is that the common perception of Bozak as a defensively capable centre isn?t borne out by any statistical analysis whatsoever. The only centres to be on the ice for a higher rate of Goals Against at 5v5 during the prior four years are Jason Spezza and Sam Gagner (neither has ever received a Selke vote?Bozak has).

Spezza and Gagner have had on-ice SV%s of .908 and .902 respectively?and we know forwards have virtually no discernible effect on 5v5 SV% in the long term. Bozak in contrast has been skating in front of goalies who stop the puck with a SV% of .913, significantly higher than the two players he trails. The elevated goals-against may stem from the fact that he ranks dead last in Fenwick-events-against amongst this group of players with a rate of 16.650 unblocked shot attempts per 20 minutes?no other NHL centre is on the ice for over 16.
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Link
 
Good on the Leafs for two nice wins, hope we can keep the ball rolling and take the next two from Detroit..one small thing..Panik was invisible out there in his limited time.. I have not given up on Frattin so would like to see him in the lineup at some point. perhaps may be a good idea to rotate Frattin, Ashton and Panik until an unevitable injury happens
 
Decent game by the Buds...still lots of improving to do.

I'm not a big fan of Gardiner's defensive game (I think he is the weakest defensively of a weak bunch), but he deserves to play.  I just don't think anyone deserves to come out of the top 6 just  yet.  Percy has been very impressive for his first 4 games (almost Kaberle'esqe in his calmness with the puck).  Maybe 7 d-men is the way to go if Carlyle has no confidence in the 4th line (can't blame Carlyle for that).
 
pmrules said:
Decent game by the Buds...still lots of improving to do.

I'm not a big fan of Gardiner's defensive game (I think he is the weakest defensively of a weak bunch), but he deserves to play.  I just don't think anyone deserves to come out of the top 6 just  yet.  Percy has been very impressive for his first 4 games (almost Kaberle'esqe in his calmness with the puck).  Maybe 7 d-men is the way to go if Carlyle has no confidence in the 4th line (can't blame Carlyle for that).
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You can blame Carlyle, he would have to play the fourth line too lose confidence in them. He is playing them at the same rate he did last season.
 
Highlander said:
still would like to see Matty out there.
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he has to improve a lot to get back out there. Although with the fourth line playing the time they are, I dont think you would even notice him.
 
freer said:
pmrules said:
Decent game by the Buds...still lots of improving to do.

I'm not a big fan of Gardiner's defensive game (I think he is the weakest defensively of a weak bunch), but he deserves to play.  I just don't think anyone deserves to come out of the top 6 just  yet.  Percy has been very impressive for his first 4 games (almost Kaberle'esqe in his calmness with the puck).  Maybe 7 d-men is the way to go if Carlyle has no confidence in the 4th line (can't blame Carlyle for that).
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You can blame Carlyle, he would have to play the fourth line too lose confidence in them. He is playing them at the same rate he did last season.
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Seriously...would you play the 4th line any more than  he did?  If you do, you probably risk losing this game...

What have they done in their limited minutes to prove that they deserve more playing time?  Absolutely nothing.
 
pmrules said:
freer said:
pmrules said:
Decent game by the Buds...still lots of improving to do.

I'm not a big fan of Gardiner's defensive game (I think he is the weakest defensively of a weak bunch), but he deserves to play.  I just don't think anyone deserves to come out of the top 6 just  yet.  Percy has been very impressive for his first 4 games (almost Kaberle'esqe in his calmness with the puck).  Maybe 7 d-men is the way to go if Carlyle has no confidence in the 4th line (can't blame Carlyle for that).
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You can blame Carlyle, he would have to play the fourth line too lose confidence in them. He is playing them at the same rate he did last season.
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Seriously...would you play the 4th line any more than  he did?  If you do, you probably risk losing this game...

What have they done in their limited minutes to prove that they deserve more playing time?  Absolutely nothing.
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Lets see. Kozun cause a penalty while leafs were short hand, and nearly had a brake away. Yes that man deserves more time on the ice.
 
4 games in, and Stuart Percy is 3rd among defensemen in TOI/game on the team, only a few seconds behind Jake Gardiner, who's been scratched for 2 of the games.  Percy's been such a pleasant surprise, and it's quite remarkable that Carlyle is showing so much faith in him so soon and in so many situations.  He played 23:34 last night, second only to Phaneuf's 24:18.  I've been really impressed so far.
 
freer said:
pmrules said:
freer said:
pmrules said:
Decent game by the Buds...still lots of improving to do.

I'm not a big fan of Gardiner's defensive game (I think he is the weakest defensively of a weak bunch), but he deserves to play.  I just don't think anyone deserves to come out of the top 6 just  yet.  Percy has been very impressive for his first 4 games (almost Kaberle'esqe in his calmness with the puck).  Maybe 7 d-men is the way to go if Carlyle has no confidence in the 4th line (can't blame Carlyle for that).
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You can blame Carlyle, he would have to play the fourth line too lose confidence in them. He is playing them at the same rate he did last season.
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Seriously...would you play the 4th line any more than  he did?  If you do, you probably risk losing this game...

What have they done in their limited minutes to prove that they deserve more playing time?  Absolutely nothing.
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Lets see. Kozun cause a penalty while leafs were short hand, and nearly had a brake away. Yes that man deserves more time on the ice.
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Agreed - but that wasn't generated by his "4th line" playing time.
 
Potvin29 said:
pmrules said:
What have they done in their limited minutes to prove that they deserve more playing time?  Absolutely nothing.
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That can be a catch-22 don't you think?
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Agreed - it can be.  But when the first 3 lines are playing the way they are...you really got to impress in your limited minutes, and they just didn't do that.
 
pmrules said:
Agreed - it can be.  But when the first 3 lines are playing the way they are...you really got to impress in your limited minutes, and they just didn't do that.
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Kinda hard to make an impression of any kind with one shift for every 10 minutes of game time. They're not being given that opportunity. Carlyle seems to have just decided they're not good enough without having seen what they can actually do.
 
pmrules said:
Seriously...would you play the 4th line any more than  he did?  If you do, you probably risk losing this game...
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If playing your 4th line for the same ~10 minutes a night that basically every other 4th line in the league gets risks losing the game, then you deserve to lose the game.
 
freer said:
Andy007 said:
dappleganger said:
3 Obvious Observations

1. Everyone, EVERYONE, wanted to watch Iginla and Phaneuf scrap. Screw you linesmen!

2. Toronto's top line is the best in the league!

3. Finally a game worth watching this season. Good time to be a Leaf fan!
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Have you watched them in the defensive zone? They can barely touch the puck. Their scoring prowess is great, no doubt, but the majority of high quality chances against and long periods of opposing cycles comes when that line is on the ice.

I think they need a big, strong, skilled centre who can hold onto the puck and carry the puck out of the defensive zone. These points Bozak keeps piling up are great and all, but he is almost useless in the defensive zone (to say nothing of his horrible passes).
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Are we watching the same game dude.

the first goal was a wonder quick pass for Bozak ,and winning goals was a breakway pass from Bozak.
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Just because I said someone is a bad passer does not mean that they don't have the ability to sometimes make good passes.
 
Andy007 said:
So Robidas has to come out for Gardiner now, doesn't he?  Please?
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That makes me really concerned when it comes to PK.  Already, Polak and Phaneuf are doing all the heavy lifting on the PK.  Robidas and Percy seem to be the best options after them.  If Robidas comes out, I guess Franson has to be on the PK?  I sure don't feel comfortable with either him, Gardiner, or Reilly getting PK minutes. 

On the other hand, putting Gardiner in gives us 5 defensemen capable on the PP.  If anything, maybe Reilly needs to come out.  Before last night, I would have said Franson, but he played a pretty good game last night.  Reilly (43.44%) and Robidas (42.99%) are our two worst defenders possession-wise so far this season (Gardiner (44.62) only slightly ahead of them). 
 
http://fat.gfycat.com/FrighteningTemptingGrizzlybear.webm

The Komarov hit on Hejda that indirectly led to Lupul's goal.

I love Leo. (Even though it might have been a questionable hit)
 
Patrick said:
http://fat.gfycat.com/FrighteningTemptingGrizzlybear.webm

The Komarov hit on Hejda that indirectly led to Lupul's goal.

I love Leo. (Even though it might have been a questionable hit)
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I remember the commentator attributed the hit to Clarkson about 5 times, even after the goal replays.
 
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