General Leafs Talk v2.0

[Champ Kind]

...We have two quailty goalies to back them up and fast scating defense to recover if they are caught out of position.

This is wrong on so many levels.

2 d-men one cup.

Oh Guru, why, oh why did you have to go there?

 

[Highlander]

only 2 pads for 3 periods.

 

[CaptainObvious]

http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/standings/

 

[nutman]

http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/standings/

Now I can get used to that.

 

[CaptainObvious]

http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/standings/

Now I can get used to that.

No doubt.

 

[drummond]

I have been following hockey in North America and Europe for 2 decades and honestly I have never seen a team with such a winning record while being constantly outshot by such a wide margin.

Saves percentage of both Reimer (.949) and Bernier (.933) is as insane as shooting percentage of top Leafs forwards (Bozak 25.0, Bolland 22.2, Kadri 20.8, Kessel 18.0, Lupul 17.5, JvR 17.1.... while D and the bottom six players register relatively small number of shots).

The Leafs are not only defying all advanced stats but also simple logic. This is fascinating blue-print and even more fascinating is that Carlyle evidently does not care at all. It almost seems that this is part of the plan.  Much has been said about unsustainability of this style and that winning would end if the Leafs continue being consistently outshot. But they keep rolling. Do the Leafs have some magic new trick incorporated into their game plan or is that just a pure luck?

Anyway, I have never seen anything like that. This is a crazy ride i am enjoying very much.

 

[Crucialness Key]

I have been following hockey in North America and Europe for 2 decades and honestly I have never seen a team with such a winning record while being constantly outshot by such a wide margin.

Saves percentage of both Reimer (.949) and Bernier (.933) is as insane as shooting percentage of top Leafs forwards (Bozak 25.0, Bolland 22.2, Kadri 20.8, Kessel 18.0, Lupul 17.5, JvR 17.1.... while D and the bottom six players register relatively small number of shots).

The Leafs are not only defying all advanced stats but also simple logic. This is fascinating blue-print and even more fascinating is that Carlyle evidently does not care at all. It almost seems that this is part of the plan.  Much has been said about unsustainability of this style and that winning would end if the Leafs continue being consistently outshot. But they keep rolling. Do the Leafs have some magic new trick incorporated into their game plan or is that just a pure luck?

Anyway, I have never seen anything like that. This is a crazy ride i am enjoying very much.

My sense of it is that standard NHL tactics say, "if you don't see any good opportunities, throw the puck at the net and hope for the best."

But (generally), the Leafs mindset is "if you don't see any good opportunities, either make one, or hang onto the puck until someone else does".

So the Leafs either get a very good scoring chance, or nothing.  Hence the high shooting % and low total shots.

I'm happy with trading a batch of low-percentage garbage shots for a handful more high-percentage opportunities, especially since (a) it's working so far and (b) drives everybody nuts. 

 

[GhostofPotvin29]

I have been following hockey in North America and Europe for 2 decades and honestly I have never seen a team with such a winning record while being constantly outshot by such a wide margin.

Saves percentage of both Reimer (.949) and Bernier (.933) is as insane as shooting percentage of top Leafs forwards (Bozak 25.0, Bolland 22.2, Kadri 20.8, Kessel 18.0, Lupul 17.5, JvR 17.1.... while D and the bottom six players register relatively small number of shots).

The Leafs are not only defying all advanced stats but also simple logic. This is fascinating blue-print and even more fascinating is that Carlyle evidently does not care at all. It almost seems that this is part of the plan.  Much has been said about unsustainability of this style and that winning would end if the Leafs continue being consistently outshot. But they keep rolling. Do the Leafs have some magic new trick incorporated into their game plan or is that just a pure luck?

Anyway, I have never seen anything like that. This is a crazy ride i am enjoying very much.

My sense of it is that standard NHL tactics say, "if you don't see any good opportunities, throw the puck at the net and hope for the best."

But (generally), the Leafs mindset is "if you don't see any good opportunities, either make one, or hang onto the puck until someone else does".

So the Leafs either get a very good scoring chance, or nothing.  Hence the high shooting % and low total shots.

I'm happy with trading a batch of low-percentage garbage shots for a handful more high-percentage opportunities, especially since (a) it's working so far and (b) drives everybody nuts. 

Except that's not really what's happening if you watch the games is it?  They're getting few opportunities not because they're holding onto the puck longer, but because the other team has the puck most of the game in the Leafs end.

 

[nutman]

I have been following hockey in North America and Europe for 2 decades and honestly I have never seen a team with such a winning record while being constantly outshot by such a wide margin.

Saves percentage of both Reimer (.949) and Bernier (.933) is as insane as shooting percentage of top Leafs forwards (Bozak 25.0, Bolland 22.2, Kadri 20.8, Kessel 18.0, Lupul 17.5, JvR 17.1.... while D and the bottom six players register relatively small number of shots).

The Leafs are not only defying all advanced stats but also simple logic. This is fascinating blue-print and even more fascinating is that Carlyle evidently does not care at all. It almost seems that this is part of the plan.  Much has been said about unsustainability of this style and that winning would end if the Leafs continue being consistently outshot. But they keep rolling. Do the Leafs have some magic new trick incorporated into their game plan or is that just a pure luck?

Anyway, I have never seen anything like that. This is a crazy ride i am enjoying very much.

My thought is that good teams will find a way to win, and I would say as shocking as it is to most Leaf fans, we are a good winning team. its strange how there winning right now but they will tighten up.

 

[Redleaf]

If you watch this team play better opponents, they actually do tighten up. I'm not basing this on shots allowed, but just the style of play. All the losses have been close games, as have the wins against the better teams.

When they face weaker teams, they seem to hang back in the early going of the game, and are usually badly outplayed and generally look terrible. Then they apply the excelerator in the second half, and either hold onto a lead or make a comeback to win it.

The goalies are playing a massive part in the outcome of the games this season, no matter how you dissect it. But they are able to make this work on the scoresheet and the win column so far, no matter who's at the other end of the rink. We should see a tight one against Vancouver, but don't count them out unless they are down by two or more in the last five minutes or so of the game. It's a remarkable style, but it's working, at least so far....

 

[Champ Kind]

Except that's not really what's happening if you watch the games is it?  They're getting few opportunities not because they're holding onto the puck longer, but because the other team has the puck most of the game in the Leafs end.

Can't really argue with you.  Hockey's example of 'catanaccio'.

 

[GhostofPotvin29]

Except that's not really what's happening if you watch the games is it?  They're getting few opportunities not because they're holding onto the puck longer, but because the other team has the puck most of the game in the Leafs end.

Can't really argue with you.  Hockey's example of 'catanaccio'.

I don't know much about that but a quick Wikipedia read makes it seem not at all similar to the Leafs: "which implies a highly organized and effective backline defense focused on nullifying opponents' attacks and preventing goal-scoring opportunities."

 

[Heroic Shrimp]

Except that's not really what's happening if you watch the games is it?  They're getting few opportunities not because they're holding onto the puck longer, but because the other team has the puck most of the game in the Leafs end.

Can't really argue with you.  Hockey's example of 'catanaccio'.

I don't know much about that but a quick Wikipedia read makes it seem not at all similar to the Leafs: "which implies a highly organized and effective backline defense focused on nullifying opponents' attacks and preventing goal-scoring opportunities."

How about rope-a-dope?  Wear teams down by giving them endless puck possession and shots, and when they're tired of all of that, go and score on them.

 

[GhostofPotvin29]

Except that's not really what's happening if you watch the games is it?  They're getting few opportunities not because they're holding onto the puck longer, but because the other team has the puck most of the game in the Leafs end.

Can't really argue with you.  Hockey's example of 'catanaccio'.

I don't know much about that but a quick Wikipedia read makes it seem not at all similar to the Leafs: "which implies a highly organized and effective backline defense focused on nullifying opponents' attacks and preventing goal-scoring opportunities."

How about rope-a-dope?  Wear teams down by giving them endless puck possession and shots, and when they're tired of all of that, go and score on them.

By that logic shouldn't our goalies wear down too then?

 

[Heroic Shrimp]

Except that's not really what's happening if you watch the games is it?  They're getting few opportunities not because they're holding onto the puck longer, but because the other team has the puck most of the game in the Leafs end.

Can't really argue with you.  Hockey's example of 'catanaccio'.

I don't know much about that but a quick Wikipedia read makes it seem not at all similar to the Leafs: "which implies a highly organized and effective backline defense focused on nullifying opponents' attacks and preventing goal-scoring opportunities."

How about rope-a-dope?  Wear teams down by giving them endless puck possession and shots, and when they're tired of all of that, go and score on them.

By that logic shouldn't our goalies wear down too then?

Well, sure, if they were human and not supermen.

 

[GhostofPotvin29]

Except that's not really what's happening if you watch the games is it?  They're getting few opportunities not because they're holding onto the puck longer, but because the other team has the puck most of the game in the Leafs end.

Can't really argue with you.  Hockey's example of 'catanaccio'.

I don't know much about that but a quick Wikipedia read makes it seem not at all similar to the Leafs: "which implies a highly organized and effective backline defense focused on nullifying opponents' attacks and preventing goal-scoring opportunities."

How about rope-a-dope?  Wear teams down by giving them endless puck possession and shots, and when they're tired of all of that, go and score on them.

By that logic shouldn't our goalies wear down too then?

Well, sure, if they were human and not supermen.

I always forget that little detail!

 

[bustaheims]

mirtle: Leafs rookie Carter Ashton has a hearing tomorrow with the NHL for his hit from behind last night.

 

[OldTimeHockey]

Is it a phone hearing or face to face?

 

[CaptainObvious]

mirtle: Leafs rookie Carter Ashton has a hearing tomorrow with the NHL for his hit from behind last night.

So, if he gets penalized...and has to sit a few games, but is sent down...How does that work?

 

[bustaheims]

So, if he gets penalized...and has to sit a few games, but is sent down...How does that work?

He'll have to serve his suspension, regardless. The AHL honours NHL suspensions, so, he won't be able to play there without serving his suspension with the big club.