Leafs @ Capitals - Jan. 3rd, 7:00pm - TSN4, TSN 1050

[CarltonTheBear]

@

17-12-7, 41 points | 22-9-5, 49 points 

Projected Lines

Komarov-Kadri-Nylander JVR-Bozak-Marner Hyman-Matthews-Brown Martin-Gauthier-Soshnikov Rielly-Zaitsev Gardiner-Carrick Hunwick-Polak Andersen ​

Ovechkin-Backstrom-Oshie Johansson-Kuznetsov-Williams Connolly-Eller-Burakovsky Winnik-Beagle-Wilson Alzner-Carlson Orlov-Niskanen Orpik-Chorney Holtby​

Scratches

Frank Corrado Josh Leivo ​

Nate Schmidt​

Game Notes

TOR
?Andersen (16-8-6, 2.52 GAA, .924 Sv%) likely starts for the Leafs

WSH
?Holtby (16-8-4, 1.98 GAA, .929 Sv%) likely starts for the Capitals

Injuries

?Nathan Horton - Back - Out indefinitely ?Joffrey Lupul - ?\_(ツ)_/? - Out indefinitely ?Stephane Robidas - Old - Out indefinitely ?Martin Marincin - Lower Body - Injured Reserve ?Ben Smith - Hand - Injured Reserve​

​

Stream Options

https://www.reddit.com/r/NHLstreams
​

 

[herman]

The Leafs are currently riding the second longest active winning streak in the league, after the clash of titans between the Blue Jackets and the Wild. Man obviously prevailed over the natural world, so the Blue Jackets continue their ridiculous drive towards making up for last season's performance and ride their percentages while it lasts.

The Leafs streak comes on the heels of stalwart defensive centre and noted penalty kill specialist, Ben Smith, going down to a hand injury and subsequent surgery. Despite that crushing blow, the Leafs are themselves riding a stretch of Vezina-worthy performance from Andersen, backstopping them with regularity facing 30+ shots to the tune of a .948 save percentage in his last 5 games (4-1-0). While racking up a crap-ton of penalties, the new PK squad, now with 0% Smith and way less Martin, have killed off all but 2 in 27 opportunities since Smith's injury.

 

[CarltonTheBear]

The Leafs are currently riding the second longest active winning streak in the league, after the clash of titans between the Blue Jackets and the Wild. Man obviously prevailed over the natural world, so the Blue Jackets continue their ridiculous drive towards making up for last season's performance and ride their percentages while it lasts.

The Leafs streak comes on the heels of stalwart defensive centre and noted penalty kill specialist, Ben Smith, going down to a hand injury and subsequent surgery. Despite that crushing blow, the Leafs are themselves riding a stretch of Vezina-worthy performance from Andersen, backstopping them with regularity facing 30+ shots to the tune of a .948 save percentage in his last 5 games (4-1-0). While racking up a crap-ton of penalties, the new PK squad, now with 0% Smith and way less Martin, have killed off all but 2 in 27 opportunities since Smith's injury.

Thanks herman, didn't have time this morning to dig up any notes.

The Bruins lost last night. A Leafs win tonight puts them just 1 point back of them for 3rd in the Atlantic, and they would still have 3 games in hand.

 

[Highlander]

Is it me or my wonky memory but havent the slides of the last few years started on the Dad's road trip?

 

[Frank E]

Connor Brown with 7 points in his last 5 games...really liking that kid's game.

 

[bustaheims]

Wary of an emotional let down after the Centennial Classic - which could easily spell disaster against the Caps. Even at their best, the Leafs would be in tough tonight.

 

[CarltonTheBear]

Wary of an emotional let down after the Centennial Classic - which could easily spell disaster against the Caps. Even at their best, the Leafs would be in tough tonight.

This really does have blowout loss written all over it.

 

[herman]

Thanks herman, didn't have time this morning to dig up any notes.

No problem, Carlton. Thanks for grinding out the holiday stretch with timely GDTs. I know how much work you pour into them.

I just wanted to point out how much better our PK is now with Brown, Hyman, Sosh, and some Gauthier getting the lion's share of the workload with Komarov. These are hard, aggressive skaters that really take space-time away from the powerplay trying to set up.

Brown in particular has a knack for approach vectors that cross up the puck carrier's feet, forcing weak-side turns into his strong-side pressure, and generating turnovers (unfortunately usually for Zach "Semi-Dry Cement Hands" Hyman). He does this all the time, whether it's PK or on the forecheck.

The opposite of Brown would be someone like JvR, who has very little instinct for defense and defaults to static positioning when stuck in his zone, but is a wizard down low in the other end unless he has to hold onto the puck.

 

[ZBBM]

So Ben Smith was the only thing standing between this team and greatness. Who'd have guessed?

 

[bustaheims]

Wary of an emotional let down after the Centennial Classic - which could easily spell disaster against the Caps. Even at their best, the Leafs would be in tough tonight.

This really does have blowout loss written all over it.

Yeah. Definitely strong potential for a rough night.

 

[WhatIfGodWasALeaf]

Connor Brown with 7 points in his last 5 games...really liking that kid's game.

I watched him a lot of the Marlies and was rarely left unimpressed, he has some of the best hockey sense I've ever seen. It's very strange because looking at him you don't see a lot of flash from one particular part of his game, but the sum of his parts allow him to be successful.

What's really impressive is the strides he made in his skating, when he first joined the Marlies he at times looked slow and out of position, but that all changed very quickly.

It might be a bit of a blessing for him to have had the marquee prospects take the pressure off him.

Quietly as a pro in the AHL he had 90 points in 100 games and now has 22 in 43 at the NHL level while also being a very useful PK'er and 5v5 player.

On a lot of teams, he would be a major story.

 

[Highlander]

So Ben Smith was the only thing standing between this team and greatness. Who'd have guessed?

BS works both ways

 

[Highlander]

Connor Brown with 7 points in his last 5 games...really liking that kid's game.

I watched him a lot of the Marlies and was rarely left unimpressed, he has some of the best hockey sense I've ever seen. It's very strange because looking at him you don't see a lot of flash from one particular part of his game, but the sum of his parts allow him to be successful.

What's really impressive is the strides he made in his skating, when he first joined the Marlies he looked slow and out of position quite a bit and that all changed very quickly.

It might be a bit of a blessing for him to have had the marquee prospects take the pressure off him.

Quietly as a pro in the AHL he had 90 points in 100 games and now has 22 in 43 at the NHL level while also being a very useful PK'er and 5v5 player.

On a lot of teams he would be a major story.

Browns snipe in the Centenial Game was almost exactly the same shot as the first goal vs the Yotes, Matthews gets him the puck and he puts it in the top of the net, picking his spot and hitting it. Impressive.

 

[Frank E]

Connor Brown with 7 points in his last 5 games...really liking that kid's game.

I watched him a lot of the Marlies and was rarely left unimpressed, he has some of the best hockey sense I've ever seen. It's very strange because looking at him you don't see a lot of flash from one particular part of his game, but the sum of his parts allow him to be successful.

What's really impressive is the strides he made in his skating, when he first joined the Marlies he at times looked slow and out of position, but that all changed very quickly.

It might be a bit of a blessing for him to have had the marquee prospects take the pressure off him.

Quietly as a pro in the AHL he had 90 points in 100 games and now has 22 in 43 at the NHL level while also being a very useful PK'er and 5v5 player.

On a lot of teams, he would be a major story.

I know what you mean, he's not flashy, but he just seems to be in the right spots defensively, and makes some very nice offensive plays.  I like that he seems to have found a home on the PK too, it's nice to have a young guy that contributes well on both sides of the puck...Babcock seems comfortable to put him out there in any situation, which is pretty rare for a rookie.

I'm keeping an eye on him given his contract is up this year. I'm curious how they value him.

 

[herman]

So Ben Smith was the only thing standing between this team and greatness. Who'd have guessed?

Babcock has adjusted to really minimize his use of the fourth line, i.e. more minutes for Matthews, Brown, Hyman, Kadri, Nylander, Marner, JvR, Bozak, Komarov, which usually means more effective use of ice time.

Martin hasn't played over 8 minutes since December 10. Smith, in that timeframe until his injury, was hovering at ~10-12 minutes, the difference being PK time.

With Gauthier, Soshnikov actually has someone else to pass the puck to that can hold on to it. There were some good shifts in the outdoor game where they pinned the other 4th line.

 

[Frank E]

So Ben Smith was the only thing standing between this team and greatness. Who'd have guessed?

Babcock has adjusted to really minimize his use of the fourth line, i.e. more minutes for Matthews, Brown, Hyman, Kadri, Nylander, Marner, JvR, Bozak, Komarov, which usually means more effective use of ice time.

Martin hasn't played over 8 minutes since December 10. Smith, in that timeframe until his injury, was hovering at ~10-12 minutes, the difference being PK time.

With Gauthier, Soshnikov actually has someone else to pass the puck to that can hold on to it. There were some good shifts in the outdoor game where they pinned the other 4th line.

I missed the outdoor game...how is Gauthier's skating looking lately?

 

[herman]

I missed the outdoor game...how is Gauthier's skating looking lately?

He's a truck. Has decent straightaway speed once he gets going after the first three strides, but it's a league that's all about the first stride breakaway speed. There's only so much agility you can put on a 6'5" 235 lb frame though. It has cleaned up a lot from when he was drafted and I think he'd benefit from running more cross-overs rather than just beelining.

He makes up for it with reach, strength, and puck skills (he's not a dumper). He doesn't have anything close to Hyman's relentless drive though, which would probably push him into the upper echelons of defensive centres with his toolset. We know he's got a deceptively awesome shot, but he doesn't get much chance to use it.

 

[Highlander]

And the nice thing with Freddie is we have seen constant and steady improvement, he doesnt panic with the puck and makes some very good chip outs on the D.  His reach and frame are his biggest assests in addition to the calm he seems to have with the puck

 

[ZBBM]

So Ben Smith was the only thing standing between this team and greatness. Who'd have guessed?

Babcock has adjusted to really minimize his use of the fourth line, i.e. more minutes for Matthews, Brown, Hyman, Kadri, Nylander, Marner, JvR, Bozak, Komarov, which usually means more effective use of ice time.

Martin hasn't played over 8 minutes since December 10. Smith, in that timeframe until his injury, was hovering at ~10-12 minutes, the difference being PK time.

With Gauthier, Soshnikov actually has someone else to pass the puck to that can hold on to it. There were some good shifts in the outdoor game where they pinned the other 4th line.

Which is all fine, but aiming sarcasm at Smith isn't.  He did exactly what he was brought in to do.

 

[Zee]

I like Gauthier.  I know people were down on the fact Leafs took a 4th line center in the first round, but that's no slight against him as a player.  He doesn't control where he was drafted.  If he can be a part of this team for the next decade in a supporting role it's all good.