Leafs @ Hurricanes - Nov. 24th, 7:30pm - TSN4, Fan 590

[azzurri63]

Babcock post game not happy with the start. We got to fix it, we'll fix it. Hello Mike how long does it take been going on for a while now.

 

[herman]

Sounds like I missed a doozy.

Leivo?s goal via Borgman.

If you read that Athletic piece on Borgman today, you?ll know that he tries not to dump the puck out off the glass. This one was on purpose.

I also maintain that the right hand shot coming from the left wing is one of the most effective shots in this game: big glove side space, or slow-to-react blocker side gaps.

 

[herman]

Bill Peters singing my song

https://twitter.com/leafsnews/status/934157547094888448

 

[hockeyfan1]

If not for Andersen, and as someone mentioned earlier, any longer the game and sure as heck the Leafs would probably have lost.  Andersen facing nearly 50 SOG, well, the man did his job.  His team could have blown it.  Luckily, they didn't.  At the very least, we came away with two points & a win.

 

[Zee]

I honestly feel we've regressed from last year. Some small changes to the lineup but seem to have taken a step back a tad. I don't know if it's expectations were too high after how we battled the Capitals. Something doesn't seem right and yes we knew the D was supposedly our weakness but I don't think that's the only thing.

Regressed how? Our record is better than last year's at this time.

 

[Frank E]

Remember this game when they lose one they should have won.

47 shots against.

If it wasn't for Andersen playing out of his mind this past few weeks, the Leafs are most def chasing a wildcard spot.

They really need to address the defense, and defensive play overall.

 

[rdowdall]

Remember this game when they lose one they should have won.

47 shots against.

If it wasn't for Andersen playing out of his mind this past few weeks, the Leafs are most def chasing a wildcard spot.

They really need to address the defense, and defensive play overall.

There are so many questions on why the defense is bad. 

Why does Gardiner look bad this year?
Why can't the Leafs get the puck out of their zone?
Why do the Leafs look slow when they come out of their zone?
Why do the Leafs have a problem passing the puck?
Is the defense problem a style or personnel problem?

I think we are seeing the effects of a talented team, where they win because of their talent.  However, the championship teams usually win because they have talent, and because they can play their style effectively.  This team will need to take that next step at some point.

 

[Bender]

Probably because we went on that run to make the playoffs at the end of the year. I'm happy to eke out points any way we can, getting in the playoffs with a ton of games left without the need to go on a run. Hopefully we can work some of the kinks out and get a good D to help us in the playoffs.

 

[Chris]

Tonight's game will be very interesting. If we start the way we have lately, it might be 4-0 in the first 10 minutes especially with mcbackup playing.

Before the season, I would have said I wouldn't be surprised if there was some regression this season, maybe even missing the playoffs. Even with that, I'm surprised by a lot of what I'm seeing lately. The system we're playing, with long stretch passes, looks great when the goals are going in and Andersen is on top of his game...but those are relatively low percentage plays leading to lots of turnovers. We have been spending too much time playing defense (and not doing it very well), even the Matthews line has been caught in the defensive zone for long stretches. Other teams almost always seem to have multiple players available in the defensive zone for easy breakouts, with shorter passes and maintaining control through the neutral zone. I would think this Leafs team, with all its supposed offensive talent, could make a system like that work.

 

[skrackle]

Remember this game when they lose one they should have won.

47 shots against.

If it wasn't for Andersen playing out of his mind this past few weeks, the Leafs are most def chasing a wildcard spot.

They really need to address the defense, and defensive play overall.

There are so many questions on why the defense is bad. 

Why does Gardiner look bad this year?
Why can't the Leafs get the puck out of their zone?
Why do the Leafs look slow when they come out of their zone?
Why do the Leafs have a problem passing the puck?
Is the defense problem a style or personnel problem?

I think we are seeing the effects of a talented team, where they win because of their talent.  However, the championship teams usually win because they have talent, and because they can play their style effectively.  This team will need to take that next step at some point.

Scoring talent can cover a lot of mistakes and poor play. It seems that is how the Leafs are are winning, though I haven't watched enough games to say for sure. Andersen is playing great lately. That's a big factor.

Long term, I can't see them having any real success until they develop a defensive structure that the whole team can execute consistently. I think it's a talent issue also. The defense corps, aside from Rielly, has been pieced together mostly through trades and UFA signings. There has been a lack of success in drafting and developing defensemen with the Leafs for a long time and it's not something that can be fast tracked. Inevitably, it shows up as their weak point.

There just seems to be at least one major piece missing on the back end. They might also need an elite two way forward a la Doug Gilmour. Maybe Matthews has the potential to develop that side of his game.