Ryan Wilson: Toronto leaves Pittsburgh with no points Toronto leaves Pittsburgh with no points

So Crosby, Malkin, Kessel Vs Tavaras, Matthews is not a nationally broadcasted game?

Looking at EDM, Crosby vs MCD still not a national game?

Why is the NHL so stupid?

Toronto leaves Pittsburgh with no points
- Ryan_Wilson

Is Ryan aware that the game was in Toronto? Edit: He corrected it.

No Ryan, the game was not closer than the score reflects.

Yes Toronto had a few good chances and yes shots on goal were close, but if you actually watched the game instead of just analyize stats, you would have noticed that other than the first half of period 2, Pittsburgh controlled the play for the majority of the time, had the puck on their stick lots, won almost all loose puck battles, had great sticks and bodys poke checking and slowing down Toronto's offense. We played with much more effort and energy then them. Yes a couple of goals for Toronto could have won them the game, but we should have scored more goals too. We looked much hungrier than they did.

I watched the game in its entirety and I thought the game was pretty even too. The Leafs had better quality chances and Murray stood on his head to make a lot of good saves. It was 1-0 until the empty netter... so yeah it was pretty god damn close. As were the scoring chances imo.

Man, when Ryan started his column here, I really enjoyed reading it. The advanced stats were interesting to look at and added a level of analysis for the game. However, I find these tough to read now. The constant pessimism and player bashing is making this blog not very readable anymore. Combine that with the fact that he acts like he has personal vendetta against certain players, and I end up rolling my eyes through half the column. Sometimes I'm pretty sure, he doesn't watch the games, just looks at the advanced stats and decides what kind of game it was. The advanced stats help analyze what happened, but they can't be a substitute for actually watching the game. Sigh.

Have to say that Tavares move was pretty smooth. But it just goes to show how good Tanger can be to get back & make back that lost ground to him to make it so difficult for Tavares to shoot. Great play Tanger.

Man, when Ryan started his column here, I really enjoyed reading it. The advanced stats were interesting to look at and added a level of analysis for the game. However, I find these tough to read now. The constant pessimism and player bashing is making this blog not very readable anymore. Combine that with the fact that he acts like he has personal vendetta against certain players, and I end up rolling my eyes through half the column. Sometimes I'm pretty sure, he doesn't watch the games, just looks at the advanced stats and decides what kind of game it was. The advanced stats help analyze what happened, but they can't be a substitute for actually watching the game. Sigh.
- jrmjames67

After watching the game in its entirety, I had pretty much the same opinions. I thought the Leafs had way more quality chances from better areas in the ice where the Pens were trying to throw the puck at the net from the point a lot after those low to high passes from the o zone. I don’t think Pittsburgh looked horrendous but I think Toronto looked way more dangerous and Murray had a great game.

But j.boyd, most of the leafs high quality chances didn't even result in a good shot on goal. We got sticks and bodies in the way to deflect shots and knock people off the puck and slow down the shots.

The game would have been even if we put in our "average" defensive effort, but man we were possessed to stop them at all costs.

I found the skill side of the game to be even, but our effort level was layers and layers above theirs.

Just look at how many 50/50 puck battles that we won.

But j.boyd, most of the leafs high quality chances didn't even result in a good shot on goal. We got sticks and bodies in the way to deflect shots and knock people off the puck and slow down the shots.

The game would have been even if we put in our "average" defensive effort, but man we were possessed to stop them at all costs.

I found the skill side of the game to be even, but our effort level was layers and layers above theirs.

Just look at how many 50/50 puck battles that we won.
- bochangs

I disagree. I saw Matt Murray make 4 or 5 REALLY good saves that would probably be goals on most nights and a few were direct results of guys puck watching and missing sticks in front. They gave up 38 shots lol (don’t get me wrong they also took 38 shots on goal too. I get that.) but that just further shows that the game was pretty even.

Edit: again, I don’t think the Pens were terrible. I just think (particularly at 5v5) that the leafs were a better team that ran into a brick wall goalie. And on some nights, that wins you games. Not knocking it. I’ll take it all day.

After watching the game in its entirety, I had pretty much the same opinions. I thought the Leafs had way more quality chances from better areas in the ice where the Pens were trying to throw the puck at the net from the point a lot after those low to high passes from the o zone. I don’t think Pittsburgh looked horrendous but I think Toronto looked way more dangerous and Murray had a great game.
- j.boyd919

I agree that it was more even than the score, but the Penguins beat a good team with the hottest player in the league. They played a great game. The fan in me gets tired of reading about all the things they did wrong after a great game. I'm all for a thorough analysis, but I don't want to dwell on the bad things after a great win.

I thought the Pens played a real good game, we had some chances but they weren't really that dangerous...Leafs could have used a call or 2 from the refs but that's the way she goes.

Good game by the Pens, took away most of the Leafs time and space.

Next time we're going to cream you though.

I agree that it was more even than the score, but the Penguins beat a good team with the hottest player in the league. They played a great game. The fan in me gets tired of reading about all the things they did wrong after a great game. I'm all for a thorough analysis, but I don't want to dwell on the bad things after a great win.
- jrmjames67

Yeah it’s weird, I like all the stats too but now that I know where to find them, I don’t really need RW to post them. Not to mention there are even more stats he could be posting. I wish there was a little bit more video analysis other than the odd gifs. I prefer Jesse Marshall’s blogs the most but they’re few and far between over at the athletic because his blogs are usually over a stretch of a few games and focus on a theme.

Yeah it’s weird, I like all the stats too but now that I know where to find them, I don’t really need RW to post them. Not to mention there are even more stats he could be posting. I wish there was a little bit more video analysis other than the odd gifs. I prefer Jesse Marshall’s blogs the most but they’re few and far between over at the athletic because his blogs are usually over a stretch of a few games and focus on a theme.
- j.boyd919

Like Tanner, who writes about how good the Yotes are and how poop the Caps are....without watching a game.

Like Tanner, who writes about how good the Yotes are and how poop the Caps are....without watching a game.
- Garnie

He watches the games. He regularly tweets out about events that happened in the game. Whether it be a save or a shift or a play.

So you think that the Leafs had the same effort level as the Pens?

Go watch the game again. Don't watch the skill plays and chances and shots, watch every loose puck battle and every 1 on 1. We outworked them bigtime. Maybe you were watching Wilkes Barre vs the Marlies?

So you think that the Leafs had the same effort level as the Pens?

Go watch the game again. Don't watch the skill plays and chances and shots, watch every loose puck battle and every 1 on 1. We outworked them bigtime. Maybe you were watching Wilkes Barre vs the Marlies?
- bochangs

Next time we're going to cream you though.
- Garnie

But please in our mouths!

So you think that the Leafs had the same effort level as the Pens?

Go watch the game again. Don't watch the skill plays and chances and shots, watch every loose puck battle and every 1 on 1. We outworked them bigtime. Maybe you were watching Wilkes Barre vs the Marlies?
- bochangs

https://www.nhl.com/gamec...18020090,game_state=final

I challenge you to watch the highlights of the game and let me know who had more quality chances.

He watches the games. He regularly tweets out about events that happened in the game. Whether it be a save or a shift or a play.
- j.boyd919

He wouldn't know a pass from a shot.

He wouldn't know a pass from a shot.
- Garnie

I feel the same way about you sometimes so that’s not saying much.

I feel the same way about you sometimes so that’s not saying much.
- j.boyd919

Difference is I've played hockey my whole life and Tanner still gets his mom to tie his skates....but I know....we have 1 Scotty Bowman in the world and now everyones a Scotty Bowman.

So you think that the Leafs had the same effort level as the Pens?

Go watch the game again. Don't watch the skill plays and chances and shots, watch every loose puck battle and every 1 on 1. We outworked them bigtime. Maybe you were watching Wilkes Barre vs the Marlies?
- bochangs

I just reread this comment and realized it makes no sense. Don’t want the chances? You mean the actual events that lead to goals? You’d rather me judge a teams performance based on plays that didn’t lead to chances, that didn’t result in odd man rushes, that didn’t even go towards the net? What kind of bass ackwards poop is that?

Difference is I've played hockey my whole life and Tanner still gets his mom to tie his skates....but I know....we have 1 Scotty Bowman in the world and now everyones a Scotty Bowman.
- Garnie

So what I’m gathering from this is that the guy who’s played hockey is entire life can’t recognize when one team has more scoring opportunities than the other. Because the pens had like 5-6 opportunities at best that were prime chances and that’s if you even count the PP goal that was a terrible angle shot. The leafs on that highlight reel alone had like 8-9.

As nice as this victory was, it will quickly be forgotten if we lay an egg in Edmonton.