The little blue spot on the left is the Sea of Zaitsev then
- Garnie

I do, I work in spankbanking. I live on the phone
- Garnie

FTFY

Rachel Doerrie explains coaches decisions for back-to-backs on the Steve Dangle Podcast. Hopefully this clears it up for those who were confused with Andersen starting against Edmonton and Sparks starting against the Islanders.Hopefully we can now move on from complaining about Babcock's decisions with goalies.

Starts at about 43 minutes.

I suspect there is a lot of things Babs does that Dubas is not down with in regards to lineup and matchups and whatnot.

the way this season ends will be interesting, if the Leafs flame out again in the 1st round there will need to be some shake ups.

I also suspect Dubas has some plan for Keefe down the road, he has to have told him something to keep him happy. They seem to have a much better working relationship in terms of what Dubas wants to do and how they want to play
- senstroll

I know people have been female doging about firing Babcock lately, but it'd be a seriously stupid (frank)ing move to fire him. Regardless of the Leafs outcome this season.

Cherry--Skoal was pulling the you-didn't-play-hockey card on everyone that disagreed with him.

Ironically, I didn't play hockey (parents couldn't afford it, but played a ton of road hockey) but I was actually agreeing with him

- gravyface

Don’t you hate it when that happens?

You’re agreeing with someone and then they pull a card that you think is dumb... and you just kind pull a homer and back off into a hedge?

Anyone got the fancy stats for Muzzin and Zaitsev last night? They looked quite good together. Is it true Zaitsev had the best CF% and FF% of any Leaf last night?

Absolute massive topic of conversation right now should be just how different (better) Zaitsev has looked since he's no longer paired with Gardiner. I'm honestly shocked.

He's flying around the ice, making great decisions in the O zone and him and Muzzin have proved very effective at killing cycles and getting the puck out quick.

Unfortunately, Rielly and Hainsey have been the opposite lately.

"ugg"- Ray Ferraro

I hope he was talking about the goal and not the big lady that the TV showed.
- GreatGigInTheSky

Still my favourite part of the game last night. Perfect timing.

Leafs


EDIT: I'm gonna call that spot by the blueline "Muzzin Island"
- lumlums

It’s funny, our 5-on-5 play organically winds up looking like what our PP is supposed to be.

The spot in front of the net is Matthews/Kadri/JT causing problems, the shot from the left point is Rielly, and the deep blue spot on the right is Marner setting up cross-ice passes.

It works when the game is flowing, but as soon as you try to force it, it crumbles.

FTFY
- lumlums

*fires up the hub*

( but never on my phone )

Still my favourite part of the game last night. Perfect timing.
- GreatGigInTheSky

Nothing beats o-dog being floored by Andersen’s save.

The odds of a mistake like that happening, so perfectly timed to what’s happening on the ice... just insane.

Absolute massive topic of conversation right now should be just how different (better) Zaitsev has looked since he's no longer paired with Gardiner. I'm honestly shocked.

He's flying around the ice, making great decisions in the O zone and him and Muzzin have proved very effective at killing cycles and getting the puck out quick.

Unfortunately, Rielly and Hainsey have been the opposite lately.
- mcleafs

I've noticed once you release the reins on Nikita and not have him have to sit back (not his game) because of Jake, he's a truly different player.

That's unpopular though. I wonder if Kyle and his spreadsheets see it?

Anyone got the fancy stats for Muzzin and Zaitsev last night? They looked quite good together. Is it true Zaitsev had the best CF% and FF% of any Leaf last night?
- walshyleafsfan

Once in a blue moon old Z pulls off some good analytics....pretty sure he still served up a couple grade A opps last night with passes into the skates.

At least he's not afraid to throw his body around.....

Nothing beats o-dog being floored by Andersen’s save.

The odds of a mistake like that happening, so perfectly timed to what’s happening on the ice... just insane.
- Feeling Glucky?

Yeah. That was (frank)ing amazing, too.

I was pissed at first 'cause I wanted to see the play but it just made me laugh so hard, I didn't care anymore.

Once in a blue moon old Z pulls off some good analytics....pretty sure he still served up a couple grade A opps last night with passes into the skates.

At least he's not afraid to throw his body around.....
- Garnie

One of a couple of Leafs players that can break up the cycle.

Also, his outlet passes looked pretty crisp and effective. They have done recently. I don't remember him passing any bombs last night. He'll never change a lot of fan's minds but management must like the old looking Zaitsev again.

I've noticed once you release the reins on Nikita and not have him have to sit back (not his game) because of Jake, he's a truly different player.

That's unpopular though. I wonder if Kyle and his spreadsheets see it?
- walshyleafsfan

Rielly Muzzin
Hainsey Zaitsev
Gardiner Dermott

Could be an interesting test.


One of the things I don’t like about Babcock is his strategy for tests. He seems to rely heavily on his gut to extrapolate from a small sample, and if there’s any little thing he doesn’t like, he pulls the plug.

Rielly Muzzin
Hainsey Zaitsev
Gardiner Dermott

Could be an interesting test.
- Feeling Glucky?

I'd rather Dermott and Oz on the bottom pairing tbh. Dermott can get a bit carried away with youthful exuberance, and Gardiner would have him second guessing his game constantly.

Rachel Doerrie explains coaches decisions for back-to-backs on the Steve Dangle Podcast. Hopefully this clears it up for those who were confused with Andersen starting against Edmonton and Sparks starting against the Islanders.Hopefully we can now move on from complaining about Babcock's decisions with goalies.

Starts at about 43 minutes.
- walshyleafsfan

Listened to a bit of his podcast earlier, she actually knows her shît. At first I was like who the hell is this broad? But after a while i was convinced she knows what she's talking about. Plus she is pretty cute

Listened to a bit of his podcast earlier, she actually knows her shît. At first I was like who the hell is this broad? But after a while i was convinced she knows what she's talking about. Plus she is pretty cute
- LeafGuy89

Yeah. It's good to see people like her working for NHL teams. She seems to be able to appreciate fancy stats but not use it as gospel and use her head as well.

We used to play road hockey in a field ( grass worn down ) it was awesome, harder to score and we made little nets with chicken wire and wood posts etc - *sigh* the good ole days
- Garnie

let me know when you want me to come over and play, the wife said it was ok

Same (and soccer and Ultimate).

When I grew up, all the rich kids played hockey; hated most of them

I did play a bunch of shinny too: we had tennis courts that just flooded one year with an early thaw, and the city basically pulled a why-didn't-I-think-of-that and started putting up plywood, etc. to make a real rink out of it. Tons of fun.

I remember making goalie pads out of phone books duct taped to my old man's old pair of jeans
- gravyface

You're probably going to have to explain what a phone book is...

I've noticed once you release the reins on Nikita and not have him have to sit back (not his game) because of Jake, he's a truly different player.

That's unpopular though. I wonder if Kyle and his spreadsheets see it?
- walshyleafsfan

He seemed more engaged last night too. Maybe because he seemed to have a battle with tkatchuk going all night.

Rachel Doerrie explains coaches decisions for back-to-backs on the Steve Dangle Podcast. Hopefully this clears it up for those who were confused with Andersen starting against Edmonton and Sparks starting against the Islanders.Hopefully we can now move on from complaining about Babcock's decisions with goalies.

Starts at about 43 minutes.
- walshyleafsfan

For those of us too lazy to download it, what does she say?

I read something interesting a few years ago - a goalie (I think it was a Buffalo goalchie) said that he would prefer going back to back, and then getting the next game off. He thought it would be better for him, as he could remain "in the zone" mentally through 2 games, and then have the luxury of being able to relax for a few days.

He's like #2 in points per dollar or whatever, fancy stats wise. I think his points per 60 rivals the big guns on our team too.
- gravyface

17pts in 40 games.
Not too shabby