Honestly though.

Very few Leaf players really hit.

They do hard bumps after the opposing player has passed the puck.

We don't have to pretend this leaf team is something that they aren't.
- Leafs43

here is the hit stats for the 7 games

Leafs - Bruins
33-31
39-44
42-33
37-35
26-29
40-34
32-26

total
249-232
35.57-33.14

Leafs slight edge

here is the 5v5 stats


CF% 50.78
Shots 189-198
goals 12-11
scoring chances 178-168
high Danger 58-60
high danger goals 4-6

even imo

Here is the PP

PP - both 27 mins
Goals 3-7

Broons basically won by having a much better PP (or PK depending how you look at it)

Also, Rask outplayed Andersen

Go Leafs

Usual whining on here about how the leafs are not getting respect by the rest of the universe
Lol
- Fakepartofme

fixed that for you

And Kap, I like his forecheck too
- Garnie

I approve of Kap being added to our list of actual physical players.

My list is now at three.

I approve of Kap being added to our list of actual physical players.

My list is now at three.
- Leafs43

Matthews, Marner and Kap?

What about SweetWilly?

Exactly.

Not all hits are equal.

No one is worried about getting hit by a leaf player unless it is Muzzin or maybe Clifford.

Everyone else just kind of bumps into you.
- Leafs43

Muzzin’s hits are more effective. He’s on the ice more and he has a very specific role where putting someone on their butt makes it harder for them to score. I’m not sure how much ice time Clifford will be getting. I doubt he’ll be intimidating the CBJ’ers and if the team needs his hits to pump them up, they’re in trouble.

All those guys that just bump into you, end up with the puck. Marner and Nylander are plus 40 on takeaways, Kap is plus 20 and Clifford is a minus. Hyman is a minus but that might be because he is often first guy in and in battles for the puck that he is less likely to win. Or maybe, it’s just a question of who has the best hands.

The team is built on keeping the puck and getting the puck. Obviously you need a range of guys but I have no problems with players who bump the opponent and leave with puck.

I may be dense but why do hits matter in a short series when all the players are rested and healthy? Are players afraid? Is Scott Stevens still playing? Is hitting the only way to retrieve a puck? I’d be much more interested in takeaways and giveaways.

If I’m missing something, please explain.
- Canada Cup

Hits only matter if they cause a turn over or knock the other team out of the play.
Over 5 games, they can still wear down a team if done effectively.
I look back to luke schenn, he had some big hits, but most times he would miss a player or his hits didnt result in anything positive for the leafs.
Being physical, finishing checks, knocking people off the puck, grinding people into the boards and overall just not letting up on a play wears the opponent down over time. That can win you a series. Which is usually what most are referring to when they speak of being physical. Not just hitting someone.

But it also helps if you can put the puck in the net and keep it out.

nobody wants to get injured during an exhibition game, most guys took it as a intense workout, nothing more. This will be different come this weekend, I expect some games to be very physical from the get go, best of 3 leaves no time to set things up, teams will have to come out hard, even more the underdogs like Columbus, they will want to slow down the greatest offensive team ever built
- Symba007

there was a scrap in the Ranger and Islander game last night

here is the hit stats for the 7 games

Leafs - Bruins
33-31
39-44
42-33
37-35
26-29
40-34
32-26

total
249-232
35.57-33.14

Leafs slight edge

here is the 5v5 stats


CF% 50.78
Shots 189-198
goals 12-11
scoring chances 178-168
high Danger 58-60
high danger goals 4-6

even imo

Here is the PP

PP - both 27 mins
Goals 3-7

Broons basically won by having a much better PP (or PK depending how you look at it)

Also, Rask outplayed Andersen

Go Leafs
- senstroll

We couldn’t get very close to the Boon net to bang in rebounds. 🤷🏻‍♂️

I approve of Kap being added to our list of actual physical players.

My list is now at three.
- Leafs43

I hear Dion Phaneuf is available...

Muzzin’s hits are more effective. He’s on the ice more and he has a very specific role where putting someone on their butt makes it harder for them to score. I’m not sure how much ice time Clifford will be getting. I doubt he’ll be intimidating the CBJ’ers and if the team needs his hits to pump them up, they’re in trouble.

All those guys that just bump into you, end up with the puck. Marner and Nylander are plus 40 on takeaways, Kap is plus 20 and Clifford is a minus. Hyman is a minus but that might be because he is often first guy in and in battles for the puck that he is less likely to win. Or maybe, it’s just a question of who has the best hands.

The team is built on keeping the puck and getting the puck. Obviously you need a range of guys but I have no problems with players who bump the opponent and leave with puck.
- Canada Cup

I'm not arguing that we need to be more physical at all. I don't care how you get the puck as long as they get it. Matthews lifts sticks to get the puck, I'm fine with that.

My comments were really towards everyone who was saying "but we outhit Boston"

No - we outbumped Boston. We aren't more physical than Boston and we don't need to be.

here is the hit stats for the 7 games

Leafs - Bruins
33-31
39-44
42-33
37-35
26-29
40-34
32-26

total
249-232
35.57-33.14

Leafs slight edge

here is the 5v5 stats


CF% 50.78
Shots 189-198
goals 12-11
scoring chances 178-168
high Danger 58-60
high danger goals 4-6

even imo

Here is the PP

PP - both 27 mins
Goals 3-7

Broons basically won by having a much better PP (or PK depending how you look at it)

Also, Rask outplayed Andersen

Go Leafs
- senstroll

Special teams are important.

Look at the exhibition game on tuesday, teams were close to even except for the Habs terrible powerplay costing them 2 goals.

Hell, the Leafs didn't even manage to score on their own powerplay.

nobody wants to get injured during an exhibition game, most guys took it as a intense workout, nothing more. This will be different come this weekend, I expect some games to be very physical from the get go, best of 3 leaves no time to set things up, teams will have to come out hard, even more the underdogs like Columbus, they will want to slow down the greatest offensive team ever built
- Symba007

Pretty much.
I really dont take anything away that one game.
I still feel like its a new season, anything can happen.

fixed that for you
- Symba007

Some leafs fans are softer than willies golden locks

I approve of Kap being added to our list of actual physical players.

My list is now at three.
- Leafs43

I do like the way kap plays some nights.

Some leafs fans are softer than willies golden locks
- Fakepartofme

I'm not arguing that we need to be more physical at all. I don't care how you get the puck as long as they get it. Matthews lifts sticks to get the puck, I'm fine with that.

My comments were really towards everyone who was saying "but we outhit Boston"

No - we outbumped Boston. We aren't more physical than Boston and we don't need to be.
- Leafs43

I wasn’t responding to you specifically, just hanging off your response and commenting on the hitting issue overall.

Some leafs fans are harder because of willies golden locks
- Fakepartofme

Fixed

With Universal Mail-In Conn Smythe Trophy Voting (not Absentee Voting, which is good), 2020 will be the most INACCURATE & FRAUDULENT Conn Smythe award in history. It will be a great embarrassment to the NHL. Delay the voting until sports writers can properly, securely and safely vote???

With Universal Mail-In Conn Smythe Trophy Voting (not Absentee Voting, which is good), 2020 will be the most INACCURATE & FRAUDULENT Conn Smythe award in history. It will be a great embarrassment to the NHL. Delay the voting until sports writers can properly, securely and safely vote???
- Atomic Wedgie

I hear Dion Phaneuf is available...
- GalacticStone

for front office work.

assistant to the assistant to the assistant of the GM

We couldn’t get very close to the Boon net to bang in rebounds. 🤷🏻‍♂️
- Garnie

slight edge to Boston, yes

Special teams are important.

Look at the exhibition game on tuesday, teams were close to even except for the Habs terrible powerplay costing them 2 goals.

Hell, the Leafs didn't even manage to score on their own powerplay.
- Scabeh

omg cry moar why dont u

omg cry moar why dont u
- senstroll

Right. Let's focus on why the Bruins beat the Leafs a year ago. That's always more fun and should cheer me up. Carry on.

We couldn’t get very close to the Boon net to bang in rebounds. 🤷🏻‍♂️
- Garnie

I just watched highlights of 4 of the 6 games. Most of the goals were from in tight. Rask didn’t give up a lot of rebounds. Also little Timashov scored a nice one from outside the circle after stripping the puck from a large Bruin defenceman. He didn’t even bump him so I don’t know how it counted.

Edit:

Talking about regular season games this year

Right. Let's focus on why the Bruins beat the Leafs a year ago. That's always more fun and should cheer me up. Carry on.
- Scabeh

🎶 It’s my blog and I’ll cry if I want to, cry if I want to 🎶