Pre-Game Talk: Leafs in Detroit | Wednesday @ 7pm

[Cor]

A long break between games.

fun fact, this will be the first Toronto-Detroit matchup without Mike Babcock, since before the 2004-05 lockout!!

it’ll be interesting to see who starts against DET on Wednesday. Babcock would start Andersen no question, but I think Keefe and Dubas are more on the goalie management side of things and that could mean going backup here. But we are also in a spot where we need to win as many games as we can, so they might need to go Freddy.

Assuming today is a CBA mandated day off for the players, Keefe will have two full practice days Monday and Tuesday to work on things, so we may see more differences come Wednesday night.

Edit:
Perhaps this game isn’t the best example, but the usage of the backup is one of the things I’m looking to see a change of with Keefe. Backups can play more than back to back situations, or should be able to anyway.

Freddy should be in the 55-60 game range

Click to read more...

 

[The Hanging Jowl]

Yep, perfect time for a break and let Keefe collect his thoughts and prepare a plan. Love the timing of this break.

Curious though why you think any coach would play the backup Wednesday when it's not a back-to-back situation? Especially with a perfect opportunity next weekend to play the backup?

 

[Warden of the North]

Time for our schedule to slow down a bit, thankfully.

Looking forward to this one.

 

[DarkKnight]

Gives him a chance to get a couple more practices in. Guys feeling good, should be chomping at the bit Wednesday.

Let the honeymoon continue....

 

[Dekes For Days]

Andersen should be playing. 4 days between games, and a back-to-back coming next weekend. Not only is there no reason not to play the better player, but you also don't want your starting goalie sitting for a week.

This has gotten kind of ridiculous.
Was Babcock a little too stubborn when it came to usage of goaltenders in the context of the situation? Yes.
Is playing Andersen in rested games and the first half a back-to-back the correct choice in most cases? Yes.

 

[Cor]

Andersen should be playing. 4 days between games, and a back-to-back coming next weekend. Not only is there no reason not to play the better player, but you also don't want your starting goalie sitting for a week.

Perhaps this game isn’t the best example, but the usage of the backup is one of the things I’m looking to see a change of with Keefe. Backups can play more than back to back situations, or should be able to anyway.

Freddy should be in the 55-60 game range

 

[Rogue Leader]

This will be a huge win for us. I can feel it. Keefe will destroy Babcock's apprentice.

 

[Peasy]

Perhaps this game isn’t the best example, but the usage of the backup is one of the things I’m looking to see a change of with Keefe. Backups can play more than back to back situations, or should be able to anyway.

Freddy should be in the 55-60 game range

If the Leafs are comfortably in a playoff spot sure. But they arent.

 

[Leafsfan74]

A long break between games.

fun fact, this will be the first Toronto-Detroit matchup without Mike Babcock, since before the 2004-05 lockout!!

it’ll be interesting to see who starts against DET on Wednesday. Babcock would start Andersen no question, but I think Keefe and Dubas are more on the goalie management side of things and that could mean going backup here. But we are also in a spot where we need to win as many games as we can, so they might need to go Freddy.

Assuming today is a CBA mandated day off for the players, Keefe will have two full practice days Monday and Tuesday to work on things, so we may see more differences come Wednesday night.

Edit:
Perhaps this game isn’t the best example, but the usage of the backup is one of the things I’m looking to see a change of with Keefe. Backups can play more than back to back situations, or should be able to anyway.

Freddy should be in the 55-60 game range

I disagree that he should not be playing. If the Leafs were 10 points in a playoff position I would understand, but they cannot afford to not have their best lineups out there every night if physically possible. Any team can win on any night and Leafs need to keep building on their early coaching change success.

Other than back to backs, I'm playing Andersen every game. It might not be fun for the back up, but that's why they have backup goalies. They are in because the starter needs to recuperate from the last game. Leafs can't play around and lose a point or two when they might not have.

 

[Dekes For Days]

Perhaps this game isn’t the best example, but the usage of the backup is one of the things I’m looking to see a change of with Keefe. Backups can play more than back to back situations, or should be able to anyway.

Freddy should be in the 55-60 game range

I doubt we see that much change. Andersen likes playing in the first half of a back to back, and especially with the talent difference between our 2 goalies, playing the backup on rested days makes no sense. There is no reason that Andersen can't play 60-65 games, especially if we're in a situation where we need to play catch up. This panic about goalie starts is one of the most baffling and nonsensical trends of the last couple years.

Hopefully Keefe will consider context a little more in back-to-back situations, but beyond that, I doubt we see much change other than hopefully a better system which won't exacerbate problems in the back half games.

 

[BertCorbeau]

Glad that Keefe will have a few days to practice with the team now. They should be rested and ready to go for this one.

Should be a win. Hopefully it's a good one.

 

[Zybalto]

Methinks rested practiced Keefes Leafs gonna be fun to watch.

 

[LEAFANFORLIFE23]

A long break between games.

fun fact, this will be the first Toronto-Detroit matchup without Mike Babcock, since before the 2004-05 lockout!!

it’ll be interesting to see who starts against DET on Wednesday. Babcock would start Andersen no question, but I think Keefe and Dubas are more on the goalie management side of things and that could mean going backup here. But we are also in a spot where we need to win as many games as we can, so they might need to go Freddy.

Assuming today is a CBA mandated day off for the players, Keefe will have two full practice days Monday and Tuesday to work on things, so we may see more differences come Wednesday night.

Edit:
Perhaps this game isn’t the best example, but the usage of the backup is one of the things I’m looking to see a change of with Keefe. Backups can play more than back to back situations, or should be able to anyway.

Freddy should be in the 55-60 game range

You need to go with Freddie our backups have proven they can't play and that goes back to Sparks.

You put in the starter and you lock down the win.

There simply is no other option I wish there was but there's not.

You play Andersen because you have no choice

 

[LEAFANFORLIFE23]

No excuse to lose this especially if Mantha is out

 

[Cor]

If the Leafs are comfortably in a playoff spot sure. But they arent.

I would argue that part of the reason we aren’t is because we’ve put our backups in a poor situation.

As I said, this game might not be the best example, but the usage of our backups is something that needs to change

 

[LeafChief]

No Mantha vs Detroit on Wednesday. 2 points is a must.

With points being so important right now, would it be crazy to play Andersen in all 3 games this week? Opportunity for 6 points is there and taking points from divisional opponents (especially Buffalo) is important.

 

[crump]

My gut says play the snot out of Freddy until you get into a playoff spot again, but my gut also tells me to eat stuff that I probably shouldn’t.

I would hope if you are playing your backup, it’s on Friday..on the road, let Freddy rest up for home HNC.

 

[HamiltonNHL]

I think Freddie starting is a virtual lock.

 

[LEAFANFORLIFE23]

I think Freddie starting is a virtual lock.

As it should be because this team needs to get on a roll

 

[LEAFANFORLIFE23]

I would argue that part of the reason we aren’t is because we’ve put our backups in a poor situation.

As I said, this game might not be the best example, but the usage of our backups is something that needs to Cuba he

Cuba he? What? I'm not sure what that's supposed to be

 

[egd27]

Gives him a chance to get a couple more practices in. Guys feeling good, should be chomping at the bit Wednesday.

Let the honeymoon continue....

An excellent choice of words.

 

[LeafsOHLRangers98]

Detroit has a -37 goal differential this year... By far the worst in the league.

This is a game for the big guns to get their points if we play well. 4 days off should give Keefe lots of time to work on things with the boys.

For some reason Detroit can beat us, Boston, and Tampa but nobody else though so let's hope to buck that trend.

 

[ruaware41]

Start Freddy both games, f***. Crucial crucial games, these next 4-5 games. They simply have to go on a run now before things tighten up later in the year or the schedule/injuries hurt them even more. 8 teams competing for two wild card spots, majority of which have a similar or > pts% than the Leafs. It's not looking good rn and that's a fact. I'm hoping the players are not deluded enough to not realize that. They definitely do, and I hope they work their tail off right now. Not a big deal if they snooze a bit and are comfortably in a playoff pos but not the case right now.

Can you trust KK to win you a game? I guess Keefe would know best.

 

[EXTRAS]

Will moore be back?

 

[Schooner]

Likely no Kerfoot too, gotta keep our streak going