GDT: Avalanche@Leafs 7PM TSN4

[Suntouchable13]

I believe balanced scoring across 3 lines is a better strategy than just a 1 line team. The Avs really have no choice to put all their eggs in one basket because they no other choices really talent wise.

Leafs brought in a #1 elite C in JT to give them 2 elite offensive lines with Kadri a former 30 goal man centering a 3 shutdown checking line.

Leafs strength down the middle is its greatest advantage and the ability fill out those lines with a balance attack the key to long-term success.

1 line teams that beating up on our Leafs, is a symptom of the Leafs defense weakness not an issue with its offense.

Kadri is not in a shutdown role this season. Jt is being matched up against all the other top lines

 

[ACC1224]

We really need a shut down line, this is ridiculous, our top scoring line is doing double duty and detracting from being the top scoring line.

True but if employing strictly a 'shutdown line' that line would get the most minutes and take away minutes from the other two lines.

 

[Mr Hockey]

Who is starting in net?

 

[leaffaninvancouver]

We really need a shut down line, this is ridiculous, our top scoring line is doing double duty and detracting from being the top scoring line.

I'd rather we deploy the Tavares line against other teams top lines. Otherwise we're letting other teams dictate how much we play our other lines based on how often we need to line match.

 

[SprDaVE]

We really need a shut down line, this is ridiculous, our top scoring line is doing double duty and detracting from being the top scoring line.

You outscore the other teams top line... good strategy to me.

 

[Nooodles]

Who is starting in net?

Zeke's favourite

 

[1specter]

We really need a shut down line, this is ridiculous, our top scoring line is doing double duty and detracting from being the top scoring line.

We have Auston freaking Matthews on one line and William freaking Nylander on the other. Can't expect JT to be the only one scoring every game, it's a challenge to the other lines to get it going and a challenge to JT to play on the defensive side when needed

 

[Budsfan]

True but if employing strictly a 'shutdown line' that line would get the most minutes and take away minutes from the other two lines.

Not necessarily we are supposed to have a 3rd line, shut down line and a 4th line to add their few minutes, to spell them off with additional fresh legs to stop their 2nd line too.
Leaving the scoring to 1 line and also to shut down their best players is ridiculous.

 

[HamiltonNHL]

Mike Babcock confirms he will match the Hyman-Tavares-Marner line against Colorado's Landeskog-MacKinnon-Rantanen in tonight's game

That trio also got the match-up assignment against Boston's top line on Saturday

Babcock confirms Tavares is the #1 C.

 

[Budsfan]

You outscore the other teams top line... good strategy to me.

Evidently Babcock did that in the Boston Game and look at the results, however they have more than 1 scoring line

 

[BertCorbeau]

Alright Andy back in.

Time to get their shit together and start winning again.

 

[SprDaVE]

Evidently Babcock did that in the Boston Game and look at the results, however they have more than 1 scoring line

The Leafs did very well in scoring chances that game. That wasn't the problem.

 

[Budsfan]

The Leafs did very well in scoring chances that game. That wasn't the problem.

We have 1 line that is doing most of the scoring (The Tavares Line) and also the shutting down roll, the Kadri and Matthews lines are not and both are not capable of shutting down the other teams lines, by the time the Playoffs roll around the Tavares line will be wore down to nothing.
The 3rd line has 20 mill in players cap hit and they are not scoring nor are they shutting down lines and something has got to give, Dubas has got to fix this and now or it'll be a repeat of last year.

 

[SprDaVE]

We have 1 line that is doing most of the scoring (The Tavares Line) and the shutting down roll, the Kadri and Matthews lines are not and both are not capable of shutting down the other teams lines, by the time the Playoffs roll around the Tavares line will be wore down to nothing.
The 3rd line has 20 mill in players cap hit and they are not scoring nor are they shutting down lines and something has got to give, Dubas has got to fix this and now or it'll be a repeat of last year.

"Shutting down" the opponent and your own scoring. It's about matching a line against theirs and doing better.

The other lines should do better not having to go up against the other teams good lines. Unfortunately, they've had a bit of a tough go lately. Sometimes the puck doesn't go in but that doesn't mean you're not doing well.

 

[CantLoseWithMatthews]

We have 1 line that is doing most of the scoring (The Tavares Line) and also the shutting down roll, the Kadri and Matthews lines are not and both are not capable of shutting down the other teams lines, by the time the Playoffs roll around the Tavares line will be wore down to nothing.
The 3rd line has 20 mill in players cap hit and they are not scoring nor are they shutting down lines and something has got to give, Dubas has got to fix this and now or it'll be a repeat of last year.

Kadri and Matthews both have played against top lines and have done fine. you might be confusing them with Tyler Bozak

 

[MapleLeafs77]

We have 1 line that is doing most of the scoring (The Tavares Line) and also the shutting down roll, the Kadri and Matthews lines are not and both are not capable of shutting down the other teams lines, by the time the Playoffs roll around the Tavares line will be wore down to nothing.
The 3rd line has 20 mill in players cap hit and they are not scoring nor are they shutting down lines and something has got to give, Dubas has got to fix this and now or it'll be a repeat of last year.

Then why doesnt dubas tell babcock to put matty and willy back together? Its so obvious that matty is doing it all himself on his line. Willy is going again but has no chemistry with kadri or marleau.

How does our best goal scorer not have our best or at least our second best playmaker on his line? He has 2 other shooters on his line that are waiting to be fed passes. Im sorry but i want matty shooting not passing to johnsson.

 

[A1LeafNation]

I really think the game depends on the Avs keeper.

Leafs don't have a shutdown line so let's say 3 goals for the Avs.

Leafs score 4 or more and they win.

Leafs could have a shutdown line if they wanted one..

Johnsson Tavares Marner
Marleau Matthews Nylander
Hyman Kadri Kapanen

 

[Kamiccolo]

Honestly it's not a bad thing the Leafs team is struggling right now. Historically we always seem to suck in Jan or be painfully average. After the allstar break is when it is going to be important.

Hopefully this game gives some confidence back to our struggling players (Willy, Marleau, Matthews, Kadri) just to get them out of their funk as JT and Marner are overdue for a slump given how amazing they have been (they can't possibly maintain this level of play all season... right?_

Hopefully by end of Feb and March the team is rolling and goes on a big streak and is hot going into the playoffs.

 

[FlareKnight]

Let’s just win a game. Everyone just needs to be better.

 

[leaffaninvancouver]

Then why doesnt dubas tell babcock to put matty and willy back together? Its so obvious that matty is doing it all himself on his line. Willy is going again but has no chemistry with kadri or marleau.

How does our best goal scorer not have our best or at least our second best playmaker on his line? He has 2 other shooters on his line that are waiting to be fed passes. Im sorry but i want matty shooting not passing to johnsson.

I think he's trying to jump start the third line. In theory if Kadri and Nylander were clicking that would give us one hell of 1-2-3 punch. You lose a little effectiveness on Matthews line to hopefully really boost the third line.

 

[Budsfan]

Leafs could have a shutdown line if they wanted one..

Johnsson Tavares Marner
Marleau Matthews Nylander
Hyman Kadri Kapanen

How does Matthews score with those losers.

 

[MapleLeafs77]

I think he's trying to jump start the third line. In theory if Kadri and Nylander were clicking that would give us one hell of 1-2-3 punch. You lose a little effectiveness on Matthews line to hopefully really boost the third line.

Great lets focus on getting tavares, marner, kadri, marleau, and nylander going! Our best player who is coming up on contract? Nah screw him.

If im matty, im getting pretty frustrated with how everything is going. Tavares gets gifted everything (not saying he hasnt done well) and matty gets two ahl shooters. Give him a playmaker. If he isnt getting marner, then he better get playmaker.

 

[zeke]

We really need a shut down line, this is ridiculous, our top scoring line is doing double duty and detracting from being the top scoring line.

all the good teams use their best lines against the other teams best lines.

that's what boston does. that's what tampa does. that's even what these avalanche do.

 

[leaffaninvancouver]

Great lets focus on getting tavares, marner, kadri, marleau, and nylander going! Our best player who is coming up on contract? Nah screw him.

If im matty, im getting pretty frustrated with how everything is going. Tavares gets gifted everything (not saying he hasnt done well) and matty gets two ahl shooters. Give him a playmaker. If he isnt getting marner, then he better get playmaker.

If I was Matthews I'd be more annoyed by the power play changes. Taking him off of the first unit was really stupid.

 

[Budsfan]

all the good teams use their best lines against the other teams best lines.

that's what boston does. that's what tampa does. that's even what these avalanche do.

What if the other team has 2 really good scoring lines, who do we match up with them?