Pre-Game Talk: Blackhawks @ St Pats, Saturday Night HNIC

[Mugzy97]

Chicago is in town to take us on. We will be wearing our green St. Pat's jerseys for the 2nd time since the franchise was renamed the Maple Leafs. Losing this game wouldn't be monumental, but picking up 1 point would be good or walking away with 2 would be huge. Also, winning this one would set up Monday's game vs. the Bruins as a huge game, if it's not already huge enough. I think Matthews breaks out in this one as he has stepped up in the winter classic, season opener, etc. Just a feeling.

Other important games on Saturday night:

CLB @ NYI
CHI @ TOR
WSH @ TBL

No real important games tonight or Sunday. NYI and TBL have some tough matchups just like we do.

*Underlined teams in the thick of the Eastern Playoff chase. I'm assuming Florida and Philly are done.

Click to read more...

 

[Mattavarner]

the 3 teams in the race are playing 3 of the top 4 teams in the league Saturday, so shouldn't really be any disadvantage there

 

[Kelly]

I'm gonna be there.

Go leafs go!!!

 

[crump]

Tough games across the board for all three teams in the hunt for the WC. Let the fight test begin.

 

[ACC1224]

Tough to see them getting a win here.

 

[Suntouchable13]

Tough to see them getting a win here.

Why? If Leafs play desperate they definitely have a good chance. Leafs should be more desperate than Chicago.

 

[ACC1224]

Why? If Leafs play desperate they definitely have a good chance. Leafs should be more desperate then Chicago.

Very good team, on a roll now, trying to win their division, national broadcast on HNIC.

Hope I'm wrong.

 

[Liminality]

I'll be happy if the Leafs grab a point against Chicago. If they lose at least we'll be watching them in the St.Pats jerseys.

 

[al secord]

I'll be going to this one in my Bozak St. Pat's jersey. They rarely ever win when I go, which leads me to believe we're going to get crushed.

The Blackhawk's fan I'm going to the game with bought me the Bozak jersey as a joke. I'm hoping it backfires on him and the Legend of The Bozak St. Pat's jersey begins!

Go Leafs Go!

 

[Kamiccolo]

Leafs ALWAYS suck during any sort of event where they do anything special. Honoring people, special jerseys, etc.

Expecting to come out flat, prob end the first down a goal or two, and then battle hard but either come up just short, or lose in OT.

 

[ACC1224]

Leafs ALWAYS suck during any sort of event where they do anything special. Honoring people, special jerseys, etc.

Expecting to come out flat, prob end the first down a goal or two, and then battle hard but either come up just short, or lose in OT.

I expect it's more they've sucked for 10 years than being affected by ceremony.

 

[WilliamNylander]

please show up for this one

 

[Pi]

I expect it's more they've sucked for 10 years than being affected by ceremony.

Yeah, the same with Toronto players burning us...it's not because they're from Toronto, it's because we sucked for 10 years and good players can rack up points against bad teams very easily.

You will see guys like Stamkos, Tavares, McDavid etc score a lot less against us when we get better.

 

[stickty111]

Good test for this team.

 

[SEER]

Since it's the Irish St. Pat's game..., this flashback is fitting...

Hope we see last night snow-ball into more victories..!


Toronto Maple Leafs 100 Years Tribute: Century Flashback Montage - TML 2016-17 (HD)

 

[canadon]

If memory serves me right, I think we played well against the Hawks at home for the last several years. Of course, doesn't mean a thing now but I do feel it will be a highly competitive game and we'll come out at least with a point out of it.

 

[Budsfan]

Maybe a little luck of the Irish

 

[Bullseye]

Connor Brown should get some points - good Irish kid there.

Nervous about all the distractions prior to the game.

This team is difficult to predict. They should get up for the Hawks and I imagine Babcock has been in their ear all the way home.

 

[Koolboss]

Maybe a little luck of the Irish

Pat is one off all time favorites

 

[zeke]

Would be nice to follow up our statement game with another statement game against a pretty hot "elite" team.

Lineups subject to change:




xGF% = zone/score/venue-adjusted Expected Goals For percentage (from Corsica.Hockey)

Expected Goals = All Unblocked Shot Attempts adjusted for shot distance, quality, etc.

Number in brackets = xGF% Relative to Team


Line 1

C Bozak (30): 65gms, 16gls, 47pts, 16:17 (20gls/59pts), 50.6xgf% (-2.9)
C Schmaltz (20): 49gms, 6gls, 20pts, 12:40 (10gls/34pts), 45.3xgf% (-4.8)

W Marner (19): 64gms, 17gls, 55pts, 16:40 (22gls/71pts), 50.5xgf% (-2.6)
W Kane (28): 70gms, 31gls, 77pts, 21:28 (36gls/90pts), 47.0xgf% (-1.7)

W VanRyk (27): 69gms, 22gls, 52pts, 15:39 (26gls/62pts), 52.0xgf% (-1.0)
W Panarin (25): 70gms, 23gls, 63pts, 19:29 (27gls/74pts), 47.6xgf% (-0.8)

Line 2

C Matthews (19): 69gms, 31gls, 55pts, 17:47 (37gls/65pts), 52.8xgf% (+0.2)
C Toews (28): 61gms, 18gls, 50pts, 20:14 (24gls/67pts), 47.6xgf% (-1.6)

W Brown (22): 69gms, 16gls, 29pts, 16:06 (19gls/35pts), 50.5xgf% (-2.8)
W Panik (25): 70gms, 18gls, 37pts, 14:39 (21gls/43pts), 46.8xgf% (-2.0)

W Hyman (24): 69gms, 9gls, 25pts, 16:58 (11gls/30pts), 52.6xgf% (-0.1)
W Hayden (21): 1gms, 0gls, 00pts, 8:44 (0gls/0pts), 21.2xgf% (-35.0)

Line 3

C Kadri (26): 69gms, 28gls, 51pts, 16:34 (33gls/61pts), 55.9xgf% (+4.4)
C Kero (24): 35gms, 5gls, 11pts, 13:25 (12gls/26pts), 49.3xgf% (-1.7)

W Nylander (20): 68gms, 18gls, 50pts, 16:08 (22gls/60pts), 54.6xgf% (+3.5)
W Hossa (37): 64gms, 22gls, 39pts, 16:47 (28gls/50pts), 48.0xgf% (-0.3)

W Komarov (29): 69gms, 11gls, 25pts, 17:06 (13gls/30pts), 53.0xgf% (+0.4)
W Hartman (22): 65gms, 15gls, 26pts, 12:31 (19gls/33pts), 54.4xgf% (+7.9)

Line 4

C Boyle (33): 62gms, 13gls, 24pts, 13:35 (17gls/32pts), 55.0xgf% (+3.7)
C Kruger (26): 58gms, 2gls, 13pts, 13:46 (3gls/18pts), 55.0xgf% (+9.1)

W Soshnikov (23): 54gms, 5gls, 9pts, 10:47 (8gls/14pts), 52.3xgf% (-0.4)
W Desjardins (30): 40gms, 0gls, 1pts, 9:10 (0gls/2pts), 48.2xgf% (-0.1)

W Martin (27): 69gms, 5gls, 9pts, 8:54 (6gls/11pts), 51.6xgf% (-1.2)
W Tootoo (33): 42gms, 1gls, 2pts, 6:37 (2gls/4pts), 54.6xgf% (+9.6)



Pair 1

D Rielly (22): 63gms, 5gls, 26pts, 22:11 (7gls/34pts), 52.0xgf% (-1.2)
D Keith (33): 70gms, 6gls, 48pts, 25:45 (7gls/56pts), 45.9xgf% (-3.6)

D Marchenko (24): 38gms, 1gls, 8pts, 17:24 (2gls/17pts), 50.8xgf% (+3.6)
D Hjalmarsson (29): 64gms, 5gls, 16pts, 21:35 (6gls/21pts), 47.9xgf% (-0.1)

Pair 2

D Zaitsev (25): 69gms, 3gls, 29pts, 22:15 (4gls/35pts), 51.6xgf% (-1.8)
D Seabrook (31): 68gms, 3gls, 33pts, 22:03 (4gls/40pts), 46.8xgf% (-2.1)

D Gardiner (26): 69gms, 9gls, 34pts, 21:13 (11gls/40pts), 53.9xgf% (+2.1)
D Campbell (37): 68gms, 5gls, 16pts, 18:17 (6gls/19pts), 46.6xgf% (-1.7)

Pair 3

D Hunwick (31): 59gms, 1gls, 15pts, 17:58 (1gls/21pts), 53.0xgf% (-0.3)
D Oduya (35): 41gms, 2gls, 9pts, 18:19 (4gls/18pts), 48.7xgf% (-1.0)

D Polak (30): 64gms, 4gls, 7pts, 17:49 (5gls/9pts), 52.6xgf% (-0.1)
D VanRyk (25): 46gms, 5gls, 12pts, 18:15 (9gls/21pts), 52.1xgf% (+4.7)



Starter

G Andersen (27): 57gms, .917sv%, .922es%
G Crawford (32): 46gms, .920sv%, .932es%

Backup

G McElhinney (33): 15gms, .922sv%, .927es%
G Darling (28): 27gms, .933sv%, .939es%

 

[Lebanese Leaf]

Gonna need an absolute gem of a performance from our defense and Andersen.

 

[PuckMagi]

I've been super impressed with Marchenko. Awesome pick up.

To think that we got him and Zaitsev for free is awesome.

 

[Budsfan]

 

[leaffaninvancouver]

Would be nice to follow up our statement game with another statement game against a pretty hot "elite" team.

Lineups subject to change:




xGF% = zone/score/venue-adjusted Expected Goals For percentage (from Corsica.Hockey)

Expected Goals = All Unblocked Shot Attempts adjusted for shot distance, quality, etc.

Number in brackets = xGF% Relative to Team


Line 1

C Bozak (30): 65gms, 16gls, 47pts, 16:17 (20gls/59pts), 50.6xgf% (-2.9)
C Schmaltz (20): 49gms, 6gls, 20pts, 12:40 (10gls/34pts), 45.3xgf% (-4.8)

W Marner (19): 64gms, 17gls, 55pts, 16:40 (22gls/71pts), 50.5xgf% (-2.6)
W Kane (28): 70gms, 31gls, 77pts, 21:28 (36gls/90pts), 47.0xgf% (-1.7)

W VanRyk (27): 69gms, 22gls, 52pts, 15:39 (26gls/62pts), 52.0xgf% (-1.0)
W Panarin (25): 70gms, 23gls, 63pts, 19:29 (27gls/74pts), 47.6xgf% (-0.8)

Line 2

C Matthews (19): 69gms, 31gls, 55pts, 17:47 (37gls/65pts), 52.8xgf% (+0.2)
C Toews (28): 61gms, 18gls, 50pts, 20:14 (24gls/67pts), 47.6xgf% (-1.6)

W Brown (22): 69gms, 16gls, 29pts, 16:06 (19gls/35pts), 50.5xgf% (-2.8)
W Panik (25): 70gms, 18gls, 37pts, 14:39 (21gls/43pts), 46.8xgf% (-2.0)

W Hyman (24): 69gms, 9gls, 25pts, 16:58 (11gls/30pts), 52.6xgf% (-0.1)
W Hayden (21): 1gms, 0gls, 00pts, 8:44 (0gls/0pts), 21.2xgf% (-35.0)

Line 3

C Kadri (26): 69gms, 28gls, 51pts, 16:34 (33gls/61pts), 55.9xgf% (+4.4)
C Kero (24): 35gms, 5gls, 11pts, 13:25 (12gls/26pts), 49.3xgf% (-1.7)

W Nylander (20): 68gms, 18gls, 50pts, 16:08 (22gls/60pts), 54.6xgf% (+3.5)
W Hossa (37): 64gms, 22gls, 39pts, 16:47 (28gls/50pts), 48.0xgf% (-0.3)

W Komarov (29): 69gms, 11gls, 25pts, 17:06 (13gls/30pts), 53.0xgf% (+0.4)
W Hartman (22): 65gms, 15gls, 26pts, 12:31 (19gls/33pts), 54.4xgf% (+7.9)

Line 4

C Boyle (33): 62gms, 13gls, 24pts, 13:35 (17gls/32pts), 55.0xgf% (+3.7)
C Kruger (26): 58gms, 2gls, 13pts, 13:46 (3gls/18pts), 55.0xgf% (+9.1)

W Soshnikov (23): 54gms, 5gls, 9pts, 10:47 (8gls/14pts), 52.3xgf% (-0.4)
W Desjardins (30): 40gms, 0gls, 1pts, 9:10 (0gls/2pts), 48.2xgf% (-0.1)

W Martin (27): 69gms, 5gls, 9pts, 8:54 (6gls/11pts), 51.6xgf% (-1.2)
W Tootoo (33): 42gms, 1gls, 2pts, 6:37 (2gls/4pts), 54.6xgf% (+9.6)



Pair 1

D Rielly (22): 63gms, 5gls, 26pts, 22:11 (7gls/34pts), 52.0xgf% (-1.2)
D Keith (33): 70gms, 6gls, 48pts, 25:45 (7gls/56pts), 45.9xgf% (-3.6)

D Marchenko (24): 38gms, 1gls, 8pts, 17:24 (2gls/17pts), 50.8xgf% (+3.6)
D Hjalmarsson (29): 64gms, 5gls, 16pts, 21:35 (6gls/21pts), 47.9xgf% (-0.1)

Pair 2

D Zaitsev (25): 69gms, 3gls, 29pts, 22:15 (4gls/35pts), 51.6xgf% (-1.8)
D Seabrook (31): 68gms, 3gls, 33pts, 22:03 (4gls/40pts), 46.8xgf% (-2.1)

D Gardiner (26): 69gms, 9gls, 34pts, 21:13 (11gls/40pts), 53.9xgf% (+2.1)
D Campbell (37): 68gms, 5gls, 16pts, 18:17 (6gls/19pts), 46.6xgf% (-1.7)

Pair 3

D Hunwick (31): 59gms, 1gls, 15pts, 17:58 (1gls/21pts), 53.0xgf% (-0.3)
D Oduya (35): 41gms, 2gls, 9pts, 18:19 (4gls/18pts), 48.7xgf% (-1.0)

D Polak (30): 64gms, 4gls, 7pts, 17:49 (5gls/9pts), 52.6xgf% (-0.1)
D VanRyk (25): 46gms, 5gls, 12pts, 18:15 (9gls/21pts), 52.1xgf% (+4.7)



Starter

G Andersen (27): 57gms, .917sv%, .922es%
G Crawford (32): 46gms, .920sv%, .932es%

Backup

G McElhinney (33): 15gms, .922sv%, .927es%
G Darling (28): 27gms, .933sv%, .939es%

I like that you do this every game but I'm curious how do you determine the line numbers? I've noticed they change between games sometimes.

 

[zeke]

I try to match them up with the other team as logically as possible. Our top-3 lines are pretty interchangeable.