Pre-Game Talk: Monday gezame: Toronto Maple Leafs vs New Jersey Devils

[ACC1224]

I think it's pronounced "Giz-aim"

Had no idea there was even a game today, gonna be a good Monday (I hope) We should have this fairly easily. I like going back to the original lines. The new line combos weren't really working against Detroit, we dominated the game once Keefe went back to these lines. Huge back to back opportunity. Boston lost, we have 2 games in hand. Getting 4 points here would give us a comfortable cushion over them for 3rd in the Atlantic. With the games in hand we may even jump up to 2nd if we play well enough.

Thanks

 

[Seath The Scaleless]

Time for one of them to be sat every game. They are getting older, we have a ton of games in a low amount of days.

At some point we need to play Ritchie and let him at least try to show some value, or play Clifford and keep him a bit fresher.

Clifford Engval Simmonds
Ritchie Engval Spezza
Ritchie Engval Simmonds
Clifford Engval Spezza

I dont care which, but dont just bench guys for weeks at a time when the 4th line is old and playing uninspired hockey.

Clifford shouldn't play another game for us. He makes that 4th line virtually unplayable against decent teams

Don't mind giving Ritchie another shot, but I'd like to see Anderson get another call up and play a string of games here

 

[keonsbitterness]

At least we'd have home ice advantage!

As if that means a lot much in today's NHL.

 

[NylanderBros]

We allowed 500 fans tonight?

 

[TML Dynasty]

Re line up: I’m not sure we need to spread out the offence in New Jersey. Maybe something we implement in a game with a true shutdown line? I would’ve liked to see it a little longer though.

spreading out the minutes must be a tough task too.

next experiment I want:
Bunting Mathews Kase
Nylander Tavares Marner

 

[Coachcorner]

At least we'd have home ice advantage!

Now that's gangsta right thurr sire. WE HARD. We also the best like khaled knew. Imagine how gezoals we gon score against that japanese goalie Akira Schmidt tonight sire. The answer = Many.

 

[Dekes For Days]

Well, you would think that Keefe must have believed the new combos were a good idea if he implemented them, but he only stuck with them for 40 mins (approx). If Keefe actually believed in the new combos, it seems odd to me that he would expect them to not need some time to develop. So I wonder if he actually thought up the new lines by himself or was it someone else's idea that he just went along with? If it was his idea, why did he just give up on them because it didn't work right away, or was he somehow influenced by others to revert back to the familiar lines?

Seems like your "looking under the surface" is really just making assumptions and suggestions based on nothing.

Keefe did think those lines were a good idea, as an experiment. It was never intended to be a permanent change, and I'm not sure why anybody thought it was. Keefe understands that our usual setup is ideal, but with a fully healthy forward group for the first time all year, he wanted to try out different combinations and looks. With the new lines not clicking all that well in the 5 periods he kept it together, and the usual lines back together igniting an explosion of offense and a multi-goal 3rd period comeback, it's a pretty obvious choice to go with the usual lines for this game.

There's nothing to suggest that he's being "influenced by others", or that he's implementing "somebody else's ideas". You just seemed to get the wrong idea about what Keefe was doing and why. He's going to continue to try stuff out during the season, but that doesn't mean sticking with it when it doesn't work and abandoning a superior setup that is working.

 

[ACC1224]

We allowed 500 fans tonight?

Yes

 

[X66]

Damn, was hoping for the 7pm start tonight.

7:30 games are honestly the worst.

 

[ACC1224]

7:30 games are honestly the worst.

Yep, hate it.

 

[keonsbitterness]

Yes

Allowed is one thing. Will they actually be there or are they waiting until after the all-star break to actually do it?

 

[ACC1224]

Allowed is one thing. Will they actually be there or are they waiting until after the all-star break to actually do it?

They cancelled all tickets.

From the Leafs

The province has capped capacity at 500 individuals for the period January 31 - February 21 and all tickets for the following games will be cancelled. Your money will remain on account as credit.

• January 31 vs New Jersey - Originally scheduled for January 17th
• February 7 vs. Carolina - Originally scheduled for January 3
• February 17 vs. Pittsburgh - Originally scheduled for December 29
• February 19 vs. St. Louis - Originally scheduled December 23

 

[Advanced stats]

7:30 games are honestly the worst.

Love 730 games.

Gives you some time to accomplish something before settling for the evening

 

[LeafChief]

Allowed is one thing. Will they actually be there or are they waiting until after the all-star break to actually do it?

They may do what the Marlies have been doing. The 500 is just family/friends of the players.

That's just a guess though.

 

[LEAFANFORLIFE23]

Leafs have played 5 fewer than both Panthers and Lightning. Hopefully they make use of the games in hand.

No sign of Muzzin. Maybe coming on for practice later. Looks like he'll most likely not play until after the all star break. Make sure he's good to go.

Thank god we are back to the real lines

 

[Zybalto]

Thank god we are back to the real lines

Considering that top line tearing it up still only has 140ish minutes played and the 3rd line only 14 minutes, not a bad idea to get them some reps as well.

 

[Burnie97]

Thank god we are back to the real lines

It's good to tinker and see and it was only 2 games so they may go back to it if needs be but clearly they were much more comfortable like this. They scored 5 goals once they were switched back.

 

[Jojalu]

I love the "great coaching, they needed to have new lines ready to go for the playoffs and now is the time to try it."
It lasts two periods, "great coaching, those lines weren't working smart to go back to what works".

Love this place.

I am being silly but I kind of want Keefe to run an NFL pro style offense. Constantly changing personal and formations throughout the game based on score where the puck is

 

[123offtheglass]

Akira Schmid Stats and News
Great AHL numbers, atrocious NHL numbers... hopefully it's point night.

 

[ACC1224]

I am being silly but I kind of want Keefe to run an NFL pro style offense. Constantly changing personal and formations throughout the game based on score where the puck is

I think he's very good at changing it up when they have an offensive faceoff or after a PK.

 

[Jbr10ba]

Love 730 games.

Gives you some time to accomplish something before settling for the evening

Me too. Can get the little one to bed and crack a beer in time for puck drop

 

[Jojalu]

I think he's very good at changing it up when they have an offensive faceoff or after a PK.

He does do that quite well.

For the two games they tried the new lines, he mixed and matched pretty much all game depending on situation. I give him credit

 

[wingman75]

Akira Schmid Stats and News
Great AHL numbers, atrocious NHL numbers... hopefully it's point night.

Guy probably has the game of his effing life lol

Light him up early and keep the pedal to the metal. Would be a nice night for Matty to get a hatty, but priority has to be the 2 points.

 

[TML1967]

Clifford shouldn't play another game for us. He makes that 4th line virtually unplayable against decent teams

Don't mind giving Ritchie another shot, but I'd like to see Anderson get another call up and play a string of games here

By no means am I am fan of Clifford, but if as a team you are keeping him around to play in case of injury the only way for him to get better (or at least not get worse) is to play games.

Ritchie Engval Spezza
Ritchie Engval Simmonds

Whatever it takes to get guys playing games.

 

[Mess]

Akira Schmid Stats and News
Great AHL numbers, atrocious NHL numbers... hopefully it's point night.

Wonder how many Leaf fans have ever seen this goalie play an NHL game?

4 games 4.99 GAA & .824 sv% Yikes !!!

This looks like a good game to bet on the over of # of Matthews goals in this one. I'm going to say 3 and they might even come in the same period.