Pre-Game Talk: Red Wings @ Maple Leafs Tue 2017-03-07

[egd27]

Nah our lines should be:

Kadri-Matthews-Marner
Nylander-Matthews-Marner
Marner-Kadri-Matthews
Marner-Matthews-Leivo


Although Leivo should be top 6 but I don't know who Leivo would beat out.

Nice

I can handle a re-build.

What I can't handle is seeing the best prospect in Leafs history get stuck with an AHL level grinder the entire season.

How long have we been waiting for a number 1 center? And now that we have one, we put him with the worst winger on the team. There's a half dozen guys on the Marlies I would rather play with Matthews than Hyman.

You're clearly the epitome of patience.

 

[Rogie]

We're the favorites in this game - by quite a margin - if you look at the betting sites (which I often do)

I mean - it's good and it's bad right!

It's bad, cause we all know there's not much difference between winning and losing regardless if it's the top team or the bottom team.

At this point in the season, the Wings are playing for, to some extent 'pride' and that's not good for us.

Get on them fast, get on them hard. Push the pace hard, fast, fast, fast, maybe draw a penalty, but you don't have to try to - JUST PLAY FAST LIKE WE CAN Score first - don't give them ANYTHING, NOTHING. Don't let them have a glimmer of hope. SCORE FIRST AND THEN SECOND.

Work hard early and work harder than them first - get ahead - don't get behind.


GO LEAFS GO

 

[TheMadNavigator]

Leafs lose.... again!

 

[hockeyes]

Wings seemed to have extra jump the last time they played (compared to other games I've seen them play), I'm guessing they were disappointed with how the centennial game finished so I wouldn't be surprised if they show up again tonight.

 

[Duffman955]

These are the games they should win if they really are a playoff team.

 

[Clark4Ever]

The pressure is on starting tonight. It's do or die time.

 

[AppsSyl]

Not a great time to take risks. Toronto needs to go 12-6 for a good shot at the playoffs. If Marner-Matthews doesn't work and we drop a couple more games, it will take a miracle. If we don't go at least 3-3 before we get CHI and BOS, then I would say unleash the Marner/Matthews line. Heck unleash the Marner/Matthews/Nylander line and let them play 25 minutes a night.

The advantage of putting Matthews and Marner together (as you mentioned at the bottom of your post) is that you could play them 20+ minutes a night, as opposed to 17-18 minutes like they currently are, and thus play Bozak's line less as they are a defensive liability.

 

[Warden of the North]

I want a crushing victory by the team tonight

 

[Leafidelity]

I want a crushing victory by the team tonight

Oh man could I ever use one of those right now.

 

[stickty111]

It's like he's a good coach or something.

Nah this cant be it.

 

[Stats01]

The pressure is on starting tonight. It's do or die time.

Not really. If they lose they're not a playoff team...these are games you should win. Detroit isn't that good.

 

[PuckMagi]

I would do this:

JVR - Matthews - Nylander
Leivo - Kadri - Marner
Komorov - Bozak - Brown
Martin - Boyle - Soshnikov/Hyman

 

[Daisy Jane]

happy 3000th game, Bowen. (considering the crap he had to go through, talk about a great accomplishment).

 

[Ambassador Bridge]

It will be so nice to watch a game in real time tonight.

Hate west coast trips.

 

[BoredBrandonPridham]

The pressure is on starting tonight. It's do or die time.

Not really. If they lose they're not a playoff team...these are games you should win. Detroit isn't that good.

Isn't that, like, the definition of do or die?

 

[Suntouchable13]

It will be disastrous if Leafs don't get any points tonight and Isles win. I don't even want to think about it.

 

[ACC1224]

As long as Andersen plays well, this should be a fairly comfortable win.

 

[Mess]

I want a crushing victory by the team tonight

1st game back from a West coast trip by many teams is sometimes an off game for the returning team.

Lets hope that is not the case and the days rest and time change issues are not a factor tonight as Leafs need this game.

 

[RedRenegade]

I would do this:

JVR - Matthews - Nylander
Leivo - Kadri - Marner
Komorov - Bozak - Brown
Martin - Boyle - Soshnikov/Hyman

I like this. Seems like a good, fresh change to the line combos. For me there's nothing wrong with trying some new things because I'mfine with however the season plays out. Of course playoffs would be great but this is solid developmental experience either way.

 

[zeke]

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 Kadri (26): 64gms, 26gls, 48pts, 16:37 (33gls/62pts), 56.5xgf% (+5.1)
C Zetterberg (36): 63gms, 14gls, 51pts, 19:31 (18gls/66pts), 53.2xgf% (+9.4)

W Nylander (20): 63gms, 17gls, 44pts, 16:11 (22gls/59pts), 55.6xgf% (+4.8)
W Nyquist (27): 57gms, 7gls, 29pts, 16:45 (10gls/42pts), 49.1xgf% (+2.6)

W Komarov (29): 64gms, 10gls, 23pts, 17:10 (13gls/30pts), 53.5xgf% (+0.9)
W Tatar (26): 63gms, 15gls, 29pts, 16:47 (20gls/38pts), 47.7xgf% (+1.2)

Line 2

C Bozak (30): 60gms, 15gls, 41pts, 16:22 (21gls/56pts), 50.4xgf% (-3.3)
C Nielsen (32): 60gms, 13gls, 30pts, 17:11 (18gls/41pts), 49.2xgf% (+3.0)

W Marner (19): 59gms, 15gls, 50pts, 16:48 (21gls/70pts), 49.5xgf% (-4.0)
W Mantha (22): 48gms, 14gls, 33pts, 16:46 (24gls/56pts), 54.3xgf% (+11.9)

W VanRyk (27): 64gms, 19gls, 48pts, 15:45 (24gls/62pts), 51.3xgf% (-2.0)
W Anathasiou (22): 48gms, 14gls, 21pts, 13:17 (24gls/36pts), 44.5xgf% (+3.4)

Line 3

C Matthews (19): 64gms, 31gls, 55pts, 17:48 (40gls/71pts), 53.6xgf% (+1.3)
C Helm (29): 35gms, 8gls, 13pts, 15:55 (19gls/31pts), 44.8xgf% (-2.2)

W Brown (22): 64gms, 15gls, 27pts, 16:03 (19gls/35pts), 50.7xgf% (-2.7)
W Larkin (20): 61gms, 13gls, 21pts, 15:50 (18gls/28pts), 42.7xgf% (-5.8)

W Hyman (24): 64gms, 9gls, 25pts, 17:02 (12gls/32pts), 53.2xgf% (+0.6)
W Abdelkader (29): 45gms, 5gls, 17pts, 16:14 (9gls/31pts), 45.9xgf% (-0.3)

Line 4

C Boyle (33): 57gms, 13gls, 23pts, 13:37 (19gls/33pts), 54.7xgf% (+3.2)
C Glendening (27): 63gms, 3gls, 13pts, 13:24 (4gls/17pts), 45.4xgf% (-1.8)

W Soshnikov (23): 49gms, 4gls, 7pts, 10:39 (7gls/12pts), 51.1xgf% (-1.9)
W Sheahan (25): 61gms, 0gls, 9pts, 13:59 (0gls/12pts), 41.8xgf% (-6.3)

W Martin (27): 64gms, 4gls, 7pts, 8:49 (5gls/9pts), 50.5xgf% (-2.6)
W Miller (32): 38gms, 5gls, 6pts, 10:24 (11gls/13pts), 45.2xgf% (-2.9)


Pair 1

D Zaitsev (25): 64gms, 3gls, 29pts, 22:21 (4gls/37pts), 51.4xgf% (-2.1)
D Dekeyser (26): 63gms, 3gls, 8pts, 22:23 (4gls/10pts), 46.0xgf% (-1.4)

D Gardiner (26): 64gms, 9gls, 32pts, 21:15 (12gls/41pts), 54.2xgf% (+2.3)
D Green (31): 53gms, 10gls, 26pts, 23:48 (16gls/40pts), 47.2xgf% (+0.7)

Pair 2

D Rielly (22): 58gms, 3gls, 22pts, 22:16 (4gls/31pts), 51.8xgf% (-1.6)
D Kronwall (35): 39gms, 0gls, 8pts, 28:50 (0gls/17pts), 48.1xgf% (+4.7)

D Marchenko (24): 35gms, 0gls, 6pts, 17:48 (0gls/14pts), 50.8xgf% (+4.2)
D Jensen (26): 30gms, 3gls, 7pts, 16:31 (8gls/19pts), 47.5xgf% (+2.6)

Pair 3

D Hunwick (31): 54gms, 1gls, 13pts, 17:49 (2gls/20pts), 53.2xgf% (-0.2)
D Ouellet (23): 47gms, 2gls, 11pts, 18:18 (4gls/19pts), 46.5xgf% (-0.5)

D Polak (30): 59gms, 3gls, 6pts, 17:35 (4gls/8pts), 52.4xgf% (-0.5)
D Russo (23): -------


Starter

G Andersen (27): 52gms, .916sv%, .920es%
G Mrazek (24): 40gms, .902sv%, .910es%

Backup

G McElhinney (33): 14gms, .927sv%, .932es%
G Coreau (25): 13gms, .893sv%, .901es%

 

[SEER]

happy 3000th game, Bowen. (considering the crap he had to go through, talk about a great accomplishment).

If they are smart, they will secure him now, for next season.. and put him back on TV, where he belongs..

(an early pic..)

 

[ConnorTO]

stereotypical the wings should win

but toronto hasn't won in a while so

i feel the leafs will win

nylander will one goal one assist
matthews two assist

 

[Daisy Jane]

I always thought that saying

"if you don't bet x team, you're not a playoff team." is so stupid.

Playoff teams lose to bad teams all the time. it's not like the only games bad-teams win are vs. other bad teams. hell when we were 30th we'd eek out a win over a cup contender or two. didn't make them any less of a playoff team.

 

[Cleetus]

If they are smart, they will secure him now, for next season.. and put him back on TV, where he belongs..

(an early pic..)

I agree SEER he deserves a tv deal, like honestly how is Romanuck still announcing he is so freaking bad

 

[Menzinger]

The advantage of putting Matthews and Marner together (as you mentioned at the bottom of your post) is that you could play them 20+ minutes a night, as opposed to 17-18 minutes like they currently are, and thus play Bozak's line less as they are a defensive liability.

Babcocks been pretty vocal this season about not wanting to overplay guys, so I've got a hard time seeing him want to play any of the young forwards over 20min