Post-Game Talk: WE DID IT! Leafs Beat the Habs 4-3 in OT

[ULF_55]

What makes that even worse is that Babcock shelters the Bozak line getting them out there against other teams 3rd and 4th lines. It should be a huge mismatch on talent but this line is getting eaten alive defensively allowing other teams depth players to score.

Matthews draws the oppositions best players offensively and most of the time defensively, While when Auston is not going head to head against the oppositions best offensive players, then Kadri draws that assignment.

The Bozak trio has almost become PP specialists as #1PP unit, but huge liabilities at ES 5v5.

If van Riemsdyk, Bozak and Marner are the 3 weakest defensive players on the team, shouldn't that be addressed?

If van Riemsdyk is the weakest defensive player on the team should he be on a line with a better defensive center?

Is there a center on the team that is capable of setting up players and playing good defense?

Unless van Riemsdyk is traded he has to be played somewhere so can anyone tell me where should that be?

 

[Mr Hockey]

That Victor Mete is going to be a beauty!

 

[Raging Bull]

If van Riemsdyk, Bozak and Marner are the 3 weakest defensive players on the team, shouldn't that be addressed?

If van Riemsdyk is the weakest defensive player on the team should he be on a line with a better defensive center?

Is there a center on the team that is capable of setting up players and playing good defense?

Unless van Riemsdyk is traded he has to be played somewhere so can anyone tell me where should that be?

How can you justify breaking up any of the other lines when they are playing so well?

 

[GrizzLeaf]

What makes that even worse is that Babcock shelters the Bozak line getting them out there against other teams 3rd and 4th lines. It should be a huge mismatch on talent but this line is getting eaten alive defensively allowing other teams depth players to score.

Matthews draws the oppositions best players offensively and most of the time defensively, While when Auston is not going head to head against the oppositions best offensive players, then Kadri draws that assignment.

The Bozak trio has almost become PP specialists as #1PP unit, but huge liabilities at ES 5v5.

Agreed which is why I have been saying to split up Bozak/JVR. It's just not working.

 

[ULF_55]

How can you justify breaking up any of the other lines when they are playing so well?

If you can't break up any other line then we shouldn't be falling on our swords about the Bozak line.

I have yet to see anyone willing to put van Riemsdyk on a line with a good defensive center.

To me that looks like bashing a line for the sake of bashing. If you think there is a problem you should want to fix it. If one is not willing to address the issue, it isn't a big enough issue.

I think the other supposedly strong centers really are overrated defensively. If those "great" defensive centers can't mitigate van Riemsdyk's weakness how in the world is an average defensive center supposed to accomplish that?

 

[Gary Nylund]

Sometimes the JVR hate pisses me off so much. He literally scored to get us into the game, made good defensive plays and people keep saying he's bad. We get it, you all want him traded. But Bozak was by far the worst player on that line tonight. JVR doesn't have to be the scapegoat every night.

But sometimes you understand it completely, am I right?

 

[rent free]

the jvr line should be the 2nd line and the kadri line should be the 3rd line

 

[WilliamNylander]

the jvr line should be the 2nd line and the kadri line should be the 3rd line

I think on the road the JVR line should probably be the 4th line.

They are just too much of a liability if you cant hide them with easy match ups.

 

[rent free]

I think on the road the JVR line should probably be the 4th line.

They are just too much of a liability if you cant hide them with easy match ups.

that line is a combined -15. also, won't they get easier matchups if they're on the second line?

 

[MR4]

that line is a combined -15. also, won't they get easier matchups if they're on the second line?

They're already getting the easy matchups.

 

[CantLoseWithMatthews]

The Bozak line is -15 while the rest of the team is a combined +31. I'm not a fan of +/- but that's a pretty glaring stat.

The fact that their on ice save percentage is like .70 has a lot to do with it

 

[Trapper]

If van Riemsdyk, Bozak and Marner are the 3 weakest defensive players on the team, shouldn't that be addressed?

If van Riemsdyk is the weakest defensive player on the team should he be on a line with a better defensive center?

Is there a center on the team that is capable of setting up players and playing good defense?

Unless van Riemsdyk is traded he has to be played somewhere so can anyone tell me where should that be?

It's quite possible it is being addressed. It's just management's timeline isn't HF Boards timeline. To address something here means NOW! With salaries, UFA status, other teams perhaps not in trade mode presently, it takes time.

 

[hockeyes]

The simplest thing to try would be to swap Hyman and JVR. Matthews/Nylander are more than capable of spoon feeding JVR scoring chances and Hyman would let Bozak/Marner play in the offensive zone more.

I don't think it will ever happen though.

 

[zeke]

shots are deceiving.

adjusted 5v5

54.1cf%
49.4xgf%

 

[Gallagbi]

Rielly gave the puck away in the first place. Had control and threw it around the boards to the point.

To the winger who is in position to make the play, but can't handle it. Fairly routine play for NHL wingers these days.

 

[ULF_55]

To the winger who is in position to make the play, but can't handle it. Fairly routine play for NHL wingers these days.

Well, we know who was there at that wing who didn't make the play.

 

[MJ65]

If van Riemsdyk, Bozak and Marner are the 3 weakest defensive players on the team, shouldn't that be addressed?

If van Riemsdyk is the weakest defensive player on the team should he be on a line with a better defensive center?

Is there a center on the team that is capable of setting up players and playing good defense?

Unless van Riemsdyk is traded he has to be played somewhere so can anyone tell me where should that be?

True until he is traded we have to live with it and let this line play and sort out their own deficiencies

 

[Gallagbi]

Well, we know who was there at that wing who didn't make the play.

Yup and it's the first of the 2 blown plays Im referencing in my original post. Even then they're
still in fine defensive position until Bozak's fly by which opens everything up (blown play #2)

 

[ULF_55]

Yup and it's the first of the 2 blown plays Im referencing in my original post. Even then they're
still in fine defensive position until Bozak's fly by which opens everything up (blown play #2)

And van Riemsdyk with a broken controller watching Drouin is the 3rd.

That was definitely a group effort, Rielly's pass to No One, No One doing nothing, Bozak flying by the point man, and van Riemsdyk stuck in an iceberg.

 

[Gallagbi]

And van Riemsdyk with a broken controller watching Drouin is the 3rd.

That was definitely a group effort, Rielly's pass to No One, No One doing nothing, Bozak flying by the point man, and van Riemsdyk stuck in an iceberg.

Now we're back to square one on the original post where I broke down the goal. My thoughts are all there, but I don't think JVR has much of a play (even if he tries) and the fly by opens everything else up.

The blatant hold by Patches doesn't help either,because Marner is pressuring Alzner without that.

 

[LEAFANFORLIFE23]

Matthews is amazing and I still feel he has another level he can reach.

 

[Buds17]

Really nice to shake that streak and get this win.

 

[CantLoseWithMatthews]

Matthews is amazing and I still feel he has another level he can reach.

his "improvement" is really an illusion. He was the most polished rookie in NHL history so there's no way he could get better from last year

 

[LEAFANFORLIFE23]

his "improvement" is really an illusion. He was the most polished rookie in NHL history so there's no way he could get better from last year

and yet he has gotten better and can still get better

 

[ECanuck]

Finally beat Montreal!