GDT: Blues at Leafs - Tuesday 7pm

[Dekes For Days]

Bertuzzi has not been anywhere close to living up to his contract, but he is more useful than what you say he is. He is also good on the forecheck and being disruptive in the ozone. Also, I wonder if he still would have signed here if he knew that his PP time would be minimal at best.

He's not very good on the forecheck though. He's good at getting to the puck on the forecheck, and can sometimes be disruptive, but then he usually either loses the board battle or wins the battle and then fumbles the puck/play. I'm not sure why, as a historically mediocre PP player, Bertuzzi would have expected to unseat elite PP players from a consistently elite PP unit; especially with this kind of effort and execution.

 

[Darcy Tucker]

Feels like a winnable game even without Rielly. If the core 4 shows up not much St. Louis can do.

 

[Captain Crunch]

I think you'll need to outlive this core to see that.

Sadly, I believe you are right!

He's not very good on the forecheck though. He's good at getting to the puck on the forecheck, and can sometimes be disruptive, but then he usually either loses the board battle or wins the battle and then fumbles the puck/play. I'm not sure why, as a historically mediocre PP player, Bertuzzi would have expected to unseat elite PP players from a consistently elite PP unit; especially with this kind of effort and execution.

I disagree. I think he wins his fair share of battles. As for playing on the PP, for him to be truly effective, the team would need to shoot at the net a fair amount, especially point shots. Unfortunately, that is not the way this team is constructed, especially with having offensive-minded dmen. I believe Keefe deserves a fair amount of the blame for this.

 

[Evilhomer]

If the core 4 shows up not much St. Louis can do.

I think you can say this about pretty much any game, except I would reduce it to three as Matthews, Marner and Nylander can pretty much win any game on their own so long as the Leafs get even average goaltending. This is actually a reasonably important game because it's likely that both Tampa and Detroit will lose this evening given their respective opponents.

 

[Captain Crunch]

Kipper nailed it!!! This core, aside from Rielly, is all about finesse. The saying goes, 'Too many cooks spoil the kitchen', and this is bang on in regards to how this Leafs team is constructed. The top 6 definitely need to have some/a lot more snot and snarl to go along with all that finesse!!!

 

[Captain Crunch]

Whether or not you agree with what Rielly did, the Leafs still have to use it as a springboard to turn around this season.

Starts tonight. Simply have to play better at home.

Agreed, but how many times has this team played lethargic and uninspiring when they needed to play like their jobs were on the line? I can think of a few.

 

[Nineteen67]

Kipper nailed it!!! This core, aside from Rielly, is all about finesse. The saying goes, 'Too many cooks spoil the kitchen', and this is bang on in regards to how this Leafs team is constructed. The top 6 definitely need to have some/a lot more snot and snarl to go along with all that finesse!!!

Compare TB’s reaction when Rielly got tangled up with Point in last year’s playoff. It should be in your team’s DNA.

 

[ACC1224]

Kipper nailed it!!! This core, aside from Rielly, is all about finesse. The saying goes, 'Too many cooks spoil the kitchen', and this is bang on in regards to how this Leafs team is constructed. The top 6 definitely need to have some/a lot more snot and snarl to go along with all that finesse!!!

"....spoil the soup"

 

[Dekes For Days]

I disagree. I think he wins his fair share of battles. As for playing on the PP, for him to be truly effective, the team would need to shoot at the net a fair amount, especially point shots. Unfortunately, that is not the way this team is constructed, especially with having offensive-minded dmen. I believe Keefe deserves a fair amount of the blame for this.

I recommend taking a closer look at the outcomes of his forechecks.
Our PP isn't all that unique in style or construction. We get a bunch of shots on net. Bertuzzi simply does not have history as a very good PP player, and has certainly not earned a spot over anybody on our top unit. Not really sure what you're blaming Keefe for.

 

[ACC1224]

Shouldn't this thread be about the game? We have enough threads already about Rielly and are Muffin core

 

[Fogelhund]

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[darrylsittler27]

I expect a losing skid leaving us fighting for our playoff lives with Reilly out. I expect Treveling to stare into the headlights.

 

[Fogelhund]

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[notDatsyuk]

He has been give dozens of quality scoring chances by his linemates and has flubbed so many tap ins and easy goals. His lack of production is all on him. Laughable that he should get playing time ahead of the core 4 on the PP. He gets whatever is left over on the 2nd unit and rightly so. He's been trash.

Tavares has been given dozens of quality scoring chances by his linemates and has flubbed so many tap ins and easy goals, even more than Bertuzzi. And Bert has produced more goals and assists at ES lately than JT has.

 

[Fogelhund]

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[SprDaVE]

They really are taking it slow with Woll

 

[Fogelhund]

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Timmins can't catch a break....

 

[Darcy Tucker]

Tavares has been given dozens of quality scoring chances by his linemates and has flubbed so many tap ins and easy goals, even more than Bertuzzi. And Bert has produced more goals and assists at ES lately than JT has.

Nylander could have 80 points if his linemates weren't screwing up so much. They have had lots of in close chances. Willy can't catch a break.

 

[ToneDog]

Nylander could have 80 points if his linemates weren't screwing up so much. They have had lots of in close chances. Willy can't catch a break.

Do you remember when Willie scored top shelf short side on Merzlikens? He was lethal. He's scored two goals thanks to Demko and 2 beauties vs Wedgewood in his last 12 games. Sorry, not buying Willie can't catch a break.

 

[Fogelhund]

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[Jojalu]

Do you remember when Willie scored top shelf short side on Merzlikens? He was lethal. He's scored two goals thanks to Demko and 2 beauties vs Wedgewood in his last 12 games. Sorry, not buying Willie can't catch a break.

I think there is a little bit of bad luck. He has hit the post a few times, and certainly JT and Bertuzzi struggling hasn't helped.

But if they can't score, at least try and be better in your own end.

 

[SprDaVE]

Timmins can't catch a break....

Yeah that's rough. The recovery time is typically 2-4 weeks but who knows. "Out indefinitely" makes it seem so bleak that he's out for the season.

 

[Aashir Mallik]

Do you remember when Willie scored top shelf short side on Merzlikens? He was lethal. He's scored two goals thanks to Demko and 2 beauties vs Wedgewood in his last 12 games. Sorry, not buying Willie can't catch a break.

Tbh I think it’s a bit not catching a break and also the effort not being there as much

He’s not been the pre signed nylander much in the past 12, I would say 5 games where he’s shown that, but look at that Ottawa game for example, he set up Tavares 2-3 times for some real good chances and Tavares blows them no surprise. When nylander is going, he’s making plays to his teammates and feeding off of that to create a deadly line, unfortunately his linemates are two useless turds without him

Until that beauty pass by JT in the stars game, I couldn’t remember the last time tavares set nylander up for a glorious chance, maybe the LA game which was over a month ago.

For nylander to score he need to do much more than for Tavares to score. Tavares gets setup in prime chances, nylander gets the puck at the zone and still has to do spot more

 

[ULF_55]

Do you remember when Willie scored top shelf short side on Merzlikens? He was lethal. He's scored two goals thanks to Demko and 2 beauties vs Wedgewood in his last 12 games. Sorry, not buying Willie can't catch a break.

Don't completely agree.

He hasn't been his best but.

Tavares had 4 points for the month of January, 13 games.
2 goals 2 assists

That's #2 center at a 25 point pace on his line.

 

[PromisedLand]