Post-Game Talk: Campbell shutout the Flyers. Leafs win 3-0!!

[Budz]

Lol Phillys version of dart guy.

My wife said why is that guy painted up like the fish in the movie Finding Nemo.

 

[TheProspector]

I love Spezza, and he has been so good in Toronto, but I think he may be done. This season, his deployments are even softer, but he's taking penalties, putting up less points, his flow of play numbers are down, the rate he acquires pointshares is about half of last season, and he's not winning faceoffs. He was so freaking good last year -- regular season and playoffs. The contrast with his performance this year is pretty stark. Hopefully he can regain his form.

 

[ACC1224]

That wouldn’t change anything. It’s more mental than physical.

If you watched hockey, particularly the playoffs, you’d see it. Or if you listen to former players analyzing the team.

And they mentioned last night with 2 minutes left in a 3-0 game? That’s some in depth analysis

 

[Nineteen67]

And they mentioned last night with 2 minutes left in a 3-0 game? That’s some in depth analysis

Did they? I wouldn’t be surprised.

 

[zeke]

Did they? I wouldn’t be surprised.

They were too busy with their "Core Four goals counter".

 

[ACC1224]

Did they? I wouldn’t be surprised.

Check your meds.

 

[AngryScotsman]

I think you really only need a screen when the shot is coming from distance. These guys can absolutely whip these pucks man. I know what you're saying about it needs to be a perfect shot, but Auston and Willy make those shots in their sleep. Even if that shot is say 30% success, which I'd say is completely fair, that is about as good of a look as you're gunna get in the NHL. I'll take that any day of the week. Whereas our point shot's through traffic with a screen are probably 30% chance of getting through towards the net, let alone score.

For the record, I am not suggesting to get rid of the net front guy, I've just been pushing for a lot more mobility. In this example, Marner is the "net front guy"
View attachment 479116

the Puck gets worked to Nylander on the wall, who has no shooting lane, So why would Marner stay at the top of the crease? Makes no sense. go to space below the goal line, and take your defender with you.
View attachment 479117

The pass was then made to JT in the slot for a simple low to high 1T. Grade-A scoring chance, no screen. This play hinges on a good pass from Mitch to be right in Johnny's wheelhouse for the 1T. Something he is more than capable of doing, But lets pretend it wasn't in his wheel house, and Johnny can't 1T it. Look how crossed up the PK is. There would be 3 guys keying in on JT, while Auston is all alone at the right dot. The structure of the PP, would allow JT to throw a blind pass to that dot, knowing Auston would be there.

I just think it opens up way more of the ice, and it allows us to use our man advantage for a change. Stapling the guy to the net front only allows for passing between the wall, bumper and point man. I think that's way easier for teams to stay in their box when the movement is that predictable.



Having Mitch below the goal line from time to time, would avoid this possibility entirely. Their would never be a circumstance where that guy would be anyone other than Auston and Willy. That is the beauty of it. If the puck gets worked to Reilly on the point, then we get the "net front" guy to move back into a screening position.

It's all about making sure there is always multiple passing outlets for our wall guys. When we have no one below the goal line the PK just take away the angle into the bumper and force the movement of the puck back to the point. Our weakest point on the PP. You can't angle away the bumper and the guy below the goal line at the same time. it just allows the wall guy t walk into the slot for a cross seam pass or clear shot.

I donno, that's just how I see it. It seems to be working by mixing it up here and there

I don't want Marner in front of the net any more than you do. I want a guy like Ritchie in there tying up a defender and making the goalotender wonder where the puck is. Even with Marner making incredible passes and Matthews/JT, or whoever making one timers, I don't want the goalie to know WTF is going on out there. Keep them guessing and keep them on their toes. I'm loving the movement on the PP too, but there's an added element of the mental game at play here. So much of the time it's very obvious where the puck is going, that's when Toronto gets caught in monotonous or stagnant PP streaks. Agree to disagree, but I always want a big body in front, PP or not.

 

[Twine Tickler]

I don't want Marner in front of the net any more than you do. I want a guy like Ritchie in there tying up a defender and making the goalotender wonder where the puck is. Even with Marner making incredible passes and Matthews/JT, or whoever making one timers, I don't want the goalie to know WTF is going on out there. Keep them guessing and keep them on their toes. I'm loving the movement on the PP too, but there's an added element of the mental game at play here. So much of the time it's very obvious where the puck is going, that's when Toronto gets caught in monotonous or stagnant PP streaks. Agree to disagree, but I always want a big body in front, PP or not.

We had a big body stapled to the top of the crease all of last year. And I do mean stapled. The puck movement was as predictable as humanly possible. When the puck was worked to the wall, there was:

Wall to Bumper
Wall to Point

Now I am not saying there wasn't any other type of movement, but when the PP set up this was essentially the only 2 passes that would happen. It is extremely easy for a PK to stay in a tight box when this is the only type of movement.

Ask yourself how many times last year you saw the Puck get worked up to Reilly from the RW wall, and then onward to Matthews in stride on the LW wall, only to have him button hook around because the lane to the bumper was not there, the cross seam pass was not there, and there was no room to get a puck through to net? This movement would continue for 2 straight minutes, with maybe a single shot on goal. It was just rinsing and repeating a movement of the puck that was producing at 4% over the last 3 months of the season.

The PK never had to cheat too high on the point guy, because that's not where the shot was ever going to come from. Even if it did, it would never be heavy, and would need a miracle just to get through the traffic.

Essentially we were never able to draw PK'ers out of position with the movement of the puck exclusively being around the top of the umbrella.

Whereas mixing in the puck movement down low on occasion, you will inherently draw a PK'er with you. Which is in turn getting the PK out of position. It also makes our PP far less predictable.

I recognize the logic of having a big body in front of the net at all times, but that really only works when you are expecting the shot to come in. Seriously, What is the point of having a guy screen the goalie when there is no shot coming in? We may as well play 4v4.

If the puck gets moved to either wall, and the net front guy see's that the wall guy does not have a shooting lane, which should be pretty obvious to spot because it is the exact same lane from a reverse perspective. Then that net front guy absolutely needs to go below the goal line to provide an outlet.

If the PK'er is stupid enough to follow that "net front guy" into the corner, it will open up a clear lane for our wall guys to walk into one, and if he doesn't follow, the puck can then be moved to the bumper, point, or below the goal line. 3 options to pass vs 2. And you will also see the PK'ers sticks go in lanes that just don't make sense, because they are crossed up. (see my above example)

It will also stretch the PK, as they will have to defend 3 options not 2.

If the puck gets moved back to the point, the net front guy goes back in front of the net.

It's all about maintaining puck movement. One of the first things you learn when you play hockey is the puck moves faster than the skater. If the puck movement is as predictable as it was last year the PK box barely needs to move to be effective. We need to draw them out of position, because it takes them far more time to get back into position then the puck.

our last 2 PP goals have stemmed from plays made below the goal line. hard to argue the results.

again, not saying zero net front presence. Just don't need to attach the anchor to their skates like we did all last season.

 

[Twine Tickler]

I don't want Marner in front of the net any more than you do. I want a guy like Ritchie in there tying up a defender and making the goalotender wonder where the puck is. Even with Marner making incredible passes and Matthews/JT, or whoever making one timers, I don't want the goalie to know WTF is going on out there. Keep them guessing and keep them on their toes. I'm loving the movement on the PP too, but there's an added element of the mental game at play here. So much of the time it's very obvious where the puck is going, that's when Toronto gets caught in monotonous or stagnant PP streaks. Agree to disagree, but I always want a big body in front, PP or not.

not to mention the GTG against TB was a 6v5 scenario that also came from Mitch below the goal line to JT in the slot.

that low to high play is clearly a play that they can run with high efficiency. JT has made a career on goals like that. Probably one of the best finishers in the game from that play. No matter what side that puck is coming from.

LA goal came on his strong side for the 1T, TB goal came on is weak side. He elevates that puck very well from either side.

I rest my case

 

[ULF_55]

The one thing I noticed is that it looked like they had energy and were all skating hard in both directions.

And it was an away game.