GDT: Game 35: Leafs @ Avalanche | Monday, Dec. 21st, 7PM MT | We're Going Streaking!

[Foppa2118]

Mack's still doing a lot of great things out there. He's using his speed and he's battling hard. He still has the occasional positional hiccups that are causing issues, but offensively he's doing a lot of things right. Things that many other players can't do because he's utilizing his speed very well, and battling hard, and then protecting the puck well.

He's just having a lot of Duchene's issues. He's got to get closer to the net. All his shots are from far out, and he's rushing them, so they're not accurate. I think the obvious defering to the hot hand with Dutchy, plus Patrick trying to get him to be a good two way player, got him off his normal game a bit and he's been trying to adjust.

He'll get the consistency figured out. He's a lot more effective for his line even when he's in a slump than someone like Duchene is, because he doesn't have the same turnover problems when he's struggling, and this helps him pick up assists when his linemates are playing well.

 

[cgf]

Mack's still doing a lot of great things out there. He's using his speed and he's battling hard. He still has the occasional positional hiccups that are causing issues, but offensively he's doing a lot of things right. Things that many other players can't do because he's utilizing his speed very well, and battling hard, and then protecting the puck well.

He's just having a lot of Duchene's issues. He's got to get closer to the net. All his shots are from far out, and he's rushing them, so they're not accurate. I think the obvious defering to the hot hand with Dutchy, plus Patrick trying to get him to be a good two way player, got him off his normal game a bit and he's been trying to adjust.

He'll get the consistency figured out. He's a lot more effective for his line even when he's in a slump than someone like Duchene is, because he doesn't have the same turnover problems when he's struggling, and this helps him pick up assists when his linemates are playing well.

Are two big reasons I'd love to see Matt put on Soda's line with Comeau/Martinsen coming up to the Landy-MacK line to play a simple fast & physical game alongside them on a brutal 2nd line that doesn't have as much pressure on it to score or force things to Duchene, and who's minutes Patrick can better manage if the kids are secretly nursing knocks. Plus it'd help the other line produce more consistently and reward Soda for his strong play by giving him a major weapon that he's already shown some chemistry with.