Speculation: Is winning games and being first in the Atlantic an indication that we're a bad team?

[Ianturnedbull]

I reading post-game discussions and no one is happy with TOR's game.

Yet...they are winning.

Are you eye testing (be honest!), or are you going to expected goals/analytics forums for your information?

Do you not like their performance because the goalies have to bail out the team? All kinds of good teams in the history of hockey had great goaltending performances.

Are you commenting negatively because Matthews is not on pace for 69 goals?

Just to give some perspective I was at a Marlies game last week. It wasn't a work of art, but they won. You prefer them to cruise to 4-0 victory, but no. They had a first period hiccup with fluke goals, and poor defensive coverage. They kept playing their game while missing Grebenkin, Nylander, Rifai, etc. But the goaltending was timely, the opportunities starting opening up, they scored with 15 sec. to go in the 2nd period, they scored on the PP, etc. Not perfect at all, but closing it out with strength and solid play was all the difference.

Toronto win in general because they hold on to leads, their goalies don't allow soft goals, they PK pretty good. Last night's game (although it was Buffalo) is just another case of them holding the lead and not letting it slip away.

Is this really so bad?

Click to read more...

 

[DarkKnight]

Berube commented about Florida playing their game. And he said how that game doesn't need to change come playoffs, it's a natural fit. That's what we're trying to do here and I like it.

Last year the two Atlantic series had more hits than the entire rest of the playoff series combined. You aren't getting out of this division without playing hard nosed hockey, period. This style lends itself to that reality.

I'm happy. Just need to get the PP going.

 

[Jojalu]

Berube commented about Florida playing their game. And he said how that game doesn't need to change come playoffs, it's a natural fit. That's what we're trying to do here and I like it.

Last year the two Atlantic series had more hits than the entire rest of the playoff series combined. You aren't getting out of this division without playing hard nosed hockey, period. This style lends itself to that reality.

I'm happy. Just need to get the PP going.

The mythological 60 min game is what it seems people keep hoping for.

All games have ebbs and flows and momentum swings. Especially when you have 2 good teams playing. Even now contrary to most views, the league has achieved parity pretty much and every game you have to work.

For anyone thinking any team is going out and dominating for 60 mis night in, night out is kind of silly.

For the life of me I can't figure out why this market equates losing with players not caring, or being disinterested. With the rare expeption, winning 60% of all your games is a great season. Then prepare to try and win 16 games in the post season.

You are correct. They are trying to play a brand that has a higher chance of winning in the playoffs, taking care of your defensive responsibilities first will lead to the Leafs having fewer chances to score. Berube doesn't want to win 5-4 every night.

 

[Suntouchable13]

The mythological 60 min game is what it seems people keep hoping for.

All games have ebbs and flows and momentum swings. Especially when you have 2 good teams playing. Even now contrary to most views, the league has achieved parity pretty much and every game you have to work.

For anyone thinking any team is going out and dominating for 60 mis night in, night out is kind of silly.

For the life of me I can't figure out why this market equates losing with players not caring, or being disinterested. With the rare expeption, winning 60% of all your games is a great season. Then prepare to try and win 16 games in the post season.

You are correct. They are trying to play a brand that has a higher chance of winning in the playoffs, taking care of your defensive responsibilities first will lead to the Leafs having fewer chances to score. Berube doesn't want to win 5-4 every night.

But, imo, they still have not achieved that balance. Their stars almost never came through and broke a game open when it mattered in the playoffs. Yea, we can play this defensive game and wait for the big boys to break games open, but it has not happened in the playoffs yet. I will believe they can do it when I actually see it, in April.

 

[Buds17]

First place in The Atlantic - with Tampa being the only team within striking distance and having the requisite number of games in hand - while theoretically carving out one of the best paths to playoff success (divisional leader vs wild card)? I'm certainly not looking to find fault with any of that right now.

 

[hoglund]

No, where's the logic in saying that?

 

[DarkKnight]

No, where's the logic in saying that?

You come here for logic, how adorable

 

[nuck]

Willie and Matty are are both paid to be top 5 forwards in the league and they are nowhere close. Domi has one goal and Mo is a -8. There is a lot to be disappointed with early in the year. But barring new injuries I absolutely expect at least 2 of these things to change. I think jumping on them at the 1/3 mark is somewhat early but that's how some people fan and I understand that. When it gets to where those folks are quiet the team will have arrived

The eye test says they don't have as many games when they "flop" but they are fourth worst in the league for 3rd period goals so thats got to improve by any measure. Lets go Matty!

 

[Voodoo Child]

To be fair, aside from a few blowouts against jobbers like CBJ and STL, the bad run of play has been a recent development.

@TBL: overall good, scary 3rd but W
Vs. Chicago: a bad game against a team they were brutally overmatched to, W
Vs. Nashville: an okay game that they only needed 5 minutes to get the W
@Wsh: a bad game, L
Vs. Pittsburgh: a very bad game, L
@NJ: a very bad game where they somehow got the W in OT.
Vs. ANA: I actually think they played well, downright dominated the Ducks in their end, W
@DET: a bad game, L
Vs. Buffalo: a bad start but a good overall game, W

And they are 6-3-0. Good teams win games they shouldn't.

The problems are all the same in these games, either they start bad (last night, Detroit) or they just can't put an opponent away (Tampa, Anaheim). They're still not taking some games seriously, like Pittsburgh or Detroit.

I do like the improved defensive play even if it comes at the expense of guys getting their totals, and I like the improved PK even if the PP is mediocre.

But the only season that matters is the one starting in April, which they'll comfortably get to, and we all know this.

 

[Goose]

I don’t know why, but I feel like this team has played worse than any of the past few regular seasons.

It feels like we lucked out on goaltending, which is making up for a lot of dysfunction across all the lines.

I’m usually a pretty positive fan, so I want to feel good about the direction of the team, and I’m thrilled with Stolarz and happy with Woll, but something seems off.

Whereas we used to lose games we should have won, it feels like we now win games we should have lost. That feels like a bad thing, but maybe it’s actually good?

I don’t know, hopefully I’m just plain wrong.

 

[BallardEra]

It is the Midlantic but I'd rather be leading it than in WC 1 or 2 spots.