zeke
The Dube Abides
- Mar 14, 2005
- 66,937
- 36,957
Leafs are horrible at blocking shots. Does it matter?
- Thread starter Bluelines
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DraftSchmaft
Registered User
- Jul 29, 2021
- 2,350
- 2,936
There's only one puck to go around. Good teams don't have to block much against weaker teams and even a good team versus good team where stuff is more 50/50 will keep the totals contained. So the correct answer is "it's complicated". To me, "Yes" and "Complicated" are equivalent because complicated is just an extended Yes, gives the explanation of the "Yes" with respects to why it's also okay to be low in total blocks.
Morgs
#16 #34 #44 #88 #91
Wow. Please nobody read this and think "this is informative" because he's a mod. If you're trying to learn anything about analytics there are plenty of nice people on this website that would love to explain them to you. None of what he's said besides the descriptions of HDSC and xGF are actually true.
Not to mention analytics people do see value in blocking shots because if you block the damn shot it's not a shot going in the net. The issue is putting your team in the position of blocking the shot constantly.
Mess
Global Moderator
When the 3rd highest scoring team Toronto loses a playoff series to the 3rd lowest scoring team CBJ, and the autopsy is underway as to what went wrong, then Blocked shots and Blocked shot differential should be investigated as how much that impacted the series.
If only the Leafs had blocked a few more timely shots, particularly those that resulted in goals against the outcome would have swung the other way in the series perhaps.
What we do know is that players that fearlessly fall in front of shots to block them, are often a goalie best friend, and praised for there willingness to do whatever it takes to win at all cost including their own personal safety.
If only the Leafs had blocked a few more timely shots, particularly those that resulted in goals against the outcome would have swung the other way in the series perhaps.
What we do know is that players that fearlessly fall in front of shots to block them, are often a goalie best friend, and praised for there willingness to do whatever it takes to win at all cost including their own personal safety.
But other teams are also good at maintaining puck possession, and pushing trying to tie a game, then you MUST, all play goal. Failure to block shots in the playoffs only allows you early tee times.
therealkoho
Him/Leaf/fan
Hey Willie blocked a shot Saturday night, which is a lot better than not blocking a shot,
To the point, yes it's important and it does play a part to team success to interrupt, block or take away shots. It is certainly better though than tipping shots caused by a half-hearted attempt to get in the way of a puck that 8 times out of 10 seems to end up in our own net.
Hockey truths; score more than the opponent and you'll invariably always get the W; the more shots you block/don't allow the less chance the other team has to score; the less the other team does score chances are you'll score more than them which brings us back to where we started.
therealkoho
Him/Leaf/fan
Justin Holl is a 12th defenceman on a 7 defenceman team he should be strapped onto the nose of a rocket and fired deep into the heart of the sun, or so I hear, far too often btw!
zeke
The Dube Abides
- Mar 14, 2005
- 66,937
- 36,957
Blocked Shots per 60minutes, Playoffs, last 2yrs:
(24 teams total)
1. VAN 20.80
5. MIN 17.63
10. WPG 16.34
14. BOS 15.18
15. TOR 15.16
16. TBL 15.16
17. COL 14.93
18. MTL 14.88
22. CAR 13.58
23. PIT 12.25
24. FLA 11.98
Shooter2x
Registered User
- Nov 3, 2021
- 1,721
- 2,236
Almost no cup winning team in the modern era is elite in total blocked shots or block shot differential in the playoffs. You just have to watch the games and see if you're getting them when they should exist.
Blocks-for are very low priority factor to look into for last 2 series. Had almost zero relevance to us losing. We will most likely need some huge blocks this year though since we will hit good portions of the 60 minutes where play is even. Hopefully not off their ankles like Wild Bill though
Dangles McGavin
RIP Lounge
I've thought about something similar quite a lot recently with our goaltending woes in 2022. Specifically: we seem to let in a lot of redirected shots. It's hard to blame a goalie for a redirected shot going in, but when they go in consistently, maybe it's the goalie's fault? It's easier to remember the ones that went in than the ones that are saved so it's hard to figure out what exactly is going on.
I believe the reason for this is that we let players glide through the front of our net/center of our defensive zone uncontested more than other teams. These guys are elite athletes, with ridiculous hand-eye coordination. If they can stand in the lane and not be shoved at all, they are going to tip it pretty damn often.
I could be wrong, but it's an idea I've been playing around with. Not exactly shot-blocking related, but is similar. Our players are not in the shooting lanes, but the other team's players are.
I believe the reason for this is that we let players glide through the front of our net/center of our defensive zone uncontested more than other teams. These guys are elite athletes, with ridiculous hand-eye coordination. If they can stand in the lane and not be shoved at all, they are going to tip it pretty damn often.
I could be wrong, but it's an idea I've been playing around with. Not exactly shot-blocking related, but is similar. Our players are not in the shooting lanes, but the other team's players are.
therealkoho
Him/Leaf/fan
zeke
The Dube Abides
- Mar 14, 2005
- 66,937
- 36,957
Not sure but eyeballing where the teams that won a lot are on that list I would say hell no.
kb
Registered User
- Aug 28, 2009
- 15,356
- 22,019
Yeah.....let's just say that I will also remind the board (and I have said this before) the first time he is ever complimentary of the Leafs.
(IE - an actual fan of the team.)
The Iceman
Registered User
- Sep 22, 2007
- 5,348
- 4,069
I am happy if our goalie blocks shots at a rate that starts with .91X or better
Playoff victories..?????.
Stats at 18:39 in period 3 with a 3-2 lead means shiit. Block or go home.
We must ensure players are dedicated enough to give up their body when it counts.
We need Salming, not Turnbull, at that time. Everyone all in. Not another Boston, weak, pacifists and golfers.
Mess
Global Moderator
Every blocked shot is the same essentially as a goalie save, without any chance of a goal against.
Everybody loves a good blocked shot.
Everybody loves a good blocked shot.
