News Article: Leafs are now identifiable.

[Bluelines]

Which individuals are responsible for the Leafs being 6th in the league in goals allowed and 7th in shots allowed?

Shitty teams in the North, Calgary, Ottawa, Vancouver, Montreal are responsible.

 

[Joey Hoser]

Dude stop, don't put words in my mouth. Your bad at stats and bad at debate.

Zeke sure is a smartass, but he is one of few people around here who is fully prepared to defend anything he says with facts and argument. Basically everyone else is flying by the seat of their pants, saying whatever sounds good to them at the time. He's probably the best at debate and stats, but I can see how that can be frustrating to those who say things more flippantly.

 

[zeke]

Shitty teams in the North, Calgary, Ottawa, Vancouver, Montreal are responsible.

But just a month ago you said the leafs were no better than those shitty teams?

p.s. those teams averaged 2.98 goals per game last year, bang on league average. This year they're averaging 3.01 per game, higher than league average. Leafs are holding them to 2.60 goals per game.

 

[Morbo]

Shitty teams in the North, Calgary, Ottawa, Vancouver, Montreal are responsible.

the Leafs face some pretty good offences in this division. say their offensive totals are inflated due to "shitty teams" if you like, but I don't see how that applies to defending. Nothing wrong with the offences of the Jets Oilers or Canucks.

 

[Gary Nylund]

I'm so sick of this "the north is weak" argument. It's not based on anything real. It's just being used as an attempt to diminish what we are accomplishing and it's so obviously dishonest.

IMO the north is weak and I base that opinion on last years final standings which are very real.

How weak it is is another question. That's impossible to say but of course Leaf haters (or people with some strange agenda) will act like it's weaker than it really is.

Its almost enough to make me want the North to win the cup this year, whether it's us or not

Fine with me as long as it's not MTL. FML not MTL, anyone but those f***ers.

Leafs are 2nd in the league in GF/GP
and are 6th in the league in GA/GP (while playing a bad division, its bad because these teams are able to score a lot of goals... very bad.)

Leafs are 2nd in the league in Goal Diff/GP in the league.

#	Team	GP	GF	GA	GF/GP	GA/GP	Diff/GP
1	Tampa Bay Lightning	19	69	39	3.63	2.05	1.58
2	Toronto Maple Leafs	22	78	55	3.55	2.5	1.05
3	Vegas Golden Knights	17	51	35	3	2.06	0.94
4	Winnipeg Jets	20	69	52	3.45	2.6	0.85
5	Colorado Avalanche	18	55	42	3.06	2.33	0.73
6	Minnesota Wild	18	57	44	3.17	2.44	0.73
7	Philadelphia Flyers	18	61	52	3.39	2.89	0.5
8	Florida Panthers	20	64	55	3.2	2.75	0.45
9	Carolina Hurricanes	20	65	56	3.25	2.8	0.45
10	Edmonton Oilers	23	79	69	3.43	3	0.43
11	New York Islanders	21	56	48	2.67	2.29	0.38
12	Boston Bruins	19	57	50	3	2.63	0.37
13	Montréal Canadiens	20	65	58	3.25	2.9	0.35
14	Chicago Blackhawks	23	72	66	3.13	2.87	0.26
15	Washington Capitals	21	72	67	3.43	3.19	0.24
16	Los Angeles Kings	20	59	55	2.95	2.75	0.2
17	Dallas Stars	16	46	43	2.88	2.69	0.19
18	St. Louis Blues	21	66	65	3.14	3.1	0.04
19	New York Rangers	19	49	51	2.58	2.68	-0.1
20	New Jersey Devils	17	45	50	2.65	2.94	-0.29
21	Calgary Flames	22	57	65	2.59	2.95	-0.36
22	Arizona Coyotes	21	54	62	2.57	2.95	-0.38
23	Pittsburgh Penguins	20	57	65	2.85	3.25	-0.4
24	Columbus Blue Jackets	23	61	75	2.65	3.26	-0.61
25	Buffalo Sabres	19	42	56	2.21	2.95	-0.74
26	Vancouver Canucks	24	67	85	2.79	3.54	-0.75
27	Nashville Predators	21	48	64	2.29	3.05	-0.76
28	Anaheim Ducks	21	41	59	1.95	2.81	-0.86
29	Detroit Red Wings	24	51	78	2.13	3.25	-1.12
30	San Jose Sharks	18	49	70	2.72	3.89	-1.17
31	Ottawa Senators	23	60	91	2.61	3.96	-1.35

[TBODY] [/TBODY]

What TB is doing without Kucherov is absolutely mind blowing. It would appear that other than them though, we have no reason to fear anyone.

I have no issue beating up on weaker teams. Its allowing us to keep practicing a style that will make us successful in the playoffs. Look at that game against Edmonton, 4-0!!

Its not easy to shutdown a team like that without your star player. They did it.

Why would anyone have an issue with that? I love the fact that we're consistently winning and I don't care how weak the teams are. All my life I've seen Leaf teams that are almost always incapable of consistently beating weaker teams. This team is doing it so far and I'm loving it!!

 

[BlueForever75]

IMO the north is weak and I base that opinion on last years final standings which are very real.

How weak it is is another question. That's impossible to say but of course Leaf haters (or people with some strange agenda) will act like it's weaker than it really is.



Fine with me as long as it's not MTL. FML not MTL, anyone but those f***ers.



What TB is doing without Kucherov is absolutely mind blowing. It would appear that other than them though, we have no reason to fear anyone.



Why would anyone have an issue with that? I love the fact that we're consistently winning and I don't care how weak the teams are. All my life I've seen Leaf teams that are almost always incapable of consistently beating weaker teams. This team is doing it so far and I'm loving it!!

I believe we are built today better then ever. With a couple of more tweaks this team can beat anyone. I agree that TB is probably the only team to fear. Boston looks beatable as does Pittsburgh, STL and Washington. The Leafs have to continue to strengthen their system they play with solid efforts night in and night out. Come playoff time as long as they are healthy this team should be able to put up a fight against anyone. They are as much a contender as any team in the league right now regardless of their competition.

 

[Gary Nylund]

I believe we are built today better then ever. With a couple of more tweaks this team can beat anyone. I agree that TB is probably the only team to fear. Boston looks beatable as does Pittsburgh, STL and Washington. The Leafs have to continue to strengthen their system they play with solid efforts night in and night out. Come playoff time as long as they are healthy this team should be able to put up a fight against anyone. They are as much a contender as any team in the league right now regardless of their competition.

I'm not even sure we really need to tweak anything, we just need to get healthy, keep rolling and hope our goaltending holds up when the playoffs roll around. Though I'm almost certain they will add something (probably a forward) before the playoffs start.

Maybe I'm being too optimistic, not sure. But I do love this team just as it is!

 

[Notsince67]

I'm not taking anything away, I'm saying the reason why the Leaf's are doing so well is because of two players not because of a commitment to play a new system.

Have you not noticed the considerable drop on shots on leafs goal?

 

[Wafflewhipper]

Shitty teams in the North, Calgary, Ottawa, Vancouver, Montreal are responsible.

Each division has two teams that are duds. The North is not “The” weak division. That’s a narrative that is false. Why are you finding a way to be negative for your team that is best in the League

 

[Wafflewhipper]

Zeke sure is a smartass, but he is one of few people around here who is fully prepared to defend anything he says with facts and argument. Basically everyone else is flying by the seat of their pants, saying whatever sounds good to them at the time. He's probably the best at debate and stats, but I can see how that can be frustrating to those who say things more flippantly.

Just saying this because it sounds good to you i get it. Doesn’t matter until i find out what zeke says

 

[Wafflewhipper]

You can like or dislike any player on the team but on the whole they are killing it structurally. I’m impressed how improved they are.

 

[notDatsyuk]

I suppose the fact that we are playing Winnipeg, Edmonton, Calgary, and Vancouver instead of Boston, Tampa Bay, Florida, and Buffalo is irrelevant? 10-2-1 vs 6-7-0?

 

[Bluelines]

Each division has two teams that are duds. The North is not “The” weak division. That’s a narrative that is false. Why are you finding a way to be negative for your team that is best in the League

When we played Vancouver they were slumping, Ottawa is terrible, when we played Montreal they were slumping, when we played Calgary they were slumping. When you play slumping teams, early n the season, your team looks better than it really is. We see it every year, teams with high end talent, like AM and MM, tend to be very hot in the early part of the season, it not true all the time but most of the time it is. Then teams have a chance to implement their system and wins become much more difficult, individual skill becomes less of an impact. I'm ecstatic that the Leafs have 4X the wins vs loses. I'm not being negative at all, I think the reason behind the Leafs success is different than what that article suggests. This is not being negative, just a different opinion.

 

[zeke]

Leafs Under Keefe

#4 111pts pace
#5 55.1% goal differential
#3 53.4xgf% All Situations
#6 53.2xgf% 5v5
#17 .906sv%

 

[Wafflewhipper]

When we played Vancouver they were slumping, Ottawa is terrible, when we played Montreal they were slumping, when we played Calgary they were slumping. When you play slumping teams, early n the season, your team looks better than it really is. We see it every year, teams with high end talent, like AM and MM, tend to be very hot in the early part of the season, it not true all the time but most of the time it is. Then teams have a chance to implement their system and wins become much more difficult, individual skill becomes less of an impact. I'm ecstatic that the Leafs have 4X the wins vs loses. I'm not being negative at all, I think the reason behind the Leafs success is different than what that article suggests. This is not being negative, just a different opinion.

Same circumstances project out to all teams. Injuries,bad goaltending, poor play, weak teams. Edmonton just got knocked back to their senses against us after 9-1 run i think. We will demolish Edmonton again to night if we just take less penalties than them and slow them through the neutral zone like last game. They will plug the middle on Edmonton again and thats half the battle. Take less penalties is a part. Out score them by a goal or so takes care the other part. Structure is winning games,depth is also. We play defense first now to a man. Great our top players are scoring. Thats the way it is supposed to go when you play a team game. Long and short of it is everyone is contributing. We can still improve many areas. The deficiencies are fewer than previous 4 years. Better team now.how much better depends on watching how the entire season shakes out. I complain to but there is less to concern us with this group and coach

 

[Wafflewhipper]

Leafs Under Keefe

#4 111pts pace
#5 55.1% goal differential
#3 53.4xgf% All Situations
#6 53.2xgf% 5v5
#17 .906sv%

Does this include playoff stats?

 

[Wafflewhipper]

I suppose the fact that we are playing Winnipeg, Edmonton, Calgary, and Vancouver instead of Boston, Tampa Bay, Florida, and Buffalo is irrelevant? 10-2-1 vs 6-7-0?

They aren’t playing us either. Should go check their easier teams they beat. No but they play weak teams and I’m not sure they have had a easier or harder schedule. Main thing is we win the President trophy and go from there

 

[zeke]

I'm not even sure we really need to tweak anything, we just need to get healthy, keep rolling and hope our goaltending holds up when the playoffs roll around. Though I'm almost certain they will add something (probably a forward) before the playoffs start.

Maybe I'm being too optimistic, not sure. But I do love this team just as it is!

I think the tweaks may already have happened, and ironically the injuries may have helped us get there.

Tweaks from the opening day lineup:

1. Kerfoot from 3C to 2LW.
2. Engvall from Taxi to 3C.
3. Boyd from Taxi to 4C.
4. Vesey from 2LW to Taxi.

These tweaks seem to have solidified the 3rd and 4th lines and given them the hoped for identities.

It remains to be seen whether that 2nd line will get it together though. Maybe the top 2 centers will swap wingers yet.

The top pair looked like it might need tweaking early on but is now killing it so forget that.

And I guess the PP may need some tweaking yet....though that might be a constant thing where we tweak any time it gets predictable.

 

[zeke]

Does this include playoff stats?

Playoffs: #6 54.6xgf% 5v5

 

[Bluelines]

the Leafs face some pretty good offences in this division. say their offensive totals are inflated due to "shitty teams" if you like, but I don't see how that applies to defending. Nothing wrong with the offences of the Jets Oilers or Canucks.

Devil is in the details, 'Nucks beat Ottawa 7-1, 5-1, 4-1 piling up on bad teams makes your GF look great. We have played Winnipeg once this year.

Almost half of our GF/GA diff is because of Vancouver.

Nearly half, 45% of our GF is because of 2 teams, Vancouver and Ottawa.

	GP	GF	GA	Delta
Calgary	4	9	9	0
Edmonton	5	16	12	4
Ottawa	5	20	17	3
Montreal	4	15	11	4
Vancouver	3	15	5	10
Winnipeg	1	3	1	2
Total	22	78	55	23

[TBODY] [/TBODY]

 

[Wafflewhipper]

Playoffs: #6 54.6xgf% 5v5

I wasn’t specific enough i keyed in on the sv% and didn’t ask directly. Forgot to say sv%. Doesn’t matter.
Biggest stat for me right now i would like to see improvement in is PK. It’s not good enough. Shots on goal stat is way down and thats awesome.

 

[Notsince67]

Shitty teams in the North, Calgary, Ottawa, Vancouver, Montreal are responsible.

Average points per team last year reorganized into this years divisions
North is better than Central and pretty well tied with West

Scotia North 76.29
MassMutual East 82.5
Discover Central 75.4
Honda West 77.1

 

[Confucius]

Average points per team last year reorganized into this years divisions
North is better than Central and pretty well tied with West

Scotia North 76.29
MassMutual East 82.5
Discover Central 75.4
Honda West 77.1

This years west by far the weakest, only Vegas was better than Vancouver, Edmonton and Calgary in the Pacific last year.

 

[Notsince67]

This years west by far the weakest, only Vegas was better than Vancouver, Edmonton and Calgary in the Pacific last year.

Blues?

 

[zeke]

Devil is in the details, 'Nucks beat Ottawa 7-1, 5-1, 4-1 piling up on bad teams makes your GF look great. We have played Winnipeg once this year.

Almost half of our GF/GA diff is because of Vancouver.

Nearly half, 45% of our GF is because of 2 teams, Vancouver and Ottawa.

	GP	GF	GA	Delta
Calgary	4	9	9	0
Edmonton	5	16	12	4
Ottawa	5	20	17	3
Montreal	4	15	11	4
Vancouver	3	15	5	10
Winnipeg	1	3	1	2
Total	22	78	55	23

[TBODY] [/TBODY]

So....

vCGY (4gms): +0.00 gdiff/gm (.750pts%)
vOTT (5gms): +0.60 gdiff/gm (.700pts%)
vEDM (5gms): +0.80gdiff/gm (.700pts%)
vMTL (4gms): +1.00gdiff/gm (.750pts%)
vWPG (1gms): +2.00gdiff/gm (1.000pts%)
vVAN (3gms): +3.33gdiff/gm (1.000pts%)

Only Calgary has stopped the leafs from scoreboard dominance...and I think we all know that Rittich had something to do with that.

Interestingly the leafs' dominance isn't built on taking advantage of Ottawa, the weakest team in the division.