GDT: Leafs @ Devils - Dec 10th 7PM

[Dekes For Days]

I don't agree with Matthews and Marner together but when your two best players are different positions there is not many teams or coaches that don't play them together.

Especially when their skills are the perfect compliment to each other, and they've historically combined to be one of the best duos in the league, offensively and defensively.

 

[Racer88]

Nah.. that's not what that was at all, though I'm not shocked following along got difficult.

I only followed 2 post and took my best shot so I will accept your insult. It’s what I have come to expect from you

Especially when their skills are the perfect compliment to each other, and they've historically combined to be one of the best duos in the league, offensively and defensively.

Ya it’s really baffling how these other team can win cups, go multiple rounds without one of the best duos in the game…….must be good luck

 

[Dekes For Days]

Ya it’s really baffling how these other team can win cups, go multiple rounds without one of the best duos in the game…

Not really. Most understand that more factors into team success than the quality of two of its players together. That doesn't mean you can't acknowledge the quality of the duo.
That duo has a 66.7 GF% at 5v5 in the playoffs. They aren't the issue.

 

[Macallan18]

I only followed 2 post and took my best shot so I will accept your insult. It’s what I have come to expect from you


Ya it’s really baffling how these other team can win cups, go multiple rounds without one of the best duos in the game…….must be good luck

Having goaltending helps.
We haven't.
Samsonov last year was a joke after Woll was injured.
I think we may fare better this year.

Is Robertson scratched? If he cannot stay in the lineup when half the forwards are injured, his future is pretty bleak.

I have been the biggest supporter, but I am losing faith.
He has the tools, starting to think its the tool box.

 

[Macallan18]

yea but i dont sell low i sell high

yeah, but the leafs create low and sell it, see Lilly as an example.

Is Domi playing this game ?

who knows??? but he will be on the ice.

 

[Jojalu]

Not looking like that will ever happen. Just when I was starting to like Marners game. He was starting to take charge of the team and now he will be back to being Matthews

we watched how good Marner was when he was away from Matthews.
He should never be on the same line as Matthews.
When they are on the same line 1 plus 1 doesn’t equal 2, it equals 1.5.
we have seen this time and time again and it seems funny that Keefe could never separate them and now it seems Berube can’t either and it’s not because they are so awesome together over the long haul.
The only coach that wanted to was Babcock and they dispatched of him in short order

What they havn't done is win while playing together. They have played well together for long stretches, but if ypu manage to keep them off the board there is a high probability you win.

The reason I would like to see them apart is to hopefully spread out the scoring.

But pretending like they call the shots, or almost every coach in the league wouldn't put them together is crazy.

 

[Nineteen67]

Is this a measuring stick game?

 

[Suntouchable13]

Is this a measuring stick game?

Kind of for both teams. NJ is a high flying offence against our stingy D and G.

 

[Evilhomer]

Is this a measuring stick game?

I'm not sure any game in December realistically can be.

 

[Nineteen67]

Kind of for both teams. NJ is a high flying offence against our stingy D and G.

That’s what I’m thinking. On paper NJ is a probably a little better than the Leafs, but they have to prove last year was an anomaly.

 

[Martin Skoula]

Not really. Most understand that more factors into team success than the quality of two of its players together. That doesn't mean you can't acknowledge the quality of the duo.
That duo has a 66.7 GF% at 5v5 in the playoffs. They aren't the issue.

1 line with 66% GF for 17 ES minutes at 65-70% offensive zone starts vs 2 lines of 55% GF for 30 ES minutes is at the very least a discussion worth having no? The more we can run out the clock at ES without exposing the bottom 6 the less we depend on special teams not sucking ass like they always do.

What they havn't done is win while playing together. They have played well together for long stretches, but if ypu manage to keep them off the board there is a high probability you win.

The reason I would like to see them apart is to hopefully spread out the scoring.

But pretending like they call the shots, or almost every coach in the league wouldn't put them together is crazy.

I don’t think it’s necessarily spreading out the scoring, doesn’t really matter if they score two or split lines score one each. The win is being able to feed both lines big minutes and maybe hiding Nylander on the 3rd and hoping he can outperform the special teams difference if he’s facing the leftover defensive units that can’t skate with him. Top two lines going 1-1 each puts the game on Nylander’s stick more often, I’d rather gamble on that than winning special teams consistently.

 

[ACC1224]

GAMEDAY: Devils seek revenge after losing to Maple Leafs in October

The Maple Leafs visit the Devils on Tuesday to complete a two-game trip.

torontosun.com

The Leafs were fifth in the NHL and the Devils sixth in fewest goals-against before games on Monday … “Speed, I think, and skill,” Leafs coach Craig Berube said of the challenges presented by the Devils. “They play a fast game, are a good transition team. We’re going to have to be on our toes, we’re going to have to have good gaps and good stick and good reloads and play a tight-checking game against them and limit them as much as we can. And stay out of the penalty box. They’re the No. 1 PP (32.6%) in the league.” … If the Leafs take a 1-0 lead, a win could be banked. They’re 11-1-1 when scoring first. The Devils are 9-3-1 when opening the scoring …

 

[Dekes For Days]

1 line with 66% GF for 17 ES minutes at 65-70% offensive zone starts vs 2 lines of 55% GF for 30 ES minutes is at the very least a discussion worth having no?

Matthews and Marner being together shouldn't prevent other lines from winning their minutes. We can have all the discussion you want about the best way to utilize our pieces, and there are situations where I would separate them, but the idea that they aren't great together is just complete nonsense.

 

[MyLoveIsBlue]

 

[Gary Nylund]

Is this a measuring stick game?

It is if Marner plays well.

 

[Larcos_Unal]

Patches and Knies should switch on the 1st and 2nd lines, let alone Marner and Nylander on the wing.

Never understood the decision to put a guy who's coming back from injury on the 1st line, especially when he had success playing with JT prior to the injury?

 

[Suntouchable13]

Never understood the decision to put a guy who's coming back from injury on the 1st line, especially when he had success playing with JT prior to the injury?

View attachment 942841

Berube galaxy braining?

 

[DarkKnight]

The way Matthews talks about coming back, sounds more like he was off for 9 months rather 9 games. Hopefully he gets back to game speed in a few more games lol.

 

[Martin Skoula]

Matthews and Marner being together shouldn't prevent other lines from winning their minutes. We can have all the discussion you want about the best way to utilize our pieces, and there are situations where I would separate them, but the idea that they aren't great together is just complete nonsense.

Well for one if they’re getting 65-70% offensive zone starts that means Tavares is in the 40s to 50s, not the end of the world when he’s winning his faceoffs but at this stage of his career it’s not ideal. If Nylander is on his line to run the break out from the D zone it’s maybe even a good idea instead of Kampf taking them but then that leaves you with nothing in the bottom 6.

I know D zone starts are flawed, most shifts start on the fly, yada yada but it does give you insight into how the coach uses the units. Florida’s distribution last year was a lot more normal, most everyone fell in to the 50-60 range, there wasn’t extreme offensive or defensive usage like we’ve seen with M+M vs Kampf. If we’re rolling 4 lines it doesn’t matter so much who’s with who other than chemistry and riding the hot hand.

 

[Stephen]

The way Matthews talks about coming back, sounds more like he was off for 9 months rather 9 games. Hopefully he gets back to game speed in a few more games lol.

The way he plays it looks like he’s been off for 9 months.

 

[notbias]

The way he plays it looks like he’s been off for 9 months.

Results... sometimes.

5GP - 3G - 4A - 7P

He can play better, sure, but is the injury 100%? Do we know what it was? It seems weird to travel to Germany if it wasn't something serious...

Weird how much hate M+M get when they've been the most productive line over the last few games.

People pick and choose when to use the results too much.

 

[Dekes For Days]

Well for one if they’re getting 65-70% offensive zone starts that means Tavares is in the 40s to 50s

No it doesn't... Tavares is usually at 60-70%. So is Nylander. So are most offensive stars. Tavares was lower last year (when Matthews and Marner weren't even together) because we had to bend over backwards to keep Domi, Bertuzzi, and Reaves out of the defensive zone at all costs.

Florida’s distribution last year was a lot more normal, most everyone fell in to the 50-60 range, there wasn’t extreme offensive or defensive usage like we’ve seen with M+M vs Kampf.

And cup winners before them had more spread. Heck, Tampa had their top line in the ~75% range for their cups. There's really no right or wrong way. It comes down to the make-up of your team, and the situations you find yourself in.

 

[BraveCanadian]

Ffs, split up Matthews and Marner. They should always be on separate lines.

Agree

 

[supermann_98]

Is Robertson scratched? If he cannot stay in the lineup when half the forwards are injured, his future is pretty bleak.

Is he scratched? I certainly hope so, Simon Benoit has more points than him this year ffs

 

[3blizzard4]

Ffs, split up Matthews and Marner. They should always be on separate lines.

It's almost as if everyone sees it except the team.

M&M will have one or two good games together and in the eyes of the management that warrants putting them on a line all the time.