GDT: Leafs @ Sabres: TSN or SN outside region, 7pm - 2nd Last Home Game. Baby

[Cams]

That's the total games not just Buffalo home games.

The Leafs actually have won just 36 times in Buffalo all time.

Which is pretty crazy eh.... over the years for whatever reasons winning in Buffalo has been a challenge.

Makes me glad I got to see a win in my only Leafs game in Buffalo! Chances weren't on my side. Don't remember the score, just that they won. Mogilny was on the roster, so it was a while ago for sure.

Nice one night road trip from Windsor!

 

[thewave]

With the Leafs starting next Sunday, that would mean that Stolarz likely gets 5 days of rest between games.

Not bad. Wonder how tempted they / he will be to want the Thursday start against Detroit.

Not sure it's commonly done but they could give him a period here and there.

 

[Budz]

Loving the new lines. Domi in the top 6 with a couple of shooters should give us some extra juice. The bottom 6 gets much more organized and should get a boost with McMann at LW. Holmberg is a better defensive 3c than Domi as well imo.

Agreed. Domi is not the answer at 3C.
I would rather have the upside of Domi’s offence in a top 6 winger. As opposed the the perceived dropoff with Homberg at 3C.

 

[notDatsyuk]

I do find it interesting how a poster being like an undying optimist with this team derides so much scorn on this board lol let people be fans however they want to be fans. It isn't the end of the world.

I don't think it's scorn at all. At most it's friendly teasing of his totally over-the-top otimism, with likely a little envy thrown in.

 

[TheBeastCoast]

I don't think it's scorn at all. At most it's friendly teasing of his totally over-the-top otimism, with likely a little envy thrown in.

That's fair!

 

[notDatsyuk]

Keep the ice time down and Don't use Knies Matthews Marner on the pk. Let Lorentz Laughton Jarnkok Holmberg block the shots.

I'd rather not see Matty and Mitch on the PK at all, unless we're down a goal and looking for a shortie.

 

[Puckstuff]

Agreed. Domi is not the answer at 3C.
I would rather have the upside of Domi’s offence in a top 6 winger. As opposed the the perceived dropoff with Homberg at 3C.

Exactly. Domi is a positive asset as a top 6 winger but a borderline negative asset as a 3c factoring in the points drop off and the defence. Holmberg on the other hand isn’t very good as a winger and other guys do it better but as a center there’s at least a little bit of usefulness even if he’s not great. Even if he’s not a good 3c, he has chemistry with Robertson and McMann, he makes the line better defensively and he isn’t a liability.

 

[PanniniClaus]

Holmberg is not a proper C and is mostly a cardio merchant. I appreciate his defense / effort and versatility I guess but he just eats minutes and doesn't do much else, a few decent games of late doesn't really change that for me. Third line was a weakness in last year's playoffs as well.

Other contenders have 3Cs that have a bit of an 'x factor' or edge to them and can produce 35-40 pts while playing shutdown D, like Adam Lowry, Nic Roy, Lundell, J.Staal, etc. Then there's Dallas who has Wyatt freakin Johnston as their 3C, an embarrassment of riches. Meanwhile we still don't know who the hell is full-time 3C between Domi, Holmberg, Laughton lol.

Fully agree - the trade we made was supposed to address this specific issue and it did not. So my vote is Holmberg to make the best of a bad situation.

 

[tmlms13]

Buffalo was on a pretty big heater before getting swept on their recent road trip..... And it wasn't all bottom teams they were beating

Wins vs Car, TB, Ottx2, WSH, WPG, VGK, EDM

Don't take them lightly

 

[howlman]

UPL starting for the sabres tonight

Light up my boy Leafs

 

[TheDoldrums]

With the Leafs starting next Sunday, that would mean that Stolarz likely gets 5 days of rest between games.

Not bad. Wonder how tempted they / he will be to want the Thursday start against Detroit.

if they need it for the division, I'd say very!

 

[glue]

Loving the new lines. Domi in the top 6 with a couple of shooters should give us some extra juice. The bottom 6 gets much more organized and should get a boost with McMann at LW. Holmberg is a better defensive 3c then Domi as well imo.

I too agree, but are we sure he’s sticking with those lines? Were there any line rushes ?

 

[Zman5778]

Buffalo was on a pretty big heater before getting swept on their recent road trip..... And it wasn't all bottom teams they were beating

Wins vs Car, TB, Ottx2, WSH, WPG, VGK, EDM

Don't take them lightly

To be fair -- a LOT of that was James Reimer playing like he was the 2nd coming of Hasek. Seriously. We didn't deserve to win half of those games.

Good luck tonight and in the playoffs.

I'd say please embarass us tonight............but even if we get embarassed, nothing would change here, so...............................

 

[Cleetus]

Dang I am sad 2 games left, for me it feels like the season just started lol

 

[tmlms13]

To be fair -- a LOT of that was James Reimer playing like he was the 2nd coming of Hasek. Seriously. We didn't deserve to win half of those games.

Good luck tonight and in the playoffs.

I'd say please embarass us tonight............but even if we get embarassed, nothing would change here, so...............................

If you guys win the lottery, can you please draft Schaefer.

Erik Johnson and Aaron Ekblad are both UFAs.... I think you know where I'm going

 

[Fogelhund]

Agreed. Domi is not the answer at 3C.
I would rather have the upside of Domi’s offence in a top 6 winger. As opposed the the perceived dropoff with Homberg at 3C.

Domi is going to have to be our answer for 3C, at least for this year.

It's a situation we will have to address in the off season now.

 

[Budz]

Domi is going to have to be our answer for 3C, at least for this year.

It's a situation we will have to address in the off season now.

I respectfully disagree and hope that we do not play him at 3C especially against heavier/physical teams in the playoffs.

He does not have the defensive chops to hold up 200ft and then generate anything positive in the ozone. He will get caved in - and even at best case, will spend too many calories defending. He will have nothing left to drive the play in the ozone consistently enough.

I’m confident in that.

 

[Fogelhund]

I respectfully disagree and hope that we do not play him at 3C especially against heavier/physical teams in the playoffs.

He does not have the defensive chops to hold up 200ft and then generate anything positive in the ozone. He will get caved in - and even at best case, will spend too many calories defending. He will have nothing left to drive the play in the ozone consistently enough.

I’m confident in that.

That's a fair comment, yet McMann-Domi-Robertson have put in 58.8% of the goals, when they are on the ice together, averaging a decent 2.73 goals/60 These three have had some very good success together, and I'm hoping that carries into the playoffs, while the top two lines can as well.

Robertson - Holmberg- McMann look better from an expected goals perspective, but haven't really been successful at scoring.. one goal in 51 minutes together.

The thing is, a lineup sheet at the start of the game, can be changed at any time, and isn't a commitment for the whole series.

 

[HockeyVirus]

Buffalo are going to play us hard. IMO this is the best game to prepare us for the Senators. They will want to stop us from clinching the division, and their barn will be full of our fans.

I expect the Sabres to be flying tonight. Leafs gotta weather the storm and take an early lead. Buffalo will quit after that.

 

[The Hanging Jowl]

Domi is going to have to be our answer for 3C, at least for this year.

It's a situation we will have to address in the off season now.

Man I'd love to have him back.

 

[ACC1224]

I wonder how many fans will make the trek? I don't know anyone who will go to the US any more.

 

[Budz]

That's a fair comment, yet McMann-Domi-Robertson have put in 58.8% of the goals, when they are on the ice together, averaging a decent 2.73 goals/60 These three have had some very good success together, and I'm hoping that carries into the playoffs, while the top two lines can as well.

Robertson - Holmberg- McMann look better from an expected goals perspective, but haven't really been successful at scoring.. one goal in 51 minutes together.

The thing is, a lineup sheet at the start of the game, can be changed at any time, and isn't a commitment for the whole series.

…and I appreciate you providing stats and facts to support your discussion. It’s helpful and refreshing.

My only comeback with the stats / is that an average number across many games, including bad teams and non heavy teams.

Those numbers do nothing when we are playing a singular and heavy team. Like Florida.

I promise you, Domi at 3C vs Florida with Robertson riding shotgun will never end well. There are no stats that will convince me otherwise but again commend your approach here.

 

[Suntouchable13]

Is it possible to finish this off with no drama?

 

[Mr_Fun]

I wonder how many fans will make the trek? I don't know anyone who will go to the US any more.

My wife bought tickets for an Alaskan cruise with her friend back in September. She's only going because she can't get a refund.

 

[notbias]

I wonder how many fans will make the trek? I don't know anyone who will go to the US any more.

It's shocking to me how upset people are because they were told to be upset.