Pre-Game Talk: Monday gezame: Toronto Maple Leafs vs New Jersey Devils

[Teeder Keon]

I think from an entertainment standpoint, this one might be lezame. Of course, I'll watch all the sezame.

 

[Coachcorner]

I think from an entertainment standpoint, this one might be lezame. Of course, I'll watch all the sezame.

Me too sisire. I'm not drinking during this one, but only tomorrow I's will. And its the same game also tomorrow doublicated

 

[zeke]

it's tough to make up ground when you need 3 out of every 4 points just to keep pace. Really seems like a bigger imbalance than usual between the top and bottom teams, at least in the East. Some seasons we would be leading the entire league with our PT%

It does seem that way and maybe i is, but it's more likely just small-sample (i.e. half-season) noise.

The Leafs are at a 117pt pace so far.


Last 15yrs Top-5 points (pace) teams:

* = ~40gms in, 1/2 of a regular season
** = 56gm season, 2/3 of a regular season
*** = ~70gm season, 7/8 of a regular season
**** = 48gm season, 3/5 of a regular season


21-22*: 1. COL 128, 2. CAR 125, 3. FLA 122, 4. TOR 117, 5. MIN 117
20-21**: 1. COL 120, 2. VGK 120, 3. CAR 117, 4. FLA 116, 5. PIT 113
19-20***: 1. BOS 117, 2. STL 109, 3. COL 108, 4. TBL 108, 5. WSH 107
18-19: 1. TBL 128, 2. CGY 107, 3. BOS 107, 4. WSH 104, 5. NYI 103
17-18: 1. NSH 117, 2. WPG 114, 3. TBL 113, 4. BOS 112, 5. VGK 109
16-17: 1. WSH 118, 2. PIT 111, 3. CHI 109, 4. CBJ 108, 5. MIN 106
15-16: 1. WSH 120, 2. DAL 109, 3. STL 107, 4. PIT 104, 5. CHI 103
14-15: 1. NYR 113, 2. MTL 110, 3. ANA 109, 4. STL 109, 5. TBL 108
13-14: 1. BOS 117, 2. ANA 116, 3. COL 112, 4. STL 111, 5. SJS 111
12-13****: 1. CHI 132, 2. PIT 123, 3. ANA 113, 4. MTL 108, 5. BOS 106
11-12: 1. VAN 111, 2. NYR 109, 3. STL 109, 4. PIT 108, 5. NSH 104
10-11: 1. VAN 117, 2. WSH 107, 3. PHI 106, 4. PIT 106, 5. SJS 105
09-10: 1. WSH 121, 2. SJS 113, 3. CHI 112, 4. PHX 107, 5. VAN 103
08-09: 1. SJS 117, 2. BOS 116, 3. DET 112, 4. WSH 108, 5. NJD 106
07-08: 1. DET 115, 2. SJS 108, 3. MTL 104, 4. PIT 102, 5. ANA 102
06-07: 1. BUF 113, 2. DET 113, 3. NSH 110, 4. ANA 110, 5. SJS 107
05-06: 1. DET 124, 2. OTT 113, 3. DAL 112, 4. CAR 112, 5. BUF 110


So the only time this kind of pace hasn't been good enough for at least 2nd best in hockey is during signficiantly shortened seasons, which probably indicates that those seasons were just small sample varations, like this half season so far has been, and that not all the top teams will be able to maintain that pace over the full season.

So the question becomes - which of the top teams is playing the most sustainable brand of hockey?

Based on the underlying numbers, the Leafs are arguably playing the most sustainable brand of any of the top teams, so that's encouraging.

 

[TheBeastCoast]

Yea, I don't think I wrote that right... anyyway, it is 50% or 500 with 500 being the max... I think that was MLSE's thinking too, not worth it. They may invite some groups here and there. They have three more home games in that window. We should see the 50% at the Minnesota game on Feb 24 and I would imagine 100% sometime in March.

At this point I just want us to be at 100% for game 1 of the playoffs lol everything before then is gravy

 

[ACC1224]

Damn, was hoping for the 7pm start tonight.

 

[egd27]

So the "new" lines didn't work for 2 whole periods and the experiment is over? Wonder who made that decision

 

[LeafChief]

From an interest and entertainment value I don 't believe these next 2 games against the Devils is going to provide much.

Good opportunity for some stats padding for the Leafs as these games should be over early.

I love how you post this nonsense in every GDT so that if they win you can say you were right and if they lose you can trash them for 'losing a game they should have easily won'.

Isn't this type of behaviour something we should be looking to remove from the forum? Isn't that your main focus as Global Moderator?

 

[ACC1224]

I love how you post this nonsense in every GDT so that if they win you can say you were right and if they lose you can trash them for 'losing a game they should have easily won'.

Isn't this type of behaviour something we should be looking to remove from the forum? Isn't that your main focus as Global Moderator?

Nothing wrong with their post. You should use the 'Report' button if you have an issue with it though.

 

[ShaneFalco]

So the "new" lines didn't work for 2 whole periods and the experiment is over? Wonder who made that decision

Somehow it's not at all surprising
But why even bother trying?

 

[kevsh]

So the "new" lines didn't work for 2 whole periods and the experiment is over? Wonder who made that decision

Shuffling lines is Keefe's way of deflecting by not holding any players accountable for their mistakes, really bad plays, missed coverage or being outworked. If he wonders why his team is soft, maybe he should look at how he coddles them as a clue?

 

[Dekes For Days]

I can't believe people are actually upset that we're going back to our more ideal lineup, when the lines we tried out looked bad and the old lines just triggered a multi-goal 3rd period comeback.

 

[666]

it's tough to make up ground when you need 3 out of every 4 points just to keep pace. Really seems like a bigger imbalance than usual between the top and bottom teams, at least in the East. Some seasons we would be leading the entire league with our PT%

This sort of thing is going to happen during expansion, covid and frozen caps.

 

[egd27]

I can't believe people are actually upset that we're going back to our more ideal lineup, when the lines we tried out looked bad and the old lines just triggered a multi-goal 3rd period comeback.

I suppose if you want to just look at the surface, your POV makes sense.

 

[Voodoo Child]

 

[CantLoseWithMatthews]

so the Devils goalie is some guy named Akira Schmid, who has a .824 save percentage in 4 games this year

 

[LeafalCrusader]

so the Devils goalie is some guy named Akira Schmid, who has a .824 save percentage in 4 games this year

Incoming 45 save night for the guy.

 

[Dekes For Days]

I suppose if you want to just look at the surface, your POV makes sense.

My POV makes sense when looking at everything. What do you believe is "under the surface" that leads you to a different POV?

 

[LeafChief]

 

[egd27]

My POV makes sense when looking at everything. What do you believe is "under the surface" that leads you to a different POV?

Well, you would think that Keefe must have believed the new combos were a good idea if he implemented them, but he only stuck with them for 40 mins (approx)

If Keefe actually believed in the new combos, it seems odd to me that he would expect them to not need some time to develop.

So I wonder if he actually thought up the new lines by himself or was it someone else's idea that he just went along with?
If it was his idea, why did he just give up on them because it didn't work right away, or was he somehow influenced by others to revert back to the familiar lines?

 

[zeke]

At least we'd have home ice advantage!

 

[Judas Tavares]

In terms of entertainment value, correct me if I'm wrong. But I feel like Devils games in recent years have provided strange OT wins with I believe Willy scoring twice on weird circumstances. As well as a lot of messy wins with a lot of goals, very similar to the last game in Detroit. A lot of "Nice that we scored a bunch and won but those extra few goals-against late ruined the night for me" type of posts in the PGT kind of games. Again I could be wrong, but that is what recent Devils games have felt like.

 

[Zybalto]

Well, you would think that Keefe must have believed the new combos were a good idea if he implemented them, but he only stuck with them for 40 mins (approx)

If Keefe actually believed in the new combos, it seems odd to me that he would expect them to not need some time to develop.

So I wonder if he actually thought up the new lines by himself or was it someone else's idea that he just went along with?
If it was his idea, why did he just give up on them because it didn't work right away, or was he somehow influenced by others to revert back to the familiar lines?

Since they played the full game prior, they were used for 100 minutes (and he probably wanted more) which is a pretty good look away from regular lines. He felt he had to make the switch after that awful 2nd, it was the right choice at the time and he is going back to the optimal lineup.

Nothing too controversial here. He also said he's going to be mixing things up again through the rest of the season.

 

[Mattfan02]

Win these 2 games and we're up 11 points ahead of Boston

 

[AvroArrow]

Hate to ask but what is 'gezame' and how do you pronounce it? Rhymes with sesame?

I think it's pronounced "Giz-aim"

Had no idea there was even a game today, gonna be a good Monday (I hope) We should have this fairly easily. I like going back to the original lines. The new line combos weren't really working against Detroit, we dominated the game once Keefe went back to these lines. Huge back to back opportunity. Boston lost, we have 2 games in hand. Getting 4 points here would give us a comfortable cushion over them for 3rd in the Atlantic. With the games in hand we may even jump up to 2nd if we play well enough.

 

[ACC1224]

Well, you would think that Keefe must have believed the new combos were a good idea if he implemented them, but he only stuck with them for 40 mins (approx)

If Keefe actually believed in the new combos, it seems odd to me that he would expect them to not need some time to develop.

So I wonder if he actually thought up the new lines by himself or was it someone else's idea that he just went along with?
If it was his idea, why did he just give up on them because it didn't work right away, or was he somehow influenced by others to revert back to the familiar lines?

I love the "great coaching, they needed to have new lines ready to go for the playoffs and now is the time to try it."
It lasts two periods, "great coaching, those lines weren't working smart to go back to what works".

Love this place.