Once again, skidding into the playoffs...

[notDatsyuk]

When were the Leafs playing sub .500 hockey? They have 43 wins in 71 games.

When you cherry pick a small sample size like five games or cherry pick obscure stats like their record on Thursdays and then make a blanket proclamation based on that, it really has no credibility.

It was 10 games, which is reasonably close to relevant.

If they had gone something like 2-8, then 'skid' would be appropriate, but they were still 4-5-1, which is a bump, but certainly no reason for such hyperbole.

 

[notDatsyuk]

This thread should be merged with the "future is bleak" thread.

And then moved to the main board.

 

[mclaren55]

The Leafs past five games are significantly closer to the playoffs, and they’re 4-1. Doesn’t exactly seem like “skidding” into the post season.

5-4-1 now, .500 hockey, still below the season average. That's a skid. Why not look at March in total if you want? 6-7, that's not great, right?

As pointed out earlier in this thread though, there isn't a correlation (apparently) between final 10 games played and playoff success. I just find it concerning that this team manages to lose to the worst team in the league twice in a month, and is playing .460 hockey in the month of March.

So if .460 hockey in March isn't skidding after posting up a remarkable February, I'm not sure what it would be classified as to you; a return the mean maybe?

 

[mclaren55]

It was 10 games, which is reasonably close to relevant.

If they had gone something like 2-8, then 'skid' would be appropriate, but they were still 4-5-1, which is a bump, but certainly no reason for such hyperbole.

I guess that subjective, but I understand your point. Fair enough, I thought a skid wasn't really much hyperbole given the context of the dichotomy of play between February and March.

 

[Punch Drunk Loov]

The good news is that I can't take losing to Ottawa in round 1 anyways.

 

[Jojalu]

5-4-1 now, .500 hockey, still below the season average. That's a skid. Why not look at March in total if you want? 6-7, that's not great, right?

As pointed out earlier in this thread though, there isn't a correlation (apparently) between final 10 games played and playoff success. I just find it concerning that this team manages to lose to the worst team in the league twice in a month, and is playing .460 hockey in the month of March.

So if .460 hockey in March isn't skidding after posting up a remarkable February, I'm not sure what it would be classified as to you; a return the mean maybe?

They are playing pretty mid right now.

It's infuriating that their goaltending was so good to start the year while they were struggling to score and now it has reversed. Just put both together for a stretch. Hopefully it happens come playoffs. Lol

 

[BallardEra]

They had 1 more point last season than they have this season after 72 games:


Last year:

GF: 266
GA: 227


This year:

GF: 236
GA: 216

 

[mclaren55]

They had 1 more point last season than they have this season after 72 games:


Last year:

GF: 266
GA: 227


This year:

GF: 236
GA: 216

And we finished 10th overall. Let's hope history doesn't repeat itself. Also, for such great goaltending/defense this year I would have expected a bigger differential vs. last year in GA, interesting. Imagine if we had a healthy Matthews this year.

 

[Racer88]

It was 10 games, which is reasonably close to relevant.

If they had gone something like 2-8, then 'skid' would be appropriate, but they were still 4-5-1, which is a bump, but certainly no reason for such hyperbole.

If they had gone 2-8 the playoffs wouldn’t even be in the cards……just saying.
Lol

 

[Racer88]

And we finished 10th overall. Let's hope history doesn't repeat itself. Also, for such great goaltending/defense this year I would have expected a bigger differential vs. last year in GA, interesting. Imagine if we had a healthy Matthews this year.

What’s wrong with Matthews………a year long injury, what’s with that.
I think it’s just an excuse for his poor play

 

[mclaren55]

What’s wrong with Matthews………a year long injury, what’s with that.
I think it’s just an excuse for his poor play

His wrist shot release speed is down 10mph this year apparently, which would probably point towards a nagging injury.

 

[Racer88]

Well now they're 5-5 in their last ten and it's even closer to the playoffs so things are looking way up!

Ya, now they are a .500 team that should march us all the way to the cup

 

[Ianturnedbull]

Can someone please explain how the defense is improved?

Not on paper, with statistics.

Goaltending, 100% agree, this could actually be a difference maker, hot goaltending can steal series.

They've been good at holding leads.

 

[Racer88]

His wrist shot release speed is down 10mph this year apparently, which would probably point towards a nagging injury.

Then why the hell doesn’t he get it fixed instead of death but a thousand cuts let’s rip the bandaid off this sucker

 

[The Shadow]

Then why the hell doesn’t he get it fixed instead of death but a thousand cuts let’s rip the bandaid off this sucker

Probably surgery after the playoffs

 

[Racer88]

Probably surgery after the playoffs

So pretty soon then……..in April

 

[The Shadow]

So pretty soon then……..in April

Whenever their season ends which we don’t know that answer

 

[Nineteen67]

His wrist shot release speed is down 10mph this year apparently, which would probably point towards a nagging injury.

Not sure if hip or shoulder but I bet he has a labrum issue….he can’t skate and can’t shoot like he should.

Why didn’t he get it done after the 4N and let them use his cap space?

 

[notbias]

They've been good at holding leads.

They've been good in other seasons. This is not new.

If they have losses leading after 2 in other seasons, it is usually OT, which doesn't translate to the playoffs.

They are 30-1-1 when leading after 2, and the last three seasons they were 37-2-5, 35-3-3, and 40-1-3.

We are 7-2 in OT. Is that the big difference?

The last three seasons we were 8-8, 7-9, 6-6.

Geniunely don't know if that is why the record is better, but I just don't put much weight in OT/shootouts.

 

[Sypher04]

Not sure if hip or shoulder but I bet he has a labrum issue….he can’t skate and can’t shoot like he should.

Why didn’t he get it done after the 4N and let them use his cap space?

The assumption I’ve made is the expected recovery time from any surgery he needs is long enough that they don’t want to chance him being unavailable for the playoffs. Even Matthews in his currently limited form is better than 99% of the rest of the NHL. I think they see it as too important a year to roll the dice on his playoff availability. That’s just my best guess.

 

[Maple Leaf]

ok leafs can they beat the sens

 

[notDatsyuk]

If they had gone 2-8 the playoffs wouldn’t even be in the cards……just saying.
Lol

That's only a difference of 5 points, which would still have us in the first wild card spot, which would much better qualify as "skidding into the playoffs".

 

[Nineteen67]

The assumption I’ve made is the expected recovery time from any surgery he needs is long enough that they don’t want to chance him being unavailable for the playoffs. Even Matthews in his currently limited form is better than 99% of the rest of the NHL. I think they see it as too important a year to roll the dice on his playoff availability. That’s just my best guess.

I doubt it’s too bad or he would have had it done. Surgery and recovery can take 6 months to a year which could jeopardize the Olympics.

 

[Fogelhund]

Then why the hell doesn’t he get it fixed instead of death but a thousand cuts let’s rip the bandaid off this sucker

Getting it fixed likely means season ending surgery. Even with him at a compromised state, the team is better with him, than without. He'll likely have surgery shortly after the season ends.

 

[arso40]

I doubt it’s too bad or he would have had it done. Surgery and recovery can take 6 months to a year which could jeopardize the Olympics.

Not unless it’s something that happened in preseason or to start the year then he would be doing what he is now