Nylander88
Registered User
Tavares has been good this series. Gonna need him to show up Sunday night
Tavares
- Thread starter BrannigansLaw
- Start date
IMO he’s been our 2nd best player so far, though it’s very arguable - Matthews the clear #1, then close between a bunch of other guys. But he’s been competing hard, playing pretty physical, scoring clutch goals, rarely making mistakes, great on faceoffs, I’ve been liking his game. Hope he performs in game 5, really need everyone at their best.
Also, that JT/Matthews/Marner line is crazy dominant, generates prime scoring chances at a ridiculous rate. Obviously it kind of cripples lines 2/3, but it’s a damn good weapon to have when we need goals.
Also, that JT/Matthews/Marner line is crazy dominant, generates prime scoring chances at a ridiculous rate. Obviously it kind of cripples lines 2/3, but it’s a damn good weapon to have when we need goals.
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saffronleaf
Registered User
I think we still have enough talent to put together a good 2nd, 3rd & 4th line.
JT - Matthews - Marner
Hyman - Nylander - Kapanen
Robertson - Kerfoot - Mikheyev
Clifford - Engvall - Spezza
Something like that maybe?
Yeah, that's what we were mostly rolling last game when JT - Matthews - Marner were together. It's certainly decent, though a significant step down on the 2nd line, and slight step down on the 3rd, from:
Mikheyev - Tavares - Nylander
Robertson - Kerfoot - Kapanen
One advantage to the JT - Matthews - Marner line against the Jackets, though, is that while all of their lines are good defensively, they don't really have a prime shutdown 5-man unit, so loading up a single line works pretty well. Like I wouldn't try that against the Bruins, Marchand/Bergeron/Pasta/Chara/McAvoy would still get the better of them, but against a more balanced lineup like Columbus, I don't mind going with the one super line, and just trying to have the other lines roughly break even.
JT is bringing the thunder on the ice this series. I still want to see more from his leadership, the club has looked way too lifeless for long stretches, but let's see what he can do now that they've got a taste of what they're capable of. He may not be the guy who can shake them out of a deep funk, but he can lead well enough if they get hot and ride a wave.
Menzinger
Kessel4LadyByng
According to NHL Starting Goalies, Line Combinations, and Fantasy Hockey Tools | leftwinglock.com, these were our even strength line combos last game:
TAVARES - MARNER - MATTHEWS => 17.9%
KAPANEN - HYMAN - NYLANDER => 15.5%
CLIFFORD - SPEZZA - ENGVALL => 15.1%
MATTHEWS - HYMAN - MARNER => 13.1%
ROBERTSON - KERFOOT - MIKHEYEV => 8.3%
ROBERTSON - NYLANDER - TAVARES => 7.9%
MIKHEYEV - KERFOOT - KAPANEN => 5.2%
ENGVALL - KERFOOT - MIKHEYEV => 2.8%
KAPANEN - NYLANDER - TAVARES => 2.4%
ROBERTSON - KERFOOT - MATTHEWS => 1.2%
So that quoted post was indeed what we just went with, for the majority of the game. Though of course there were plenty of other combos, as there always are. But it did look great during "crunch time", and decent throughout the game, in general (I do think we were playing decently throughout the game, and were a bit unlucky to be down 3-0).
At the very least, it's a good "comeback" lineup, where we play the shit out of that top line if we really need goal(s).
“Big 3” line again tonight. After 1 period, it looks terrific again, but Tavares is really missed on the 2nd line, it was useless. Personally, I think it’s probably better to go back to 2 dangerous lines, swapping Tavares and Hyman. The top line is deadly, but the other 3 lines are generating very little offensively.
A1LeafNation
Good, is simply not good enough!
- Oct 17, 2010
- 27,858
- 18,079
Tavares think about that open net all summer.
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DitchMarner
TheGlitchintheSwitch
To me he looked like TOR's best forward in game five. Unfortunately nothing he shot went in.
That said, he should have made a better shot on that chance where he hit the post.
That said, he should have made a better shot on that chance where he hit the post.
Duke Silver
Truce?
Smirnov2Chistov
Fire Greg Cronin!
LeafsNation75
Registered User
It sucks that it was Tavares who hit the post like that because he's the captain and we all expect him to score on a chance like that. I'm also sure he was disappointed with himself that he did that.
Although I guess if Auston Matthews did the same thing we would have the same reaction.
Tavares was fine during this series.
unfortunately, some islander fans still have not moved on and are still lurking around here, hoping he fails..pretty sad I must say
unfortunately, some islander fans still have not moved on and are still lurking around here, hoping he fails..pretty sad I must say
LeafsNation75
Registered User
When Toronto lost Game 3 and Game 5, the Islanders fans were going onto the Leafs-Blue Jackets series thread posting how happy they were since he made the mistake the overtime game they lost. So I agree it was sad because I thought they were over him leaving and I guess that's not true.
Duanesutter12
Member of Lou's Orchestra
Isles fan here. I see a lot of people saying "he isn't flashy" or "he's a meat and potatoes player" and while I get the analogy I think it's misguided. He is incredibly hard to knock off the puck and can dictate play & dazzle in his own end but he's got one Achilles heel which he's always had- skating! He has always been slow and it hurts him in any kind of transition game. He is noticeably slower watching him on the Leafs now.
Tavares is a great team guy on and off the ice but he's a different kind of superstar, not one that should have the C on his chest. He's an extremely hard worker and while that sets a great example he is a really awkward communicator which doesn't lend itself to being a leader. I wish the best for him because he was great on LI!
Tavares is a great team guy on and off the ice but he's a different kind of superstar, not one that should have the C on his chest. He's an extremely hard worker and while that sets a great example he is a really awkward communicator which doesn't lend itself to being a leader. I wish the best for him because he was great on LI!
Duanesutter12
Member of Lou's Orchestra
Again, I love the guy but I can understand Isles fans being upset about the way he left. This goes to my point about him being a really awkward communicator. He botched the way he left in a way that was irreparable for some fans. To be fair, we have some complete morons that still yell in his face when he's in the penalty box. That is inexcusable and embarrassing for the rest of us! But some remaining bitterness about how he left? That is also fair and on his shoulders.
He can be better and I think he will be. But if he doesn't get back to himself, that contract is scary bad.
The Shadow
Registered User
- Feb 9, 2013
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thewave
Registered User
- Jun 17, 2011
- 42,621
- 13,036
WN and Patches are awesome linemates. It's a 1st line in most markets so long as Patches is playing 100% healthy (for how long)
