Merrrlin
Grab the 9 iron, Barry!
- Jul 2, 2019
- 6,768
- 6,925
One of the main storylines, from my point of view, is how poorly we did converting on our chances during this qualifier series.
Many will talk about how Toronto needs to improve it's defence, and there is merit to that...but there is more to this story.
Let's first take a look at some stats.
Team:
[TBODY]
[/TBODY]POSITIVES
Players:
For a frame of reference...
This list goes on.
No offence generated from the D was a problem all series. This brings me around to Keefe.
Coaching
Many will talk about how Toronto needs to improve it's defence, and there is merit to that...but there is more to this story.
Let's first take a look at some stats.
Team:
Team | CF% | FF% | GF% | xGF% | SCF% | SCGF% | SCSH% | SCSV% | HDCF% | HDSH% | HDSV% | SH% | SV% | PDO | |
1 | Toronto Maple Leafs | 53.05 | 52.67 | 23.08 | 55.15 | 55.09 | 37.5 | 2.05 | 95.8 | 59.26 | 4.17 | 93.94 | 1.97 | 92.42 | 0.944 |
2 | Columbus Blue Jackets | 46.95 | 47.33 | 76.92 | 44.85 | 44.91 | 62.5 | 4.2 | 97.95 | 40.74 | 6.06 | 95.83 | 7.58 | 98.03 | 1.056 |
- Toronto was able to generate more chances, and quite a few more high danger chances 5v5.
- Toronto was also able to control the puck better, and dictated play for the majority of the series.
- Toronto could not capitalize, with a 2% lower scoring chance and high danger chance shooting %.
- Toronto could not get the big saves, with a significantly lower save% for all chance types at 5v5.
Players:
- While the big 4 did carry play often during this series, they were still only able to combine for a 0.85 p/gp pace. This is only 70 points each in an 82 game season. Obviously the strength of Columbus' defensive structure flattens the high end possibilities for this number, but if you compare results and salaries, it is a landslide victory for Columbus in those matchups. Their investment in containing the big 4 is minuscule compared to the investment Toronto made for that 0.85 p/gp result.
- Tavares seemed much more dangerous as a winger. 3 points in 5 gp is simply not good enough.
- Kapanen absolutely needs to be helping more than 2 pts in 5gp. That's a 30pt pace for a player that had 25ish goal expectations this season.
- Rielly dissapeared for most of the series, and Barrie was awful. Imagine your two top defensive defencemen combining for 1 point in 10 games.
- Pierre Engvall, Jason Spezza and Ilya Mikheyev combined for 0 points in 15gp...
For a frame of reference...
- Quinn Hughes had 6p in 4GP against a very stingy Minnesota Wild team.
- Ryan Pulock had 4p in 4GP.
- Shea Weber had 4p in 4GP.
- Miro Heiskanen had 4p in 3GP against much tougher competition.
- David Savard had 3p in 5GP.
- Chris Tanev, a defensive specialist, had 4p in 4GP.
This list goes on.
No offence generated from the D was a problem all series. This brings me around to Keefe.
Coaching
- Why did Robertson get the boot after playing well for the first 4 games? Why mess with the chemistry?
- Why did Sandin not see any ice when it was obvious the team needed better transition opportunities and more offence?
- I will give a plus for moving Tavares to the wing. This is where I think he should stay, I am quite a fan of his game on the wing.
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