Maple Leafs 2018 - 19

Precisely, gives the illusion that more teams have a winning record.

It's a bad system right now cause it encourages teams to make it to OT to guarantee a point and play for the bonus point. 3 points in regulation rather than winning in OT when you only get 2 will push teams to go out and try to win it in regulation. Makes playoff races truly playoff races. All games are worth the same value. That will tell you who the true .500 teams are.
 
who cares. it's a nothing game. I want to see Rosen play. He'll probably be a regular next year because his contract is cheap.
 
It's pretty painful to watch this team right now. Sparks was horrid. Our D is a mess. How many times are we going to witness Zaitsev throw it up the middle in his own end? Marincin, this guy should be playing in a beer league. Ugh.
 
It's pretty painful to watch this team right now. Sparks was horrid. Our D is a mess. How many times are we going to witness Zaitsev throw it up the middle in his own end? Marincin, this guy should be playing in a beer league. Ugh.

Ya, it’s not looking good. With four games left and were about to limp into the playoffs.

They rely too much on their talent. This team won’t be able to win without miracles and luck.

I would match the Tavares line against Pastrnak. If that doesn’t work, try the third line. If that fails then try Matthews.

Don’t get me started on the d pairing. At least the offensive lines seem pretty optimized now.
 
It's a guarantee Tavaras line will play vs Bergeron. Tavaras doesn't have the foot speed to defend but he's got the veteran savvy and smarts. Forget Matthews. His line will get crushed by Bergeron. Kadri may be the secondary shut down. You don't want Nylander checking anyone. Let alone Marchand. Marleau may be old but he's got a star brain and Kapanen has speed to back check.

Matthews first 2 years he was a 5 on 5 beast. This year he is a minus. The common denominator there is Hyman. His forecheck and board work is amazing. I'd say elite.

Dermott looked good but he was a minus 3. Good thing he has a few games to get his game going. Gardner hopefully can get a game or two as well otherwise getting himself up to speed during the playoffs could be a disaster.

Sparks won't be playing in the playoffs so don't worry about him. It's Andersen or bust.
 
Also Matthews doesn't appear to be good at faceoffs and Bergeron is one of the best so that alone is a bad matchup. Bergeron will be better at stopping Matthews than Matthews will be at stopping Bergeron.
 
Also Matthews doesn't appear to be good at faceoffs and Bergeron is one of the best so that alone is a bad matchup. Bergeron will be better at stopping Matthews than Matthews will be at stopping Bergeron.

Ya, that was my third and last choice. I’d definitely go with my first two.

Depth gives you the option of freeing another line. I don’t care if the first or third line doesn’t score holding Pastrnak’s line in check and the leafs other lines can score.

Getting Tavares gives us this option that we did not have last time due to the Kadri suspension. If only Babcock doesn’t fuck this up by out coaching himself.
 
I doubt Pasternak's line can be held in check by anyone. It's up to Matthew's line to make up the difference.
 
Matthews first 2 years he was a 5 on 5 beast. This year he is a minus. Dermott looked good but he was a minus 3.

Plus/Minus is an archaic statistic that means little to nothing.
 
Leafs clinch a playoff spot and will be playing the Bruins. Time to rest some players. Leafs played a much better defensive game, still have to work out some fine details. This young Leafs team has to learn that in the playoffs hardwork and grit will win games, then the skill will eventually take over. Looks like Freddy may sit out until Saturday's game vs Montreal and that could be an elimination game for Montreal, a playoff type game that could be a good test for the Leafs before heading to the playoffs.
 
Maybe, maybe not. Don't forget the Edmonton Oilers got pushed around in the early 80's, then they got it together. However the Leafs don't have a Mark Messier to step up.

Calle Rosen will make the defence better. Justin Holl has the physical stature to be solid defenseman, unfortunately he's dead from the neck up.

The NY Inslanders have the worst attendance in the NHL, thanks to Barclay's. Their South European/Jewish, Nassau County fan base boycotted the arena. That's why Tavares left. Tavares was in the same echelon as John Tonelli, Mike Bossy and Mathieu Schneider as fans idols. Love turned to hate when he left.

Dean Martin, Jim Brown, Billy Joel, Jerry Sinefeld and Howard Stern were all born in Nassau County. Also, the Almighty Ba Ba Booey was born there and is an Islanders fan.

 
Plus/Minus is an archaic statistic that means little to nothing.

When you are on the ice and the other team scores it is all the fault of the other players each and every time I get your logic
 
Where did everyone go who said Leafs can't beat big bruising teams? Leafs dished it out as well as they took it.

Taking out Holl Marincin Oz makes a huge difference. Rosen looks good. Dermott also
 
Defensemen take longer to develop, Rosen needed two years in the AHL. If he were not recuperating Anders Borgman would be up as well.

superstar_88, why do you call John, Tavaras?