Couldn't agree more with O-Dog. Stop with the same old already and scrap the idiotic back pass. It doesn't need to happen every stinking time they attempt zone entry.
The backpass can work, but not if you do it every single rush. And, worse, telegraph when you're going to do it. Hell, these guys will do it multiple times on the same rush. The absolute worst is when they drop it back to the last player. Now he is skating forward while the rest of the team is standing still near the blue line. So he not only has to go around the four defenders, but his own four guys clogging the zone. And, if it's turned over (which happens far too often), it's a breakaway going the other way because one guy is moving forward while the rest are flat-footed. Even if they do get it in, the only player moving forward with any kind of speed is the puck carrier, so the defense can quickly converge on him because he has no options and no support. I don't know how to find the stat, but they have to have been near the bottom of the league on zone entries on the powerplay. There is no urgency on their rush either, it's so lackadaisical, and worse, predictable. They are making things so easy for the Bruins on the PK, who are already a pretty damn good PK team.
Think it was last game where Riley got by two guys in the neutral zone, had plenty of space to gain entry. And instead of taking that space, he slowed down, turned around, and dropped it back.
True. The drop pass is a cool idea, but it's only useful if you use it once in a while and have multiple zone-entry plays. When the opposition knows you only have one play, they can lock it down too easily.
PP1: Willy, Domi, Knies, Tavares, Mccabe PP2: Marner, Bertuzzi, Jarnkrok, Robertson, Reilly Seems a lot more balanced and changes the dynamic. PP1 can’t establish any control or cycle, and they can barely enter the zone. Changes are needed
Marner will have a monster game seven vs Boston with a goal and two assists, Domi will put in a Max effort again and do to the Bruins what he did to them when he was with Carolina in game seven. The d is going to keep the B's to the outside and letting Woll see the puck, and if Woll can see the puck, he'll stop it. The forwards are going to continue to drop down low to help out their d, and stop the cycle, and not get caught cheating for offense. Knies is going to have another massive game, and the Leafs are finally going to get a couple on the PP, and the Leafs win game Seven 4-2. Keys to the game: 1. No stupid penalties, Don't let Marchand get under your skin. 2. All forwards must drop back to help out their d, and the d gotta keep everything to the outside as they did the last couple of games. 3. Keep playing a simple game, none of this fancy crap where you turn the puck over and it ends up in the back of your net. One more game of wanting it more and out willing and working the B's and this game is yours. May your last effort be your best effort. Leave nothing in the tank boys, you've got this. Go Leafs Go
That backpass they do 90% of the time is absolutely ridiculous and every other team knows its coming. Have the guy whos gunna bump it back just go to the line and dump it but actually fxxxing chase the puck after. Get it back up to the D and look for a screen shot. And if Matthews is back there is no more 70 goals to get to...quit expecting him to score every goal and shoot the puck yourself! When you have the best goal scorer on the ice he doesn't have to shoot. Hes a constant threat and will be treated as so so as he draws some defenders get the puck to someone else for a shot.
1) agree - change up the PP 2) even if matthews can play, don't let him, when he is on the ice, the rest of the players take t5he foot off the gas because they are used to Matthews either making or finishing the play.
@@bobabooey4537 : matthews should not have played in game 7 tonight, but he did and he set up the only Leaf goal for Willy. What did the rest of the team do, oh yeah Sammy let in a softie just over a minute later and we couldn't close out any chance for the rest of the night and then let Pasta get behind us in the OT. What did the rest of the team do? Please explain it to me.
The problem is and I've held this opinion since last years playoffs....team is a run in gun man. They are highly skilled and need to play freely. Too much defensive and clogging up neutral zone plays right into Bruins.Bolts and panthers hand. Leafs need to play to their strengths and opp weakness. They have bigger dman in the backend now too . I think Rielly can pinch but be smart about it. All these guys have to do is shoot low for a rebound and crash the net. That will cause havoc in front and open up scoring chances. I think too much of a defensive mindset has hindered there skilled players negatively. F the code that playoff hockey HAS to be played a certain way. Each series is different. You have to play to your strengths not to the opponents strength man!!!!
Sorry Jeff but you dont change up the PP now LOL. The Leafs have a dominant PP, lacking of late.... sure, it happens, but now is not the time to change things. Marner needs to shoot more, on the PP and 5 on 5... just shoot more. Jeff was a career -115 player. Overrated offensively... came to the leafs and did nothing.
I’d suggest taking advice from someone who’s actually done something in their playing career. Not some has been who’s now poorly imitating a radio broadcaster.
Lol Guy Boucher never played a game in the NHL. Keefe only had a cup of coffee in the league so by your own metric he should certainly listen to O'Neil, who had five 20 plus goal seasons and played in a cup final.
