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Game #11: Sat, 9 Feb 2013 Maple Leafs @ Canadiens 7:00 PM


HabsRuleForever

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Oversimplification. A win doesn't mean you played a great 60 minutes. We haven't been playing well for a number of games now. And the question isn't whether we can play better than this -- of course we can, all teams can -- it's whether we can consistently play better than this. Even the worst team in the league will go on a win streak now and again. Doesn't mean they're suddenly a playoff contender.

The Florida, Washington, New Jersey and first Buffalo games ( and most of the second buffalo and second ottawa) were very good games. Admittedly, some of these teams weren't very good, but we were extremely dominant in possession and have been for most of the season since the first leafs game. Our power-play and penalty kill have continued to be good. And the only blowout loss we've suffered was a result of bad goaltending and poor discipline. Were not the greatest team, and we won't be a top playoff team for a long time. But in my opinion we're a good team.

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From a systems point of view, I really dislike what I'm seeing on the ice. There is no quick attack in transition and we're being squeezed out to the boards game after game, while Therrien has no answer. Like, I don't actually see him making adjustments.

The Florida, Washington, New Jersey and first Buffalo games ( and most of the second buffalo and second ottawa) were very good games. Admittedly, some of these teams weren't very good, but we were extremely dominant in possession and have been for most of the season since the first leafs game. Our power-play and penalty kill have continued to be good. And the only blowout loss we've suffered was a result of bad goaltending and poor discipline. Were not the greatest team, and we won't be a top playoff team for a long time. But in my opinion we're a good team.

Uh, the penalty kill hasn't been good. It's regressed substantially from last year. We used to be near the top of the league -- now we're middle of the pack. I don't know what "good team" means. Do you think we'll make the playoffs? I hope we do, but I doubt it. One hot start to the season isn't going to convince me that we've suddenly turned a corner.

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The Florida, Washington, New Jersey and first Buffalo games ( and most of the second buffalo and second ottawa) were very good games. Admittedly, some of these teams weren't very good, but we were extremely dominant in possession and have been for most of the season since the first leafs game. Our power-play and penalty kill have continued to be good. And the only blowout loss we've suffered was a result of bad goaltending and poor discipline. Were not the greatest team, and we won't be a top playoff team for a long time. But in my opinion we're a good team.

Well, outside of NJ, those are all crap teams. We are an average team, at best, on a whole. But between us having a cruddy offense + Therien not making good adjustments, I don't see how we maintain a +.500 average over the course of the season. (why the heck did we bring Therien back, anyway???) Julien made an adjustment against us in the 3rd (BOS game) which shut down our offense quite well, and that's the book on us now. Toronto is doing the same thing to us so far today, with no counter from Therien.

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From a systems point of view, I really dislike what I'm seeing on the ice. There is no quick attack in transition and we're being squeezed out to the boards game after game, while Therrien has no answer. Like, I don't actually see him making adjustments.

Uh, the penalty kill hasn't been good. It's regressed substantially from last year. We used to be near the top of the league -- now we're middle of the pack. I don't know what "good team" means. Do you think we'll make the playoffs? I hope we do, but I doubt it. One hot start to the season isn't going to convince me that we've suddenly turned a corner.

True, but the penalty kill hasn't strictly been bad. The real issue is we've been playing the wrong guys on it, like Armstrong. We have all the right ingredients to have a good one.

My prediction is we squeeze in at 7th at 6th. And by good team, I don't mean a contender or a past-second-round playoff team. But a substantial step up from last year.

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True, but the penalty kill hasn't strictly been bad. The real issue is we've been playing the wrong guys on it, like Armstrong. We have all the right ingredients to have a good one.

But that's not a small issue. If you're telling me that our coach doesn't know how to put together an effective penalty kill, a veteran coach who's been around the league for many years, we're in trouble, because we are flat-out not talented enough to get by on talent.

My prediction is we squeeze in at 7th at 6th. And by good team, I don't mean a contender or a past-second-round playoff team. But a substantial step up from last year.

7th or 6th? I hope you're right. I don't see us higher than 8th place, and that's a longshot IMO. More likely, we'll be in 9th or 10th place.

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Ah, I can't complain too loudly. I've a little Spruce tree growing in a pot in my kitchen that seems to think its spring. It's a cheerful little guy.

Yourself?

Awe. Cute little Spruce tree.

I'm sitting in my room with a little bowl of popcorn and an iced tea talking with you fine folks for only the second or third time this season I believe, so I can't really complain myself.

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