Playoffs Round 2: Toronto Maple Leafs vs. Florida Panthers

[Dappleganger]

If Woll leads this team back from the wilderness we'll be laughing about it as he's signed for the next 2 years at only 766k.  Imagine he becomes the starter with a huge playoff run?

I would very much like this.

[BrownRolo]

For those who subscribe, I quite enjoyed this Athletic article. I feel it hits very close to home, too

"This ridiculous Maple Leafs team is at the end of an era. Fans might as well enjoy it"

https://theathletic.com/4503005/2023/05/10/maple-leafs-panthers-playoffs-game-4/

McIndoe is the best. His articles really capture being a Leaf fan.

[Bender]

For those who subscribe, I quite enjoyed this Athletic article. I feel it hits very close to home, too

"This ridiculous Maple Leafs team is at the end of an era. Fans might as well enjoy it"

https://theathletic.com/4503005/2023/05/10/maple-leafs-panthers-playoffs-game-4/

McIndoe is the best. His articles really capture being a Leaf fan.

Or maybe we'll get the epic comeback after all. Or maybe they'll just save us all the drama and pull off another no-show tonight, get their doors kicked in, and call it a season. Who knows? Who even cares?

Sad but true.

[herman]

https://twitter.com/camcharronyvr/status/1656341829481267200

[herman]

https://twitter.com/jtbourne/status/1658556536082317312

[CarltonTheBear]

Percentage of shots from the slot

Ooof.

Two crazy stats that are somewhat related: One, is that Matthew Knies had five regular season shots, 100 per cent of which were slot shots. He had six shots in the playoffs, and 90.9 per cent of them (so, five) were slot shots. Make no mistake, they missed him later in the series.

It's absolutely wild that Knies went from "there's no way they can put a kid from college with 3 NHL games into the playoff line-up" to "Knies' injury likely cost the Leafs a further shot at the Cup". What a player.


Successful passes per 60 minutes by each zone

First game of the Florida series after watching Florida flip puck after puck after puck up in the air from their defensive zone to the neutral zone I thought "there's no god damn way we lose to a team that plays defence like that". And they did, but I guess the Leafs aren't alone there. Maybe moving the puck out of the zone with control is... overrated? Why is hockey so weird?

[herman]

To be fair to Marner, a lot of the damage he did came from point shots that fluttered through (game 2 opener, various tips). Tampa gave very little of the slot and the only people who trucked through anyway were the new guys (i.e. no loser stink). Not sustainable or predictive unless it's part of the strategy, but it worked.

Definitely something the front office recognized (hence the acquisitions), but it either was not reinforced in strategy or the personnel just couldn't (I'm thinking the latter).

Re: dump out hockey
I think it only works in the playoffs when teams can interfere like it's 2001 again. Leafs take extra time to setup entries and Florida got their structure back and cleared sight lines for Bobrovsky.

[Bender]

Percentage of shots from the slot

Ooof.

Two crazy stats that are somewhat related: One, is that Matthew Knies had five regular season shots, 100 per cent of which were slot shots. He had six shots in the playoffs, and 90.9 per cent of them (so, five) were slot shots. Make no mistake, they missed him later in the series.

It's absolutely wild that Knies went from "there's no way they can put a kid from college with 3 NHL games into the playoff line-up" to "Knies' injury likely cost the Leafs a further shot at the Cup". What a player.


Successful passes per 60 minutes by each zone

First game of the Florida series after watching Florida flip puck after puck after puck up in the air from their defensive zone to the neutral zone I thought "there's no god damn way we lose to a team that plays defence like that". And they did, but I guess the Leafs aren't alone there. Maybe moving the puck out of the zone with control is... overrated? Why is hockey so weird?

Teams really got away from an aggressive forecheck vs. just carrying it in and I think teams have adjusted to that. We saw how often the Leafs stuck to trying with control only to turn it over or make a horrible pass. You turn it over near your DZ and you have way less time to set up than if you let the team come at you and stand them up at the blue line. I dare you to come through me kind of mentality.

[herman]

https://twitter.com/goalie_school/status/1659282888838246414