Game Day Thread: Leafs/Rangers Round 3

@ djglenn:
I don’t agree. I see opposition players working hard to get into shooting lanes and I don’t see the same effort against other teams. It looks like playoff hockey to me, where guys are giving up their body a little more, getting down on one knee to take one in the chest, etc. Watch some other games and you won’t see as much of it.
I just looked at the stats on NHL.com and the NYR blocked 30 shots last we played. When I start looking I see that they have gradually began blocking more shots as the year rolls on. Most games they win they have close to 20 and the games they’ve lost are under 15. I suspect that Torts is harping on them to sacrifice their bodies more in the name of the team.
We all know that certain guys play like this all year, but many players save this extra effort for important games only, because frankly it hurts. I contend that the Leafs are in tough against teams that always save that extra effort for them.
Of course, when you play a team that collapses 5 guys into the crease you aren’t going to get pucks through as often, but I don’t think our ineptness is the only reason for the lack of goals, I think it’s in large part due to the opposition’s efforts as well. So I’m not so down on our boys as many others are.

Now having said all that, there are things we could do to adapt. We started last night faking more shots and stepping aside. I’ve also notcied the defense trying to bounce some off the boards wide intentionally. Getting forwards moving around and heading into the front of the net at the right time will be the key to all if this, so perhaps more practice to get the timing down with the execution is in order? I think a lot of teams will have learned something watching the damned Habs in the playoffs last year (shot blocking) and perhaps we could learn something from PHI in how to beat that approach? Maybe we’re simply too small up front to get it done, we’ll see.

Well if RW is a good coach he’ll figure it out with the players he has and not even mention what he’s without.
I’m watching Game 6 vs Ott from 2002 playoffs…the kid isn’t sold on the Leafs just yet but he watched game 2 already today (Roberts in the 3rd OT) and got mad at his mom when she was talking in the room…so there’s hope haha…he’s 10.

What if:
- we tell our forwards to feed the puck to the defense and then start skating towards our end
- let our defensemen spend the first 2 periods pounding the puck as hard as they can at every single player in site (on the other team) with ill intent.
- When the puck bounces behind the defense our forwards are there to collect the puck and send it back in.
- We throw the 4th line over the boards and they run the hobbled fuckers through the glass.
- In the 3rd we throw out Kessel and rest the other forwards for the next game.

@ Cameron:
Exactly. You describe it very well.
That’s what I was suggesting with “timing” the drive to the net rather than simply standing there. Getting guys into position to jump on the rebounds and “fortunate” bounces will be key as I see it.
Getting players moving around naturally draws defenders a little out of their ideal spots for completely shutting down our shooters, even if they’re alright with allowing us to move the puck around the perimeter.
I think being able to mix things up to vary the gameplan is important too, because teams will give different looks. Sometimes putting a couple bodies in front, sometimes in the corners…it’s amazing what happens though when the guys are moving their feet though and that’s the ultimate key is getting to those loose pucks first.