They played with 2 decent centres for most of the year. The faceoffs were awful. With Kesler and Roy, I'm sure the possession numbers improved.
- micah555

Speaking of centers, I saw a stat from the other night that showed the shot differential when Ebbett was on the ice was 1 shot for, 16 shots against. Really hope we don't see much of him in the playoffs.

Ian Esplen: 15 minutes...
is all we got for you
- IanEsplen

it's okay. nobody got hurt and now they'll actually play on saturday.

Speaking of centers, I saw a stat from the other night that showed the shot differential when Ebbett was on the ice was 1 shot for, 16 shots against. Really hope we don't see much of him in the playoffs.
- AlexF

it's a good thing he's our shutdown guy then. that's an awesome stat and it helps the goalies stay sharp.

That is a bit worrisome, but I think Ian was correct that the possession numbers should be getting better with Kesler back and winning more faceoffs than whoever was covering his spot in the lineup.

Last night was just a poor effort through the first two periods. Hopefully the boys are a bit more urgent when it counts.
- Fosco

Last night meant absolutely zero and both teams treated that reality accordingly. There's nothing to read into it. Moving along to Game 1...

it's a good thing he's our shutdown guy then. that's an awesome stat and it helps the goalies stay sharp.
- therealagent

Kesler's still the shutdown guy but I'd much rather see Schroeder come up and stay up if Roy and Kesler are to stay together on the same line.

Kesler's still the shutdown guy but I'd much rather see Schroeder come up and stay up if Roy and Kesler are to stay together on the same line.
- AlexF

i'm joking.

kesler should be the shutdown guy but needs help. he can't do that job with raymond on his wing. that's dumb.

Speaking of centers, I saw a stat from the other night that showed the shot differential when Ebbett was on the ice was 1 shot for, 16 shots against. Really hope we don't see much of him in the playoffs.
- AlexF

Sending Schroeder down and making Ebbett their third line center a few weeks back had to have been a cap management strategy. Using Ebbett's offense-killing skills they were able to cool off Raymond's and Hansen's production, thus making them cheaper to re-sign in the future.

I've actually liked Ebbett when he's come up and done single-game fill in duty. But when he's on the roster game in and game out, he looks like he has no confidence whatsoever.

i'm joking.

kesler should be the shutdown guy but needs help. he can't do that job with raymond on his wing. that's dumb.
- therealagent

I know.

I think the shutdown line and who's on it will largely depend on the opponent.

Sending Schroeder down and making Ebbett their third line center a few weeks back had to have been a cap management strategy. Using Ebbett's offense-killing skills they were able to cool off Raymond's and Hansen's production, thus making them cheaper to re-sign in the future.

I've actually liked Ebbett when he's come up and done single-game fill in duty. But when he's on the roster game in and game out, he looks like he has no confidence whatsoever.
- YeOldTimer

This might not be so far from the truth, I think they are pretty close to the cap, perhaps they simply can't afford to have Schroeder up and Ebbett down right now. After Saturday it won't matter, everyone can come up.

This might not be so far from the truth, I think they are pretty close to the cap, perhaps they simply can't afford to have Schroeder up and Ebbett down right now. After Saturday it won't matter, everyone can come up.
- 1970vintage

Agreed. I think there's a certain amount of call-ups that can be made after the TDL as well? Thought I read that somewhere.

I wasn't really speaking of the past, more so looking toward the playoffs. We'll see soon enough.

Agreed. I think there's a certain amount of call-ups that can be made after the TDL as well? Thought I read that somewhere.

I wasn't really speaking of the past, more so looking toward the playoffs. We'll see soon enough.
- AlexF

I think its four, but that's off the top of my head, I could be mistaken. Only five or so sleeps left

I think its four, but that's off the top of my head, I could be mistaken. Only five or so sleeps left
- 1970vintage

Is there still room in the pool? I didn't even realize you were setting one up that's seperate from Nucker's.

I think its four, but that's off the top of my head, I could be mistaken. Only five or so sleeps left
- 1970vintage

You bet. The last few weeks have been pretty dull IMO from a hockey standpoint. I think I've become spoiled over the past few seasons that only the playoffs matter. The rest is filler.

You bet. The last few weeks have been pretty dull IMO from a hockey standpoint. I think I've become spoiled over the past few seasons that only the playoffs matter. The rest is filler.
- AlexF

The lockout didn't help, I've been pretty apathetic the whole season. The style of play the Canucks have been employing hasn't helped either...

NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman told a meeting of Associated Press Sports Editors on Friday that teams are filling up their buildings to 97.4 percent of capacity, and television ratings on a national level in the United States and Canada, as well as in local markets, are up considerably.

''We may not have as large a fanbase as a couple of the other major league sports, but there are no more avid, passionate fans in all of sports than ours,'' Bettman said. ''We believe in the strength of our game.''

He also has the numbers to prove it.

Bettman said some teams have reported ratings gains of double and triple digits this year. And that is just from a regular season that was delayed from October until January and was in jeopardy from happening at all until the NHL and the players' association hammered out a new 10-year collective bargaining agreement to save it.

''We don't take our fans for granted,'' Bettman said. ''Our fans are passionate about the game, they get angry when they have reasons to be angry, they are excited when they have reasons to be excited, they are emotional, but most of all they are well-informed. Overwhelmingly, fans understand what we need to do and what we have done.

''They come back because they love the game. We are grateful on a daily basis for our fans.''

- AlexF

I can't wait for him to comment about how playoff ratings are the highest they have ever been since 2004, meanwhile totally not acknowledging that it will be the first time leafs fans have had hockey to watch in the month of May during that same time span.

I agree. Reminds me a lot of the failed Bieksa experiment at forward a few years ago. They're ok up ice but utterly clueless getting possession and breaking out of their own end. Looking to make breakout passes instead of realising they are supposed to be the recipients of those passes.

I do like the idea of the 7th defenseman available if necessary though.
- cynuck

Both Bieksa and Ballard have a propensity for skating the puck up ice. I remember when Bieksa was moved to forward, it was at a time when he was constantly behind the opposition's net on every foray into their zone. It was very irritating. Trying him at forward just made sense.

I can't wait for him to comment about how playoff ratings are the highest they have ever been since 2004, meanwhile totally not acknowledging that it will be the first time leafs fans have had hockey to watch in the month of May during that same time span.


- Chest Rockwell

He should seriously keep his mouth shut and collect his $8m paycheck in silence.

As for what all those numbers mean, this either proves the passion or the lunacy of the average hockey fan. Bettman's just the puppetmaster pulling the stings.

So who does it look like we'll have missing for Game 1?

From what I've heard:

Booth - out for the season
Tanev - "very, very, very unlikely for Game 1"
Bieksa - ?

- AlexF

I believe it. No hockey in Oct. - Dec. means US teams/markets don't have to compete with Baseball Playoffs, the NFL and the NBA. I bet the numbers went way up after the Superbowl. I don't believe it' s every team but the averages would be up. Also have to remember there are only 24 home games this season.

I believe it. No hockey in Oct. - Dec. means US teams/markets don't have to compete with Baseball Playoffs, the NFL and the NBA. I bet the numbers went way up after the Superbowl. I don't believe it' s every team but the averages would be up. Also have to remember there are only 24 home games this season.
- A_SteamingLombardi

I'd be more interested in understanding which teams experienced the ratings gains of "double and triple digits". I'm guessing triple digits is Columbus. They went from 50 viewers to 100.

Last night meant absolutely zero and both teams treated that reality accordingly. There's nothing to read into it. Moving along to Game 1...
- AlexF

Oh, I know. Already wasted too much time trying to explain that to a disgruntled Avs fan yesterday.

I'd be more interested in understanding which teams experienced the ratings gains of "double and triple digits". I'm guessing triple digits is Columbus. They went from 50 viewers to 100.
- AlexF

Columbus definitely, LA (cause they won the cup), Ana (playing better), Minn (new players), Car (Stall Bros) Flo maybe after the way they played last year. Don't see Pho, Col, or Dal with a very big gain.

So who does it look like we'll have missing for Game 1?

From what I've heard:

Booth - out for the season
Tanev - "very, very, very unlikely for Game 1"
Bieksa - ?
- AlexF

Gillis said the other day that Bieksa could have played against Anaheim but they kept him out. He will probably play against Edmonton.

And I think Gillis said Tanev was about a week away.

Gillis said the other day that Bieksa could have played against Anaheim but they kept him out. He will probably play against Edmonton.

And I think Gillis said Tanev was about a week away.
- docmorgan

yeah, Juice will be fine for game one.

Tanev Im thinking will come back mid series.