I do find Babcock to be an interesting conundrum.

He's obviously 1,000X the coach I could ever hope to be, so I'm assuming that everything he does is for a very good reason.

But questions remain:

- Why doesn't Matthews get more OT ice time?
- Why does Polak get such reverence?
- Why does Komarov get so much ice time?
- Atomic Wedgie

Matthews is on the ice more than any other Leafs forward. I'm sure he also gets the most 3 vs 3 ice time. I think this weird thing that's going on with the fans, is their misconception.

Rielly-Hainsey
Gardiner-Carrick
Borgman-Polak

Dermott benched.

Man oh man does Babcock ever make some frustrating pairings at times..

Polak NEEDS to be the one who is benched.

Rielly-Hainsey
Gardiner-Carrick
Borgman-Polak

Dermott benched.

Man oh man does Babcock ever make some frustrating pairings at times..

Polak NEEDS to be the one who is benched.
- LeafGuy89

Really hate the Borg-Polak pairing. They get slaughtered in transition.

Really hate the Borg-Polak pairing. They get slaughtered in transition.
- AdamFrench

yup.

borg-badbranson will only be slightly better.

I just remember there is still an all star game

I just remember there is still an all star game
- senstroll

Do we know who is going yet?

I just remember there is still an all star game
- senstroll

my 5 year-old will watch it

Do we know who is going yet?
- TheMussel

Matthews and Polak

Matthews is on the ice more than any other Leafs forward. I'm sure he also gets the most 3 vs 3 ice time. I think this weird thing that's going on with the fans, is their misconception

Komarov gets so much time on the ice because he plays on our shutdown line. Unless the opposition can be persuaded to not play their top line so much, we're gonna see Komarov on the ice like we do now.

Time on Ice per game
Komarov 16:45 (3.00 SH)
Brown 15:07 (2.12SH)

So given the fact Komarov averages 48 more seconds of SH time per game, he plays 50 seconds a game more than Brown at 5v5 and PP. So in essence, 1 shift more.

Interestingly, PP Time on Ice per game
Komarov 0.53
Brown 1.14

Both a have a single PP goal to their name. Komarov also has a PP assist, so in total:

Komarov 2
Brown 1

walshyleafsfan: 1
Tanner: 0

Matthews is on the ice more than any other Leafs forward. I'm sure he also gets the most 3 vs 3 ice time. I think this weird thing that's going on with the fans, is their misconception

Komarov gets so much time on the ice because he plays on our shutdown line. Unless the opposition can be persuaded to not play their top line so much, we're gonna see Komarov on the ice like we do now.

Time on Ice per game
Komarov 16:45 (3.00 SH)
Brown 15:07 (2.12SH)

So given the fact Komarov averages 48 more seconds of SH time per game, he plays 50 seconds a game more than Brown at 5v5 and PP. So in essence, 1 shift more.

Interestingly, PP Time on Ice per game
Komarov 0.53
Brown 1.14

Both a have a single PP goal to their name. Komarov also has a PP assist, so in total:

Komarov 2
Brown 1
- walshyleafsfan

You and your facts....

Rielly-Hainsey
Gardiner-Carrick
Borgman-Polak

Dermott benched.

Man oh man does Babcock ever make some frustrating pairings at times..

Polak NEEDS to be the one who is benched.
- LeafGuy89

I usually stick up for Polak, but I agree here. He had a rough past two games there is no reason he should be playing in the expense of Dermott.

Carick and Polak both suck though so it is frustrating they are both in ahead of Dermott.

#FreeLucas

that feels like he's been watching too much game tape and is over thinking it.

keep in simple in OT - put your best out there.
- Tumbleweed

Or....maybe you are just overthinking who Babs plays in the OT

Looks like E Kane will be on a new team soon

new blog everyone

I usually stick up for Polak, but I agree here. He had a rough past two games there is no reason he should be playing in the expense of Dermott.

Carick and Polak both suck though so it is frustrating they are both in ahead of Dermott.
- Santo_44

In the last 10 games Polak has taken a penalty while already being a man down on 3 separate occasions.. and still somehow Babcock feels he should be in the lineup.. some of his decisions this year have been so frustrating.. hope he smartens up soon lol

To hell with playoff style. Go back to the run-and-gun from the first few games of the season!
- Garth_Mctavish

Still wonder about Vegas. It's a beautiful story...but pretty much every single player is on pace for career highs.

Jonathan Marchessault Career High 30g 21a 51p has 16g 24a 40p
William Karlsson Career High Already Hit 22g 14a 36p
Rielly Smith Career High 20g 31a 51p has 11g 24a 35p
David Perron Career High 28g 29a 57p has 9g 25a 34p
James Neal Career High 40g 41a 81p has 18g 11a 29p (Not close)
Erik Haula Career High 14g 20a 34p has 15g 13a 28p

My fav though

Deryk Engelland Career High (As a FORWARD) 4g 13a 17p has (As a DEFENSEMAN) 3g 10a 13p


- AdamFrench

They are getting some luck but their defense is very balanced and have had pretty good goaltending too. More than anything, the whole team was deemed expendable by their previous teams so they probably feel very motivated to prove all those teams wrong and have a solid "us vs the world" mentality that's making the team work together as a unit.