The Penguins will face the Toronto Maple Leafs tonight and will be the prime time matchup on Hockey Night In Canada.
Last year the Maple Leafs famously flamed out of the playoff race after jumping out of the gate successfully. Certain folks had predicted the Leafs would struggle to maintain their rate of success while the team itself thought things would continue to work out.
Fast forward a year later and the Leafs have made some internal moves that show they understand their attitude and perception towards last season was flawed.
In comes the analytically sound Assistant GM Kyle Dubas who was previously running the Sault Ste Marie Greyhounds. Dubas is 28 years old and if I was a betting man he will be the Leafs new GM sooner rather than later.
The Leafs didn't stop there they also hired Cam Charron, Rob Pettapiece, and perhaps the one that impacts us all the most, Darryl Metcalf, founder of Extraskater.com.
I believe the Leafs are heading in the right direction now, but Rome was not built in one day. For now they are in a transitional period that will have ups and downs. Which will it be tonight?
That usually depends on the superstar winger known as Phil Kessel. Kessel is one of the best players in hockey. His ability fly through the neutral zone and snap off laser beam snap shots can change the framework of a game in 5 seconds or less. Contain Phil Kessel and you will more than likely find yourself on the winning end against the Leafs.
Let's take a look at the past three seasons and how Phil Kessel has fared against some of the Penguins that will be in the lineup tonight.
There is some good news for the Penguins. Kris Letang and Paul Martin have both done a really nice job against Kessel. Kris Letang and Paul Martin also currently play on separate pairings. Chances are when Kessel steps on the ice tonight at even strength he will be out there with at least one defender who has had good success against him. Christian Ehrhoff has done just fine against him too, just not as good as the other two.
As far as forward matchups are concerned the Penguins can do a few different things. Having quality defensemen with previous success against Kessel allows Johnston to have more options.
Pittsburgh can fight fire with fire and put Crosby against Kessel and continue the territorial dominance. Or they could use Marcel Goc who has found success against Kessel as well.
Might not be a terrible idea to keep the Sutter line away from Kessel. While it should be mentioned that Sutter has never had the likes of a Malkin or Dupuis on his line the other two centers have had success in the past, why fix something that isn't broken?
If Sutter and Malkin don't match up against Kessel there is an interesting dynamic as it pertains to Nazem Kadri, the Leafs exciting #2 center (should be #1).
Malkin destroys Kadri at even strength while Sutter has been the opposite. Combine the two and I think you'll break even.
Johnston said he double shifted Crosby right at the start of the game to get an idea of how Boudreau would play him to plan future match-ups
— Jesse Marshall (@jmarshfof) October 10, 2014
These charts are just something to think about now that the Penguins have a coach who is actually interested in these kinds of things.
Thanks for reading!
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