precisely... I don't know why this is difficult to understand.

regardless of our opinion... what they are doing is not working often enough.... so perhaps try Matthews or Tavares for at least the face-off portion of the PK... Hyman(god bless him no one works harder) is getting killed in the faceoff circle.

maybe use Moore to spell Marner a bit as well... he's super quick and Marner looks tired.
- BorjeFan4Ever

They need a Glendening to be the 4th line C to make Babcock happy.

But since they can't do that, Matthews and Tavares should indeed be taking FOs on the PK.

Moore has shown more (pun?) this series and would be a better fit for Nylander. Guy is a mini me of Hyman. Put Marleau on the 4th line and 2nd PP unit in front of the net. He should not be playing more than 5 mins a game.
- floater_willy

I agree ONE HUNDRED PERCENT! Marleu has done absolutely nothing. not sure why Babs keeps playing him 17-19 minutes every game. Enough is enough already. Move him down to the 4th line and bring up Trevor Moore. I would even take it one step further and move Ennis up to the 3rd line and and drop down Conner Brown...another guy who hasnt done anything this series.

Babs doesnt know how to make in-game adjustments. You see Marner and Tavares have been struggling together since game 4....so why not split them up a bit. try to get them going again. what do you have to lose?

the PK has been nohting short of atrocious.....they put NO pressure on the Bruins players when they have the puck. CHANGE it up already. start getting your player to apply pressure, instead of just collapsing in front of Andersen.

this series going 7 is on Babcock, and if they dont win this series, there is NO excuse for him. he's been given JT and Muzzin...and you end up with the same result? Not acceptable.

Losing the face-off is a huge reason why the PK has sucked. If the team on the PP has possession of the puck in the O-zone from the very beginning, it's really only a matter of time before it's in the back of the net.
- JohnFergusonJr

Bergeron is owning Hyman at the dot and it has directly resulted in 4 goals against this series including the 2 PP goals last game. If Tavares wins even one of those draws we may be celebrating a 2nd round already. You gotta change it up if it's not working. Tavares should be taking defensive zone face offs on the PK.

Hyman 28% vs Bergeron
https://puckbase.com/stat...layer=zach-hyman&season=3

Tavares 44% vs Bergeron
https://puckbase.com/stat...yer=john-tavares&season=3

Below 50% is usually bad.

23% in a playoff series is horrible.

There's a reason he's a winger.

But of course you would.
- JohnFergusonJr

It’s just funny how you are all over a 48% faveoff when the issue is something else.

You don’t have a 25% PK at home from a 48% faceoff man.

Face offs are great and all. But if Hyman won the 2-3 more faceoffs(yes we should only expect 40-45% against Bergeron) it’s barely making a dent in it. The problem is after the faceoff.

So yes, again trying to use logic here instead of bull poop. It’s not hard.

It’s just funny how you are all over a 48% faveoff when the issue is something else.

You don’t have a 25% PK at home from a 48% faceoff man.

Face offs are great and all. But if Hyman won the 2-3 more faceoffs(yes we should only expect 40-45% against Bergeron) it’s barely making a dent in it. The problem is after the faceoff.

So yes, again trying to use logic here instead of bull poop. It’s not hard.
- Santo_44

Andersen needs to save every puck.

which younger players haven't had a real chance from babcock?

maybe a bit more of moore over marleau, but that's it?
- MaximusAurelius

I just mean in general. He will roll Marleau out there over most players because he seems to think he's sending Zetterberg out there in key situations.

It’s just funny how you are all over a 48% faveoff when the issue is something else.

You don’t have a 25% PK at home from a 48% faceoff man.

Face offs are great and all. But if Hyman won the 2-3 more faceoffs(yes we should only expect 40-45% against Bergeron) it’s barely making a dent in it. The problem is after the faceoff.

So yes, again trying to use logic here instead of bull poop. It’s not hard.
- Santo_44

25% PK from a 23% FO.

Makes perfect sense.

I just mean in general. He will roll Marleau out there over most players because he seems to think he's sending Zetterberg out there in key situations.
- markmark

I agree. enough with Marleau already. Unfortunately, he is finished! Babs is stubborn in his ways and doesn't make the proper adjustments.

I just mean in general. He will roll Marleau out there over most players because he seems to think he's sending Zetterberg out there in key situations.
- markmark

He's a big body who can skate and has experience so he trusts him.

But he's finished.

He's a big body who can skate and has experience so he trusts him.

But he's finished.
- JohnFergusonJr

And that's the problem...you just said it. does Babcock not see that Marleau is finished? Quit being stubborn and start playing the players that will make a difference and have an impact.

It’s just funny how you are all over a 48% faveoff when the issue is something else.

You don’t have a 25% PK at home from a 48% faceoff man.

Face offs are great and all. But if Hyman won the 2-3 more faceoffs(yes we should only expect 40-45% against Bergeron) it’s barely making a dent in it. The problem is after the faceoff.

So yes, again trying to use logic here instead of bull poop. It’s not hard.
- Santo_44

It's not one or the other. It's both.

It's not one or the other. It's both.
- aminnes

Yeah, it's both but it starts with the FO.

Losing possession off the start forces longer PK shifts, gives the PP time to set-up and wear down the defense.

Losing the FO simply makes everything about killing the penalty more difficult especially when you're losing it 75% of the time.

I agree. enough with Marleau already. Unfortunately, he is finished! Babs is stubborn in his ways and doesn't make the proper adjustments.
- Sandro

Marleau has been ok to good the last 2 games though.
Players that haven't brought it are mainly Nylander, Kapanen en Johnsson.
Latter two you can still understand (tougher matchups, first playoffs with this responsibility/expectations for them) but as a third line C, Nylander has to do better.
For playoffs, I still take old washed up Marleau over floater Willie.

I just mean in general. He will roll Marleau out there over most players because he seems to think he's sending Zetterberg out there in key situations.
- markmark

Let me just opine .... Face offs won or not.. There is no reason in gods green earth to have a playoff team with a PK at or around 50% for a series .... hell that's pretty much not ok even for a game of a playoff series. That's not the 85 Oilers out there for petes sake.

For playoffs, I still take old washed up Marleau over floater Willie.
- MaximusAurelius

I'm no fan of Willy's game right now but even I wouldn't go that far.

I can’t wait for when Dubas fires the entire coaching staff.
- Steven_Seagull

... the special teams coaches may need a looking at

Hyman isn’t horrible on face offs. 48% on the season.

Bergeron is a beast on FO. You aren’t winning many against him. So fix what has been going wrong after that.

While I do think it would help having JT win the face off it isn’t the real problem here.

It’s been the coverage. Let’s hope they figure it out for game 7...or just don’t take any penalties.
- Santo_44

Unfortunately, that's not gonna stop the Leafs from getting assessed penalties.

so you are saying the 1 series he was head to head against Bergeron he was bad?

thats the point I am making.
- senstroll

Ahhh, your original point is that some people should feel stupid (or whatever term you used) when they criticized Matthews' post season play.

... the special teams coaches may need a looking at
- Aetherial

I'd fire him right now. Let the 1st until play most of the power play, not this 45 second bullpoop, and let them run free style. Not the same play 3 plays that don't work.

if your expectation was that he was going to outplay that line, well its not going to happen.

whats happened so far this year is a miracle imo (Bergeron 1 5v5 point)
- senstroll

That's why Marner and Tavares are getting a free pass. No one is going to completely shut out the best line in hockey over a 7 game series. What they have done so far is kept that line from single-handedly beating the Leafs.

I am not debating anyone on this board but do you think the Leafs would be this good if it weren't partly because of Babcock?
- sabreadvocate1

At this point, no. I seriously wonder how well he connects with the players.

All of this being pure speculation of course. I just see a team that at times this year looked like the worst coached team in the league. Way too much talent here to look that bad.

You guys think JT travels with the Isles and roots for his buddies in round 2...?

Nah...Trotz made them realize they were better off without him...

No way he let’s the snake anywhere close...

Leafs havent won 3 road games in a playoff series since 1951.



Against boston.

You guys think JT travels with the Isles and roots for his buddies in round 2...?

Nah...Trotz made them realize they were better off without him...

No way he let’s the snake anywhere close...
- Wario

Are you 13?
You should do your homework before posting on here.
Grab your pokemons and come back in 10 years.