If you want to understand why the Leafs are failing, I think it’s wrong to focus on 5v5 offense. We are great at scoring 5v5 goals – 5th in 5v5 goals per 60. If Matthews was scoring anywhere close to what he was capable of, we’d probably be 2nd in the league in 5v5 scoring.
The reason we’re down in the standings is a combination of:
* Power play. We’ve scored 11 power play goals (last in the league), while being tied for 2nd most short handed goals against (4). If that were average, our overall goal differential would be about 10 goals better, and it should be above average
* Defense/Goaltending. The lapses this year have been much worse, and early season goaltending was much worse. Both these correspond to major injuries, but that everything. Still missing Stolarz, but at least Tanev is back.
* Matthews. Matthews just is playing like last year, not 23-24. In 5v5, he has 14 points (6th on the team) in 475 minutes. In 5v5 points per 60, he’s behind Knies, Tavares, Maccelli, Robertson, and Cowan. He is just barely ahead of Lorentz. Even in goal scoring rate, he is behind Tavares, Maccelli, Joshua, and Laughton. He is just barely ahead of Jarnkrok. No one else on the team is showing that kind of drop off.
4 comments
To sum it up: all critics are correct simultaneously. Every concern is legitimate, and nobody has an answer.
Why does random youtube guy know all of this and the Leafs dont seem to want to change?
There’s sticking to the process and then there’s whatever the hell this season js
Posted three days to this sub with lots of discussion: https://www.reddit.com/r/leafs/s/aLYIthtgG9
This was posted a few days ago.
If you want to understand why the Leafs are failing, I think it’s wrong to focus on 5v5 offense. We are great at scoring 5v5 goals – 5th in 5v5 goals per 60. If Matthews was scoring anywhere close to what he was capable of, we’d probably be 2nd in the league in 5v5 scoring.
The reason we’re down in the standings is a combination of:
* Power play. We’ve scored 11 power play goals (last in the league), while being tied for 2nd most short handed goals against (4). If that were average, our overall goal differential would be about 10 goals better, and it should be above average
* Defense/Goaltending. The lapses this year have been much worse, and early season goaltending was much worse. Both these correspond to major injuries, but that everything. Still missing Stolarz, but at least Tanev is back.
* Matthews. Matthews just is playing like last year, not 23-24. In 5v5, he has 14 points (6th on the team) in 475 minutes. In 5v5 points per 60, he’s behind Knies, Tavares, Maccelli, Robertson, and Cowan. He is just barely ahead of Lorentz. Even in goal scoring rate, he is behind Tavares, Maccelli, Joshua, and Laughton. He is just barely ahead of Jarnkrok. No one else on the team is showing that kind of drop off.