![]() ![]() The added pace on the blue line is a welcomed attribute of Mete’s, but he needs to show he can limit mistakes defensively and handle defending the cycle and net-front area against a Dallas forward group that features plenty of bigger bodies in Roope Hintz, Jamie Benn, Denis Gurianov, Radek Faksa, Mason Marchment, Jason Robertson, and co. Woodbridge native Victor Mete will make his regular-season Leafs debut in front of friends and family on a pairing with Mark Giordano. On the backend, we have two new pairings on tap due to the injury to Jake Muzzin, whose timeline for a return is unclear at this stage. The second part of that equation involves more penetration of the interior of the slot and more traffic at the front of the net. The emphasis Sheldon Keefe placed after the Arizona loss on getting pucks to the net more quickly before the defense can establish a five-man structure inside the zone should be something the typically shot-happy Robertson can help with. The big lineup news for the Leafs is Nick Robertson’s season debut, which comes probably a game too late after Denis Malgin remained quiet in the loss to the Coyotes. That said, with a top line of Jason Robertson – Roope Hintz – Joe Pavelski as well as Mason Marchment and Tyler Seguin off to hot starts inside the Dallas top six, in addition to an offensive driver off the backend in Miro Heiskanen, this Stars team can effectively rope-a-dope a superior possession team through clogging it up defensively, reliable goaltending, and an opportunistic offense. However, if we look at the score-tied game state - keep in mind it’s only a 27-minute sample total for Dallas through three games - they’re down at 41.7% of the shot attempts, 40% of the shots on goal, and 38.5% of the expected goals. It’s worth noting that they have carried multi-goal leads in each of their three games, establishing an early lead just two and four minutes into their two games versus the Predators and never relinquishing it. The Stars’ underlying numbers are much less impressive than their record with a 43.6% share of the shot attempts, 45% share of the shots, and 49.5% share of the expected goals at five-on-five. 966 save percentage (84 saves on 87 shots) through three starts. Goaltender Jake Oettinger - not starting tonight - currently sports a sparkling. EST puck drop, Sportsnet One), may not technically fit the definition of a “top team” given they were a 98-point wildcard club in 2021-22 - and the only franchise to make the playoffs with a negative goal differential - but they are 3-0 under new coach Pete DeBoer this season (13 goals for, three against). Tonight’s opponent, the Dallas Stars (7:00 p.m. The loss to Arizona on Monday was an episode of groundhog day for all of us who watched the Maple Leafs play down to cellar-dwelling opposition last season, but it’s also true that they frequently rose to the occasion last year when challenged by a top team.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |