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HNIC - Leafs @ Canes

That was a regression ... evening out all the times the Leafs lost OT when the other guys got lucky. It was ... inevitable.
 
LeafOfFaith said:
I'm not getting the love for Boyle. He kinda sucks so far. I prefer Gauthier right now.
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You don't see how stable the 4th line has become since he came on board?

They can be trusted a lot more now

I wouldn't want goat at C right now with crucial games on the line
 
Artnes said:
You don't see how stable the 4th line has become since he came on board?

They can be trusted a lot more now

I wouldn't want goat at C right now with crucial games on the line
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Babs is using them more, for sure. But are they better? They're playing well, but I honestly think Boyle has been the worst of the three. I'm not really seeing it. I seem to catch him making a number of shitty plays and not really doing anything out there.

I don't know, it's early, but so far I'm not a fan and would be disappointed if we sign him to some $3m plus deal.

Give JVR $6m and play the Goat.
 
I'm not sure how you can't notice that the fourth line now spends the balance of its time down at the opposition end, whereas before they could not get past the red line.
 
4th Line with Boyle (6gms):

Even Strength

Boyle: 10:14, 58.7cf% (+11.9rel), 51.8xgf% (+5.7rel)
Sosh: 9:21, 65.0cf% (+19.0rel), 57.3xgf% (+12.1rel)
Martin: 9:29, 61.0cf% (14.4rel), 55.7xgf% (+10.3rel)

that's an unbelievable transformation. even crazier given their usage has got tougher, not easier.
 
zeke said:
4th Line with Boyle (6gms):

Even Strength

Boyle: 10:14, 58.7cf% (+11.9rel), 51.8xgf% (+5.7rel)
Sosh: 9:21, 65.0cf% (+19.0rel), 57.3xgf% (+12.1rel)
Martin: 9:29, 61.0cf% (14.4rel), 55.7xgf% (+10.3rel)

that's an unbelievable transformation. even crazier given their usage has got tougher, not easier.
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Sweet, didn't realize they were THAT much better. Nice to have a 4th line that doesn't spend the whole shift in their own end.
 
Like I always said, it's not only that Boyle is a ****ing incredible 1st line center. It's that they're replacing a below replacement level 4th line center with Brian Boyle. His value to this team in particular is enormous.
 
Yes, it took him a couple games but Boyle has transformed the 4th line into a really, really effective line. I still would rather have Leivo than Martin but they are keeping the puck in offensive zone every time they are on the ice.
 
i dunno how you can upgrade on that, actually.

note that sosh only played 5 of those 6 games, with leivo playing the other - and sosh's numbers are higher, meaning the Leivo game must have been the worst for tyem
 
BeLeafer said:
I'm not sure how you can't notice that the fourth line now spends the balance of its time down at the opposition end, whereas before they could not get past the red line.
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Well, Smith was on that line before, and is the trash of the century.

They're playing well, and Boyle is light years better than Smith of course, so it's no surprise they're vastly improved.

But I just don't see a very good hockey player in Boyle. I want to, but I'm not seeing it.
 
LeafOfFaith said:
Well, Smith was on that line before, and is the trash of the century.

They're playing well, and Boyle is light years better than Smith of course, so it's no surprise they're vastly improved.

But I just don't see a very good hockey player in Boyle. I want to, but I'm not seeing it.
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If he was a "very good hockey player" he probably wouldn't be on our 4th line. He's a very good 4th line centre though.
 
Semantics. You know what I mean.

He doesn't look good out there. He's been surprisingly bad at faceoffs. He doesn't skate particularly well. He hasn't really been hitting. He doesn't seem to have any offensive instincts.

I don't know, I just don't see the individual impact he's making.
 
He's a much better possession player than both GOAT or Smith. As mentioned, the 4th line has done a great job of having bounce-back shifts after goals and maintaining pressure with the cycle since he has been aboard.

There is also something to say about the leadership he brings.
 
The Leafs don't have to worry about having their 4th line out there anymore. I don't know what you were expecting from Boyle but he's been great in the role.


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zeke said:
i dunno how you can upgrade on that, actually.

note that sosh only played 5 of those 6 games, with leivo playing the other - and sosh's numbers are higher, meaning the Leivo game must have been the worst for tyem
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sosh works well on that line because he doesn't shy away from the physical play, but adds an element of speed/quickness that boyle/leivo/martin don't possess. he has the ability to skate the puck throuhg the neutral zone and basically leads every zone entry now where they carry it over the line (rather htan dump and chase).
 
LeafOfFaith said:
Semantics. You know what I mean.

He doesn't look good out there. He's been surprisingly bad at faceoffs. He doesn't skate particularly well. He hasn't really been hitting. He doesn't seem to have any offensive instincts.

I don't know, I just don't see the individual impact he's making.
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he makes good smart plays and takes care of the puck, he works the puck trhough the neutral zone, he uses his size well to win board battles and protect the puck, and he doesn't give up any ground in the defensive zone.

he has fared poorly on faceoffs since coming to the leafs but htat looks like a fluke - he's at 43% right now but was at 53% for the bolts, and has been between 50.7 and 56.4 % in every season but one since 11-12.

if you were expecting him to be anything more than solid and reliable then yo uwere expecting too much.

but good teams need guys who play good, safe, boring hockey to fill out the roster. he's really good for what he is (i.e. a borderline 3rd/4th liner).
 
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