Just some quick notes before the actual in-depth-ish about the lines:
- Great all-around game. I don't think anybody played bad, you'd just hope for more from JT and Marner at 5v5.
- At this point, it's safe to say that the earliest McMann will be back in game action will be game 4 (Saturday), but if we convincingly win game 3 without him, then no need to force him in and get rid of chemistry.
- Gonna assume Nylander plays on Wednesday considering how close he seemed to playing today, even if he looked to be moving a bit gingerly at the skate today. As long as it isn't a concussion or serious muscle tear/bone fracture, I think he should push through and play on Wednesday.
- I've been really impressed with how Robertson has looked so far, but if Nylander comes back, he has to be the first to take a seat. The 4th line has been too good to change up and Holmberg can play centre. Keefe has really surprised me with how much he has been using Holmberg on the PK, I think it has been more than Dewar.
- Benoit/McCabe have scared me a little bit with the unnecessary penalties and choices during these past two games (ie Benoit leaving the slot for the Pastrnak goal today). They haven't been AWFUL, but they could both use a bounceback game, and potentially a little less ice time, especially with how Edmunson/Liljegren looked today.'
- Samsonov looked great today, and while I definitely prefer Woll's style and calmness, it's Sammy's net and there's no reason to change that unless he forces Keefe's hand.
Going into game 3, the only things that really could change for the better are the second line at 5v5 and a mindset of not taking penalties after the whistle (we took 3 today). JT-MM stay together, and they can be paired with Jarnkrok to have another good two-way guy to really help them in shut-down roles. We really need them to be coming through in those scenarios because they didn't today and it pretty much led to the Pastrnak goal. When we're looking for offence, Nylander and Jarnkrok can switch places so the second line is jacked up. Jarnkrok probably also gets in a few shifts with the fourth line, as he has so far in the series.
Lastly, the PP could be interesting, as Nylander coming back would theoretically push Bertuzzi back down, but he looked like he really belonged there today. Boston's PK is too good to run 5 forwards, and I'm like 90% sure Bertuzzi gets moved back down to PP2, I just don't think I agree with it. He belongs on the top unit, and I think next year they should take a more balanced approach like Boston has:
Bertuzzi
Nylander-Domi-Matthews
D
Tavares
Marner-Knies-McMann
D
I think the Leafs finally score first and the scoreboard looks a bit more lopsided than it actually was, like 5-2 (maybe an empty netter or two in the 5).
Player of the game: Marner (1G, 2A)
Not-so-Player of the Game/Non-Factor: If the trend continues, McCabe
McDavid, Connor
$250,000)
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