Howdy folks, and welcome to another edition of “There’s a Stadt For That”.
Such a clever name for the blog - it’s a real shame it hasn’t picked up all the momentum I was hoping for.
But rather than get down on myself about it, there’s an easier solution.
Just write.
So here we go.
My aim will be to do what I love to do most, as often as possible. That means summarizing the previous evening’s Maple Leafs game using a combination of what I saw, and the supporting analytics.
GAME 2 - CAPITALS 2 @ MAPLE LEAFS 3
THE LEAD - WHAT DID I SEE?
Off the hop, the game felt very similar to the loss to the Habs the night prior. Sloppy puck management and indecisiveness all over the ice.
This is a team that thrives when the puck is moving quick, and last night it was not.
That has to be frustrating for fans of the team, already on edge every single night while watching regular season games “that don’t mean anything” (more on that to come, I’m sure).
In my estimation, the style the Maple Leafs play takes an incredible high attention to detail, and something the up-tempo practices with Sheldon Keefe and co. continue to build on every day.
Let’s keep in mind that the full lineup barely played together during the pre-season, and the chemistry and cohesiveness we’re used to seeing on a nightly basis will surely return as the games and weeks continue.
WHO STOOD OUT?
There weren’t many stand-out performances last night, at least not based on the eye test.
RASMUS SANDIN (#38)
If anything, it appears that Rasmus Sandin has a ways to go to recover from missed days and weeks of training camp. Straight line speed is not his greatest strength in the best of times, and it’s clear it’s going to take him some time to find his game. When he’s on, he’s the Maple Leafs 2nd or 3rd best defenceman, in my opinion.
The analytics found at NaturalStatTrick.com support the eye test, as Sandin registered a Corsi For % (CF%) of 41% and an Expected Goals For % (xGF%) of 34%.
As a refresher, this means that while Sandin was on the ice at even-strength, only 41% of the shot attempts were directed towards the Washington goal, and taking quality of attempts into consideration, only 34% of the expected goals at 5v5.
JUSTIN HOLL (#3)
A perennial whipping-boy in this market (see Gardiner, Jake), Holl had an up-and-down night but showed his value on the penalty kill - particularly in the final minute of play to secure the win.
Similar to the beginning of last season, he looks a tad slow and indecisive with the puck, leading to unforced turnovers. That’s the bad.
On the flip side, he managed to post a CF% of 60% and an xGF% of 69% (!) while logging just over 15 minutes at even-strength.
As he finds his legs, and maximizes his greatest efficiency - recovering dump-ins and transitioning play up the ice - he will continue to play an important role for this team relative to his cap hit.
TODAY’S “STADT FOR THAT”
CF% Rel - Corsi For Relative Percentage
This metric attempts to isolate a player’s value based on the difference between his or her Corsi For Percentage (see above) and that of the team’s when he or she is not on the ice.
So last night, the Maple Leafs as a team finished with a CF% of 49%, meaning the game was fairly even as far as even-strength shot attempts were concerned, with Washington holding a slight edge.
However, the line of William Nylander, John Tavares and Denis Malgin finished with CF% Rel’s all 17% or greater, meaning when they were on the ice, the game was significantly tilted in their favour.
That’s all for today. Appreciate you reading, and please don’t hesitate to follow up with any questions or suggestions for a future article.