A quick mix of the things we gleaned from the week of hockey, serious and satirical, and rolling four lines deep.
1. Much has been made about the Toronto Maple Leafs’ getting consistently outshot yet winning games. It’s remarkable how a team can sit in third place in the Eastern Conference (11-6-0) yet rank 29th overall in both shots for (25.6 per game) and shots surrendered (36.5). On overage, the Leafs give up 11 more shots per game than they take, but they’re winning 64.3 percent of the games in which they get outshot.
The goaltending tandem of James Reimer and Jonathan Bernier have rightfully been credited for keeping Toronto in these games, but it’s actually a team strategy to favour quality over quantity of shots—putting the old maxim “a shot on net is never a bad play” to the test.
One would think a team that goes 13 consecutive games getting outshot—as the Leafs did until they bested Boston in that category 34–33 during Saturday’s loss—might dwell on the statistic during meetings and practices. But winger turned centreman James van Reimsdyk tells us shot totals don’t get discussed much in the Leafs dressing room.
“You look up sometimes and don’t realize you’re getting outshot [until you see the scoreboard]. I don’t think we’re giving up an excessive amount of quality chances,” he says. “The ice that we give up is more to the outside, and teams are throwing pucks at the net and trying to get second chances. So they’re getting that shot total up. The way we play, we’re looking for that quality shot moreso than shooting for the sake of it. I know it’s a different approach, but it’s working for us. Hopefully we can continue to score goals.”
2. Like Ron MacLean playing an archived video of Don Cherry ripping Pavel Bure on the night the Vancouver Canucks retired Bure’s number, Twitter leaped at the chance to remind us of the coach’s early support of Toronto mayor Rob Ford last week:
https://twitter.com/BigGoats11/status/397909450394054657
“I am disappointed. If he could just cut out all the rest of the stuff, as a mayor he’s done a great job, and everybody thinks that,” Cherry told Sportsnet The Fan 590 Monday morning. “I am disappointed. That’s all I’m going to say on that.”
3. Unlike the other kind of goalie fight, this one we’re fine with. As part of an American Hockey League line-brawl game that saw 167 minutes worth of penalties doled out, Scott Stajcer and Boston Bruins prospect Malcolm Subban dropped trappers and blockers. A few mostly harmless blows were exchanged between willing combatants, and the guys even gave each other a respectful pat afterward:
4. After 21 games, Claude Giroux’s goal-less drought is finally over, providing sweet relief on one of the best satirical Twitter accounts:
5. The Canadiens-Senators rivalry is one of the best things to happen to hockey in 2013. After Habs forward Brendan Gallagher crashed Sens goalie Robin Lehner during Ottawa’s 4–1 victory, Lehner had this response: “He clipped my head, but that’s OK. We’ll get him back someday.” Someday could be Jan. 4, when the Senators and Habs next clash at the Bell Centre. Circle your calendar.
6. Ilya Bryzgalov is not, of course, the answer to the Oilers’ prayers, but that’s not because he’s some kind of wacky dressing room distraction. It’s because he doesn’t play on the blueline. Expect GM Craig MacTavish to make more moves. Purely speculation here, but the St. Louis Blues’ deep defence core might be worth targeting. St. Louis is up against the cap and has eight forwards who will need to be re-signed come July, including Alex Steen, whose stock has never been higher. The Blues are playing above their heads offensively and could use of one Edmonton’s forwards for a Cup run. I’m sure St. Louis is in no hurry to depart with any of their blueliners, so it would require a “bold move” on each party’s behalf, but could help round out both clubs.
7. Of the three American Hockey League coaches called up in 2013 for a shot in the big league, Buffalo’s Ron Rolston and Edmonton’s Dallas Eakins have easily gotten the most press. But it’s the other guy, Tampa Bay’s Jon Cooper, the AHL’s most outstanding head coach in 2012, that most deserves your attention. After finding his feet toward the end of last season, going 5-8-3 with a team already out of playoff contention, Cooper has led the Lightning to a 12-4 record this season. Going into Monday’s matinee versus Boston, Cooper’s club has won four straight and has the best record in the East. Great hire.
8. When we first saw this image floating around Twitter, we thought for sure it was Photoshopped. It’s not. Ladies and gentleman, the Buffalo Sabres’ defence, where Joe Thornton gets triple-teamed like he’s LeBron:
9. Speaking of the Sabres, Ryan Miller has been a trooper in the face of disaster. In past seasons, Miller has been quick to voice his frustrations, but you don’t hear too much negativity from the free agent in waiting. Sure, part of that might be trying to make himself as attractive as possible to potential suitors, but his inspired play probably has just as much to do with a desire to get back between the pipes for Team USA after 2010’s crushing defeat.
10. Great to see Martin Brodeur, who gracefully conceded the No. 1 role to Cory Schneider just a couple weeks ago, get his game together and post consecutive shutouts last week. Granted Schneider had an injury, but Brodeur leads the younger netminder in games played (nine to eight), wins (four to one) and shutouts (two to one). Their GAA is an identical 2.09, and Schneider nudges Brodeur in save percentage (.915 to .908). No clear No. 1 yet.
11. Add the name Bryan Little, 25, to the short list of players (Alex Steen, Frans Nielsen) that could stumble any minute and still have career years. Little has racked up 10 goals in 19 games for the Winnipeg Jets and is tied for seventh overall in the category. In 48 games last season, he only scored seven. We forgive you if you forgot that Little is a former 30-goal guy; five years ago he had 31 for the Atlanta Thrashers. Nice resurgence here.
12. We missed this earlier this month, but it’s worth 40 seconds of your life. Alex Ponikarovsky with a brilliant one-handed backhander in the Kontinental Hockey League: