I can only assume that going from 9th to 22nd in goals for can only be attributed to Phaneuf as well then.
- prock

No, but you can say that, after 29 games this season vs after 39 games last season, the drop in Goals Against from118 to102, can be attributed, in part, to Phaneuf's steady play on the Second pairing.


Did you not know there was another side to the coin? Heads the Sens win, tails the leafs lose!

Well said. Sens have significantly improved over last year in goals against. Last year they were 26th in the NHL (goals against), this year they are 11th. What is the difference in terms of rotation....Phaneuf.
- spatso

yeah, it is definitely Phaneuf.

yeah, it is definitely Phaneuf.


- Aetherial

it's so easy to post emoticons, but can you suggest another reason why the drop in goals against has happened?

Don't for get, Anderson has only played in 19 of the 39 games so far, and is not getting back anytime soon........... so it's got to be something, right?

it's so easy to post emoticons, but can you suggest another reason why the drop in goals against has happened?

Don't for get, Anderson has only played in 19 of the 39 games so far, and is not getting back anytime soon........... so it's got to be something, right?
- D0PPELGANGER

The tooth fairy

it's so easy to post emoticons, but can you suggest another reason why the drop in goals against has happened?

Don't for get, Anderson has only played in 19 of the 39 games so far, and is not getting back anytime soon........... so it's got to be something, right?
- D0PPELGANGER

Maybe it has something to do with the complete coaching change?
word is different coaches use different systems

15/16
GF 2.80
GA 2.93
Difference -.13

16/17
GF 2.46
GA 2.59
Difference -.13

Might as well look at the whole picture

Now lets do the Leafs

15/16
GF 2.34
GA 2.93
Difference -.59

16/17
GF 3.05
GA 2.85
Difference +.21

Big improvement .. Reason - Leafs traded Phaneuf

Am I doing it right guys?

Maybe it has something to do with the complete coaching change?
word is different coaches use different systems

15/16
GF 2.80
GA 2.93
Difference -.13

16/17
GF 2.46
GA 2.59
Difference -.13

Might as well look at the whole picture
- senstroll

Very good. You win with defence and that is especially true in the second half of the season and in the playoffs. Regardless how it is structured, the players still have to deliver and Phaneuf is the value added improvement over last year.

It is an infinitely more complex issue than one player, it always is. But in terms of player personnel Phaneuf is the only significant defensive change over last year. And, with Anderson missing as many games as he has, Phaneuf's maturity has been a huge asset.
- spatso

It's actually not a complex issue. The Sens shifted from a run and gun team that didn't care about defense, to a more defensive team. Just about anyone outside Ottawa, and most people in Ottawa, will acknowledge that Phaneuf and Ceci are a trainwreck pairing.

He really hasn't done anything to steady the team defensively.

Very good. You win with defence and that is especially true in the second half of the season and in the playoffs. Regardless how it is structured, the players still have to deliver and Phaneuf is the value added improvement over last year.
- spatso

you win by out scoring your opponents
Goal differential is a better indicator is success.

It's actually not a complex issue. The Sens shifted from a run and gun team that didn't care about defense, to a more defensive team. Just about anyone outside Ottawa, and most people in Ottawa, will acknowledge that Phaneuf and Ceci are a trainwreck pairing.

He really hasn't done anything to steady the team defensively.
- prock

The minutes played and numbers actually suggest the opposite of what you say. Ceci has played more minutes than Karlsson in recent games.

Team is doing fine. Ceci and Phaneuf are logging big defensive minutes in key situations. Your just going to have to deal with it.

The minutes played and numbers actually suggest the opposite of what you say. Ceci has played more minutes than Karlsson in recent games.

Team is doing fine. Ceci and Phaneuf are logging big defensive minutes in key situations. Your just going to have to deal with it.
- spatso

Trust me this is a good thing for Leaf fans.. Its a fight for the playoffs and the Sens are tying one hand behind their back

The minutes played and numbers actually suggest the opposite of what you say. Ceci has played more minutes than Karlsson in recent games.

Team is doing fine. Ceci and Phaneuf are logging big defensive minutes in key situations. Your just going to have to deal with it.
- spatso

I think that's probably due to Karlsson playing so horribly. He hasn't been on the ice for more ES goals for than against yet this year.

you win by out scoring your opponents
Goal differential is a better indicator is success.
- senstroll

If your goal is winning, I think you are right that goal differential is far and away the most important indicator of likely team success. Important to note that the first step of an improved goal differential is an improved defensive structure. The Sens have succeeded at the first step. Now we need to see if they can score more in the second half. It was encouraging to see them score 5 in their last game (shut out 1-0 in the previous game against Washington).

If your goal is winning, I think you are right that goal differential is far and away the most important indicator of likely team success. Important to note that the first step of an improved goal differential is an improved defensive structure. The Sens have succeeded at the first step. Now we need to see if they can score more in the second half. It was encouraging to see them score 5 in their last game (shut out 1-0 in the previous game against Washington).
- spatso

Games 1-20 2.45ga
Games 21-39 2.73ga

Defence seems to be slipping .. Must be from the big minutes Phaneuf and Ceci are playing

Games 1-20 2.45ga
Games 21-39 2.73ga

Defence seems to be slipping .. Must be from the big minutes Phaneuf and Ceci are playing
- senstroll

Duh, Ottawa has not been able to play Anderson for over a month.

Duh, Ottawa has not been able to play Anderson for over a month.
- spatso

Dance monkey, DANCE.

Duh, Ottawa has not been able to play Anderson for over a month.
- spatso

oh weird. It thought any of the results were because of Phaneuf

If your goal is winning, I think you are right that goal differential is far and away the most important indicator of likely team success. Important to note that the first step of an improved goal differential is an improved defensive structure. The Sens have succeeded at the first step. Now we need to see if they can score more in the second half. It was encouraging to see them score 5 in their last game (shut out 1-0 in the previous game against Washington).
- spatso

I don't see the Leafs being any stronger than the Oilers of 5 years ago. Do they have anyone as good as Taylor Hall? Don't think so. How many years did it take the Islanders to make the playoffs after drafting Tavares?

Don't think it serves any purpose to raise expectations based on the performance of a group of young players that have not yet played a full NHL season.

We don't know if Marner is the next Patrick Kane. Perhaps he is Sam Gagner, another of those sure fire first round Oiler picks of the past. I like how Shanahan is managing the rebuild. I don't like the way expectations are being raised by some fans and media when there is absolutely no reason to believe the Leafs will be any stronger than what they were last year.
- spatso

The minutes played and numbers actually suggest the opposite of what you say. Ceci has played more minutes than Karlsson in recent games.

Team is doing fine. Ceci and Phaneuf are logging big defensive minutes in key situations. Your just going to have to deal with it.
- spatso

We are moving into stage II of a typical blue koolaid summer. Fans are beginning to notice the stories being floated that Marner might not be fit enough or ready for NHL prime time. Leafs are a last place team, they are sort of like a very young Edmonton crew of last year without McDavid.

But Leaf fans are great hockey fans and now that the silly summer chatter is winding down, they are getting around to a more balanced level of hockey discussion. We will see the Stage III early season euphoria when they win a few games at the beginning of the season and the Toronto based media predicts good things for them. But the Stage III crash into despair will come like clockwork in early December. Stage IV acceptance of reality will include some anger and frustration but it is not long lasting. And, come early March, Stage I starts again with a high degree of hopefulness as speculation of the guaranteed Tavares signing gets ramped up and fans discuss the great potential of the impending lottery and draft.
- spatso

it's so easy to post emoticons, but can you suggest another reason why the drop in goals against has happened?

Don't for get, Anderson has only played in 19 of the 39 games so far, and is not getting back anytime soon........... so it's got to be something, right?
- D0PPELGANGER

Coach
System

I didn't have to look far.

Go read the article by your fave blogger, now with TSN. Explains the whole thing pretty succinctly and it has NOTHING to do with Phaneuf.

Now lets do the Leafs

15/16
GF 2.34
GA 2.93
Difference -.59

16/17
GF 3.05
GA 2.85
Difference +.21

Big improvement .. Reason - Leafs traded Phaneuf

Am I doing it right guys?
- senstroll

Your conclusion, which will no doubt be dismissed as stupid, at least allows the possibility of causal relationship. They haven't improved, so how has Phaneuf helped for his 7 million?

The Sens fans here concluding the difference is Phaneuf and then challenging us to come up with another reason, is beyond stupid.

Coach
System

I didn't have to look far.

Go read the article by your fave blogger, now with TSN. Explains the whole thing pretty succinctly and it has NOTHING to do with Phaneuf.
- Aetherial

Pretty (frank)ing obvious. Phaneuf did female genitalia on a stick to improve Toronto defensively yet he's magically better as he ages into his non prime years. Sens fans need to justify it somehow I guess.

Pretty (frank)ing obvious. Phaneuf did female genitalia on a stick to improve Toronto defensively yet he's magically better as he ages into his non prime years. Sens fans need to justify it somehow I guess.
- systemtool

wrong again. playing #1 in Toronto is very different than playing #4 in Ottawa.

wrong again. playing #1 in Toronto is very different than playing #4 in Ottawa.
- spatso

never mind Mathews and Marner vs Kessel. That TO leadership core was absolute poop

never mind Mathews and Marner vs Kessel. That TO leadership core was absolute poop
- Pie

Agree on that

Matthews could be that guy but if they wanted to bring in a veteran then they need to address that ASAP

I would give Thornton that 3 year deal he's looking for. The Leafs will have tons of salary in the next 3 years until they re-up their youth

UFA is just so weak every year these days