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| Toronto Maple Leafs in Raleigh - Peter Koutroumpis - PKS Consulting LLC |
"Yeah, we're scoring, but we can't (expletive) kill a penalty if our lives depended on it," the esteemed media member said.
How true it is as the Maple Leafs bring the NHL's worst penalty kill (30th - 72% - 38-139) to match-up against the Hurricanes.
Great news for Caniacs, right?
Well, not so much as Carolina will see the Leafs' 30th ranking and match it with their own as the league-worst power play (30th - 12.4% - 20-161) will challenge Toronto when the time comes.
A lot alike but...
Ironically enough both teams have a lot in common as they possess 2-2-1 records over their past five games and are both 4-4-2 over their past ten games.
The Hurricanes sport a 1-0-1 record against Toronto after coming back to tie it in regulation during their last game in mid-December which resulted in an eventual 2-1 OT loss.
With so many goals scored against, the difference rests with the Leafs hovering around seventh place (40 points) in the Eastern Conference and in the playoff discussion while any talk of playoffs relating to the Hurricanes results in rolling eyes and terse lips at this point as the team currently sits in 14th place (30 points).
However, coach Kirk Muller and the team continue to work hard and have that end-goal in mind, making the playoffs, regardless of how far-fetched it may seem right now as a number of games against conference foes are coming up, including tonight's match-up against the Leafs.
Scouting reports from the source
When asked after the team's optional pre-game skate this morning, Muller's scouting report of the Leafs was similar to that of every team that comes in to face the Hurricanes:
"Toronto's an aggressive team and they skate and they want to come at their opponents as well," Muller said.
"I think its important that we take their time and space away, get playing down in their end and if they get some shots on net, don't give them the opportunity to kinda' feel that they're going to bounce back," he continued with a smile.
It was an entertaining and accurate description of the Hurricanes right now, with diagrams included, and it was priceless for those of us there who read it.
When asked if the Hurricanes will draw the Leafs into penalties to try to take advantage of Toronto's poor penalty-killing Muller replied, "Yeah, well we've got our stuff, our issues, with our power play too."
Enough said.
Articles of note:
Scouting the Hurricanes, Maple Leafs style
Leafs look to rebound vs. Hurricanes
Hurricanes lack accountability while prepping for Maple Leafs
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