What the Leafs can Learn from the 2012 Stanley Cup Playoffs

 

Everyone’s noticed that these playoffs have been atypical so far, with upsets becoming the rule rather than the exception. For those teams that still have life in their seasons after beating out the heavily favoured (or unexpectedly tenacious) there’s been one common thread– they play D and they have a goalie.

The five teams remaining in the playoffs include two of the Vezina Trophy candidate goalies, plus Pekka Rinne, not so shabby himself. The old adage has proven true again – defence wins championships. The Leafs didn’t play much of it this year and didn’t have a goalie who was reliably able to stop dump-ins from the blue line… Burke, Carlyle, Rogers Communications INC. and Bell Media, listen up.

Every team that remains in these playoffs save the Washington Capitals finished the year among the top ten in fewest goals allowed. The teams that remain in these playoffs are still alive because they play safe, shutdown defence and have goalies to back them up. In these playoffs there has been 42 one-goal game wins, 62% of all games played so far.

In fact, the Capitals have yet to win a post-season contest by more than one goal. Twenty-three of the 26 games the Capitals and Rangers have played this post-season have been decided by a single goal. They’ve all been incredibly close games thanks to all-around great defence.

While none of the three Norris Trophy candidates remain in the playoffs, the defence-first approach is one all of these teams take. The most offensively-minded club still in the playoffs is, ironically, the New Jersey Devils, whose name was synonymous with the trap-style of defence that all the other teams are now employing. The Devils scored the most regular season goals of any of the remaining playoff teams, finishing 11^th in the league in GF – that’s right, behind the Leafs, who therefore out-scored every remaining playoff team in the regular season.

What the Caps did: Replaced their offensively-minded coach with one that bores his way to success with a brand of hockey using a 1-4 system and O-bench-kin tactics. The Caps are riding the hot hand of Braden Holtby throughout these playoffs, but while the 22-year-old goalie has been good, he has had a lot of help in front of him. The Caps have blocked 293 shots, the most in these playoffs and 45 more than their opponents the Rangers, fearless shot blockers themselves. Washington also boasts the most takeaways in the playoffs and had the most in the regular season of the teams still fighting.

What the Rangers did: Allowed the fewest goals-against in the Eastern Conference regular season. They had a Vezina-nominated goaltender with them the whole way and two D-men with a plus/minus over +20, but a middling number of goals-for.The Blue Shirts also don’t mind wearing a puck or two, finishing fourth in that department in the regular season.

What the Kings did: Allowed the fewest goals of any team, again with the help of a Vezina-nominated goalie, plus again a team playing almost nothing but defence in front of him. The Kings finished the season out in 8^th place, but they did it by scoring fewer goals than the Columbus Blue Jackets. Only one team scored less than the Kings, now a Stanley Cup front runner.

What the Coyotes did: The name you’ll never forget: Mike Smith. 1.77 goals-against average, two shutouts, fewest goals against of any goalie active in the playoffs. ‘Nuff said.

New Jersey Devils: When the New Jersey Devils are the most offensively minded team remaining in the playoffs, it’s clear there’s a trend. Martin Brodeur has the potential to play lights-out and the team’s only minus player is Ilya Kovalchuk, so you know the rest of the team is doing its job to make up for him defensively. Even as the playoffs’ strongest offensive threat, the Devils have still had half of their games determined by just one goal.

If the Leafs are still looking to emulate the structure of a winning franchise, they might do better to turn away from Boston Bruins-style truculence. The team could aim to adopt a style more like the winners in these playoffs – bore your opponent into submission, your fans will thank you in the end.

It’s worth a shot, at least. 1-4 4ever!