Toskala Killing PK
January 9th, 2010 by Steve
Even after the last 4 games in which Gustavsson has played, where the Leafs have given up 6 power play goals on 14 opportunities for a 57.1% kill rate, the Leafs still maintain a 77% kill rate with the lanky Swedish netminder in goal. Prior to the game against Philadelphia, the Leafs were killing 79.3% of the short handed situations they found themselves in when Gustavsson was between the pipes. On the season he has allowed 16 power play goals in 69 short handed situations.
Toskala remains a large part of the problem with the Leafs PK. Despite the fact that many of the goals are not his “fault”, he still remains the goalie of record for a ridiculous number of power play goals against: 26 in 64 short handed situations for a 59.3% kill rate. Toskala has allowed 10 more goals in 5 fewer time short handed.
That’s ABSURDLY bad. Toskala’s goaltending numbers are KILLING the Leafs this season. One of the strangest phenomena is the fact that at even strength, Toskala has allowed only 43 goals, while Gustavsson has allowed 46. At even strength play, the two goaltenders are not particularly distinct for the Leafs in terms of goals allowed.
This isn’t a new situation, and as I stated before it isn’t entirely Toskala’s fault, but there’s a horrible disconnect in the numbers. Let’s just say its pretty damn hard to ignore the one piece that changes from game to game as being partly responsible.
Posted in Player Analysis, Stat Analysis
8 Responses to “Toskala Killing PK”
By BCapp
on Jan 9, 2010
I know some of the goals aren’t his ‘fualt’, but I think in an indirect way many of them are. The leafs have less confidence in Toskala and attempt to play a tighter defensive game with him in net, subconsciously. But it just makes htem to tense so they give up bad opportunities.
By glgbill
on Jan 9, 2010
BCapp is onto something, unfortunately. Confidence is a difficult thing to measure statistically, but this is pretty damning evidence. When pressed against the wall (i.e. on the PK), the team clearly sags with Vesa in net. And so as not to give Vesa a free pass, he drops too quickly into the butterfly far too often, but isn’t a big enough body to play that way consistently. This gets exposed more easily when the Leafs are a man down and the opposition is buzzing.
By BCapp
on Jan 9, 2010
Glgbill thanks for expanding on my point:).
I understand that we can’t see this effect statistically, but I just see a different leafs team play in front of toskala, especially when they are down one or two.
By Marco
on Jan 9, 2010
I think Gustavsson makes for a better PK for a number of reasons, he takes up a lot of net so opposition have less to shoot at and they may think twice about shooting when the net is covered so much. Also Gustavsson has the ability to make some saves that Toskala cant without even trying due to size difference.
By Casey
on Jan 9, 2010
The hopes of getting anything at the deadline for Toskala have been destroyed. Maybe a 6th rounder?
By Cooper
on Jan 11, 2010
Would be lucky just to have someone take his salary. Anything at all in return would be a bonus.
By Gweez
on Jan 11, 2010
In case you didn’t notice.
The Globe and Mail linked to this post!
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/blogs/globe-on-hockey/leafs-penalty-kill-sinks-to-new-lows/article1426375/
By Mike
on Jan 20, 2010
This is no mystery; it’s in the way toskala plays.
Toskala comes out and challenges VERY aggressively because of his small size. Common sense tells you, that if a goalie is challenging that aggressively, if you pass the puck he’ll be out of position and you’ll be looking at a wide open net and the only thing that can stop a goal is the D men taking the loose forwards. Gustavsson’s sheer size gives him the ability to not be as aggressive on the initial shot meaning even if the puck is passed he’s still in great position to make the save.