Quote:
Originally Posted by Bingo
But if you cut it off to a small sample size ... when Sutter took over and four games, there is little doubt that the Monahan/Gaudreau line has struggled under the change in direction.
Ritchie is a team worst -10.4 rel CF%, Monahan 2nd worst at -4.9. Gaudreau a bit better but -4.1. Lucic and Backlund in the mix for issues too.
In terms of relative xGF% Ritchie, Monahan, Andersson and Gaudreau are the four worst.
It's a small sample size but you know Sutter is looking at it.
Lindholm/Dube and Tkachuk (who has a whole topic today talking about his slide) are +22%
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Funny part is the coaches usage has shown the opposite at 5v5.
If you look at our centers here is the usage under Sutter.
Backlund: 58 Minutes - 78% Offensive Zone
Monahan: 53 Minutes - 56% Offensive Zone
Lindholm: 48 Minutes - 63% Offensive Zone
Ryan: 44 Minutes - 64.5% Offensive Zone
Monahan's line is playing the second most minutes behind Backlund at 5v5 under Sutter. And they are getting the lowest share of offensive Zone Starts.
Also outside of yesterday the team has played pretty good overall, and I kind of hate relative in that scenario where every line is above 50% Corsi. Sure Monahan/Gaudreau have been worse than their peers relatively, but they from a Corsi perspective they are carrying possession, just not generating enough quality. Ritchie is dragging them down a bit too as the only Flames forward under Sutter that is sub 50%
Backlund: 54.08% Corsi For, 51.3% xGF, 4 GF - 5 GA (4 of those last night against McDavid)
Monahan: 53.5% Corsi For, 44.8% xGF, 1 GF - 1 GA
Lindholm: 60.5% Corsi For, 73.2% xGF, 3 GF - 0 GA
Ryan: 63.9% Corsi For, 60.0% xGF, 2 GF - 2 GA (Both GA were in Game 1 against EDM)
IMO Sutter is stress testing what he has in Gaudreau and Monahan. He's giving them more defensive zone starts, playing tougher matchups, and trying to see if they can handle it.
Against Montreal they saw a lot of Suzuki and Gallagher line.
Against Edmonton they saw a lot of Draisaitl and Yamamoto.
He's actually really been giving the Lindholm and Ryan line the high water and trying the easier matchups and lower TOI. Where it's Backlund and Monahan getting the tougher minutes/matchups and more TOI.