Halfway point summary - Team, period and score related data

Here is a summary of the Leafs scoring chance data I've been tracking so far this season. Data related to players is in another post. 

First, the team totals:

Overall				ES				PP				SH
ChF	ChA	Net	%	ChF	ChA	Net	%	ChF	ChA	Net	%	ChF	ChA	Net	%
655	815	-160	44.6%	505	630	-125	44.5%	141	17	124	89.2%	8	167	-159	4.6%

Game 41 - Leafs 5, Carolina 2 - Toronto take advantage of some breaks to earn regulation win

In the last game before the halfway point, the Leafs managed to get some actual luck going their way, getting badly out-shot and out-chanced, but managing a rare regulation win, their first since beating Chicago a couple of weeks ago.

Phil Kessel gave the Leafs the lead on a bad goal late in the first, after Toronto had been clearly outchanced in the period. Carolina got level early in the second, as they dominated in the opening part of the period, outchancing Toronto 8-1 in the first thirteen minutes. Things then swung against the 'Canes, Kessel getting a second on a deflected pass, and Kulemin firing home the third goal. A Carolina response late in the second left them chasing a one-goal deficit in the third period.

A Paul Ranger goal midway through the period left Carolina to overhaul a two goal advantage, and while they generated a number of chances, they couldn't get it. Toronto were able to hold the Hurricanes chanceless in the last five minutes, and an empty net goal salted the game away.

One of the Leafs worst games in terms of chances, but getting those lucky breaks to take the lead meant that Carolina was chasing for much of it. Managing to keep the second period even on the scoreboard, despite how badly they were outchanced, was a key to their victory.

A summary of the scoring chances:

Status	Overall		ES
Team	Toronto	Carolina	Toronto	Carolina
1	5	7	3	7
2	6	11	4	11
3	4	7	4	7
4	0	0	0	0
Total	15	25	11	25

Details below.

Game 40 - Leafs 4, Buffalo 3 (SO) - Leafs recover from bad start to make another

After the first, it looked like it would be a very rough night for the Leafs, outchanced badly, 12-5, and down 2-0, even managing to give up a goal to John Scott, who hadn't scored in over four years. They recovered really well, as they held Buffalo to just a single second period chance, and managed to score three goals to take the lead, including one on the powerplay in the last minute of the period.

The Leafs continued to hold the advantage through the third, but didn't manage to extend the lead, and then saw the reverse of what happened to them against the Rangers happen, as they gave up a goal against six attackers in the final minute, and were unable to score in overtime, forcing a fourth consecutive shootout. This time they managed to win, moving their shootout record to 6-4.

Despite being down by seven in chances after the opening period, the Leafs ended up edging Buffalo in the final total, mostly thanks to a dominant second period, which included five powerplay chances.

A summary of the scoring chances:

Status	Overall		ES
Team	Toronto	Buffalo	Toronto	Buffalo
1	5	12	5	12
2	11	1	6	1
3	7	6	7	4
4	3	2	3	2
Total	26	21	21	19

Details below.

Game 39 - NY Rangers 2, Leafs 1 (SO) - Leafs go to third straight shootout after even game

A disastrous second period, followed by a goal midway through the third, looked like it might leave Toronto with another defeat, but a late goal saw them salvage a regulation tie, earning a point and going to the shootout for a third straight game.

The opening period was pretty even, with the Leafs unable to take advantage of a couple of powerplay opportunities. The second saw things go against Toronto, with the Rangers dominating play, with a lot of powerplay time, and a strong performance at even strength. They didn't manage a goal, though, leaving the game level after two.

Whatever malaise affected the Leafs in the second, they figured things out by the final frame, outchancing the Rangers 7-3. This came despite a setback, when Miller scored 7 minutes in. The Leafs weren't able to respond until the last 90 seconds, when Nazem Kadri scored an controversial equalizer, as the play easily could have been frozen, but Kadri was able to poke the puck in. No goal was forthcoming in overtime, and they ended up falling in the shootout for the second straight game.

In the 20 minute period between 18 minutes left in the second and 18 minutes left in the third, Toronto was outchanced 7-0 5-on-5, and 15-1 overall. Other than that, the Leafs outchanced the Rangers 18-8 overall, and 15-8 at even strength, leaving the game even overall.

A summary of the scoring chances:

Status	Overall		ES
Team	Toronto	NY Rangers	Toronto	NY Rangers
1	7	4	4	4
2	3	14	2	7
3	7	4	7	3
4	2	1	2	1
Total	19	23	15	15

Details below.

Game 38 - Detroit 5, Leafs 4 (SO) - Bernier holds off Detroit to get the Leafs to a shootout

The Leafs' first meeting of the year with their new divisional rival, and Winter Classic opponent, went poorly, but a good rally and some strong play from Jonathan Bernier allowed the Leafs to salvage a point from the game.

Cody Franson opened the scoring for the Leafs, but after that it was one-way traffic, Detroit generating twelve of the next thirteen chances, including three goals before the end of the period, which saw James Reimer pulled and replaced with Bernier.

The Leafs managed to pull things together in the second, Phaneuf getting them back within one midway through, and a late powerplay goal from Lupul tying the game. Toronto then took the lead midway through the third, through Clarkson, but after that Detroit gave a strong push to get level, getting rewarded when Tomas Tatar scored an equalizer. The two teams were pretty content to play for the extra point after that, with Detroit ultimately getting it in the shootout.

Other than a strong push in the back half of the second period, Detroit dominated play, more than doubling up the Leafs in chances. Toronto were dependent on getting some strong play from Jonathan Bernier to hold on in order to get to the shootout.
 
A summary of the scoring chances:

Status	Overall		ES
Team	Toronto	Detroit	Toronto	Detroit
1	2	7	2	7
2	5	5	2	5
3	4	7	3	6
4	1	1	1	1
Total	12	20	8	19

Details below.

Game 37 - Leafs 2, Phoenix 1 (SO) - Leafs survive Coyotes' late push to win in shootout

After falling behind early in their last two games, the Leafs were able to get out of the first period with a lead, then managed to hold on to survive to a shootout, which they won.

Toronto kept Phoenix chanceless for the last 15 minutes of the first period, in which they managed a goal, through Troy Bodie, leaving the period with the lead on the scoreboard, as well as being narrowly ahead in chances.

Phoenix nearly doubled up on the Leafs in chances while chasing the lead, winning the battle 11-6 between the ned of the first and their eventual equalizer, scored by Hanzal in the last five minutes. Toronto managed to hold on to that lead through the end of regulation, and despite three Phoenix chances in overtime, made it to a shootout.

Toronto lost the ES chance battle by 5, with most of Phoenix's advantage coming in the second period, when they weren't able to cut into the Leafs' lead.

A summary of the scoring chances:

Status	Overall		ES
Team	Toronto	Phoenix	Toronto	Phoenix
1	4	2	3	2
2	2	6	2	5
3	5	6	5	6
4	1	3	1	3
Total	12	17	11	16

Details below.

Game 36 - Florida 3, Leafs 1 - Lackluster second period leads to Leafs defeat

In terms of chances, the game with Florida looks relatively even; but an early Panther lead meant they were able to sit back in the third, with Toronto not able to put up enough consistent pressure to generate more than a single goal.

Another poor start left the Leafs chasing, down by one after less than five minutes, and giving up four of the first five chances. They got level in the first by the end of the frame, but couldn't score. Another poor start in the second left them further behind, first due to a Panther powerplay, then a good shift from the Bergenheim line leading to a goal just short of the six minute mark.

Toronto managed to win the third period in chances, but with the Panthers sitting back to defend a lead, that's hardly surprising. A goal from Raymond early in the period left the Leafs with some hope of chasing down the victory, but they weren't able to score again, despite generating seven of the last eight chances.

Florida's lead through two periods was chased down by Toronto in the third, but, as mentioned, the Leafs' five third period ES chances only resulted in one goal.

A summary of the scoring chances:

Status	Overall		ES
Team	Toronto	Florida	Toronto	Florida
1	4	4	4	4
2	4	10	4	7
3	8	2	5	1
Total	16	16	13	12

Details below.