Post-Game Talk: 5-2 Stinker

[The Winter Soldier]

I didn't think we were going to win 4 in a row to end the season, if we were to lose one, this was the game that was expected.

Now we can close out the year with back to back wins as a target, beating Montreal will be nice if we are to meet them in the post season.

 

[SprDaVE]

To be honest, I thought we played better than the score showed. We got a bit unlucky in the offensive zone and Tampa Bay really pounced on their opportunities. Leafs definitely not play with urgency on the PP and the hole was done.

Fraser had a terrible game. Probably his worst of the year. And please no more Kostka.

We finally outshot the opponent. But lost again. Funny how that goes.

 

[SprDaVE]

Kadri? Did he get sent down to the marlies for their playoff run and I missed it? Where did he go? You can rip on guys like Komarov and Kostka, but they are what they are at the bottom of the depth chart. We rely on Kadri and he's bailed on us.

What? Did you even watch the game?

He had a good game last night. Made some good passes and had a couple chances to score.

Is he supposed to get a hat trick every game now to please you?

 

[Pierre Gotye]

Review of me, for the last 7 Leafs games, most of the time:

 

[Daisy Jane]

To be honest, I thought we played better than the score showed. We got a bit unlucky in the offensive zone and Tampa Bay really pounced on their opportunities. Leafs definitely not play with urgency on the PP and the hole was done.

Fraser had a terrible game. Probably his worst of the year. And please no more Kostka.

We finally outshot the opponent. But lost again. Funny how that goes.

I agree.
Tampa is super scary fast. We should have had at least Liles to help with our movement out of the zone, but that wasn't really the problem. Because of their speed, Tampa always seemed to end up behind us. there were some bad pinches, etc, but for the most part it was a good game than the score indicated.

And I agree with the whole "outshot vs. outshoot" thing. this has been going on since Cujo's time. I don't get it, I don't understand it - but we play better when we get outshot. (or if not playing better - they seem to win more). but again, I think a lot of shots weren't high quality scoring chances either.

the tale of this game can be summed up like this:

Three Goal Posts.
the game is 5-3, Leafs.

 

[The Caveman]

Lots of posts and lacking a bit of urgency. Frattin was very good though.

Wonder where he fits in? Maybe go full checking line with Kule, JayMac and Leo, and play Fratt with Lupul and Kadri?

 

[Yosho]

Lots of posts and lacking a bit of urgency. Frattin was very good though.

Wonder where he fits in? Maybe go full checking line with Kule, JayMac and Leo, and play Fratt with Lupul and Kadri?

I actually like that idea. Lupul and Frattin both thrive with Kadri.

 

[LeafOfBread]

Kadri? Did he get sent down to the marlies for their playoff run and I missed it? Where did he go? You can rip on guys like Komarov and Kostka, but they are what they are at the bottom of the depth chart. We rely on Kadri and he's bailed on us.

Rofl, Jughead singling out kadri again, what else is new. what about your boy Frattin? I remember how much you used to rave about him and how you liked him better than kadri, well where has he been? no goals in 14 games, only 2 assists over that span

 

[InterceptSchenn]

You'd be lying if you thought a loss was not a real possibility. That is why I am not furious, because I expected a let down game. It happens.

 

[The Caveman]

I actually like that idea. Lupul and Frattin both thrive with Kadri.

It's worth a shot. Frattin is ok defensively and if he plays with grit and hits, is what that line needs. But I think the bigger need is for a serious shutdown line - especially if we end up playing the Caps.

JVR-Boz-Kessel
Lupul-Kadri-Fratt
Komorov-JayMac-Kule
MacA-Grabo-Orr/Mclaren/Hamilton

 

[Pierre Gotye]

The Leafs seemed to have given up on the season already.

Not sure if they're already look towards the playoffs or don't care.

Still think their weaknesses will be exposed in the playoffs, unless Reimer can juggle needles.

 

[Warden of the North]

To be honest, I thought we played better than the score showed. We got a bit unlucky in the offensive zone and Tampa Bay really pounced on their opportunities. Leafs definitely not play with urgency on the PP and the hole was done.

Fraser had a terrible game. Probably his worst of the year. And please no more Kostka.

We finally outshot the opponent. But lost again. Funny how that goes.

This. We played far worse before and got wins.

Things even out in the end.

 

[EDDIE20*]

Didn't get to see much of the game, but a stinker will happen once in a while. On to the next game...

 

[Havoq]

Taking the foot off the pedal can be a dangerous game. Honestly this is a good time to get the kinks out because the last 5-8 games have not been very impressive and that level of play will not cut it come April 30. I understand resting up for the playoffs, but with home advantage still on the line and our recent performance, I don't think that is a luxury we get this year.

 

[Hurt]

That game sucked.

 

[TonsofPuppies*]

Taking the foot off the pedal can be a dangerous game. Honestly this is a good time to get the kinks out because the last 5-8 games have not been very impressive and that level of play will not cut it come April 30. I understand resting up for the playoffs, but with home advantage still on the line and our recent performance, I don't think that is a luxury we get this year.

Well said, good first post. Welcome to the boards.

Leafs have been playing like **** lately and while I'm absolutely thrilled to be in the playoffs for the first time in almost a decade, if we continue to play the way we have been the last two weeks, it'll be an early exit, regardless of who we face.

 

[PuckMagi]

It's worth a shot. Frattin is ok defensively and if he plays with grit and hits, is what that line needs. But I think the bigger need is for a serious shutdown line - especially if we end up playing the Caps.

JVR-Boz-Kessel
Lupul-Kadri-Fratt
Komorov-JayMac-Kule
MacA-Grabo-Orr/Mclaren/Hamilton

agreed. though i liked how colborne played this last game as well.

i'd almost roll with macA - Colborne - McLaren..... and sit grabo.

 

[thewave]

It's just not a good team defensively been saying it all along. Our best match up is MTL and outside of that we should be concerned about any teams with size and skill. The only successful matchup we have against top NHL lines is Grabos.

We tried Bozak vs. Crosby line and it got destroyed had to switch back to Grabo because like it or not he is the best we have. Notice the less Grabo plays the more we get outplayed, The current 1 and 2 lines may be able to score but against a good team they tend to run around a lot. Our D is incomplete as well which makes things worse obviously and I hate how Liles is being played as well

 

[PuckMagi]

Lots of posts and lacking a bit of urgency. Frattin was very good though.

Wonder where he fits in? Maybe go full checking line with Kule, JayMac and Leo, and play Fratt with Lupul and Kadri?

yep... those are the lines i would go with.

did caryle forget how well frattin was playing earlier in the year? he was on fire! a lot of people think it was just because he was playing on the same line as Kadri... but if you look at a lot of his goals... they were very much an individual effort. he wasn't just shooting pucks in empty nets because of awesome kardi passes or anything. he looked like a legit goal scorer earlier in the year. (though obviously it helped that kadri was playing great as well).

i guess when he came back from his surgery he wasn't quite the same player... but i thought he improved his game rather quickly and was pretty much back to full-form before getting benched. ya... he wasn't scoring at the same pace, but i thought he was still making stuff happen all the same. early in the year, he just had a crazy high shooting percentage. so it's to be expected that you'll have a slump after being on fire like that. it's just variance. things average out over the long run... so if you score a lot in the beginning more than you should have been scoring... eventually it'll even out by scoring less than you otherwise should.

 

[Leafsfan83]

Well that was a bummer.

I do agree with the people saying we played better than the score showed.

Damn posts.

 

[LeafsandSharksfan]

I didn't see much but Kostka and Grabo were really stinking up the joint.

 

[thewave]

I am for lack of better wording confused by the randomness and lineup switches by RC, I almost feel the man doesn't know what the problems are or is just winging it with this Roster to make things work. The reason we are in the PO falls mostly on two people, Kadri and Reims that's it, in a full season I doubt this teams in at all.

 

[Eb]

It's just not a good team defensively been saying it all along. Our best match up is MTL and outside of that we should be concerned about any teams with size and skill. The only successful matchup we have against top NHL lines is Grabos.

We tried Bozak vs. Crosby line and it got destroyed had to switch back to Grabo because like it or not he is the best we have. Notice the less Grabo plays the more we get outplayed, The current 1 and 2 lines may be able to score but against a good team they tend to run around a lot. Our D is incomplete as well which makes things worse obviously and I hate how Liles is being played as well

What I love most about people making excuses for Grabo is them constantly comparing him to Bozak. Truth be told, Grabo's turnovers just over the blueline or getting got deep is what contributes to us being outplayed. I also love how you posted the same post in two different threads like you are dying to try to make a point.

 

[mix1home]

Here go division hopes.

 

[thewave]

What I love most about people making excuses for Grabo is them constantly comparing him to Bozak. Truth be told, Grabo's turnovers just over the blueline or getting got deep is what contributes to us being outplayed. I also love how you posted the same post in two different threads like you are dying to try to make a point.

Regardless, this team is incomplete on D and Reims dragged us into the playoffs. Grabo is our best two way player but he is having a rough go and he has been to see a specialist, so we know something is going on there.

Just pointing out the less he plays the more we get outplayed. It's pretty much fact now, his offense has sucked and even his d has as well lately, why? We don't really know other the he has stomach issues that possibly play into this.