Post-Game Talk: Another well deserved loss
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Suntouchable13
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You can have Keefe here and he will coach you to the same record with this goaltending. Berube is not making any difference at all. The problem is up top. Shanahan is terrible and needs to go in order for any meaningful change to happen.
- Dec 12, 2017
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They have an identical record as last year after 13 games and we knew at that point Keefe was not the answer and should have been fired. At least they’re watchable this year.
I don’t think Shanahan will be renewed and maybe Treliving will be moved up or better yet relieved as GM and they can start fresh.
They’re lucky that Ottawa, Buffalo and Detroit have mismanaged their teams or else they’d be surpassed by now.
Between Robo, Holm, McMann, Cowan, Minten, Greb, nobody came through to save the day for free so we might need to bring in a heavily retained asset to get proper depth scoring - pretty disappointing. If Hak comes through and Stolarz stays solid maybe we can afford it.
Better the bottom 6 than the top 6 anyway. Dewar-Kampf-Jarn makes a pretty useful albeit expensive shutdown fourth line, just need to cobble together that third line.
robertmac43
Forever 43!
- Mar 31, 2015
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Suntouchable13
Registered User
Aren’t you guys exhausted of watching the same thing over and over again for 9 years now? Lol. 6-5-2 again after 13 games. They arrived at this record differently this year, but still same record non the less. They will probably get hot and solidify a top 3 seed. Playoffs arrive and then what? You think Berube makes a difference there? Leafs brass hope he does, but hope is not a plan.
Fogelhund
Registered User
- Sep 15, 2007
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I am not willing to lay down a bet that they will win 2 rounds although I do think Stolarz, Tanev and OEL will help. Pacioretty too.
Will it be enough? Unlikely. Knies being another year older helps.i just don't see any evidence of any secondary scoring. If teams can manage to shut down Matthews and Marner, Nylander won't be enough.
MilkofthePoppy
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- Oct 27, 2022
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TheGreatOne11
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ACC1224
Super Elite, Passing ALL Tests since 2002
- Aug 19, 2002
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That is the killer. Something will have to give by the end of the week when Jarnkrok and the defenseman come back, maybe we will see some changes then.
ULF_55
Moderator
Remember missing the playoffs last game of season when the Devils/Islanders used their backup and lost knocking Leafs out?
I think missed by 1 point.
It was the Devils right?
Stephen
Moderator
- Feb 28, 2002
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It’s the unreliable primary scoring that highlights the lack of production from below.
kevsh
Registered User
- Nov 28, 2018
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Their forward depth just keeps getting worse every year, in part because the big 4 all got raises and more money has (rightly) been allocated to the blue line.
And there's no indication the top guys have figured out how to step it up in the playoffs so I'm right there with you. They'll be lucky to win one round, and then only if they get an ideal matchup and Stolarz/Woll play great.
Berube's approach and this group is the definition of square peg, round hole. They're not built (mostly mentally) for the type of game that the Bolts & Panthers had when they won their Cups.
ACC1224
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- Aug 19, 2002
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Funny reading the Wild GDT and most there feel their goalie stole the points for them last night.
Stephen
Moderator
- Feb 28, 2002
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Yeah they started Scott Clemmensen and I think they lost in the SO vs the Islanders and Wade Dubliewicz.
Wild are a very good team .. better than I realized .. they deserved to win but we got a point from our tender .. and our PP made 4 skilled passes to move tender and then a great skilled shot (it works well every 5 games or so) .. but that type of PP can't be repeated as those passes won't succeed 95% of time and hockey is a game of repeat .. it is why when time and space on puck gets reduced after XMAS and in playoffs even further we fail all da time .. da core 4 take up too much CAP and they can't produce enough when it counts .. Willy is only one of core 4 who can fly and he knows it and so do all other core 3 members which is why he can create separation in playoffs as he has another gear .. if Willy had da heart of a lion he would be best player in league but he doesn't do it consistently
Fogelhund
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- Sep 15, 2007
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The Toronto Maple Leafs are managing an identity crisis.
Under the former coach — for all the team's wild swings and fatal flaws — one thing was certain: The Maple Leafs had no trouble scoring goals in the regular season.
Toronto trotted the Eastern Conference's most dangerous collection of scorers throughout the entire Sheldon Keefe regime, averaging 3.52 goals per game over the past five seasons.
Because that offence dried up at the most important time, however, GM Brad Treliving purposely tried a different tack over the off-season.
He hired a coach that prioritizes defence and did the same with his spendy acquisitions of dependable blueliners Chris Tanev and Oliver Ekman-Larsson.
Perhaps the assumption was that the goals would keep pouring in. Or perhaps the thinking was that they'd be fine winning a chunk of 2-1 games if it meant developing a safer, more playoff-friendly path to victory.
Well, the Maple Leafs lost a 2-1 decision Sunday (in overtime) to a solid Minnesota Wild squad and have now managed two goals or fewer in six of their 13 contests.
"Obviously not high scoring, but that's OK. I think we want to get comfortable playing in those games," Morgan Rielly told reporters in St. Paul. "It's unfortunate we don't get the extra point, but we're moving in the right direction."
Certainly, there were positives to be gleaned from swiping a point on the road against a worthy opponent coming in tired off a back-to-back and a blown lead in St. Louis.
Starter Anthony Stolarz reasserted his status as the No. 1 goalie, turning away 31 of 33 shots and holding fort as the Leafs successfully killed off all three penalties and faced the lion's share of high-danger chances (11-7).
The beleaguered power play got on the board, and the Leafs fulfilled their duties in the D-zone, out-hitting the Wild 30-22 and blocking 24 shots to Minnesota's eight.
"We committed really hard to playing a heavy game and blocking shots and trying to eliminate their scoring chances," Stolarz said. "This is a good team, and their record (8-1-2) shows it."
The Maple Leafs' own record (6-5-2) is indicative of a group still figuring itself out.
No doubt, Stolarz has been solid in the pipes, the team is clamping down better in front of its own crease, and last season's troublesome penalty kill is taking steps in the right direction.
Yet the offensive creativity and video-game-like explosions of goals that were once the trademark of this crew have been muted.
In a season where save percentages are in steep decline — a trend that has surprisingly yet to benefit Toronto much — the Maple Leafs now drop to 17th overall in goals per game (3.0), a 15-position plummet from where they finished 2023-24.
Besides the much-discussed power-play struggles, a major reason is the absence of a second wave of scoring.
Nick Robertson has a total of one garbage-time goal, and that's one more goal than forwards Max Domi, Ryan Reaves, David Kämpf, and Pontus Holmberg have combined.
Calle Järnkrok scored 20 during his first season as a Leaf, but he's been injured all season — and his return is not imminent. Tyler Bertuzzi ripped 21 last season, but now he's busy scoring clutch goals for Chicago.
Sure, the Maple Leafs' high-end stars are all generating chances and making their mark. But on a night like Sunday, the Leafs could use some contributions from down the lineup.
And when it's not there, you simply shrug and are happy to keep things tight.
"Good point," Berube said of the low-event overtime loss.
Heck, the coach is happy to keep pace in the standings on a night where his skaters couldn't muster a single goal at even strength.
The Maple Leafs fly home for a day off Monday before facing a divisional rematch against the Boston Bruins on Tuesday.
Fox's Fast Five
• Auston Matthews, the defending Maurice Richard Trophy winner, is 13 games in and tied league-wide for 49th in goals (five). An offensive breakout is coming, right?
• Positive note: The Maple Leafs' struggling power play snapped its 0-for-19 drought against Minnesota's 30th-ranked penalty kill.
The Toronto Maple Leafs are managing an identity crisis.
Under the former coach — for all the team's wild swings and fatal flaws — one thing was certain: The Maple Leafs had no trouble scoring goals in the regular season.
Toronto trotted the Eastern Conference's most dangerous collection of scorers throughout the entire Sheldon Keefe regime, averaging 3.52 goals per game over the past five seasons.
Because that offence dried up at the most important time, however, GM Brad Treliving purposely tried a different tack over the off-season.
He hired a coach that prioritizes defence and did the same with his spendy acquisitions of dependable blueliners Chris Tanev and Oliver Ekman-Larsson.
Perhaps the assumption was that the goals would keep pouring in. Or perhaps the thinking was that they'd be fine winning a chunk of 2-1 games if it meant developing a safer, more playoff-friendly path to victory.
Well, the Maple Leafs lost a 2-1 decision Sunday (in overtime) to a solid Minnesota Wild squad and have now managed two goals or fewer in six of their 13 contests.
"Obviously not high scoring, but that's OK. I think we want to get comfortable playing in those games," Morgan Rielly told reporters in St. Paul. "It's unfortunate we don't get the extra point, but we're moving in the right direction."
Certainly, there were positives to be gleaned from swiping a point on the road against a worthy opponent coming in tired off a back-to-back and a blown lead in St. Louis.
Starter Anthony Stolarz reasserted his status as the No. 1 goalie, turning away 31 of 33 shots and holding fort as the Leafs successfully killed off all three penalties and faced the lion's share of high-danger chances (11-7).
The beleaguered power play got on the board, and the Leafs fulfilled their duties in the D-zone, out-hitting the Wild 30-22 and blocking 24 shots to Minnesota's eight.
"We committed really hard to playing a heavy game and blocking shots and trying to eliminate their scoring chances," Stolarz said. "This is a good team, and their record (8-1-2) shows it."
The Maple Leafs' own record (6-5-2) is indicative of a group still figuring itself out.
No doubt, Stolarz has been solid in the pipes, the team is clamping down better in front of its own crease, and last season's troublesome penalty kill is taking steps in the right direction.
Yet the offensive creativity and video-game-like explosions of goals that were once the trademark of this crew have been muted.
In a season where save percentages are in steep decline — a trend that has surprisingly yet to benefit Toronto much — the Maple Leafs now drop to 17th overall in goals per game (3.0), a 15-position plummet from where they finished 2023-24.
Besides the much-discussed power-play struggles, a major reason is the absence of a second wave of scoring.
Nick Robertson has a total of one garbage-time goal, and that's one more goal than forwards Max Domi, Ryan Reaves, David Kämpf, and Pontus Holmberg have combined.
Calle Järnkrok scored 20 during his first season as a Leaf, but he's been injured all season — and his return is not imminent. Tyler Bertuzzi ripped 21 last season, but now he's busy scoring clutch goals for Chicago.
Sure, the Maple Leafs' high-end stars are all generating chances and making their mark. But on a night like Sunday, the Leafs could use some contributions from down the lineup.
And when it's not there, you simply shrug and are happy to keep things tight.
"Good point," Berube said of the low-event overtime loss.
Heck, the coach is happy to keep pace in the standings on a night where his skaters couldn't muster a single goal at even strength.
The Maple Leafs fly home for a day off Monday before facing a divisional rematch against the Boston Bruins on Tuesday.
Fox's Fast Five
• Auston Matthews, the defending Maurice Richard Trophy winner, is 13 games in and tied league-wide for 49th in goals (five). An offensive breakout is coming, right?
• Positive note: The Maple Leafs' struggling power play snapped its 0-for-19 drought against Minnesota's 30th-ranked penalty kill.
1specter
Registered User
- Sep 27, 2016
- 12,906
- 19,566
Yep, way too many passengers. I like Lorentz and McMann, rest of those guys are just a weird fit. Holmberg looks decent on the fourth line but is overmatched on the third, Domi is more of a skilled winger who should be playing with other skill players, Robertson works hard but can't create much on his own and is undersized, Kampf is a decent but overpaid 4C and his impact is becoming more and more minimal as time goes on, Reaves' is barely an NHLer these days. Dewar and Jarnkrok should balance out the bottom six more when they are back, but even then the mix is not right.
I guess that means we weren’t caved in, shocker.
I think a lot of folks confuse effort with execution. Coaches know when players don’t give a shit. That wasn’t this game. It was a hard earned point. The Leafs were in it and working hard, but their execution frankly wasn’t as good as the Wild.
Not hard to see this is a very different team. Last year our PP carried us much of the season, our goaltending was shite, and 5-on-5 wasn’t our strength. I’ll take this leafs team any day over last years. We have a quality goalie that we can rely on, our PP is garbage, but we excel 5-on-5. Special teams will improve, and so will our overall execution. Matthews will get hot, we’ll start scoring more, and the win streaks will come. Only the playoffs matter in the end.
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Which is why I firmly believe that individually they would all be able to help a team win.
Collectively it does not seem to work. I in no way blame Marner and JT for the Leafs shortcomings, but if the Leafs fail again, it will demoralize the fanbase if they bring them back.
Clark4Ever
What we do in hockey echoes in eternity...
ACC1224
Super Elite, Passing ALL Tests since 2002
- Aug 19, 2002
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Obviously didn't like the outcome but I thought it was a pretty entertaining game.
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