Speculation: Are Matthews and Marner Choke Artists in Playoffs?

[ORRFForever]

He's made those same mistakes under Babcock too, and if he has been like that since Junior, it seems like it has to do with IQ.

Matthews is the smarter/more disciplined player. When things get tough, Matthews keeps it simple and plays within himself - he learned that without Babcock.

Marner has never learned that. Not in London, not at the World Juniors, not in the NHL. Marner needed a Babcock-esk coach far more than Matthews.

 

[Satire]

The thing is, Marner has had ample opportunities while Matthews has had 2 men on him...the Habs are taking their chances with Marner and Hyman, while doing their darn best to cover Matthews.

I think that's a wise game plan. There is no doubt in my mind that if Mathews has the puck he has the best chance to score of anyone on the ice. If anything that likely indicates a need to move another scoring threat to that line in my eyes.

 

[ORRFForever]

Marner panics and overdoes it when things don't go well - he doesn't know how to handle it. Maybe that's "hockey I.Q." but it depends on your definition.

 

[Superstar]

I think that's a wise game plan. There is no doubt in my mind that if Mathews has the puck he has the best chance to score of anyone on the ice. If anything that likely indicates a need to move another scoring threat to that line in my eyes.

It's a desperate game plan by the Habs...they really don't have too many options...Keefe had put Nylander on the top line a few times in the game. Bottom line is, Matthews and Marner need to produce...the Habs' top line aren't exactly world beaters.

 

[m1ker]

If the leafs don’t win game 7 then I can’t see myself cheering for this core next year. I’ve waited all year, every year, for 5 years, just to be let down year after year. I’ll be cheering for Seattle. At least I’ll be able to pay for nhl Game Center instead of both tsn and sn.

 

[Metroid]

Where are they with him? Likely the same place. Ask that in the second round or I’m thinking it’s useless and has no weight right now.

Damn right i traded him. The team was tougher than these perpetual first round losers. Not over yet but I can’t help it i seen quit first in game 5.

My team was full of warriors for playoffs. You just don’t know a playoff team is likely your problem. Now it’s game 7 again. Same nonsense lack of character and guts showed up.

The team i fanangled together was good. Huge mean defense with defensive prowess. Scoring,jam. Much better than this perpetual choke show

Ah yes the respond after a loss type guy.

 

[bbgobie]

Even if we win this game 7 I'm not sold on this core. Never been. We could've easily won this series with a bounce in each game. But the play of the core hasn't been great. Will take a dominating series vs Winnipeg and a work hard compete 60 min effort a night semi series to give me faith.

 

[CapspaceKiller]

Marner's last 17 playoff games
og 10a

Matthews during the same period
8g 8a

one's not like the other

 

[The Blueprint]

I've defended them up until this point...but it doesn't matter what the effort level is in game 7, there has to be tangible results on the scoreboard.

I hope they realize what's at stake here. Nevermind the choker labels that will be rightly deserved, people will be calling for heads to roll this off season.

Prove us wrong guys

 

[17 Clark]

Even if we win this game 7 I'm not sold on this core. Never been. We could've easily won this series with a bounce in each game. But the play of the core hasn't been great. Will take a dominating series vs Winnipeg and a work hard compete 60 min effort a night semi series to give me faith.

It seems the core just shows up and that’s good enough do some figure eights And get paid $11 million a year and most people just wanna blame the Fringe players do you remember when the series started Toronto was going to sweep it because the two clubs are not even comparable I guess someone forgot to tell Montreal this series just Confirm what we’re all thinking did you see the interview with Junior mint it’s like he didn’t even care about losing no accountability never even get out of the first round with this team if they get a lucky bounce and do Winnipeg will embarrass them in the second round if they keep playing like this sad this is what happens when you give players money before they were accomplished anything thanks Kyle

 

[Subway Schenn]

I've defended them up until this point...but it doesn't matter what the effort level is in game 7, there has to be tangible results on the scoreboard.

I hope they realize what's at stake here. Nevermind the choker labels that will be rightly deserved, people will be calling for heads to roll this off season.

Prove us wrong guys

Yep, can't argue with this.

Lose Game 7 and we better be shopping Marner.... We're not moving Auston and we're not moving JT (Rielly and Willy are value contracts) so how else could we restructure the team cap situation?

Just pathetic. Hometown boy could have been a hero, instead he chased every last penny and we're still waiting for him to turn up in the playoffs... CP24 feature and all, it could have been the stuff dreams were made of. Greed poisons everything - wonder what Paul thinks about those endorsement opportunities in Buffalo.

 

[Smif]

There's no accountability with these two. No matter how good or bad they play they're marched out there for their guaranteed 20+ mins a game. Never split up, never demoted down the lineup, just a nice, easy, guaranteed TOI every game.

 

[Stonehands1990]

There's no accountability with these two. No matter how good or bad they play they're marched out there for their guaranteed 20+ mins a game. Never split up, never demoted down the lineup, just a nice, easy, guaranteed TOI every game.

This is the facts and Keefe is a horrible coach

 

[Dough72]

Marner can't cut across the middle of the ice anymore and Matthews can't stare down at the ice 5 feet around him to help his stick handling and toe-drags. This is the impact truculence has on hockey and why so many gms and fans value it highly.

 

[Pookie]

Yep, can't argue with this.

Lose Game 7 and we better be shopping Marner.... We're not moving Auston and we're not moving JT (Rielly and Willy are value contracts) so how else could we restructure the team cap situation?

Just pathetic. Hometown boy could have been a hero, instead he chased every last penny and we're still waiting for him to turn up in the playoffs... CP24 feature and all, it could have been the stuff dreams were made of. Greed poisons everything - wonder what Paul thinks about those endorsement opportunities in Buffalo.

why would 34 be untouchable?

UFA soon. Could walk for nothing if he pulls a Tavares and goes back to the States.

we have a 1C in Tavares.

I’d put the ad up and see if there is a bidding war.

 

[justashadowof]

A lot of premature condemnation going on here. I'll gladly jump on the finger pointing bandwagon if they lose/blow this series. Heck, I am prepared to do it if they don't get out of the North division. But until that happens, I'm rooting for them to succeed.

 

[studebaker17]

I'm not sure these guys have another gear . They probably play to their very best all season and when the intensity and attention to details are ramped up in the playoffs they run out of room and have no answer .
These guys both don't like playing in traffic and don't do it naturally and unfortunately that's the only way to play in the playoffs for success. Need to be moving their feet a lot more going in and out of uncomfortable areas .

 

[Captain14]

Pale faced marshmallow fluff, that’s what they are.
The roster is not built for the playoffs.
They do not execute the simple things that matter come playoff time.
Making sure picks get deep.
Picking up and sticking with opponents in the Dzone.
Chipping pucks out of the dzone.
Throwing pucks at the net and battling for rebounds or deflections.
Finishing their checks and playing hard on the puck.
The successful teams do these things, we can not or will not.
The core is rotten.

 

[hullsy47]

If the leafs don’t win game 7 then I can’t see myself cheering for this core next year. I’ve waited all year, every year, for 5 years, just to be let down year after year. I’ll be cheering for Seattle. At least I’ll be able to pay for nhl Game Center instead of both tsn and sn.

 

[hullsy47]

I think everybody under Shanahan is subject to change
I can't see the leafs losing game 7 there is just too much collectively to lose
This can be a career altering game for every dubas signing

 

[Pookie]

A lot of premature condemnation going on here. I'll gladly jump on the finger pointing bandwagon if they lose/blow this series. Heck, I am prepared to do it if they don't get out of the North division. But until that happens, I'm rooting for them to succeed.

me too but ironically it feels like a golf hole.

we had a beauty drive down the middle on a par 4.

We flubbed the approach and the chip.

We hit 2 putts and still have a 3 footer left to go.

we might sink this... but either way it’s at least a 3 putt double bogey on the card after driving the fairway.

 

[justashadowof]

me too but ironically it feels like a golf hole.

we had a beauty drive down the middle on a par 4.

We flubbed the approach and the chip.

We hit 2 putts and still have a 3 footer left to go.

we might sink this... but either way it’s at least a 3 putt double bogey on the card after driving the fairway.

I'd analogise winning a playoff series in 7 with making a par on a short par 5. There was a mediocre drive to the edge of the rough. The spectacular fairway wood second shot from an iffy lie almost rolled onto the huge tricky green. The 3rd shot was a chip that was very short of the pin maybe about 6 feet. The 4th shot was a putt that just scurried well past the hole by 3 feet and the putt for par may be trickier than the birdie putt.

 

[Hockey4Life91]

Yes.

 

[TOGuy14]

This is where coaching steps in. Keefe is being outcoached and Matthews and Marner are playing Keefes game. He needs to adjust, the boys will be fine.

What are you even talking about?

We are talking about two 11M players and it is the coaches fault they can't produce? Sorry but at that price tag the other team should be scrambling to try and defend against your stars, Matthews and Marner can't expect to get clean ice time against fourth liners all game to produce points

Also we aren't talking about Bergeron on Barkov here, this is Phil Danault, if you can't get it done against one of the weakest 1Cs in the playoffs you won't do any better moving forward

 

[Gallagbi]

What are you even talking about?

We are talking about two 11M players and it is the coaches fault they can't produce? Sorry but at that price tag the other team should be scrambling to try and defend against your stars, Matthews and Marner can't expect to get clean ice time against fourth liners all game to produce points

Also we aren't talking about Bergeron on Barkov here, this is Phil Danault, if you can't get it done against one of the weakest 1Cs in the playoffs you won't do any better moving forward

It's really nonsensical. The coach has them outplaying opposition all throughout the lineup, which is exactly his job.