Speculation: Are Matthews and Marner Choke Artists in Playoffs?

[Trapper]

No they aren't chokes. They are regular season performers who aren't built for the playoffs.

It’s the way you play and are built.

The Habs earned what they got.
The Leafs got what they deserved.

That’s how the core is built. Needs a rework.

 

[Blue Nate]

Marner and Matthews play scared to lose which is a self-fulfilling cycle. I'm super pissed at their body language the last two games. When your best two players look like they are about to cry every time they make a mistake or a play doesn't go their way you can bet it effects the whole f***ing team.

At the very least strip the 'A's off their jerseys for god's sake, they don't deserve them.

 

[Not My Tempo]

Is it a coincidence that Marner and Matthews play like their role models and known playoff chokers Marleau and Thornton?

 

[TOGuy14]

Sometimes you just run into a hot goalie that's hockey

Was waiting for this excuse.

First it was Holtby who was hot, then Raask, then Korpisalo, then Price

If you walk into a room and it smell like sh** then leave the room. If every room smells like sh** check the bottom of your shoes

No more excuses, we have seen the same collapse happen too many times against different teams now for it to be a one off hot goalie or player. This team is fundamentally flawed and we gave huge money to guys who aren't big game performers

 

[justashadowof]

Matthews was money all season so I assumed that this time it would be different in the playoffs and thought he would finally dominate. Matthews drove the Leafs offense this season. On average in any 7 game sample, Matthews would have notched at least 5 goals. That difference of 4 goals is literally the difference in this series being won in 5 or 6 games by the Leafs.

 

[BraveCanadian]

Matthews didn't look like he cared at all.. Marner looked like he cared too much, was too tight, and that was affecting his play just as badly.

Both these guys need to find a way to get the monkey off their backs in the playoffs because they aren't going anywhere.

 

[JayfromNB1219]

I can understand the frustration but I really think we all have to calm down a little.

Let's not forget that our goaltending and defence has also been a major factor in losing those series.

All I'm saying is that it's not over yet.

So big improvement on defence this year.

Goaltending is good but not proven yet.

Matthews is Matthews.

Marner may turn it around.

Tavares could be back.

Foligno will be back.

I've found over the years that when advancing in the playoffs each series has it's own hero. So far this series looks like Willy is the man.

Hoping that we advance. It will be interesting to see who steps up each series.

Dude is heading back to Columbus with the 1st in tow and I don’t blame him, his family is settled in Columbus, we all knew he was a rental from day 1

 

[wingman75]

People saying they looked like they don't care, that is bs. They care. They just have no idea what it takes to win in the playoffs. Like they are literally dumb when it comes to that... I would LOVE to hear what Muzzin and Bogosian would honestly have to say about these guys and their lack of understanding of what desperation and desire is. I am sure they are sitting there thinking, what in the actual f***?

Anyway, with regard to the ops post title:

 

[daveleaf]

LOL. Another year and another choke job by our Dubas and company. Puck possession is our game? How did that work for you Baby Dubas? Dump and chase in the playoffs, always has been that way and always will,

Mathews and Marriner are a pair of candlestick holders. I would like to say what I really feel but the powers may have an issue with it. Part of our sugar coated society.

Our franchise is soft, led by a GM that is a baby. Lou is in the second round again, wonder boy Dubas is gone again. You have a coach that can't simply adjust to anything in three bloody games-nothing. What a joke.

Both Mathews and Marriner choke. They can't get it done, they are not Kane and Toews not even effin close.

Spezza, Kerfoot and dare I say Nylander were the only ones with some heart.

Take your little award Mathews, let Marriner hand it to you. When the game gets big, you suck Mathews. Soft player, can't win with this player. Glad they never put the C on him.

Holy you know what and people talk about Hyman. He's the only guy ever going to the net. What a joke.

Get rid of Dubas. It's time, he has no balls to put in those pants.

 

[koyvoo]

Two biggest pretenders, fakers in the league. Gutless, toothless cowards.

 

[HoweHullOrr]

Our multi-million dollar stars have a habit of disappearing in the playoffs.

Weird thing is, only in the last couple of years. Before that, you could count on at least one of them to show up (Mitch during the first Boston series, Auston during the second). Seems like since Keefe got here and put them together, they've both started disappearing during the playoffs. Maybe it's because having them both on the same line makes it much easier to shut them down?

If Elite players are shut down that easy, that isn't on the coaching, it's on the players.

I don't know what's wrong with those guys. I don't think they excel in the tougher, grind style of playoff hockey.

But your best players have to be your best players in the playoffs. That's especially true when you have four players gobbling up $40 million in cap. That makes it really hard to have good depth.

I thought this divisional format was the best chance we had in years to do some damage in the playoffs and get on a roll. Oh well, next year.

 

[HoweHullOrr]

Matthews didn't look like he cared at all.. Marner looked like he cared too much, was too tight, and that was affecting his play just as badly.

Both these guys need to find a way to get the monkey off their backs in the playoffs because they aren't going anywhere.

Matthews kept getting rag dolled and all he did was smile - no push back.

Marner always tries for the finesse pass, but that can sometimes lead to trouble. Knowing when to make the simple play is an important skill that he hasn't learned yet.

 

[ItsFineImFine]

I think Matthews' game has the potential to translate into the post-season even if the offense does slow down but I have zero confidence in Marner's to unless he's given a 2nd/3rd line wing role on some other team which is kinda hard to do when your cap hit is $11M.

 

[Strangle]

The Leafs are an immature team and Marner is the most immature player on the team.

The Leafs are a mentally weak team and Marner is the most mentally weak of all of them.

The Leafs are a soft team and Marner is the softest

Marner has too much influence on the attitude of the team and adding vets didn’t fix it.

 

[AllDay28]

Was waiting for this excuse.

First it was Holtby who was hot, then Raask, then Korpisalo, then Price

If you walk into a room and it smell like sh** then leave the room. If every room smells like sh** check the bottom of your shoes

No more excuses, we have seen the same collapse happen too many times against different teams now for it to be a one off hot goalie or player. This team is fundamentally flawed and we gave huge money to guys who aren't big game performers

3 of those 4 goalies in their prime were elite..

 

[Faltorvo]

I wonder though, with that price tag. Options are small. Question: Do you continue to flounder keeping Marner and that contract, or do you cut your losses and move on? Keeping Marner, who is in NO WAY worth 11 M, and keeping Matthews who really does not want to be in T.O.
Cut your losses now and move on.

IDK,,, what to think of Matty right now and i have no clue at all where you get the impression that matty does not want to be here,, but he sure as hell looks like a " full of himself , braggard type, my sht don't stink american" he really really really looks like a " i'm just here to get paid and drooled over".

 

[Faltorvo]

I wonder though, with that price tag. Options are small. Question: Do you continue to flounder keeping Marner and that contract, or do you cut your losses and move on? Keeping Marner, who is in NO WAY worth 11 M, and keeping Matthews who really does not want to be in T.O.
Cut your losses now and move on.

here is a idea,,, there is 1 team in the league with 82 million in cap space and i'm sure a "just get into the POs" will be their mantra for the next 5 years

 

[mikemar1]

I knew they were going to lose the series after the 2 on zero OT goal.

 

[Havoc]

The Leafs are an immature team and Marner is the most immature player on the team.

The Leafs are a mentally weak team and Marner is the most mentally weak of all of them.

The Leafs are a soft team and Marner is the softest

Marner has too much influence on the attitude of the team and adding vets didn’t fix it.

This is my issue with Marner as well. I don't feel "professional" vibes from him when he's not on the ice.

If he carried himself like Tavares off the ice he'd meet his Patrick Kane ceiling... just swap the elite shot for elite pk'ing.

I am curious what his training regime is like and if he even works religiously on improving his shot. All I know for sure is he likes doing commercials and playing xbox.

 

[koyvoo]

We should just start referring to them as “spineless” and “gutlesss” I think of we start calling them spineless and gutless, everyone sting the league would know who were talking about.

 

[ANDI P IS CUTE]

the habs ran into a hot goalie too, and they won the series.

with a third of the cap hit lol

 

[leafsgirl12]

Marner and Matthews play scared to lose which is a self-fulfilling cycle. I'm super pissed at their body language the last two games. When your best two players look like they are about to cry every time they make a mistake or a play doesn't go their way you can bet it effects the whole f***ing team.

At the very least strip the 'A's off their jerseys for god's sake, they don't deserve them.

Yep agree they don't deserve there A's

 

[Superstar]

This is my issue with Marner as well. I don't feel "professional" vibes from him when he's not on the ice.

If he carried himself like Tavares off the ice he'd meet his Patrick Kane ceiling... just swap the elite shot for elite pk'ing.

I am curious what his training regime is like and if he even works religiously on improving his shot. All I know for sure is he likes doing commercials and playing xbox.

There's this little device that allows you to strengthen your jaws by knawing at it...I think it's good offseason training for chewing your mouth guard...maybe he's got a few of those...

 

[usernamezrhardtodo]

Is it a coincidence that Marner and Matthews play like their role models and known playoff chokers Marleau and Thornton?

Isn't it amazing how Dubas goes and gets guys who were KNOWN to be chokers...to be the guys who lead this team?

I get his mentality in a way..get guys who are hungry to come here...problem is...they are hungry because they are most likely not able to elevate their teams to success. I want a guy like a Patrick Maroon or a Goodrow being hungry...not an old man like Jumbo who can't play anymore.

 

[Racer88]

Marner knows he wasn't good enough.

I think we have heard this same thing from him for a few years now and nothing changes.
This is what happens when you, pay players ridiculous contracts before they have proven a single thing.