Speculation: Are Matthews and Marner Choke Artists in Playoffs?

[17 Clark]

Go watch the post game interviews - Matthews and Marner
Both acting like this is no biggie and their play isn't a complete shitshow.

Because there’s no accountability for either one of them Spoiled entitled children And wait for the posse to try to protect them with the same old excuse Blame everybody else but them mariner can’t wait to play his PS 5 Matthews
wants to run home to Arizona and count the money SAD

 

[ORRFForever]

Taking a bit of ownership is par for the course.

After they were outed in last year's playoffs, Marner looked pissed. He looked like a man who would never let this happen, again. And, during the season, I thought he'd found a way.

Matthews never looks emotional - good or bad.

 

[daethfromabove1979]

Calm down. They play against the top pairing lines and are given extra shoves, sticks to the nuts, cross checks and added pressure.

They are still young. Take a look at OVI. Takes time. It’s a team game. This isn’t the NBA where one or two players is all it takes.

lol playing against the top pairing line, the almighty Phillip Danault.

Matthews and Marner are LOSERS. We should have swept this garbage Montreal team but these guys clearly don’t care or have any heart.

 

[koyvoo]

How many years now of not playing up to their level when the games mean something?

 

[TOGuy14]

I just about died when the play by play guys were talking about Keefe changing things up trying to get Matthews away from PHILLIP DANAULT to try and get something going.

This isn't Bergeron or Barkov we are talking about here, and the coach is trying to move his 11M rocket winner away from a turd level C because he can't produce in the playoffs. Unacceptable.

At first I thought it was just bad luck with hot goalies, but after after four teams after fives seasons it isn't the goalies, it is our "stars" that don't bother to show up when it matters

 

[Not My Tempo]

How many years now of not playing up to their level when the games mean something?

The only play series Marner was good in was 2017-18. Matthews was good in 2016-17 and 2018-19. It’s not good enough.

All that time spent with playoff chokers like Marleau and Thornton probably didn’t help.

I legit don’t know what to do. Screw the first round I’m starting to think we’re never gonna win a cup with these two.

 

[Wafflewhipper]

Arnt you the guy that traded nylander away in a mock trade deadline thing this year?

Where would the leafs be in tis series without Willie?!?

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

 

[Not My Tempo]

Man if the f***ing Mackinnon line was in Toronto they’d be treated like gods. All three can hit, fight, score, backcheck. They show up every game ready for war.

Meanwhile I’m rolling my eyes every time Marner gives up a prime scoring chance to attempt to dangle an already out of position defender.

 

[Not My Tempo]

If Monday isn’t the best game of their careers, the answer “can we win with these two” will be answered.

 

[Stephen]

They have to act that way. All players do. They can't look panicked.

I'd rather they looked panicked in the press conference than on the ice where it usually happens.

 

[3blizzard4]

“I take full responsibility” Dubas will say again after our season ends. And that will melt all ailing hearts and all will be well in Toronto.

 

[Willchel Marlynder]

Honestly they're choking hard, but I don't get the sense they don't care from the post games. This is the Toronto media, if you get too hot or too cold you'll be on the Toronto Sun front page. Im sure they know what they need to do and won't grovel in the post game about it or how they played tonight. However, knowing what you have to do is one thing, actually doing it is another. I'm losing faith that these guys can actually get it done.

 

[ORRFForever]

To his credit, Matthews knows to play within himself. He doesn't overdo it.

Marner always tries to do too much when he get frustrated. My memory is not good so don't blast me if I am misremembering, but Marner did the same thing at the World Juniors back in 2013(?) in the playoff game we lost to the Americans and he's done it in every playoff series.

He gets frustrated and the next thing you know...

* Too much dangle.
* Too many moves.
* Too much passing when a shot would do.
* He tries to do too much and fails at everything.

I don't understand why Marner can't keep it simple but he can't and the Leafs can't seem to beat it into his head.

 

[sxvnert]

I just about died when the play by play guys were talking about Keefe changing things up trying to get Matthews away from PHILLIP DANAULT to try and get something going.

This isn't Bergeron or Barkov we are talking about here, and the coach is trying to move his 11M rocket winner away from a turd level C because he can't produce in the playoffs. Unacceptable.

At first I thought it was just bad luck with hot goalies, but after after four teams after fives seasons it isn't the goalies, it is our "stars" that don't bother to show up when it matters

Exactly how I felt when I heard that comment.

 

[sxvnert]

If Monday isn’t the best game of their careers, the answer “can we win with these two” will be answered.

They've already had two chances to close it and failed miserably both times.

 

[moon111]

I don't think Marner is a choker. He just doesn't have a shot and Montreal is taking away the pass and forcing him to shoot.

Must be damn nice. When I go to work, there's a list of things I need to be qualified to do and expectations to meet. I might be better at some things than another, but still have to be able to do every thing as well. Maybe I should tell the boss, sorry I can't do that part. It's a Monday and it's to tough for me to do. BTW, I want a raise in pay.

 

[ORRFForever]

Must be damn nice. When I go to work, there's a list of things I need to be qualified to do and expectations to meet. I might be better and some things than another, but still have to be able to do every as well. Maybe I should tell the boss, sorry I can't do that part. It's a Monday and it's to tough for me to do. BTW, I want a raise in pay.

Maybe he is a choker. His shot is also garbage.

As I wrote above, when Marner gets frustrated, he tries too hard and, the next thing you know, he can't do anything right. I just wish he would keep things simple but he never does.

 

[Not My Tempo]

Imagine being Spezza, making league min, the last couple years you have left in the league, decide to sign with your hometown team and are giving it everything you can.

And f*** Marner, making 11M, is out there acting like he’s still playing for the London Knights.

 

[SeaOfBlue]

Maybe he is a choker. His shot is also garbage.

As I wrote above, when Marner gets frustrated, he tries too hard and, the next thing you know, he can't do anything right. I just wish he would keep things simple but he never does.

Maybe he is not as high IQ player as he is made out to be. It's either that or his lack of shot neuters all other aspects of his game.

Plays die on his stick far too often for a high IQ player. He makes far too many stupid mistakes for a high IQ player. He forces things far too often for a high IQ player. Really, he relies too much on other players to be considered a high IQ player.

It's time for him to step up because he has been an issue for a long time.

 

[ORRFForever]

Maybe he is not as high IQ player as he is made out to be. It's either that or his lack of shot neuters all other aspects of his game.

Plays die on his stick far too often for a high IQ player. He makes far too many stupid mistakes for a high IQ player. He forces things far too often for a high IQ player. Really, he relies too much on other players to be considered a high IQ player.

It's time for him to step up because he has been an issue for a long time.

His I.Q. is fine. More than fine.

He's been like this since Junior. Sadly, every coach he's ever had let him get away with it - minus one, and we ran that one out of town.

 

[Satire]

I think Mathews relies on Marner a bit more than folks realise. Marner hasn't been having a stellar series, but Montreal has shut them down pretty well. If Marner isn't going, Mathews won't get the scoring setups either as frequently.

Sometimes it be like that though. That's why depth is so important. Trading Marner away would potentially be a mistake unless the piece coming back to also fits. I look at Eberle, Strome, and Bennett as recent examples of guys who are good players that needed the right surroundings to be successful. I genuinely think Marner and Mathews have that already in each other.

 

[SeaOfBlue]

His I.Q. is fine. More than fine.

He's been like this since Junior. Sadly, every coach he's ever had let him get away with it - minus one, and we ran that one out of town.

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.

 

[Divine]

Matthews is playing fine, Marner is killing all momentum.

He has 0 playoff goal in like 16 games or something. So when he gets the puck, which is a lot because the other team lets him have it, they just block the passing lanes. So Matthews doesn't get the puck much, and Marner will shoot a muffin at Price or lose it.

Move Marner to the third line, if they want to defend him there, they can - he's not a danger on the first line, he's handicapping Matthews.

 

[Superstar]

I think Mathews relies on Marner a bit more than folks realise. Marner hasn't been having a stellar series, but Montreal has shut them down pretty well. If Marner isn't going, Mathews won't get the scoring setups either as frequently.

Sometimes it be like that though. That's why depth is so important.

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.

 

[TimeZone]

I think Mathews relies on Marner a bit more than folks realise. Marner hasn't been having a stellar series, but Montreal has shut them down pretty well. If Marner isn't going, Mathews won't get the scoring setups either as frequently.

Sometimes it be like that though. That's why depth is so important. Trading Marner away would potentially be a mistake unless the piece coming back to also fits. I look at Eberle, Strome, and Bennett of recent examples of guys who are good players that needed the right surroundings to be successful. I genuinely think Marner and Mathews have that already in each other.

The problem is Marner is a possession guy who has been absolutely worthless with the puck on his stick in this series.

If Keefe had any balls he would've tried Nylander with Matthews and sperated the two, but he doesn't. Both have been awful but I've accepted Mitch is just a worthless playoff performer, I have slight hope for Matthews, but if he doesn't break out Monday he can f*** off too.

Truth be told I don't care about the result Monday too much, this team being taken to game 7 by an abomination of a Montreal Canadiens team is enough for me, I'm done with this loser core, win or lose and especially Mitch Marner.