Post-Game Talk: BATTLE OF ONTARIO GAME 2 - LEAFS WIN IN OT 3-2!

[The Best Leafs Everr]

We need to make sure we clean them up real soon, this game was ridiculously close one. Onto Ottawa, hopefully they shut them up real fast.

 

[Kazparov]

I don't feel like that 2nd period is how Berube is coaching them to play. They weren't really skating at all, they just had a really bad period.

I think also, gotta give Sens credit because they came out poised and on their game in P2 after looking completely baffled and out of rhythm in P1.

 

[tuckerintensity]

Great series so far. No passengers and the outcome never really seems in doubt at any point.
Keep it up!

This is the biggest takeaway for me. It's not always pretty, but I feel like everyone is buying in. I can certainly nitpick at the play of some guys at times, but no one is not bringing it/fighting through everything. Domi is a great example. I actually think he's been far from good these two games, but he keeps fighting through it and look at that, OT winner.

I'll say the same thing as I did after game one, we look like a battle tested playoff team. I mean we should, but that's not always what we look like, and even though it's only two games, it's very positive.

 

[Tak7]

They need to clean up their d zone attempts to get the puck out. I’m sure they will. Almost every player on the roster had a chance to clear the zone and they were too soft on the puck

Thought Lalonde nailed it on the broadcast last night - the Leafs have troubles with transitioning the puck out of the zone, and it looks like the Sens caught onto it heavily last night. They were getting smothered.

Hope that's not a pattern or sign of things to come. Leafs have to clean up that part of their game. Once the clean zone exits and the transitions stop working, so does their forecheck, and at that point, it's just waive after waive after waive

 

[Warden of the North]

A man who's been there before...I couldn't possibly miss Keefe less.

I still find it bizarre that Savard is one of our coaches and Shane Doan is on the management staff.

 

[crump]

Having Domi score in OT would be like if Alfie had a son who crosschecked Marner into the boards and went in to score in OT. It cuts deep in the psyche of that franchise. While the players are different, there is a deep vibration that runs through the fans and affects the team. They’ll feel it at home, especially with a ton of Leaf fans in the stands.

 

[stats1]

Dude, I am also a Nylander fan, it's not that serious. They had a good first period, but rough game after that, and the rotating LW is a problem. I've said many times McMann should either go back to there or Pacioretty slots in.

This ^ I hate! The rotation gotta find a solution fast. This up and down stuff is annoying.

 

[Evilhomer]

If they win on Thursday it’s over. Leafs aren’t losing 4 straight to a goalie who is shakey as Ullmark. His rebound control is horrendous, he is fighting every shot it seems

It's already over. It was over before game 2. Ottawa doesn't have enough scoring.

 

[Suntouchable13]

This ^ I hate! The rotation gotta find a solution fast. This up and down stuff is annoying.

Berube is trying to make Holmberg happen, I don't think it's gonna happen. But can you make a lineup change now while we are winning?

 

[stats1]

We need to make sure we clean them up real soon, this game was ridiculously close one. Onto Ottawa, hopefully they shut them up real fast.

Ottawa wasn’t just going to lay down though. Game one we kind of shell shocked them, we shocked them again at 2-0 and I think they realized ok like we gotta just go and play here and they pushed back hard. However!! I will say if we go up 1-0 or 2-0 early again on Thursday with our fans packing the arena it might be a heart breaker for them. I’m not sure if Ottawa could play any better than they did from 2nd period onwards. And we still won

 

[Ciao]

Just enjoying this one.

Giving all the worries and criticisms a rest. (The coaches can stew over those.)

 

[stats1]

Berube is trying to make Holmberg happen, I don't think it's gonna happen. But can you make a lineup change now while we are winning?

I have no issues with Holmberg, he’s been a dog! My issue is with McMann. Gotta find him a spot or you gotta put Pacioretty in. Berube keeps flipping McMann up and down and it’s not doing anything

 

[bax]

"Traffic was too much, Players had to walk to the arena and they were tired by the time they put on teh skates"

LMAO

Wasn’t that actually used once before? That sounds familiar about having to walk to the arena

 

[leafs in five]

I always believed in Max Domi

 

[TheGreatOne11]

Leafs nation to Domi last night.

 

[Macallan18]

up 2 zip in the series, good tune up for the next one.

 

[Tak7]

Having Domi score in OT would be like if Alfie had a son who crosschecked Marner into the boards and went in to score in OT. It cuts deep in the psyche of that franchise. While the players are different, there is a deep vibration that runs through the fans and affects the team. They’ll feel it at home, especially with a ton of Leaf fans in the stands.

There will be fewer Leafs fans in the stands on Thursday than a typical regular season Leafs/Sens game.

As comical as it's been, and even though they've really botched their handling of tickets, it does seem as though Sens fans have gobbled up a huge number of tickets.

If they lose game 3 though, game 4 could be an absolute bloodbath in that building - 70-80% Leafs fans?

 

[RayzorIsDull]

Some Leaf “fans” are desperately grasping at anything they can right now to try and downplay the team’s success.

It doesn't matter if you win by an inch or a mile. Winning's winning.

 

[rumman]

I still find it bizarre that Savard is one of our coaches and Shane Doan is on the management staff.

Savard needs to put yhe donuts down, guy looks like he’s about to explode. Foug Ford’s illegitimate brother?

 

[al secord]

Savard needs to put yhe donuts down, guy looks like he’s about to explode. Foug Ford’s illegitimate brother?

I think he still has issues getting his heart rate up because of post concussion syndrome.

I read in an interview where if he attempts cardio, he gets severe migranes.

 

[Jojalu]

Ottawa wasn’t just going to lay down though. Game one we kind of shell shocked them, we shocked them again at 2-0 and I think they realized ok like we gotta just go and play here and they pushed back hard. However!! I will say if we go up 1-0 or 2-0 early again on Thursday with our fans packing the arena it might be a heart breaker for them. I’m not sure if Ottawa could play any better than they did from 2nd period onwards. And we still won

Right!

Ottawa was down 1-0 in the series and 2-0 in Game 2.

They were never just going to pack it up.

Sometimes it seems fans forget there is another team on the ice. Regardless of how skilled the Sens are, or are not, they are still pros with pride.

They will fight right til the end and pushback.

Even in games where one team dominates, the other team will still have chances and sustained pressure for stretches

 

[GrizzLeaf]

Yeah I thought of that. He really looked like he had zero acceleration or jump in his step.

True. I just was surprised how gassed out he looked going forward.

One thing I heard a retired nhl player say recently was that hitting takes alot of energy. If you go around hitting alot, you leave little in the tank for a rush if you suddenly end up with the puck.

Knies has been playing a heavy game. Maybe it's catching up to him. Or it's a combination of that and the shot block, big minutes and general playoff intensity.

Either way, he's a beast. I'm hoping he's more energetic next game

 

[Tak7]

One thing I heard a retired nhl player say recently was that hitting takes alot of energy. If you go around hitting alot, you leave little in the tank for a rush if you suddenly end up with the puck.

Knies has been playing a heavy game. Maybe it's catching up to him. Or it's a combination of that and the shot block, big minutes and general playoff intensity.

Either way, he's a beast. I'm hoping he's more energetic next game

He's also taking an absolute battering in front of the net - he's been tuned up a few times in the first two games. Zub got him really good in the second.

Those little investments add up throughout the series.

 

[darrylsittler27]

Any word on lineup changes for gm 3?

 

[banks]

Anyone giving the Sens a lot of credit is just trying to find a way to slag on the Leafs. This game wasn't actually very close.

Toronto dominated the first period, with the star players showing their worth. Ottawa has nothing that can match Toronto's scoring talent.

No better example than the 2nd period, where Ottawa threw their best as the Leafs, and only got 1 goal to show for it. They'll never play better than they did in the 2nd, and it just straight up wasn't good enough.

Then in the 3rd the Leafs held the Sens shotles for half the period. It took a bad giveaway and a lucky deflection to get them an equalizer. That won't happen consistently.

Toronto was the better team. Toronto's performance can be repeated or improved. Ottawa was at their peak, and it still isn't enough. Grab your brooms, people. It's going to be a short series.