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

[Tak7]

Any word on lineup changes for gm 3?

Unlikely that we hear anything until tomorrow.

I would be surprised if we don't see Kampf getting back in though - feels like they needed another center last night, especially in the D-zone. With last change, feels like an obvious choice to make, perhaps for Robertson

 

[SprDaVE]

Any word on lineup changes for gm 3?

It hasn't even been 12 hours to the end of last game. We probably won't know until tomorrow.

 

[Larcos_Unal]

Unlikely that we hear anything until tomorrow.

I would be surprised if we don't see Kampf getting back in though - feels like they needed another center last night, especially in the D-zone. With last change, feels like an obvious choice to make, perhaps for Robertson

I don't care if Kampf or Patches come in as long as it's Robertson coming out.

 

[arso40]

Unlikely that we hear anything until tomorrow.

I would be surprised if we don't see Kampf getting back in though - feels like they needed another center last night, especially in the D-zone. With last change, feels like an obvious choice to make, perhaps for Robertson

What would those lines even look like ?

 

[francis246]

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

Patrick O’Sullivan is a skills coach for the leafs. The guy hates Canada LOL. Brad is extremely connected in the NHL and has brought on his guys.

 

[Tak7]

What would those lines even look like ?

No idea, honestly, but I thought Holmberg looked fine on the JT/Willy line, and you still got some valuable minutes out of the Laughton unit.

That probably means you try and cobble something together with McMann - Kampf - Domi?

 

[TMLAM34]

If Robertson comes out and Pacioretty is healthy and able to slot in, I would try -

Knies - Matthews - Marner
Pacioretty - Tavares - Nylander
McMann - Laughton - Lorentz
Domi - Holmberg - Jarnkrok

McCabe - Tanev
Rielly - Carlo
Benoit - Ekman Larsson

Stolarz - Woll

 

[Twine Tickler]

It may not have been the way you draw it up. Obviously you'd like to control larger parts of that game. But in reality, we really didn't give them many high danger looks once we grabbed the 2-0 lead.

Unfortunate break on the Tkachuk goal, but the same happened to us in reverse. That's going to happen. The Guadette goal was really our only mistake of that 3rd period, and it was just a brain fart by the entire 5 man unit. Mostly OEL. But that shit happens as well. Guadette ends up making an all-world tip to tie it up, and the boys finally stopped playing off their heels.

It's a double edged sword, you want to get an early lead, but at the same time it is natural human tendency to eliminate risk and sit back afterwards. Felt like we were defending a lead for a year. Happy we walked away with the win, it could have been a much different feeling this AM had we not.

Hopefully that OT scare was the splash of cold water in the face that we clearly needed. We need to be all gas, no brakes. Ottawa will give us opportunities, we just have to make good on them.

Keep it rolling boys!

 

[Larcos_Unal]

If Robertson comes out and Pacioretty is healthy and able to slot in, I would try -

Knies - Matthews - Marner
Pacioretty - Tavares - Nylander
McMann - Laughton - Lorentz
Domi - Holmberg - Jarnkrok

McCabe - Tanev
Rielly - Carlo
Benoit - Ekman Larsson

Stolarz - Woll

I like the idea of anybody but Holmberg on the 2nd line. The guy cannot hang with JT & Willie, kills every play.

 

[arso40]

No idea, honestly, but I thought Holmberg looked fine on the JT/Willy line, and you still got some valuable minutes out of the Laughton unit.

That probably means you try and cobble something together with McMann - Kampf - Domi?

I agree just don’t think I like that line with domi as much as I would with Robertson but robbie is clearly the guy coming out

 

[ACC1224]

Any word on lineup changes for gm 3?

I wouldn't expect any but why would they announce something like that so early?

 

[TMLAM34]

I like the idea of anybody but Holmberg on the 2nd line. The guy cannot hang with JT & Willie, kills every play.

Ideally McMann plays with JT and Nylander, but that completely removes one of our few scoring threats from the bottom six.

Lorentz and Laughton have played really well together, wish we had someone with more jam and scoring ability to play with those two instead of Jarnkrok.

 

[Twine Tickler]

One last thing of note, I think one of the coolest aspects of last nights results were 2 of the 3 guys to hit the scoresheet and finish as 1 of the 3 games stars were Max and Morgan.

Often times these guys have received criticism this season, and in years past for that matter. But there aren't likely 2 other players on our roster who want to be Maple Leafs more than those 2 guys. Their entire Leafs tenure has been about the crest on the front. Mo especially.

they are far from perfect players, and the criticism they face is often time warranted. But I will always appreciate their passion and dedication to the blue and white. Really cool to see them both get their flowers last night.

 

[Roo]

It's good to see us not play our best hockey but still win. Will be interesting to see how things change when Ottawa gets last change. Top line needs another big game.

 

[therealkoho]

Just another wannabe drag queen.

I was quite surprised to hear this about Brady and probably Matthew as well! Like they say, the apple doesn't fall far from the tree.

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.

The past can only haunt you if you allow the negativity to have free room and board in your head. Having Max score that goal is certainly a step in that direction and may have started to wrap them up and constrict their chests crushing their hope.

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

I think Chief is trying to find a way to get McMann on track. He hasn't been very good for the last 10-15 games and he's a guy that needs to be first on pucks and have an impact on the score sheet. The Leafs are lucky they have 4 or 5 players that can slide up at least 2 lines. It's a nice problem to have. I remember people flogging Ronnie Wilson for this very same thing, when every and I do mean EVERY coach from peewee right up to the NHL does it. Maurice is one of the best, historically the Sainted Scotty Bowman was continually tinkering, he would even do so with the Russian 5, making it the Russian 4 + Yzerman or + Lidstrom. And no I'm not comparing any of todays Leafs with any of those guys.

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

For years now, the last one was Taylor Swifts' tour.

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

Yeah I'm quite surprised by his girth, he was a very fit player very svelte, with all kinds of stamina. At least until that blind side hit knocked him into next week.

I wonder if he can't work out due to residual concussion effects, or a medication that has limited his ability to stay in shape? It looks like his BP is through the roof.

 

[Mess]

Leafs were very fortunate to win game #2.

Sens were the better team and winning more/most puck battles and on a night where the Toronto Maple Leafs were outshot 28-21 on the score sheet, it could have been a whole lot worse.

However during Game #2, the Senators had actually directed 60 shots towards the Leafs' net. Thankfully, the Leafs were able to successfully block 32 of those attempts where Sens only blocked a mere 6 on the night.

I mentioned last week "Keep your eyes on Blocked Shots" for the Leafs as its going to be critical in this year's Leaf playoff success and toss out the "expected stats" for actual stats instead.

That all assisted goalie Anthony Stolarz to post a .934 SV% and 1.95 GAA so far after 2 games.

While Sens goalie has a .800 sv% and 4.39 GAA after 2 having given up 2 goals in the first 4 shots on net in both games.

We're seeing play out in real time now how Berube and Treliving has transpired this team into being Cup competitive, based on system and strategy.

 

[Tak7]

I agree just don’t think I like that line with domi as much as I would with Robertson but robbie is clearly the guy coming out

I want no part of McMann-Domi-Robertson on the road, without last change.

Just a recipe for disaster

 

[Dala]

It was OEL not benoit

Benoit doesn’t overcomplicate things with reversals

He just rims that shit out which is preferable.

Agreed that it's on OEL.

Ironic though, that the reversal was aimed at Domi. Easy, no pressure pickup if he stays in middle instead of going low to the same corner as Benoit and OEL. You can see him almost swearing hitting the brakes.

 

[tuckerintensity]

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

No idea, honestly, but I thought Holmberg looked fine on the JT/Willy line, and you still got some valuable minutes out of the Laughton unit.

I agree. Holmberg was pretty good last night, complaining about him is a bit weird.

 

[bax]

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

Agreed. They will have a very hard time scoring more than a couple of goals on Stolarz or Woll.

 

[Pinkcat]

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 actually don't know what you think you are seeing. The last few weeks Holmberg has been more effective than McMann, Jarnkrok, Domi, Robertson(minus the goals obviously) Lorentz and Laughton. He won't be coming out but I agree they need to settle the 2LW position.

 

[Gary Nylund]

It's good to see us not play our best hockey but still win. Will be interesting to see how things change when Ottawa gets last change. Top line needs another big game.

Not even close to our best hockey, good thing we won the division and got to play Ottawa. A sigh of relief after winning that one, that was too close for comfort. We still have time to find our game and we better do just that, play the we've played against Ottawa and we have no shot against Florida. We need that team that looked solid down the stretch to end the season, hope they find their way back soon! GLG!!

 

[rumman]

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.

This is truly sad, but you can’t eat like a athlete snd not train like one. I don’t know shit about his medical condition, but being obese won’t help said condition. Everyone’s entitled to put on a few pounds in retirement, but he’s got to pull back big time if he wants to live a long life. I’m surprised the pressure if being a NHL coach doesn’t aggravate his post concussion trauma………

 

[francis246]

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?

Holmberg looked fine last night. Was winning a ton of puck battles, keeping the cycle alive, putting good shots on net. I see why coaches like him. He has a motor that doesn’t stop. Needs to find his scoring touch but he’s got the tools

 

[francis246]

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

A lot of ex athletes explode in weight post playing because they stop exercising but still consume the same amount of calories they were when they were playing. Berube’s boiler was hanging over one of the players last night as he was talking to the refs and I couldn’t stop laughing haha