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

[1specter]

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

Berube is also turning 60 this year, all things considered he seems to be in decent shape and still with it mentally which is a good sign given how many punches he ate with his head over the course of his career.

 

[Twine Tickler]

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.

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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.

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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.

You know what,

Although I completely agree, the conventional stats, advanced stats, and eye test would suggest we got outplayed last night. No question about it. I just genuinely don't give a f*** about that stuff anymore. Not at least in the postseason

So many seasons, we'd lose these exact type of games and point at the same shit you are referencing. I am really starting to question the reliability of these metrics in the postseason. The simple fact of the matter is, in that 3rd period, when the Sens pressure didn't let up, we defended very well up until that 1 mistake on the tying goal. That was their 1st SOG in that entire period. Yet, as I was watching the game unfold I couldn't believe it was true. They had sustained presssure at times and threw shots at target. Means sweet f*** all if they don't hit the net and/or come from non threating areas.

I think advanced metrics can be a useful tool at times, but at the end of the day the game came down to us making less mistakes than them. Yet again.

The playoffs are a different animal.

I look back to games 5 and 6 against MTL in 2021, and it's the same story flipped.

I would much rather be "outplayed" in April-June and come away with a result because we made 1 less critical mistake than our opponent. It's really that simple IMO

 

[Delete1]

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

Ottawa is not dissimilar to where the Leafs were a few years ago. People here are crapping on them, but the reality is that they have a very young core of players, and the one thing they don't have is experience (or reliable goaltending, but that is also pretty similar to prior Leafs' teams). They Senators are in a far better position than teams like Detroit or Buffalo. They are out of their depth in this series, but after this Leafs' core ages out the roles will likely be reversed between these two teams. Circle of life and all.

 

[Punch Drunk Loov]

I've been a big doomer and it's nice to be proven wrong so far. All I've ever wanted was a mild amount of playoff success for God's sake.

 

[Fogelhund]

Up 2-0, that's all that matters at this time of year. Another critical game, that game 3. If we can take this one, it puts us in a really good spot, though I think we'll need a better effort to do that, than we showed last night.

It's kind of funny, watching the game with my sons, but the Laughton/Lorentz/Jarnkrok line seem like their goal, is to play their whole shift, with the puck never going further than six feet from the boards. Everything is to the outside, as if their job is just to kill the clock, and only take chances when they really present themselves... They are pretty effective at it too.

 

[JT AM da real deal]

Da biggest difference last night from game 1 was Holmberg .. he made a HUGE difference to line 2 .. line 2 significantly improved .. line 1 was da same .. line 3 struggled badly again .. line 4 was fine but did not tilt da ice like game 1 .. Berube needs to strengthen line 3 .. Robertson likely needs to come out .. likely Patch comes in .. i think that's da only change we MAY see .. can't see Kampf coming in as 3rd line C unless Domi moves to RW and McMann LW .. BUT bottom line Berube needs to figure out line 3 FIX now

Our D was great except for OEL screw up which we can't have anymore especially in 3rd period like that .. all he had to do was go high and hard up glass to McMann at centre ice .. it was a pretty simple clearing play but he over complicated it .. but OEL has been great otherwise .. our D was fine .. Rielly got caught out of position in front of net on 1 goal which is normal poor defense play for him .. a better defensive D and thats no goal .. but he did make a great play to score so his overall impact was fine .. Stolly was solid when required which is all we need

 

[crump]

Hard to change a winning lineup. But Kampf should come in and reduce Matthews Pk time and blocking shots. Nick earned a seat.

 

[Fogelhund]

I'm just going over some stats....

Hits leaders.... tied, McMann and Benoit with 7
Blocks leader - Matthews with 6
Points leaders - Marner and Tavares with 4 points
Goal leaders - Tavares and Rielly with 2 goals
Shots leader - Matthews 17... and with no goals... that will change in game three I think.

I don't know if Patches is ready to play, and up to speed... but if he is, I wouldn't mind swapping him for Robertson.... We could use that jam, and a bit better D. I like how Robertson is playing though, and if we sit him, and put him back into the lineup, that's almost always an automatic goal.

 

[Tak7]

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

He was on that line for a purpose, which he fulfilled.
Expecting him to be something he isn't, is strange. Thought he showed good jump, was strong and physical on the puck, and battled along the walls and felt like a safe pair of hands.

 

[wingman75]

I didn't get a chance to see any of the TSN panel's post-game discussion. Does anyone have a link? I am browsing the TSN site now, talk about hot garbage... ffs.

Edit: Nevermind. Checked Youtube and found it in 2 clicks.

 

[MSZ]

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

Keith Tkachuk is another example.

 

[Warden of the North]

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 worry about Pacioretty and Tavares being too slow to play together. Put McMann on LW2 and Patches as LW3

 

[wingman75]

I worry about Pacioretty and Tavares being too slow to play together. Put McMann on LW2 and Patches as LW3

I am leaning to Kampf as the one who comes in. He is a very responsible player... trustworthy.

 

[Stephen]

I worry about Pacioretty and Tavares being too slow to play together. Put McMann on LW2 and Patches as LW3

I wonder if Pacioretty’s health is a non renewable resource and his physicality needs to be deployed at the right time and not a just throw him in kind of asset.

 

[yubbers]

I still don't know what Jarnkrok does

 

[yubbers]

I wonder if Pacioretty’s health is a non renewable resource and his physicality needs to be deployed at the right time and not a just throw him in kind of asset.

Yeah. I feel like you need to save him for a later series. I can't see him getting out of a series unscathed if he's gonna be a wrecking ball

 

[Roo]

Patch's time will come.

 

[ShameOnYouZidlicky]

I worry about Pacioretty and Tavares being too slow to play together. Put McMann on LW2 and Patches as LW3

Agreed. I'd also put Domi on the 3rd line.

Knies Matthews Marner
McMann Tavares Nylander
Pacioretty Laughton Domi
Lorentz plus 2 of Kampf/Holmberg/Jarnkrok

Feels like the ideal lineup. But do you change your lineup after 2 wins?

 

[Rob Brown]

Up 2-0 so I guess I'm of the opinion that you don't overthink it and make any changes for Game 3.

 

[Jimmy Firecracker]

 

[Kiwi]

Don't change a winning line-up

Robertson was the guy who was pressuring the puck carrier from the Sens when the puck was turned over and sent the other way for our goal, he also had no blame in the second goal going in

Pacioretty and Kampf can get an opportunity but neither of them deserves to take a spot from anybody playing right now, we're winning so don't change things until something happens that demands a change

 

[TheBeastCoast]

Don't change a winning line-up

Robertson was the guy who was pressuring the puck carrier from the Sens when the puck was turned over and sent the other way for our goal, he also had no blame in the second goal going in

Pacioretty and Kampf can get an opportunity but neither of them deserves to take a spot from anybody playing right now, we're winning so don't change things until something happens that demands a change

He did take the careless penalty that lead to their 1st goal. I said it in the GDT with Robertson...He is a frustrating player, I really like, like 90% of his game but he can be so immature as well with brain dead penalties it can be difficult to trust him.

 

[yubbers]

Up 2-0 so I guess I'm of the opinion that you don't overthink it and make any changes for Game 3.

We're getting caved in 5 v 5. We need someone who can win some board battles. Robertson can't seem to do that despite trying.

 

[Jimmy Firecracker]

 

[thewave]

Oh for sure - not complaining about how you get to 2-0.

I just worry, as I have all season, that this isn't really a sustainable approach - feels way too heavily reliant on goaltending.

100%

We're getting caved in 5 v 5. We need someone who can win some board battles. Robertson can't seem to do that despite trying.

Definitely an issue there