Post-Game Talk: Birthday Boy Bertuzzi Bashes the Avalance!

[All Mod Cons]

Excluding the 9 minutes played by Steeves one night, all 22 other players are above a 50% goal differential 5v5 during this winning streak and Kampf has now gone 7 games straight without being on the ice for a 5v5 goal against while having the lowest Ozone starts on the team (28%)

Games like this are usually a loss. End of a long road trip against the Avs and 3rd game in 4 nights?

The team is galvanized and ready since the Rielly incident and I love the fact the Avs gambling on Matthews left Bertuzzi all alone not once but twice. Cant miss those and I hope Bertuzzi has finally shaken off what seems like a couple months of blowing grade A chances. Well deserved hat trick after being snakebit forever. His underlying numbers have been good all season, and now comes the finish.

Yeah Kampf is a good player. I wouldn't want to trade him. Gets quite a bit of abuse, but I think management and staff appreciate him.

 

[Metroid]

I was way too intoxicated to fully enjoy this game
But I do like the final score

 

[Zybalto]

Dman, watching those highlights again, it's like Bertuzzi is wearing an invisible cloak. The Avs D are ignoring him in their absolute fear of Matthews lol.

 

[leafsfan5]

Excluding the 9 minutes played by Steeves one night, all 22 other players are above a 50% goal differential 5v5 during this winning streak and Kampf has now gone 7 games straight without being on the ice for a 5v5 goal against while having the lowest Ozone starts on the team (28%)

Games like this are usually a loss. End of a long road trip against the Avs and 3rd game in 4 nights?

The team is galvanized and ready since the Rielly incident and I love the fact the Avs gambling on Matthews left Bertuzzi all alone not once but twice. Cant miss those and I hope Bertuzzi has finally shaken off what seems like a couple months of blowing grade A chances. Well deserved hat trick after being snakebit forever. His underlying numbers have been good all season, and now comes the finish.

There's been a lot of positives during this run but the biggest one might be the 4th line turning into an asset

Completely changes how Keefe can manage the game knowing he can trust them

 

[Leafsfan74]

Some thoughts after this game which I wanted to see but caught a quarter of:

1) Bert, Domi and Reaves in my mind are here for the playoffs. All three need to play. Domi and Bert bring a North South game, Bert a desperately needed net presence. Domi is a better playmaker than I remembered him in Montreal where I was not a fan of his one way game. Keefe has them finally playing a better two-way game. Two way players win Cups.

2) If Leafs ever win a Cup with this core it will be because guys like Tavares unselfishly sacrificed and trusted his coach and accepted a lesser role. This is the ultimate in leadership and why I have been least critical of him since he signed here.

A year or two ago someone polled Leafs top captains in our lifetime and I placed him above Gilmour. Killer Gilmour of back to back final fours and 127 point seasons. Why? JT came here willingly. Into the fishbowl. He is showing me that he is willing to accept a lesser role while he is still a top player, not on his retirement tour. That's true leadership. Putting his team first. I stand by my ranking though I would love to see more emotion when warranted in the post season.

It isn't JTs fault he is surrounded by strong offensive talent. If you can move a centre like him up and down your lineup, it creates matchup problems. JT accepting fewer minutes is a sacrifice that needs to be noted and could be the difference maker if this team does somehow shock the world (and me) and wins a Cup.

Reilly should accept the same decreased role IMO. I'm sure he would, he has suffered here the longest and winning should be all that matters. His contribution will be in defending his teams honour and lifting a mirror to the team.

3) On the Reaves front. When he is playing his solid, responsible game, he will single handedly ensure his team is given more space. It might be a fraction of a second, it might be a softer hit, it definitely will be fewer dirty hits to his team. He can and will back players up. He is not a cruiser weight (though looks lighter). It matters. Keefe must know this.

4) I don't know the answer this year come trade deadline, I really don't. I usually throw out ideas and bold moves, but I am on the fence. I say this, as always. Get the right "type" and don't overpay unless there is a unicorn with term. I still am not convinced in this core until proven otherwise.

 

[BertCorbeau]

Excluding the 9 minutes played by Steeves one night, all 22 other players are above a 50% goal differential 5v5 during this winning streak and Kampf has now gone 7 games straight without being on the ice for a 5v5 goal against while having the lowest Ozone starts on the team (28%)

Games like this are usually a loss. End of a long road trip against the Avs and 3rd game in 4 nights?

The team is galvanized and ready since the Rielly incident and I love the fact the Avs gambling on Matthews left Bertuzzi all alone not once but twice. Cant miss those and I hope Bertuzzi has finally shaken off what seems like a couple months of blowing grade A chances. Well deserved hat trick after being snakebit forever. His underlying numbers have been good all season, and now comes the finish.

Kampf has seemingly rounded back into form lately for his role. Nice to see.

 

[Ianturnedbull]

You started a thread today outright stating Robertson was getting traded, so unless you're Jedi you just made **** up

I think you're outing yourself and you really didn't need to.

A lot of people expressed the same sentiment: " We should trade Domi and Bertuzzi at the deadline. Someone will give up a 2nd for each one".

So what? We're all human.

 

[BertCorbeau]

I think Reaves would have value in games 1 and 2, basically early in a playoff series when physicality and intensity is at it highest.

I would not want him in an elimination or clinching games .. but he has a role and if he’s used properly he can be effective

 

[Evilhomer]

I think you're outing yourself and you really didn't need to.

A lot of people expressed the same sentiment: " We should trade Domi and Bertuzzi at the deadline. Someone will give up a 2nd for each one".

So what? We're all human.

I find it strange that anyone criticizes anyone else here. I mean, my goodness, has anyone gone back and read some of the early-season threads on this board? Filled with 99% nonsense. More power to people who made those posts at that time. No reason to rag on them for that, just as there is no reason to rag on someone for suggesting a trade now.

 

[OVO16]

I think Reaves would have value in games 1 and 2, basically early in a playoff series when physicality and intensity is at it highest.

I would not want him in an elimination or clinching games .. but he has a role and if he’s used properly he can be effective

That's usually how it plays out too. Tough guys usually plays Games 1-4. In elimination games, they end up being a scratch.

I absolutely want Reaves in the game 1 lineup. Especially if its gonna be against the panthers

 

[BertCorbeau]

That's usually how it plays out too. Tough guys usually plays Games 1-4. In elimination games, they end up being a scratch.

I absolutely want Reaves in the game 1 lineup. Especially if its gonna be against the panthers

Or against the Bruins

 

[wingman75]

The things most of us have been clamouring about are making the difference in this little hot run.

• Depth scoring complementing big 4 scoring.
• PP scoring meaningful goals.
• PK is not a wasteland.
• Goaltending actually tending the goal.

It is interesting to see how good this group can be. Based on comments on there since the season start, many did not think it was possible.

I thought the compete level after the first 10 was fantastic. Every inch of the ice was a battle. Also nice to see our board play improve... the 3rd and 4th lines have been excellent there lately and tonight was no exception.

The lineup adjustments have played major dividends with Brodie playing the left side, Bertuzzi on PP1 and Tavares / Domi swap.

Also, 14th now in Regulation Wins for anyone still keeping count; and 7th in Regulation Losses.

Oddly, first in the division looks more likely than a wild card spot!

 

[OVO16]

Or against the Bruins

Def the bruins but more so the Panthers for sure.

The panthers have a team full of agitators and tough guys. They're also one of the dirtiest teams in the league. They start a massive brawl in every game their in.

Bruins have significantly downgraded their toughness factor the last few years

 

[Blanche Blanche]

All JT had to do was shoot, even if you miss they don't have enough time. Instead he loses it.

Missed the game… did Tavares miss the EN?

Or did he try not to do a Ottawa Greig

 

[BertCorbeau]

Missed the game… did Tavares miss the EN?

Or did he try not to do a Ottawa Greig

He did the anti-Greig… nicely tried to carry the puck and guide it into the empty net

With adefenseman on his back

 

[Evilhomer]

Oddly, first in the division looks more likely than a wild card spot!

This was never going to be a wildcard team. It was just a matter of time until they started doing what they are doing now. The question will be whether they are still doing it 30 or 40 games from now. I know many here are still not believers, but I think this team will play like this from here on out. They will be even better once Woll is integrated back into the lineup.

 

[ashs]

I miss hearing him on TV..

 

[BertCorbeau]

I actually thought they were sloppy with some of their puck management at times until this game, struggling to get anything going.

Especially in the 2nd… they were having a rough go and Sammy was standing on his head. But they get a turnover and tie the game which gave them life to get a 3rd goal.

The 3rd more more even but they were a bit tentative early holding the lead. That tying goal was bad luck because Nylander’s stick caused the d structure to break down. But the got back to aggressive player after.

And winning on the PP was a great clutch moment.

Av’s are tough though and the Leafs do grind and battle that one hard.

 

[Racer88]

Looks like Tre’s team is starting to get their act together

 

[CabanaBoy5]

Extremely entertaining game. Great defensive effort against a very good team with all their top players. Now will those finding excuses for every game we win perhaps shut their mouths and accept that we’re a top team? Last game of a road trip at high altitude as well.

I think Treliving‘s moves are being vindicated. Bertuzzi and Domi have really stepped up their games during this road trip. If Bert plays like this in the playoffs we’ll have an element we didn’t have in the past.

 

[Racer88]

This was never going to be a wildcard team. It was just a matter of time until they started doing what they are doing now. The question will be whether they are still doing it 30 or 40 games from now. I know many here are still not believers, but I think this team will play like this from here on out. They will be even better once Woll is integrated back into the lineup.

Can you be better than 8 wins in a row . Lol

 

[PromisedLand]

Damn I missed that tonight

 

[banks]

Feisty Willy, Mutant Matthews, Hillbilly Bert, what’s not to like

I totally agree. But 8 games ago you'd think any positive post was illegal.

 

[TheShape]

Happy for Bertuzzi, he's been playing really solid hockey for quite some time now, just didn't have the end product to show for it. Well deserved.

Team is on an absolute heater yet it feels like not making up ground with Boston/ Florida picking up points.

 

[ULF_55]

Bertuzzi *
Sammy **
Nylander ***

Can you imagine if Nylander had someone like Matthews finishing all those play like Bertuzzi finally did tonight.