GDT: Boston @ Toronto - Saturday - 7pm - HNIC

[ACC1224]

It's the weirdest complaint I've seen for awhile about this team. Playing 2 of your best players together... what a concept.

Yeah it’s never really bothered me but I would like them swap the 4 around at times during the game (if needed) just to Lee the opponent guessing

 

[LEAFANFORLIFE23]

MATTHEWS IS BACK!!!!!!!!!! please PLEASE don't lose tonight, because the LAST thing I want to see is something along the lines of.

"see? he came back and they lost we are better without him."

I want to sweep this weekend and get a 4 point lead on the Panthers.

 

[LeafsNet]

This would be a good time to win both games this weekend and start building a good lead.

Winning the Atlantic is a must at this point. I feel like psychologically it’ll break the “block” that seems to rear it’s ugly head when the playoffs start.

 

[Aashir Mallik]

Why do people hate him and Marner together? People say it doesn't work but it does, we have seen it.

It just seems like they become way too one dimensional

Marner becomes a pure playmaker, passing shooting chances and stops taking the puck downhill.

Matthews just becomes a shooter, completely forgetting about passing or his north south physical game he can play.

Also JT + WN are too up and down as a duo, either they are great or invisible, but usually the latter in these kinda games.

I’d rather start MM + JT and WN + AM and swap if need be, rather than the other way around

 

[Clark4Ever]

EDIT: He's playing

Good news on the surface, but I really hope he's not pushing himself just to play in the 4 nations cup.

 

[LEAFANFORLIFE23]

This would be a good time to win both games this weekend and start building a good lead.

Winning the Atlantic is a must at this point. I feel like psychologically it’ll break the “block” that seems to rear it’s ugly head when the playoffs start.

Agreed, although I also feel like Berube has A LOT to do with that too.

He has winning credibility

 

[LeafsNet]

Agreed, although I also feel like Berube has A LOT to do with that too.

He has winning credibility

That’s true too…Keefe seemed to want to be the players friends, which isn’t a bad thing either. I think Keefe is a good coach for young developing teams with talent….he’s doing well in Jersey, that might become his calling card.

But the Leafs at this point don’t need a friend, they need a guy who’s going to get em out of the trenches when it’s time to battle.

 

[TopCheeseShotta]

F'd up he returns now on a back-to-back against a hated divisional rival - and a gritty Philly team, with a penchant for violence - without the guy who is supposed to be paid to prevent these things in the lineup. Odd f'real...

Checks Reaves fight card - oh... forget it..

 

[The Shrike]

That’s true too…Keefe seemed to want to be the players friends, which isn’t a bad thing either. I think Keefe is a good coach for young developing teams with talent….he’s doing well in Jersey, that might become his calling card.

But the Leafs at this point don’t need a friend, they need a guy who’s going to get em out of the trenches when it’s time to battle.

We won't really be able to compare Berube to Keefe completely until the playoffs are done. Comparing the first 39 games of this year to last they're in a dead heat at 50 points each.

 

[therealkoho]

4 days....I count 2.

Subtle change last night keeping Mitch on the PP2 instead of Willy resulted in a GWG.
Another subtle change to be made is moving McMann to PP1 and sliding Knies to PP2.

I like that idea. I love Morgan but he has no business being on with the big boys anymore. I don't think he processes fast enough anymore which really hurts the efficiency of the unit. If I had my way

74 - 91 - 88
16 - 95

the second unit I'd go with 2 Dmen up top, the Chief wants some scoring so why not utilize the guy who currently has the best shot on the team at least until Matthews is back. I wouldn't plan on playing Matthews on the PP until I know he's back for real at 100%!

89 - 11 - 67
44 - 51


Now go out and crush those Bruins and squeeze them bean eaters dry

GLG

 

[DarkKnight]

Matthews back AND Holmberg still out. This game just gets better and better!!

 

[therealkoho]

Any word if Matthews will give one of these a go ?

tonight apparently and of course their stapling Marner to his RW, when will they ever learn

Maple Leafs’ Auston Matthews to return to lineup vs. Bruins

The Toronto Maple Leafs are going to get their captain and premier scorer back in the lineup on Saturday night against the Boston Bruins. Leafs center Auston Matthews confirmed himself during a pregame media scrum that he will be returning to the lineup on Saturday.

www.yardbarker.com

Excellent news.

I'd say sort of excellent, they're sticking Marner on his wing

 

[pdson]

Good news on the surface, but I really hope he's not pushing himself just to play in the 4 nations cup.

Why is it always negative about him how about he is pushing himself to get back to playing for the Leafs

 

[NinjaKick]

win and I'll go to church tomorrow and refresh my sins


*haha suckers @NinjaKick is banned from church

 

[BrannigansLaw]

It just seems like they become way too one dimensional

Marner becomes a pure playmaker, passing shooting chances and stops taking the puck downhill.

Matthews just becomes a shooter, completely forgetting about passing or his north south physical game he can play.

Also JT + WN are too up and down as a duo, either they are great or invisible, but usually the latter in these kinda games.

I’d rather start MM + JT and WN + AM and swap if need be, rather than the other way around

Thanks for writing this up.

You figure it should be obvious to people who follow this team as closely as we all do but apparently it still needs explanation.

 

[therealkoho]

Why is it always negative about him how about he is pushing himself to get back to playing for the Leafs

Oh iunno maybe because he was given the captaincy of the Leafs, just so he'd have some experience and a little cred when he campaigns to wear the C for Team USA in this upcoming tournament. As it is there are four players who wear the C in the NHL, Quinn Hughes, Dylan Larkin, Auston Matthews, Brady Tkachuk!

They haven't chosen yet but those three other guys have worn their C's a lot longer then has our superstar captain. Larkin of course has the most seniority having worn the C since 2021 Brady Tkachuk is next then followed by Hughes and Matthews.

 

[MSZ]

Good news on the surface, but I really hope he's not pushing himself just to play in the 4 nations cup.

ESPN is reporting that Team USA and the Matthews camp still haven't discussed about the injury issue.

 

[ACC1224]

Oh iunno maybe because he was given the captaincy of the Leafs, just so he'd have some experience and a little cred when he campaigns to wear the C for Team USA in this upcoming tournament. As it is there are four players who wear the C in the NHL, Quinn Hughes, Dylan Larkin, Auston Matthews, Brady Tkachuk!

They haven't chosen yet but those three other guys have worn their C's a lot longer then has our superstar captain. Larkin of course has the most seniority having worn the C since 2021 Brady Tkachuk is next then followed by Hughes and Matthews.

Matthews is a lock for the C IMO

 

[Burnie97]

I think the difference is It doesn’t matter how bad your team is, Players want to do well against Toronto especially on hockey night in Canada.

That's a good point forsure. Alot of guys coming home to play in front of family. Fair enough.

Hopefully Matthews gives them a jolt tonight.

 

[pdson]

Oh iunno maybe because he was given the captaincy of the Leafs, just so he'd have some experience and a little cred when he campaigns to wear the C for Team USA in this upcoming tournament. As it is there are four players who wear the C in the NHL, Quinn Hughes, Dylan Larkin, Auston Matthews, Brady Tkachuk!

They haven't chosen yet but those three other guys have worn their C's a lot longer then has our superstar captain. Larkin of course has the most seniority having worn the C since 2021 Brady Tkachuk is next then followed by Hughes and Matthews.

What a load of bull him given the captaincy of the Leafs had zero to do with team USA. Do you think Leafs management gives two shits about team USA.

 

[Antropovsky]

He sure isn't disinterested in flying the d-zone though. As skilled and exciting as he can be, he still does a lot of minor hockey, selfish almost, plays. Frustrating to watch him at times.

Marner and Nylander both fly the D zone.

Regarding the GA when Nylander flew the zone and the opposition scored. Both Bieksa and Berube said Nylander leaving the zone was the right play. The wrong plays were their teammates not clearing the puck.

Nylander, with Kampf as his center had 8 goals 18 points and +1 in December.

Marner with Tavares had 4 goals 20 points -4 in December.

Tavares has 9 goals 17 points and +1 in December.

Nylander has been just fine, especially considering his linemates.

 

[Antropovsky]

Disinterested Willy ALWAYS is in the defensive zone.
Engaged at all times in the offensive zone.

Nylander was a +1 in December playing with Kampf.

Marner was a -4 in December playing with Tavares.

Nylander is that bad defensively but he's on for less goals against than Selke Marner?

Something doesn't add up.

Nylander has been meh in the past defensively but this year and most of last year he's been damn good.

 

[Antropovsky]

If you have to split these 2 games on the weekend, I'd rather win this one. Woll has to be in the net. It's a no brainer to me.

0-4 VS Boston last year. 0-1 this year.

 

[Smif]

Marner and Nylander both fly the D zone.

Regarding the GA when Nylander flew the zone and the opposition scored. Both Bieksa and Berube said Nylander leaving the zone was the right play. The wrong plays were their teammates not clearing the puck.

Nylander, with Kampf as his center had 8 goals 18 points and +1 in December.

Marner with Tavares had 4 goals 20 points -4 in December.

Tavares has 9 goals 17 points and +1 in December.

Nylander has been just fine, especially considering his linemates.

Isn't the play that Nylander blew the zone the one when Marner gave his stick to the defensemen? If that's the case that would've been a terrible idea. Admittedly, I can't remember if that's the same play, tho.

 

[Antropovsky]

Isn't the play that Nylander blew the zone the one when Marner gave his stick to the defensemen? If that's the case that would've been a terrible idea. Admittedly, I can't remember if that's the same play, tho.

No, different games. I don't think Nylander was on when Marner had no stick.