Enough is enough, why can't the Leafs hold leads??
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Michael HOMERUNing
Registered User
- Feb 24, 2019
- 2,497
- 2,374
Defense turn the puck over when the physicality ramps up. And for some reason Matthews and Marner really cool down past the first period when we have the lead
LastOne2100
Registered User
- Jan 2, 2017
- 8,687
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This has been a problem with this team for a while.
When they get the lead, our forwards stop putting in as much effort offensively. This is perfectly normal for teams.
However, what it also does is put a lot more pressure on our defensive system as we aren't attacking anymore, aren't as hungry for possession, etc.
And that exposes our weakness - our defensive system sucks, and our defensive roster falls off hard beyond our top pair.
As a result, as soon as we stop trying to score, we are awful. Getting early leads takes us right out of the game immediately as we stop playing to our strengths. This is what happens when you create an unbalanced roster like we have.
When they get the lead, our forwards stop putting in as much effort offensively. This is perfectly normal for teams.
However, what it also does is put a lot more pressure on our defensive system as we aren't attacking anymore, aren't as hungry for possession, etc.
And that exposes our weakness - our defensive system sucks, and our defensive roster falls off hard beyond our top pair.
As a result, as soon as we stop trying to score, we are awful. Getting early leads takes us right out of the game immediately as we stop playing to our strengths. This is what happens when you create an unbalanced roster like we have.
Jimmy Firecracker
Backcheck, Forecheck, Paycheque.
Campbell is being overplayed and can't cover for the teams warts right now. Also our shutdown pair that was so successful last season in Muzzin-Holl has seen both players fall off a cliff this season.
Buds17
Registered User
- Nov 29, 2015
- 8,590
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The team was rolling well and thus a slide of sorts was going to occur eventually. They're still comfortably ahead of teams trying to catch them and are generally within striking distance with games in hand on teams that they are in turn trying to catch.
I think it is mental with the D, and 'will' with the forwards.
Forget tonight, that was just not our normal lineup, but when we roll our regular 6 I think they get inside thier own heads and make soft plays and dumb decisions.
The forwards have seemed to completly check out from all their defensive responsiblity. Turnovers, on the weak side of the puck, very low physical engagement.
The goalie can only cover up so much as someone above said.
Forget tonight, that was just not our normal lineup, but when we roll our regular 6 I think they get inside thier own heads and make soft plays and dumb decisions.
The forwards have seemed to completly check out from all their defensive responsiblity. Turnovers, on the weak side of the puck, very low physical engagement.
The goalie can only cover up so much as someone above said.
To me it comes down to this. The Leafs are a puck possession team, designed to play in the opposition's end. They're highly suspect when they don't bring the same offensive tenacity to the table period after period. Despite defensive improvement from indiciduals such as Matthews and Marner, as an overall team they are not sound defensively and their structure breaks down under any kind of sustained pressure from the opposition. That means as soon as Campbell plays less than Vezina like, the goals against start adding up in a hurry.
The team can clamp it down, look at our PK. The issue is sloppy play 5 on 5. Too many pies up the middle. I’ll advised passes to players that are being covered.
Dermott and Beiga were not very good. Bring up Kral, sit down Dermott. He has been regressing and I am done with him. He needs to be moved and we need to move on.
Dermott and Beiga were not very good. Bring up Kral, sit down Dermott. He has been regressing and I am done with him. He needs to be moved and we need to move on.
SeaOfBlue
The Passion That Unites Us All
- Aug 1, 2013
- 35,591
- 16,777
First of all, it hasn't been a problem all season. Only since January has started really. And it has mostly been Campbell.
Campbell has an .860 at 5-on-5 when the Leafs have had a lead in January. His high danger save percentage is a putrid .611. Comparatively, Shestyerkin has a .957 HDSV%, which is one of the best in the league. Literally the only reason why the Rangers can hold a lead right now. Same thing happened today.
Meanwhile, our defense has been solid but unspectacular, which considering we have only had a full compliment of defenders for like 1 of the 6 games we've played with Campbell in net so far this month, is respectable. They've held up their end of the bargain a lot more than Campbell has right now unfortunately. Campbell has been a major reason for our success to this point, but he is also the main reason we can't hold a lead right now.
I would think that nobody is suggesting we dump Campbell, because that would just be stupid, so let's just chalk it up for an overreaction based on 6 (not even all bad) games he has played in January and move on. Or give Mrazek some games, since we should be doing that anyways.
Campbell has an .860 at 5-on-5 when the Leafs have had a lead in January. His high danger save percentage is a putrid .611. Comparatively, Shestyerkin has a .957 HDSV%, which is one of the best in the league. Literally the only reason why the Rangers can hold a lead right now. Same thing happened today.
Meanwhile, our defense has been solid but unspectacular, which considering we have only had a full compliment of defenders for like 1 of the 6 games we've played with Campbell in net so far this month, is respectable. They've held up their end of the bargain a lot more than Campbell has right now unfortunately. Campbell has been a major reason for our success to this point, but he is also the main reason we can't hold a lead right now.
I would think that nobody is suggesting we dump Campbell, because that would just be stupid, so let's just chalk it up for an overreaction based on 6 (not even all bad) games he has played in January and move on. Or give Mrazek some games, since we should be doing that anyways.
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Stephen
Moderator
- Feb 28, 2002
- 83,109
- 62,027
The team was missing 2 of their top 4 defensemen even if Muzzin and Holl have struggled. They're also two of the bigger guys we have on the back end and ended up getting eaten alive by Ryan Reaves of all people.
That said, the Leafs have been coughing up tons of massive leads lately so excuses won't fly. Also disappointing that this team didn't have a next man up mentality. Remember when Pittsburgh destroyed Toronto with an AHL roster in October or when Arizona had a mystery pack of AHL call ups on defense and somehow managed to play a very static defensive shell game? At some point the guys who come up through the system need to step up in their moments and show a little extra jam and not soft and purposeless like their coach called them.
That said, the Leafs have been coughing up tons of massive leads lately so excuses won't fly. Also disappointing that this team didn't have a next man up mentality. Remember when Pittsburgh destroyed Toronto with an AHL roster in October or when Arizona had a mystery pack of AHL call ups on defense and somehow managed to play a very static defensive shell game? At some point the guys who come up through the system need to step up in their moments and show a little extra jam and not soft and purposeless like their coach called them.
Leaf4Life79
Registered User
Need to make some trades for D upgrades... or its another first round exit... the rest of the team is fire.. our D on the other hand... And before anyone says well Muzzin and Holl etc etc.. neither of them have performed well consistently as of late 'when they are active on the roster'
Lol I love how leaf fans wine over such minute injuries, are you aware the leafs barely beat a blues team missing tarasenko, buchnevich, schenn and parayko?
HolyCrap
Team before player
- Oct 2, 2015
- 5,396
- 6,376
He didn’t say the reason we lost was because of Kase not playing. He was pointing out our team misses players like him and need more.
Np, anyway the leafs are screwed in any event. Do people think dubas should keep his job if the leafs bow out in the first round?
BayStBullies
Burn the Boats!
- Apr 1, 2012
- 5,626
- 5,148
Nope. I think his fate is tied to their playoff output. Nowhere to hide now. It's a shame, his downfall comes down to forcing an ill equipped coach into the team.
oh my God, give it a break. This is a goalie and defense problem. Campbell has come back to earth. He has given up 21 goals I think in the last few games? The forwards have also scored a ton of goals. The issue isn’t the forwards, the issue is the team cannot play defense, our defensemen get overwhelmed against a heavy forecheck. All the teams in the west play heavy. Our forwards have given Campbell more than enough run support.
ottomaddox
Registered User
This is a wild misuse of the phrase and meaning.
It reminds me of the time when Leaf fans were posting "tanking" memes by using images of tanks (military).
We need to promote literacy on HF.
Racer88
Registered User
- Sep 29, 2020
- 13,185
- 13,338
The fact that Holl and Muzzin are actually 2 of our top D men is sad enough but add in that we have absolutely no defensive depth……zero…….none.
With those 2 out it was awful.
This is 100% on Dubas
acrobaticgoalie
Registered User
- Jun 18, 2014
- 3,468
- 3,561
Campbell has been below the Standard that we are used to from him but where was the defensive coverage last night? Reaves was all by himself right in the slot with 4 leafs in the corner on that first goal. Fox and Kreider were allowed to just walk right to the net with no coverage. There was not a Leaf in sight on either the Reaves or Kreider goals in front of the net.
29Potvin
Registered User
leaves will get killed in rd 1 again, not one playoff round won since 4ever, lol. dubas/shanaplan total FAILURES. WOW.
Not really a blown leads problems, it's a poor defense and goaltending problem.
Sure it's true we are losing leads but it's not like we're sitting back too much or playing differently with the lead. We are giving up tons of goals with sloppy defense and Campbell in a slump. The blown leads are just happenstance, we've managed to score early so end up "blowing a lead" but the problems are evident right from puck drop - we were giving up 5 or 6 regardless of how many, or when we scored.
Sure it's true we are losing leads but it's not like we're sitting back too much or playing differently with the lead. We are giving up tons of goals with sloppy defense and Campbell in a slump. The blown leads are just happenstance, we've managed to score early so end up "blowing a lead" but the problems are evident right from puck drop - we were giving up 5 or 6 regardless of how many, or when we scored.
