GDT: Game 1: Montreal Canadiens vs Toronto Maple Leafs 10/11/23- 7:00pm EST SN, TVAS, TSN 690: Season Opener

[Miller Time]

Did you watch Toronto’s goalie tonight?

Not every team has great goaltending. Average goalies let in bad goals with regularity.

And most teams have a much better D than the Habs do.

True... but Allen's performance tonight was below average imo. 2 very soft goals in one game is a low bar.

He made some very solid saves, true, and faced a lot of shots, true, but his overall play tonight was below average for a starter, imo

 

[BaseballCoach]

True... but Allen's performance tonight was below average imo. 2 very soft goals in one game is a low bar.

He made some very solid saves, true, and faced a lot of shots, true, but his overall play tonight was below average for a starter, imo

Allen was also swimming on the ice a lot besides the two obvious bad goals.

 

[MXD]

agree with all except Matheson... he was good tonight, not great, but good, maybe even very good.

I've got no issue with him playing 23-25min/night, he's a net positive and easily on par with Reilly tonight...

He is...
But, on a good team, he doesn't play that much.

 

[Miller Time]

He is...
But, on a good team, he doesn't play that much.

Disagree. He's top 2 on many rosters, top 3 on most. Was arguably the best D on the ice tonight & the Laffs are a contender

 

[McGuires Corndog]

Disagree. He's top 2 on many rosters, top 3 on most. Was arguably the best D on the ice tonight & the Laffs are a contender

Agree, but the leafs are a contender in large part due to their top heavy forwards so Matheson being better than most or all of their D in one game isn’t exactly saying a lot.

 

[Natey]

Imagine giving Pricer 2 goal leads twice in a game.

We did lots of times. And he blew it lots of times too. Just like most goalies, especially with a team defense of our quality.

Later year's Price biggest problem is exactly what happened tonight. We'd fight back or take a lead and he'd let in a softy.

 

[MXD]

Disagree. He's top 2 on many rosters, top 3 on most. Was arguably the best D on the ice tonight & the Laffs are a contender

... The Leafs don't exactly have a high-end defense either.
He's someone I'd rather have anchoring a 2nd pairing facing slightly lesser competition (at the expense of playing with a slightly lesser partner).

It's also not a problem, considering his caphit.

 

[Miller Time]

Agree, but the leafs are a contender in large part due to their top heavy forwards so Matheson being better than most or all of their D in one game isn’t exactly saying a lot.

It's not saying a little or a lot... no need for exaggerations in either direction

 

[Miller Time]

... The Leafs don't exactly have a high-end defense either.
He's someone I'd rather have anchoring a 2nd pairing facing slightly lesser competition (at the expense of playing with a slightly lesser partner).

It's also not a problem, considering his caphit.

Sure... I'd rather have Crosby or McDavid at 1C & Suzuki anchoring the 2nd line. Not sure that's a Suzuki issue

Matheson is a solid asset, that he's our #1D while not being an elite top pairing dman is not his fault. As you point out, he's not paid like one... he provides great value at his cap hit & would be an excellent compliment to an elite #1RD.

Not sure I see the point slagging on him for delivering better impact than his relative cap cost

 

[sampollock]

He did on radio today - to the effect “can’t make chicken salad w chicken s*it”

makes sense. LOL