GDT: Game 6/56: Edmonton Oilers @ Toronto Maple Leafs | 7pm | TSN

[Leaffan1991]

Put in effort and you will win, even if Matthews is out. Tavares, Nylander and Marner need to step it up.

 

[1specter]

Really hope it's not a back or shoulder issue. We know Matthews has had recurring problems with those and it would suck to see it rear its ugly head again when it looked like he was turning the corner last year with a healthy season.

Wonder if that garbage Chiarot crosscheck had anything to do with it.

 

[The Iceman]

Worst looking line barf of forwards I have seen in a while...Take Edmonton by 2 tonight all you betters.

I don't get the Keefe love for Brooks. Would take Boyd or getting Anderson in there 7 days a week.

 

[1specter]

Lots of doom and gloom. We do still have Marner, Nylander and Tavares guys...

 

[Apex Predator]

People are over reacting with matthews out tonight. They have enough talent to still win this game. Is it harder? You bet but time for the others to step up.

 

[OVO16]

Its still Edmonton. Sure they have 2 of the best players in the league but outside of that they're pretty thin. Their goalie sucks... just put pucks on net. Get the dirty goals. .. and there d isnt anything to be scared of. Leafs need to put in an effort and attack... same ol same ol... but true.

This team doesn't have the personnel for dirty goals. This team is allergic to body contact.

 

[ponder]

I’d go:

Vesey - Tavares - Nylander
Hyman - Kerfoot - Marner
Barabanov - Spezza - Mikheyev
Anderson - Brooks - Simmonds

It’ll be ugly no matter what lines we roll, but that at least feels like a serviceable top 9.

 

[BertCorbeau]

Some depth scoring would go a long way.

Marner needs to step up on his line and generate some 5 on 5 chances too.

 

[francis246]

sandin gonna play tonight?!

 

[fahad203]

We still have 2 other 10 million dollar players

We still have enough depth to be competitive and win this game.

Brooks, I didn't like what I saw last time around. He's not really gritty enough nor he's skilled. I thought he was very vanillla
Engvall, I like, a good bottom 6 player who can skate
Barabanov, well when you play 4 minutes, I don't know what how much you can show


I still would like to see Anderson and Boyd at some point

 

[Mats13]

If we can’t survive one game against the oilers without Matthews, we have some serious issues

 

[ToneDog]

Its still Edmonton. Sure they have 2 of the best players in the league but outside of that they're pretty thin. Their goalie sucks... just put pucks on net. Get the dirty goals. .. and there d isnt anything to be scared of. Leafs need to put in an effort and attack... same ol same ol... but true.

The same Oilers that just beat us with Matty in the lineup? Somebody is going to have to step up big time cause our depth is being tested tonight.

 

[ToneDog]

If we can’t survive one game against the oilers without Matthews, we have some serious issues

What does survive mean? You are going to either win or lose tonight and then you move on. I would use the term survive if Matty was out for a week or more.

 

[Ciao]

They can still win this game. I'd roll this top 6

Soup-Nylander-Nylander (take the LD line)
Hyman-Kerfoot-Marner (matchup against McDavid line)

Time to see if Mitch can carry his line.

I don't know about that Soup-Nylander-Nylander line.

It seems a bit heavy on Nylanders.

 

[MapleLeafs77]

Excitement for this game dropped to all time low after hearing matty isnt playing. Plus we just had a garbage game against them recently.

None of the other offer the same excitement as matty. Plus I don’t think we are half as scary offensively without him.

 

[Mats13]

What does survive mean? You are going to either win or lose tonight and then you move on. I would use the term survive if Matty was out for a week or more.

It just means play well and win.

Pretty obvious

 

[zeke]

I’d go:

Vesey - Tavares - Nylander
Hyman - Kerfoot - Marner
Barabanov - Spezza - Mikheyev
Anderson - Brooks - Simmonds

It’ll be ugly no matter what lines we roll, but that at least feels like a serviceable top 9.

I bet Engvall and Brooks would do a better job on that 3rd line than barabanov and Spezza.

 

[Subway Schenn]

This team really isn't worth paying attention to if Matthews isn't playing.

I fully expect Draisaitl and McDavid to humiliate our top line.

I mean, of course it's a buzzkill that Auston's not dressing tonight, but there's still more than enough talent left to beat any team (comfortably) on any given night.

 

[TheTotalPackage]

Super crappy about Matthews. Was there a play from the other night that can be pointed to that lead to this?

 

[zeke]

The funny thing is now we'll likely see an upgraded #1 PP unit over what we were using.

Hyman
Marner - Nylander - Tavares
Rielly
​

And maybe Mikheyev will finally get some we'll deserved 2nd unit PP time.

 

[Suntouchable13]

I mean, of course it's a buzzkill that Auston's not dressing tonight, but there's still more than enough talent left to beat any team (comfortably) on any given night.

I am not so sure. After Matthews, Willy, JT, and Marner we are also pretty thin on talent. I mean, sure, it's still 4 pretty good players but still.

 

[BertCorbeau]

Play as well defensively as last game, and be more assertive offensively (with better passes) and they should be able to score enough to win.

3rd and 4th lines need to shine through.

 

[Brobust]

I mean, of course it's a buzzkill that Auston's not dressing tonight, but there's still more than enough talent left to beat any team (comfortably) on any given night.

JT's been godawful, so their centre depth is nonexistent right now. Nylander is getting pushed off the puck with ease as soon as he enters the offensive zone.

There's really not much there, IMO. I know I'm being pessimistic but this team doesn't deserve any faith from it's fanbase.

 

[MapleLeafs77]

The funny thing is now we'll likely see an upgraded #1 PP unit over what we were using.

Hyman
Marner - Nylander - Tavares
Rielly
​

And maybe Mikheyev will finally get some we'll deserved 2nd unit PP time.

Not sure how taking away our best scorer and best shooter and most dangerous player makes the above PP1 more dangerous.

Marner will just pass through the slot or take a muffin shot to the net (literally a peewee shot). Rielly will force dumb shots to the net as always.

 

[Ciao]

I mean, of course it's a buzzkill that Auston's not dressing tonight, but there's still more than enough talent left to beat any team (comfortably) on any given night.

There's a big difference between a team with two top-line centres and a team with one top-line centre.

I think of Mats Sundin vs. Joe Sakic and Peter Forsberg, or just about anybody vs. prime time Sidney Crosby and Evgeny Malkin.

Two are immeasurably better than one.

Then again, there are many teams with no top-line centres, such as the Leafs when Tyler Bozak was #1.

I'm very grateful for the John Tavares signing right about now.