Post-Game Talk: Good team so obviously Leafs dominate

[Griffin76]

Fair enough. I do have to respect that he saw plenty of ice time though.

I think I've just been a little spoiled lately by him. Ovechkin always hits him hard. Maybe he was a little intimidated. Just seemed a bit off.

 

[stickty111]

nothing you can do when nylander decides the game is his. Excited to see this guy in the playoffs

Seems like a guy who needs a wake up call and thats fine. Still like the quote by Keefe earlier in the season where he said Willy told him let me know when I need to be better. Nylander has always responded when Keefe calls him out.

I agree Nylander has games where he takes over and today was an example. All though the whole team was good.

 

[KPower]

nothing you can do when nylander decides the game is his. Excited to see this guy in the playoffs

He’s the guy I’m least worried about in the playoffs.

 

[zeke]

Was interested in seeing how Keefe used the dmen....unfortunately with all the PP and with the blowout it was hard to get a true read...but even then as I hoped the Gio-Lilly pair sure didn't look like a bottom pair.

EV

Gio 15:17 ------ Lilly 15:07
Muzz 13:03 ---- Brodie 15:36
Rielly 15:28 ---- Boosh 13:04

SH

Muzz 2:41 ----- Brodie 4:17
Gio 2:26 -------- Lilly 2:39
Rielly 0:11 ----- Boosh 2:05

PP

Rielly 5:27
Gio 3:34
Lilly 3:08
Brodie 1:00
Muzz 0:08
Boosh 0:07



TOTAL

Gio 21:17
Rielly 21:06
Lilly 20:54
Brodie 20:53
Muzz 15:52
Boosh15:16

 

[wingman75]

Great response. Can't really complain. PP in a bit of a rut hopefully they get back on track by the time playoffs roll around.

This is where I am at with the recent PP play...

 

[2 Slick]

Congrats to Tavares on his 500th assist.

Congrats to Papi on his 100th and 101st point. What a season to remember he's having.

Mikheyev and Engvall keep taking their game to an all other level, it's been a pleasure to watch it all unfold this season. Imagine if Mikheyev hadn't gotten injured so early on, he's one of the fastest skaters and now actually has finish. You can tell he's been working on improving his hands. Fake shot on his second, then just slides it in. Super sweet move. Even in a shift he didn't score in, the dominant puck work he had in the second period that led to a goal for the Leafs was fun to watch.

Nice to see other names on the score sheet besides Marner and Matthews. Happy for Bunting, he's finally off the snide and now the floodgates will open for him. He leads rookie scoring in goals and points. It'd be a crime to not consider him for the Calder just because he's at the cutoff point in age.

Glad they kept the goals against under four. It was probably a tough game to play for Campbell, first almost 30 minutes of the game, the Caps had like 5-6 shots, it was crazy. Tough to get into a rhythm. He kept it to 3 or less, so I shouldn't really complain otherwise. (Even though I still do, I'm very critical of our goaltending due to how it's been since December 15th)

I might be overly critical at times in regards to our goaltending, but a team save percentage of 31st for close to 4 months won't give anyone much confidence. That's a combination of ass goaltending from Mrazek who has been awful all season, to .899% from Kallgren and to Campbell, who has been around .885% to .890% or so since December 15th. I am too critical perhaps, but I am tired of watching the Leafs choking in the first round. They have way too much freaking talent to let a trash team like Montreal come back from 3 games to 1 and eliminate them. That has left me sour. Our goaltending will be what makes or breaks the Leafs in the playoffs. It won't be lack of offense, poor powerplay or poor penalty kill, it'll come down to whether or not they can get a save percentage of at least .910'ish to keep them going.

Anyway, awesome response back game. No complaints for this one.

 

[fahad203]

It's a pretty minor thing, but Clifford going after Wilson, even if he took a bit of a beating, is something that resonates right across the bench.

The way the bench reacted to Clifford coming out of the penalty box after serving the major, was great.

Listen to the way they are talking about that moment in their post-game media.

Clifford is an old school player. Not a good player
But players still appreciate you sticking up for your team mates. That human part of the game hasn't gone away yet

On another note, Engvall is turning out to be a heck of a player
He really found his calling on the 3rd line

 

[wingman75]

Back to back hat tricks incoming for Matthews against Philly and Ottawa.

Damn, I hope so! Will be at the game Saturday night. Lets goooooooo

 

[RunItBackAgain]

Another thing to consider about Bunting’s rookie year is that he’s doing it almost entirely at even strength. If you look at the other rookies they have a ton more PP points. Bunting gets to play with much better players (probably the best even strength players right now) but it’s still impressive he’s able to compliment such a strong top line.

 

[zeke]

9pps in the game and 0 pp or sh goals.

 

[crump]

That was a fun game. Mikheyev and Nylander dominant. Tavares looked fast tonight. Clifford andSimmonds did their jobs. d was alright...Muzzin still not up to speed. Happy for Boosh, what a rocket.

 

[SprDaVE]

I'd run this lineup again... Clifford I think has earned a much longer look. Every time he's played lately he's had some good moments.

Liljegren over Holl is easy. Boosch was great tonight.

 

[LeafSteel]

Nice win.

Nice to see Nylander moving, and Boosh getting one.

Shockingly we survived with no Holl in the lineup…..

As for Mr. Tom Wilson: an open invitation to eat $#it and ………..

On to the next one….

 

[cookie]

Wouldn't mind sticking Tavares in between Mikheyev and Engvall and moving Kampf down to the 4th

 

[Enniskillen]

Loved the pushback against team of hathaways, dowds and wilsons. Even oshie is a dirty prick…And of course prepare for incoming loss vs sens as they are a bottom feeder from nearby town.

 

[Gallagbi]

Lots of praise to go around for various things, but watching Brodie close off Ovi all night on the PK was a treat.

 

[IPS]

Had to miss this one unfortunately. I hope it was as dominant as the score looked.

How did the defensive pairings look?

 

[LEAFANFORLIFE23]

this game is a perfect example of what drives me nuts about this team

Slaughter the caps

don't even try against the Sabres

Stomp Tampa 6-2

can't beat Arizona

take 3 out of 4 points vs Florida

struggle vs Montreal

As good as they are they SHOULD be better but they choose to be inconsistent

and it is a choice with this team because there is much talent for it not to be a choice

 

[LEAFANFORLIFE23]

Had to miss this one unfortunately. I hope it was as dominant as the score looked.

How did the defensive pairings look?

it was exactly as dominant as the score looked

 

[wingman75]

9pps in the game and 0 pp or sh goals.

Is that the definition of getting playoff ready? Making it all happen 5 on 5!

 

[Jojalu]

this game is a perfect example of what drives me nuts about this team

Slaughter the caps

don't even try against the Sabres

Stomp Tampa 6-2

can't beat Arizona

take 3 out of 4 points vs Florida

struggle vs Montreal

As good as they are they SHOULD be better but they choose to be inconsistent

and it is a choice with this team because there is much talent for it not to be a choice

In the playoff matchup thread Hamilton posted a point percentage chart for the top Eastern teams.

The strugglea against non playoff teams is not just a Leaf enigma. Tampa and Fla have been better, but they have also been worse against playoff teams.

 

[Leafsfan74]

I'd run this lineup again... Clifford I think has earned a much longer look. Every time he's played lately he's had some good moments.

Liljegren over Holl is easy. Boosch was great tonight.

Too many have been critical of Clifford because they think four lines of flash is a winning combination. It's a fools dream, especially in the playoffs.

Clifford playing with Simmonds made the most sense as they can play with a pack menality. They can play a hard game knowing they have a wingman to back them up.

Blackwell is the right player in the mix due to his tenacity, speed, forecheck and drive. It's an effective mix to negate other teams hard nosed players while also generating some energy. . Dump it in,. hit and cycle. Wear down the opposition defense.

Consider the Rangers when tbey had to deal with Wilson last year. They picked up Reaves in the offseason. This wasn't a coincidence.

It's not about having goons, it's about some players who play a heavy game and will stick up for their teammates. Whether it's guys hitting everytning that moves or others who are willing to take on players, the identity of being "tougher and resiliant" is vital.

 

[stickty111]

I'd run this lineup again... Clifford I think has earned a much longer look. Every time he's played lately he's had some good moments.

Liljegren over Holl is easy. Boosch was great tonight.

Clifford has been good. Just needs to avoid the bad penalties.

 

[Brown Dog]

Watching this game, people who paid to see that Sabres game the other night be like:

 

[BayStBullies]

I hope they keep this D pair. Holl shouldn't crack this lineup.