Post-Game Talk: Good Will Bunting FTW.... Leafs 7 - BBQ Wings 4

[ToDavid]

People rag on Holl. But I actually thought he was decent tonight. Muzzin - Trade - second pairing. Sandin - Holl - third pairing?

Yah I thought he’s been piecing his game back together a bit lately. Another quiet but strong one tonight.

 

[2 Slick]

Great comeback win, but wow, the Leafs were terrible for at least 45 minutes of that game, if not a little bit more.

Mrazek lets in four goals yet again, as he's done in virtually every game but one he's played in for the Leafs. .896% and 3.20 GAA in six games is brutal. Luckily for him the Leafs are an offensive juggernaut. This win wasn't due to him, it was despite him. Our breakdowns in front of him is the cause for some of it, but he was awful as well.

Bunting has been fantastic this season. He did have a lull there for about 10 games where he didn't have a point, but he stuck with it. Playing with Marner and Matthews doesn't hurt, but he also has talent as well. Bit of a late bloomer. He'll finish with at least 20, which would make him a HUGE bargain for what he's produced. I'm not a born and raised Scarborough native, but it's happily been my home for 20 years, so grats on making your home town proud!

Marner did have some ugh moments this game, but he also had some redeeming moments as well. That remorseless rush to the front the net to get it to Bunting was a thing of beauty. He's been fabulous since he's come back. 5 goals, 5 games in a row, 3 of which have been on the powerplay.

Keefe put the lines back together and made the right choice. It's okay to spread the offense out, but it wasn't working for 5 periods.

Great rally back win, but nothing about their effort was pretty, as they were awful most of the game. They have a lot of talent that can erase mistakes, but they have to be better, especially defensively.

The Leafs only have two games in the next 8 days, so they have time to look at what they did wrong, get lots of practice in and start on time.

Loved the comeback even if it sounds like I'm nitpicking.

 

[wingman75]

I did watch the game. They got out played or at best were even (short stints) for most. Once the old lines went back together the game became a cake walk. I mean I don't know what else to say about, that's literally what happened.

You take your optimal lines, cook up something random, then you have to dip into the blender until you go back to the same exact lines you shouldnt have touched in the first place and get credited with amazing coaching?

You have really low standards for great coaching then.

What this was, was a lesson for Keefe to don't touch things that aren't broken.

Pretty sure the point of this season is to understand what he has with this group. Are they missing anything? Do they have the depth to conver up any missing players come crunch time? What in-roster adjustments are on the menu that are proven to work and which ones do you avoid? It was well worth the time to experiment to get the answer now voluntairly rather then be forced into it and only then find out it doesn't work. Just because something doesn't work as well as you hoped, is no reason to not try. If a coach, any coach, only goes with what works they are doing a disservice to the team imo. I still think there is some hope for those lines, but the effort from the players has to be a helluva lot better than it was in the first two period.

Now, all that being said, I think we have seen what works the best, and that is what we should be going with in big moments if available... running a lame or unknown lineup voluntairly in a big (must win) moment would be the epitemy of overcoaching, and I had enough of that with the previous coach.

 

[2 Slick]

lol at the Marner haters in the game day thread

He's a fantastic playmaker, but his lack of production in the playoffs are all many can remember and think about. He's not the reason the Leafs coughed up a 3 to 1 lead against Montreal, but he also didn't help them as a team. The whole team failed, he's not the entire blame.

I'm over my bitterness for him due to his lack of playoff production and have moved on from that. I'm glad he's here even if many others want to run him out like they wanted Nylander out as well several years back.

 

[BertCorbeau]

While I'm all for giving these new lines a chance to gel, Kase could use some time with Kampf/Mikheyev in that 3rd line role to get his legs and game back. He's been a bit off in the couple of games since he came back from that injury

 

[Shooter2x]

Pretty sure the point of this season is to understand what he has with this group. Are they missing anything? Do they have the depth to conver up any missing players come crunch time? What in-roster adjustments are on the menu that are proven to work and which ones do you avoid? It was well worth the time to experiment to get the answer now voluntairly rather then be forced into it and only then find out it doesn't work. Just because something doesn't work as well as you hoped, is no reason to not try. If a coach, any coach, only goes with what works they are doing a disservice to the team imo. I still think there is some hope for those lines, but the effort from the players has to be a helluva lot better than it was in the first two period.

Now, all that being said, I think we have seen what works the best, and that is what we should be going with in big moments if available... running a lame or unknown lineup voluntairly in a big (must win) moment would be the epitemy of overcoaching, and I had enough of that with the previous coach.

Fair enough. The justification to experiment right now just makes no sense to me. The old lines are closer to optimal and made Leafs one of the best teams in the league. Look what happened tonight when the top 6 was reunited. Just mopped the floor with them.

I'm pretty confident about the old lines versus new lines so I'll stop cluttering the place with this topic and let the games show that these new lines are inferior. And if they are inferior you can't credit a coach for being a good coach because he forced himself to have to make so many changes during the game to offset it.

 

[Brobust]

There are multiple times every game where it looks like the leafs have 4 Harlem Globetrotters on the ice and Justin Holl.

So many offensive opportunities lost because of this goofy giant.

 

[Ciao]

I did watch the game. They got out played or at best were even (short stints) for most. None of the pre-old line stuff you point out would have amassed to anything but an L. Once the old lines went back together the game became a cake walk. I mean I don't know what else to say about, that's literally what happened.

You take your optimal lines, cook up something random, then you have to dip into the blender until you go back to the same exact lines you shouldnt have touched in the first place and get credited with amazing coaching?

You have really low standards for great coaching then.

What this was, was a lesson for Keefe to don't touch things that aren't broken.

I think there's a larger strategy at work that has to do with versatility, in-game and game-to-game adjustments, and making the Leafs style of play less predictable and harder to defend that you might not be tuning in to.

Last game, someone suggested that Campbell is struggling because the shooters now have the book on him and they know what to expect.

In the same vein, I think Keefe is trying to make the Leafs style of play less predictable and much harder to prepare for and to play against.

I think he did that tonight.

 

[Shooter2x]

I think there's a larger strategy at work that has to do with versatility, in-game and game-to-game adjustments, and making the Leafs style of play, ess predictable and harder to defend that you might not be tuning in to.

Last game, someone suggested that Campbell is struggling because the shooters now have the book on him and they know what to expect.

In the same vein, I think Keefe is trying to make the Leafs style of play less predictable and much harder to prepare for and to play against.

I think he did that tonight.

Fair enough I can live with this. Call truce tonight is a good night no beef lol

 

[MSZ]

JT has now scored 40 pts in 27 career games against Detroit.

 

[wingman75]

Fair enough. The justification to experiment right now just makes no sense to me. The old lines are closer to optimal and made Leafs one of the best teams in the league. Look what happened tonight when the top 6 was reunited. Just mopped the floor with them.

I'm pretty confident about the old lines versus new lines so I'll stop cluttering the place with this topic and let the games show that these new lines are inferior. And if they are inferior you can't credit a coach for being a good coach because he forced himself to have to make so many changes during the game to offset it.

I think what we think makes a coach good are very different lol/

Maybe related, I do remember reading and hearing quotes from Keefe about making the team uncomfortable on purpuse through the season to fend of complaiceney. I am a fan of that... sometimes you have to create self-imposed turmoil if your opponents are not creating enough for you. I think the positive is that as bad as those first two periods were, the 'norm' can be so good; and they came back and controlled the third period with seeming ease. But lets not forget Det was on a 3-in-4 and in a back-to-back.

If they don't experiment now, when do they do it?

 

[Lemontree]

Yah I thought he’s been piecing his game back together a bit lately. Another quiet but strong one tonight.

Really? It wasn't his worse game tonight but nothing quiet about his game. He jumped on the ice well before Nylander got to the bench (in the offensive zone) and touched the puck for a too many men penalty. He got absolutely pretzeled at center ice by Fabbri when he did a slight hesitation move.

 

[garce]

Timothy Liljegren has been playing well

 

[Ciao]

I think what we think makes a coach good are very different lol/

Maybe related, I do remember reading and hearing quotes from Keefe about making the team uncomfortable on purpuse through the season to fend of complaiceney. I am a fan of that... sometimes you have to create self-imposed turmoil if your opponents are not creating enough for you. I think the positive is that as bad as those first two periods were, the 'norm' can be so good; and they came back and controlled the third period with seeming ease. But lets not forget Det was on a 3-in-4 and in a back-to-back.

If they don't experiment now, when do they do it?

I also think Detroit's schedule this week was a big part of the equation.

They came out very fast and strong, perhaps buoyed by their shootout win in Pittsburgh on Thursday.

It's not at all surprising if they ran out of gas late in the game.

 

[Dangles McGavin]

That was a weird game.

It felt like our d-men were constantly in too deep with nobody cycling back for them.

The Leafs offensive system seems to be built on mobility. The d-men rotate in, a forward rotates back. Those rotations were not working tonight.

I think there's an argument to be made that it's the new lines. Players thinking too much instead of instinctually reading the ice. I still like the new lines, but we'll see what happens.

Big comeback. GO LEAFS!

 

[supermann_98]

Would the C ever be transferred from 91 to 34 eventually?

If Matthews wins us a cup with a Conn Smythe level performance JT should just hand it over

 

[Lemontree]

2 game in a row Rielly just look awful defensive side. Every goal detroit scored was on a rielly mistake and was similar against ducks. He need to be better, he cant still playing that way.

Holl and sandin was awesome together again easyly by a miles best def the last 2 game. I really like how they play together

That's strange.
2nd goal was a terrible pass by Brodie that was picked off at center ice and Mrazek not being able to control a rebound from a harmless shot from the half boards.
3rd goal was a turnover in the neutral zone with Bertuzzi beating Mrazak short side (down too early before the shot) and Brodie was the defender who didn't pressure.
4th goal is a PP goal where Reilly is in a 1 on 1 board battle, Mikheyev starts to come over and then backs off, Fabbri comes in as 3rd man to the board battle and grabs loose puck where he is able to pass through 3 leafs in a "tight box" formation to Larkin at the hash marks. Are you upset that Reilly was unable to win a 2-1 board battle on the PK?

 

[keonsbitterness]

Scarborough > Forest Hill

Poor Drake.

There are multiple times every game where it looks like the leafs have 4 Harlem Globetrotters on the ice and Justin Holl.

So many offensive opportunities lost because of this goofy giant.

I thought Holl had one of his better games this season. Brodie struggled.

 

[TGB]

That was a fun game. Probably one of the goofiest ones this year. So many fluke goals, so many goals where a player whiffed only to make it up a few seconds later, Engvall should be given the nickname "Pinball" given he scores more often when people shoot AT him, and the best save of the night wasn't from a goalie at all.

That game also likely makes the advanced stats look whacky. If they can't adequately demonstrate the Leafs were limp but won because they showed some energy towards the end, and how lucky they got, then they're not really much use.

 

[TML1967]

Incredible game, but give Bertuzzi the Vezina for those saves at the end.

I know he isnt vaccinated and cant come here, but man what I would give to add a guy like Bertuzzi.

He hits, he scores, he plays good D and every game I have seen him play he always gives a f***.
It may be a low bar, but a guy that just works that darn hard every shift is awesome and you can see its infectious (pun intended).

Could you imagine him and Bunting both in the top 6?

Veleno looked really good, and Zadina just needs to go somewhere else. I dunno that is happening, but he looks just lost out there and way worse than his rookie season.

 

[stickty111]

Timothy Liljegren has been playing well

I think his play has dipped a bit lately. Dermott isn't exactly helping him out though and I think Dermott has been awful for some time now. Lilly's best has been with anybody other than Dermott. Our best 3rd pairing was Lilly with Sandin.

 

[kb]

Sorry gents and ladies.....tardy to the party.....lol. Just got back from Parliament Hill.

 

[Torontonian]

Detroit reminds me of us of a few years back, good talent, good enough to take a lead in the game, but not old enough to understand how to win yet. We used to always blow leads, over timed learned how to win. (Expect for the playoffs that is).

Anyways, thought we played sloppy today, probably a few goals Mrazek wants back, defence didn't help him too much either with the two on ones, but stuck with it and took a W.

 

[LeafalCrusader]

I think his play has dipped a bit lately. Dermott isn't exactly helping him out though and I think Dermott has been awful for some time now. Lilly's best has been with anybody other than Dermott. Our best 3rd pairing was Lilly with Sandin.

Hopefully Dermott comes out for Muzzin when Jake is good to go after the all star break.

 

[Man Bear Pig]

Sorry gents and ladies.....tardy to the party.....lol. Just got back from Parliament Hill.

View attachment 503430

If you were at parliament hill today than you're definitely a bit tardy.