Post-Game Talk: Holl wins it in OT. Leafs defeat the Sens 3-2

[crump]

Spezza is the team MVP as of late. Nice to see him scoring.

I like the comment from the tv crew that you can’t call them (Thornton and Spezza) grumpy old men, because they are such nice guys. Maybe the Kindly Grampa line.

 

[Leaffan1991]

Does Matthews seem slower? Before his wrist injury he was way faster which makes no sense..

 

[Warden of the North]

Does Matthews seem slower? Before his wrist injury he was way faster which makes no sense..

I dont think so. He just can't shoot or handle the puck nearly as well. Several times I noticed him slice through D but not accomplish anything as he lost the puck

 

[francis246]

His wrist is clearly hurt.

Why wasn't he setup on the half-wall?

He didn't even take 1 shot from the half-wall on the PP, a place where he scores all his PP goals from.
His can't take his classic snapshot without hurting his wrist I think. Otherwise, he would've been on the PP shooting it --- instead of parking infront of the net.

or maybe they want a different look? It’s hard to tell without being in the room. In the 3rd period and overtime it looked like he was very comfortable shooting the puck. I think maybe it’s a bit of a lack of confidence. Remember when he came back from the back injury, he was so tentative. I believe it’s more in his head than anything, especially considering how he played in OT and the third

 

[Morbo]

he'll be fine. just needs to get confidence in the wrist back.

 

[dubplatepressure]

or maybe they want a different look? It’s hard to tell without being in the room. In the 3rd period and overtime it looked like he was very comfortable shooting the puck. I think maybe it’s a bit of a lack of confidence. Remember when he came back from the back injury, he was so tentative. I believe it’s more in his head than anything, especially considering how he played in OT and the third

Well one thing that is certain is that regardless of the health of AM34's wrist, no one else seems consistently capable of setting up off-wing for one timers, despite it being universally used and effective.

 

[Confucius]

Mathews play on the OT goal was nothing short of amazing, too bad he didn't finish it. May have been the goal of the year if we were to include the whole play from the blocked pass on. I do think there is something wrong with his wrist though.

 

[hoglund]

he'll be fine. just needs to get confidence in the wrist back.

He's not shooting as much and changed his style of play because of it, I hope he gets better soon.

 

[Subway Schenn]

Mathews play on the OT goal was nothing short of amazing, too bad he didn't finish it. May have been the goal of the year if we were to include the whole play from the blocked pass on. I do think there is something wrong with his wrist though.

Ya think?????!!

 

[weems]

Campbell was good outside of those two plays.

Hopefully he isnt a butcher with the puck because the rest of his game looks strong. He tracks the puck well and is consistently square to the shooters which has somewhat been Fred's issue.

Hyman has been our best player the past stretch of games and shows up every single game ready to work hard and battle. Theres times where you could easily see this guy wearing a letter and he would probably make a good captain. His confidence with the puck on his stick has really improved and he's holding onto it more.

Brodie just solid every game. For me he's our best defenceman and his value will show well in the playoffs where the games get tighter and making the routine plays consistently is very important.

Spezza keeps producing and looks like he could still play a few more seasons.

 

[Bomber0104]

Huge defensive play by Matthews.

Seeing that type of stuff from him gets me more excited than any goal he scores TBH..

As far as the game goes the Leafs really need to stop playing down to their opponents level. This specifically seems to happen every time we've played Ottawa this year.

You don't win against "inferior" teams just by showing up.

 

[BlackTipReefer]

Again, Spezza was making more happen than JT.

Spezza plays against 4th line competition, though.

Tavares line looks good again, can't buy a goal right now. All of our top 6 guys have had unlucky sh% lately.

 

[Gary Nylund]

Campbell was good outside of those two plays.

Hopefully he isnt a butcher with the puck because the rest of his game looks strong. He tracks the puck well and is consistently square to the shooters which has somewhat been Fred's issue.

Hyman has been our best player the past stretch of games and shows up every single game ready to work hard and battle. Theres times where you could easily see this guy wearing a letter and he would probably make a good captain. His confidence with the puck on his stick has really improved and he's holding onto it more.

Brodie just solid every game. For me he's our best defenceman and his value will show well in the playoffs where the games get tighter and making the routine plays consistently is very important.

Spezza keeps producing and looks like he could still play a few more seasons.

I see it all the time and I said it when we were discussing who the captain should be - there's a certain logic behind making your hardest working player the captain and Hyman would have been a great choice.

 

[Gary Nylund]

I know they don't give out style points for wins and just win baby and all that, but this win leaves a weird aftertaste.

Leafs basically played the game the Ottawa Senators wanted to play. Negated skill advantage, lots of ugly broken plays, clogging up the slot, and it basically came down to a bounce in OT. Glass half full, the skill prevailed. They found a way. Glass half empty is one of the least skilled, undermanned teams took us to the mat and were one bounce away from being 4-3 in the season series with a 5th string goalie.

The fan side of me is happy we won in dramatic fashion, the armchair coach side of me is just concerned the Leafs can't dictate a high tempo, high skill game against a weaker opponent. If it was this close against Ottawa, what does this look like if we play a playoff team with the same game plan?

Great post, sums up perfectly how I feel. Glass half full, half empty. Either way, fill it up please and hope we get a full glass game tomorrow night.

 

[Doublerum1975]

Too much one and done, will never work in playoffs, looked like a bad team with a popgun offense trying to win by volume shooting.

Blind passes to empty slot, no one around the crease when shots are taken, TO players not taking shots on the few occasions there is someone in front of the opposition's net, Nylander went to the net last year but rarely this year, way too much passing nobody taking the puck to their net, I thought Ottawa had far more dangerous shots, this is bad and the same Leaf team that was fading out of the playoffs last year.

Two goals against one of the worst teams in the NHL, all teams need to do is populate the front of their net and allow the Leafs to possess on the periphery all-night then TO will blind pass somewhere and be vulnerable, predictable and easily beaten.

TO won but won't against any quality opposition in important games.

Ah well, there's always next year.

So much wrong with this post

 

[BlackTipReefer]

I see it all the time and I said it when we were discussing who the captain should be - there's a certain logic behind making your hardest working player the captain and Hyman would have been a great choice.

There is a lot more that goes into being a leader on a team at this level. For all we know, Hyman is very quiet compared to other guys, and is more of a "speak when spoken to" type. I trust the coaching staff (that spends all day everyday with the team) knows more than we do!

 

[ShaneFalco]

 

[gtforepro]

I love how Campbell causes those 2 goals and the team has his back. Seems really different with him in there instead of Freddy. Maybe Freddy just needs a change...

 

[Gary Nylund]

There is a lot more that goes into being a leader on a team at this level. For all we know, Hyman is very quiet compared to other guys, and is more of a "speak when spoken to" type. I trust the coaching staff (that spends all day everyday with the team) knows more than we do!

I'm not saying the coaching staff made a mistake but at the same time, I'm not taking it for granted that choosing Hyman would have been wrong just because they decided not to do that. Mistakes happen, no big deal either way.

 

[al secord]

We shall take the two points, but they were certainly not deserved. Very lackluster and sloppy game by the boy's tonight, but ill take it!

In your bizarro world, we were outplayed?

 

[Bomber0104]

I know they don't give out style points for wins and just win baby and all that, but this win leaves a weird aftertaste.

Leafs basically played the game the Ottawa Senators wanted to play. Negated skill advantage, lots of ugly broken plays, clogging up the slot, and it basically came down to a bounce in OT. Glass half full, the skill prevailed. They found a way. Glass half empty is one of the least skilled, undermanned teams took us to the mat and were one bounce away from being 4-3 in the season series with a 5th string goalie.

The fan side of me is happy we won in dramatic fashion, the armchair coach side of me is just concerned the Leafs can't dictate a high tempo, high skill game against a weaker opponent. If it was this close against Ottawa, what does this look like if we play a playoff team with the same game plan?

Spot on.

Every game we've played against the Sens, it's been them dictating to the Leafs what type of game they're in for.

 

[Funk21]

We dominated in high danger and slot shots. Campbell had a couple of mental gaffs that lead to two goals. Otherwise he was great.

You would hope that we would be able to put up 5/6 and completely dominate but we all know that only happens against the Oilers!

A win is a win. Keep at it boys. Don’t like the idea of facing the Habs in the first round if it plays out as it the stands currently.

 

[MattySnipes]

 

[justloveleafs]

I told you all, Ottawa has something developing there, and I have to say, I love the Dorion drink toss. I do, I think its great.

We, also have something developing. Its a Campbell soup kitchen. Love the guy, couple of hilarious moments by the guy lol. Good lord, the dive? Bruce Gamble, come on down.

 

[Mess]

Leafs win a squeaker, but it really shouldn't be this hard against the bottom team in the Div and their 5th string goalie.

Leafs continue to play to the level of their competition and that makes it hard to gain confidence about their Cup competitiveness.