Post-Game Talk: Its Always Son'Y In Philadelphia

[Mr_Fun]

Anyone still want to argue with me about whether the Leafs will win the Atlantic divsion?

If they can get through this stretch of tough games coming up, they really should take the division.

Woll is really cementing idea he can be a legit 1, carrying the load. He and Stolarz are the best tandem we've had in I can't even recall.... Just stay healthy.

I'd argue since Plante and Parent, but I'd wager most on the board never saw those two play in real time.

 

[Lightsol]

Mitchy was moving but pretty lethargic effort tonight.

But this is why I give people weird looks when they say Nylander should make more than Marner. They're both awesome offensively, but the difference is clear when they're going through cold periods; Marner still plays good defensively, even when he's not getting anything offensively, whereas when Nylander makes you wish he was either benched or on another team...

You mean the 18 wheelers in 2014? They were 10 games over .500 in February, and still were in a playoff spot in early March, and then they tanked.

The other major difference is that with those teams, you knew the goaltending alone was winning them games and all it would take was a bad stretch for it all to fall apart. This team has both won games where the goalies have played badly, games where the offense has played badly and games where the defense has played badly. It's not just one factor creating an illusion they're better than they are.

 

[Ianturnedbull]

Son,

I am elite.

 

[All Mod Cons]

just you wait. Buffalo is about to go on a 40-1-1 run

Those losses? To the powerhouse new york islanders and cup bound seattle kraken

Who's the guy that keeps saying on these boards the Leafs are going to miss the playoffs and the Sens will overtake them?

 

[DitchMarner]

we've been off for a while now, though

I really don't see anything new that they haven't shown us in the past. If anything they're playing the worst hockey they have since early last season

If the goaltending can hold up they can keep doing this, but I'm not sure it's a strong recipe for success trying to emulate the NYR model.

Leafs need to get back to how they were earlier in the season where they gave up next to nothing and dominated high danger chances. The great thing is we keep accumulating points through our bad stretch, so if we get back to normal we can create some serious distance from the pack

I completely agree. The Leafs looked great early on. They outplayed MTL in that first game despite losing and looked really impressive in games against NJ and LA (before the score got out of hand and they let up). They had good games against Tampa and WPG as well.

Their play fell off somewhat in November, but they were without Matthews and they were better than they have been lately. Since about the time of that NJ game where they were outshot badly in the first period, they've had too many periods where they've looked like crap and too many games where they've been unimpressive offensively or defensively or both.

It seems their play keeps declining as the season progresses. I guess because they're winning a lot and first in their division, there aren't a lot of complaints about how they're playing. But astute fans should be concerned.

 

[Leafs87]

This right here is what Reaves should of done tonight

 

[Voodoo Child]

Philly did a good job in the first half of the game clogging up the neutral zone then kinda let up.

JT and Matthews were great, Mo and Mitch made both boneheaded and excellent plays, Willy was good in the 1st then disappeared to wherever he goes, Reaves did not fight and they won.

We love Stolarz but we only signed him for 2 seasons for a reason, we should all be very happy with what we see from Woll.

Love them grinding out wins they don't deserve but hope they stop it soon.

 

[DarkKnight]

But this is why I give people weird looks when they say Nylander should make more than Marner. They're both awesome offensively, but the difference is clear when they're going through cold periods; Marner still plays good defensively, even when he's not getting anything offensively, whereas when Nylander makes you wish he was either benched or on another team...


The other major difference is that with those teams, you knew the goaltending alone was winning them games and all it would take was a bad stretch for it all to fall apart. This team has both won games where the goalies have played badly, games where the offense has played badly and games where the defense has played badly. It's not just one factor creating an illusion they're better than they are.

It's funny too, because on the network and the Bunkis postgame feed they're praising how good Marner was, saying he was "lethargic" is laughable. He was breaking up stuff everywhere and was in on two goals, effort was there.

 

[wingman75]

Different teams, but this team is starting to feel like the Quinn-era-Leafs.

Just dee-doo-oodling around out there, finding ways to score goals.

Did rely on the goaltender more than you would like tonight, but once they awoke from their slumber in the first I didn't hate their game.

Players that caught my eye were Matthews, Lorentz, Knies, Dewar.

Players that made me roll my eyes were Nylander, Marner (mainly in the first), Timmins.

Woll first start by a mile.

 

[ULF_55]

 

[budzz]

This is refreshing yet totally scary. Watching this team for a long time, and how often have we been run-and-gun dominant, and every time the puck goes up the ice our way we get burned? Lethal Offense, and suspect D and G? Regular season and playoffs included.

This feels different. We are rarely blown out, and no matter what we are always close, defensively sound, Goalies totally solid, and that firepower dormant and ready to counter-punch.

All those times we dominated and lost due to a critical lack of D awareness. Feels like this team has this now. Obviously early but LOVING IT.

 

[All Mod Cons]

I completely agree. The Leafs looked great early on. They outplayed MTL in that first game despite losing and looked really impressive in games against NJ and LA (before the score got out of hand and they let up). They had good games against Tampa and WPG as well.

Their play fell off somewhat in November, but they were without Matthews and they were better than they have been lately. Since about the time of that NJ game where they were outshot badly in the first period, they've had too many periods where they've looked like crap and too many games where they've been unimpressive offensively or defensively or both.

It seems their play keeps declining as the season progresses. I guess because they're winning a lot and first in their division, there aren't a lot of complaints about how they're playing. But astute fans should be concerned.

They are just managing their way through the season like a lot of successful veteran teams do.

This will be the first Leafs team other teams don't want in the playoffs.

 

[crump]

Tied for first in the East, Tied for 2nd in the League. Thanks woll.

Reaves probably shouldn't dress again for a while. That was a sad game from him in front of Wendel Clark. I don't care if he fights, go in and hit someone...hard at least.

Nice goals by Tavares, Matthews and Knies.

Something must be wrong with Nylander.

 

[Leafs98]

Teams are having "they are who we thought they were" moments against the leafs. Torts gotta pissed at life right now.

 

[weems]

OEL has been a great signing.

 

[Lightsol]

I completely agree. The Leafs looked great early on. They outplayed MTL in that first game despite losing and looked really impressive in games against NJ and LA (before the score got out of hand and they let up). They had good games against Tampa and WPG as well.

Their play fell off somewhat in November, but they were without Matthews and they were better than they have been lately. Since about the time of that NJ game where they were outshot badly in the first period, they've had too many periods where they've looked like crap and too many games where they've been unimpressive offensively or defensively or both.

It seems their play keeps declining as the season progresses. I guess because they're winning a lot and first in their division, there aren't a lot of complaints about how they're playing. But astute fans should be concerned.

Quick noticeable pattern; the Leafs' play tends to fall off when the NHL schedule fires a lot of games in a short time span at them. The reason they have constant dropoffs in December and February/March is because that's when the NHL likes to do shit like make them play 5 games in 7 nights, or make them play back to backs every week.

Maybe if the schedule guys didn't insist on giving them 4-7 days off in November, this wouldn't happen every damned year.

 

[Mr_Fun]

Who's the guy that keeps saying on these boards the Leafs are going to miss the playoffs and the Sens will overtake them?

34; the polar opposite of evilhomer.

 

[TopCheeseShotta]

Son,

I am elite.

What's up, Sonnnnnnnnnn....?!!!?!!

E very
L eafer
I s
T ruly
E lite!

 

[Ports]

If they can get through this stretch of tough games coming up, they really should take the division.



I'd argue since Plante and Parent, but I'd wager most on the board never saw those two play in real time.

I did and they were pretty good on a bad team. Plante was at the end of his career and Parent near the beginning. Saw Bower and Sawchuk too. Last Leaf goalie(s) to win the Vezina.

 

[ULF_55]

Quick noticeable pattern; the Leafs' play tends to fall off when the NHL schedule fires a lot of games in a short time span at them. The reason they have constant dropoffs in December and February/March is because that's when the NHL likes to do shit like make them play 5 games in 7 nights, or make them play back to backs every week.

Maybe if the schedule guys didn't insist on giving them 4-7 days off in November, this wouldn't happen every damned year.

Their schedule is middle of the pack bad.

 

[CabanaBoy5]

This is what good goaltending does for you. It gets you wins when a couple of your stars decide they don’t feel like playing (Nylander should be sat).

Reaves should not see another game. If you don’t try to get your mates up when they’re dopey, you have no place on this team.

 

[GrizzLeaf]

Love the win!!

We've been seeing alot of wins lately that are sub optimal. Kinda don't deserve to win or barely wins... but I'm ok with it for 2 reasons.

They're wins, so enjoy it. Winning games you should lose happens, specially for good teams. They find a way.

Second... the Leafs have played 10 back to backs so far. That's 20 games.
Read itagain if you have to.

On to the next one.

Go Leafs Go!!

 

[LEAFANFORLIFE23]

@ACC1224 predicted this run and it's happened.

 

[All Mod Cons]

Their schedule is middle of the pack bad.

We do seam to have an obscene amount of back to backs. Haven't checked other teams though.

 

[Racer88]

Another value win