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

[francis246]

Games against Philly are like fingernails on a chalkboard watching Konecny, and knowing Dubas passed on drafting him to move down and get Travis Dermott, Jeremy Bracco and Martins Dzierkel. Welp, he’s someone else’s problem now.

Woll was amazing to watch and I’m watching Myers more and more. I can see why the Leafs management were high o no him and didn’t want to take any chances exposing him in waivers.

You could tell Timmins hadn’t played in a while and it showed in his game.

Benoit is really coming on strong lately. Brings a lot of important attributes and is a guy you want in your lineup for the playoffs.

Not pretty but it’s a win, and hopefully whatever is ailing Nylander, he can shake it off soon

Gotta love going into the TDL in a position of strength for once…..

Every time I watch Konecny play I want to punch the TV. I will never understand why the fck we traded down. We should have just left the first round with 2 stud prospects.

 

[ULF_55]

There was a least one weak link on the defense tonight, and earned his -2, but Berube managed his ice time.

 

[Enniskillen]

Winning is better than losing multiple games where leafs dominated the opposition one or two periods and then deflated in the third period and subsequent OT. How many times same users lamented the sh.tty defence and goaltending after such losses? Yeah, they play bad but manage to win, and it’s what we want right?

 

[Torontonian]

Awful start, got better as the game went along. Between a C+ to a B- for me. The execution seems to be off right now though, every play and pass seems like it's 2x harder then what it should be.

Goaltending and D-core apart from the Timmins play stood out. Thought the forwards were just okay, no one really had a really good game, only player I thought that played below par would be Nylander, but he's in mid season don't give a shit mode right now.

 

[BraveCanadian]

Thanks for the win, Joseph Woll

 

[Auston Marlander]

I just want the team to have success in the post season and earn some respect. Tired of the jokes and being a laughing stock.

I know the Leafs have a good roster and a lot of talent. I don't think they're playing as well as they can. I'm hoping they can sort the issues out now before their play hurts them.

You care too much about what others think.

Enjoy the games it's literally entertainment so have some fun.

 

[Leaf Fans]

I thought it was Farabee

It was.

 

[Optimist]

 

[leafsfan5]

That is not how the playoffs are at all. Last years playoffs had a ton of 1 goal games pretty much in every series. Tight games, trading chances, goalies were huge difference makers in the last few years of Stanley cup champions. There wasn’t really one team that dominated a series.

Shitty wins are not wins you typically get in the playoffs if you're going to go all the way. You will be outplayed once in a while and win, sure. That happens in every run. But the teams that go the furthest are the teams that generally carry play. For example, 3 of the final 4 teams from last year were top 5 in xGF%.

Only one team routinely gets caved and yet has made multiple deep runs - the Rangers. They could do that because they have the best goalie in hockey who becomes historically great in the playoffs. Other cinderella runs were on the back of elite goaltending as well (MTL), but those have a shelf life. Toronto shouldn't be building to be like these teams

This idea that we can get caved and gut out 1 goal wins like we've been doing for the last month being playoff hockey is wrong. The Leafs were playing solid low-event hockey while getting elite goaltending earlier in the year that is more reminiscent of potential playoff style games. This is them just getting out-played

 

[All Mod Cons]

The leafs are also blocking a ton more shots this year than I can ever remember. I think people are just used to the high flying offensive style and having a hard time adjusting to Berube’s style of hockey. Which is more defensive. They are not going to take crazy offensive risks under him.

This style of play is what we've needed for years.

If we can add a proper centre at the deadline we'll be very hard to beat in a 7 game series. Add in a veteran dman to sit next to Rielly and I think we'll have a good chance at the ECF.

 

[Minty Cowboy]

Mitchy was moving but pretty lethargic effort tonight. Nice to see they can tighten up and stay competitive when they're flat these days though.

Michkov is pretty imposing for a teenager, particularly on the powerplay. I reckon he's got some big scoring seasons in his future.

Isn’t he 20 now? Not a big difference but fairly certain

 

[ACC1224]

@ACC1224 predicted this run and it's happened.

Yeah I guess I did. No idea where I posted that though..

 

[All Mod Cons]

Yup Bobrovsky literally stole that series from the rangers last year. They couldn’t get anything past him. I find to go deep you need a hot goaltender that is the key ingredient. And insane special teams. Florida and EDM were the best special teams in the playoffs last year

That's the one thing I'm worried about. Can we rely on Matthews, Marner, Tavares, Nylander and Rielly to score enough PP goals for us to advance.

 

[Leafs98]

The leafs are also blocking a ton more shots this year than I can ever remember. I think people are just used to the high flying offensive style and having a hard time adjusting to Berube’s style of hockey. Which is more defensive. They are not going to take crazy offensive risks under him.

It does seem like they've mastered the ability to give up a scoring chance that a good nhl goalie will stop vs the high danger unstoppable chance.

 

[TopCheeseShotta]

Yeah I got to admit they're starting to make a believer out of me. But, I still want to 100% reserve judgment until I see what they do in the playoffs. Call it old wounds, call it trust issues. Call It whatever you want. But the bottom line is I've seen this story way too many times over the last 8 to 9 years. Where they have incredible regular seasons and then completely shit the bed in the playoffs. Now I know that you can make an argument and say this year might be different because of Berube behind the bench and he's more of a hard ass than Keefe and he will most likely get the best out of these guys come play off time. But still, I just can't do it. I can't allow myself to think that this year is going to be different until they actually prove it when it matters. That's just the bottom line.

They've done that to all of us over the years, here. We all deal with it in different ways. I'm with you on I'll believe it when I see it, but they are making me start to believe a bit too.

But don't be afraid to still be a fan and take in all the good stuff, too. This is a great little run - and you don't make playoff runs without a few of these runs in the regular season either!

 

[LEAFANFORLIFE23]

Yeah I guess I did. No idea where I posted that though..

I don't remember where you posted it either but I know I saw it.

Could you do me a favour and predict the winning lottery numbers?

I would appreciate that I think that would be good

 

[Evilhomer]

Shitty wins are not wins you typically get in the playoffs if you're going to go all the way. You will be outplayed once in a while and win, sure. That happens in every run. But the teams that go the furthest are the teams that generally carry play. For example, 3 of the final 4 teams from last year were top 5 in xGF%.

Only one team routinely gets caved and yet has made multiple deep runs - the Rangers. They could do that because they have the best goalie in hockey who becomes historically great in the playoffs. Other cinderella runs were on the back of elite goaltending as well (MTL), but those have a shelf life. Toronto shouldn't be building to be like these teams

This idea that we can get caved and gut out 1 goal wins like we've been doing for the last month being playoff hockey is wrong. The Leafs were playing solid low-event hockey while getting elite goaltending earlier in the year that is more reminiscent of potential playoff style games. This is them just getting out-played

All due respect, I think you are overthinking this. They have won the last five games because they have played three really mediocre teams. Like it or not, it's not easy to get up for those games. Watch what they do in Carolina. I think we will see the leafs from earlier this season.

 

[TopCheeseShotta]

Another grinder of a game, where nothing was going for them. But love that they are consistently finding ways to win on these nights! Such a change from years past.

But ya - seems like the boys and their mentors mighta pushed curfew in Philly the night before, eh..??

 

[francis246]

That's the one thing I'm worried about. Can we rely on Matthews, Marner, Tavares, Nylander and Rielly to score enough PP goals for us to advance.

They need to get Rielly off PP1 I’m sorry. Out OEL up top.

I think our configuration is what is the issue. I think Nylander should be the point man with OEL on the left side for clappers. Marner on the half wall because he can make little plays like he did today, Tavares as net front, Matthews slot

 

[leafsfan5]

All due respect, I think you are overthinking this. They have won the last five games because they have played three really mediocre teams. Like it or not, it's not easy to get up for those games. Watch what they do in Carolina. I think we will see the leafs from earlier this season.

I hope you're right, but they've been pretty bad since December 1st so it doesn't seem to be just these last few games

With this being said, no team is perfect and most underperform for stretches during the season. Hopefully the Leafs bounce back and control play more like they did to start the year.

 

[ACC1224]

Probably not popular and he obviously could have done better but I thought Timmins was hung out to dry a bit on that goal.

 

[Evilhomer]

I hope you're right, but they've been pretty bad since December 1st so it doesn't seem to be just these last few games

With this being said, no team is perfect and most underperform for stretches during the season. Hopefully the Leafs bounce back and control play more like they did to start the year.

The leafs have a very friendly schedule until the end of January. I think we will see them control a lot of games.

 

[ACC1224]

OT but this TGL golf came on after the game. It’s brutal, can’t imagine how much they sunk into this.

 

[Mr_Fun]

Probably not popular and he obviously could have done better but I thought Timmins was hung out to dry a bit on that goal.

Some of us posted in the GDT that it was a collective effort. Obviously looked worse from Timmins because he was the initial main focus.

 

[ULF_55]

Probably not popular and he obviously could have done better but I thought Timmins was hung out to dry a bit on that goal.

That's the calibre of defender he is.

Can't blame him for what he is.