Post-Game Talk: Lazy effort. Full 60 minutes required

[leafsfan5]

Not worried about the team, nights like that happen and they've been the better club (except maybe FLA) in every game since the deadline

Goaltending though, that's the concern...we have a potential date with the best goalie in the world and our guys routinely rock a sub .900 save%. We might waste the best team in this club's history due to the concerns in net

 

[SeaOfBlue]

My favourite commentary is that the "book is out on the Leafs and how to beat them .. do X, Y, and Z".

If that were true the Leafs wouldn't be second in the division and be coming off of a 7-0-1 run.

The Leafs did not play their best game, there were multiple chances that were right on the goal line and Anderson managed to find a way to keep it out.

Also didn't help that Kallgren had zero structure last night either. He was beat by too many goals where he should have been square, and was completely out of position on that 4th goal. He was guessing and cheating far more than needed. Can't complain too much when he is a decent #3 and #4 on our depth chart overall though.

 

[VanW27]

My biggest concern is the same as it has been the last couple seasons - giving up too many high-high quality chances against. As incredible as Matthews and Marner have been even they have been particularly guilty of it lately. That 3-1 goal is just terrible defending from Matthews leaving his man completely wide open for no reason.

Matthews is back pressuring the 3 on 2, recognizes his man is Skinner, you can even see him and Brodie gesturing to each other that Skinner is his man, he goes to Skinner and takes him, then Tuch loses control of the puck. At this point the chance should be completely over. There's no Sabres D coming in as a trailer threat, Marner/Bunting are catching up to the play but Matthews inexplicably abandons his man, saunters over toward the puck leaving Skinner all alone in the slot. That's the kind of thing that has killed us in the playoffs the last 2 years, giving up glorious scoring chances out of nowhere.

That 1st period against Montreal was a great example of that as well. We completely dominated the play, the Habs barely touched the puck had what 5 shots (?) in the period. But even still, in that 1st they had 2 clean break-aways and a clear 2 on 1. Fortunately Kallgren made the saves on them but our ability to give up high end scoring chances against out of nowhere is almost impressive in a weird way.

That was the story of the series with both CBJ and the Habs, we control the play, have more shots, more chances, etc then all of the sudden it's a clean breakaway, 2 on 1 against, inexcusable blown coverage and it's in the back of the net. Then the fans come out the wood work blaming goaltending "we outshot them 42-23 and lost 3-2, Andersen/Campbell sucks", of course that ignores the fact that of those 23 shots there were four clean 2 on 1s, 2 clear breakaways and a completely uncovered back door tap in.

 

[BertCorbeau]

I mean he already overachieved. From being a pro for past 6 years, playing in Arizona then getting dropped by Arizona
Then to play for the Leafs topline. He couldn't have pictured a better year

But I think he's peaked. You need a bit more offense from a winger playing with Matthews and Marner

20 goals, and 57 points isn't bad .. his ceiling probably isn't much higher but, as mentioned, because he's in his first full year he's probably feeling the grind. More experience should help his endurance.

I'm not sure you could ask for much more from a linemate of Marner/Matthews TBH

 

[ACC1224]

FLA is in the same boat. Bob has been bad as of late and has a career playoff record of 13-23 with a .899 save percentage and a 3.24 goals-against average. Knight went 1-1 in his postseason debut last year, with a .933 save percentage and a 2.06 GAA.
We have our goalie issues but so do they and possibly Boston

I just care about this team.

 

[MSZ]

20 goals, and 57 points isn't bad .. his ceiling probably isn't much higher but, as mentioned, because he's in his first full year he's probably feeling the grind. More experience should help his endurance.

I'm not sure you could ask for much more from a linemate of Marner/Matthews TBH

And he only joined the top line at the midway point of the season. If he stays with MM next season full time he will probably end up with 30-40-70 pts range.

 

[ULF_55]

I didn't think goaltending was the issue.

Giving wide open shots in prime scoring was the issue.

The team was bad.

 

[Stephen]

Difference is that Willie has the rep of taking games off. Thought he managed to shake it off but here we are again talking about it.

I guess for me, “Lazy Willie” can be very annoying but on a night when the entire team looks out of sorts and he’s the only one who manages to get on the board it’s hard to point the finger in his direction.

 

[Stephen]

My favourite commentary is that the "book is out on the Leafs and how to beat them .. do X, Y, and Z".

If that were true the Leafs wouldn't be second in the division and be coming off of a 7-0-1 run.

I think the book is out on every team, and if you run into a team with the right personnel you could be cooked. Think that’s why signs of resilience on off nights are important to see if there’s signs the team can break through a heavy forecheck or zone defense or disrupt a hot goalie or whatever.

 

[Discoverer]

And he only joined the top line at the midway point of the season. If he stays with MM next season full time he will probably end up with 30-40-70 pts range.

Not to mention you can't really compare their overall production since he doesn't play with them on the PP. Them pushing 100 points before he gets to 60 doesn't mean much.

Even strength points:
Matthews - 71
Marner - 62
Bunting - 53

And like you said, Bunting wasn't a regular on that line from the start of the season either. I think he's more than holding his own offensively.

 

[ULF_55]

I guess for me, “Lazy Willie” can be very annoying but on a night when the entire team looks out of sorts and he’s the only one who manages to get on the board it’s hard to point the finger in his direction.

I thought he has had a couple better games the past 2, and seemed the only one with energy last night. Wasn't much help from his mates though, and the game before 2 pings and a setup for a empty netter for Mikheyev that bounced on Mikheyev.

 

[Shooter2x]

Nylander still has a long leash for me because only 20-30 players in the league are capable of what he did in the first 40 games. 40 games is a lot. Someone said it best last month to show how significant 40 games is. If he did it every other game instead of 40 straight, nobody would be talking negatively about him. It spans the entire season.

The grind has finally hit Bunting and people are willing to be lenient about it. Nylander did 1000000x more work than Bunting in his first 40 games and is a year younger than Bunting too. Let the man conserve himself for the playoffs. What do we get out of Nylander burning himself out when we clinched a playoff spot since December. It's pretty obvious he's saving himself for the playoffs where eyes will be all over him. Nobody cares about his regular season if he doesn't have a sick playoffs.

 

[SeaOfBlue]

Not worried about the team, nights like that happen and they've been the better club (except maybe FLA) in every game since the deadline

Goaltending though, that's the concern...we have a potential date with the best goalie in the world and our guys routinely rock a sub .900 save%. We might waste the best team in this club's history due to the concerns in net

At this point, it is on the goalies to figure that out. We gave up more soft goals in each of our playoff series than any of our playoff opponents.

It is not like we are going in with goalies who are only capable of .880 hockey, but that is what our goalies have given us in series clinching games. Doesn't matter if they dominated in the regular season or even earlier on in the series, because we have seen both Campbell and Andersen do that and then crap the bed when it comes to finishing it off.

 

[Gary Nylund]

I feel like starting a "not the least bit worried about Nylander" club. Can't wait for the playoffs to start!

 

[therealkoho]

It blows my mind how a team this good loses 5-2 to the Sabres! To paraphase Jim Rome, that was a total "Triple U," Uninspired, Unfunny, and Unintelligent and I'm just talking the Game Time Thread, man that was a lot of uncalled for poison floating around in there.

Regarding the game, a few things became fairly clear, Kallgren is trying hard and while the Leafs hung him out to dry a few times that resulted in goals, a couple of pucks seemed to just go through him and one of the goals was a hard work effort that he could do nothing about.

Lyubushkin can hit there's no doubt about it, he can sometimes be a scary guy to play against, for sure. However last night wasn't one of those nights last night wasn't one of them at least where the Sabres were concerned, he was scary to the homeside however. He really shouldn't be the guy you hand pucks to to make the play or get the puck up ice, how many passes of his wound up as icings, if somebody told me only once I'd be the most surprised guy in the room. The bottom line is if he's not hitting or blocking shots than he isn't much use to the team unless it's as a #6 or #7

I'm convinced now that this is, if healthy, the starting 6 in the playoffs

Rielly - Liljegren
Muzzin - Brodie
Gio - Holl

If Muzzin still can't go that's going to change a lot of stuff but Ilya Lyubushkin isn't the answer in the first pairing

The big line, are allowed an off night from time to time but they have to be better defensively when they do, they looked like they were tired, it wouldn't hurt to try Willy up on their LW and give Bunts some 3rd line time, he really needs to regroup

I really dislike losing to the Sabres and always have right from the 1st time the Sabres beat the Leafs 7-2 in their first visit to MLG

 

[therealkoho]

Yes and no. The Leafs had everything locked up and laid two eggs against Winnipeg and Ottawa to finish last season. No big deal they said. And maybe it wasn't, but if you think the team has an 'on switch,' then that implies there's an 'off switch.'

The other thing is, any playoff team could run Buffalo Sabres tape and use this game plan on Toronto...

as long as the Leafs were only mildly interested in breaking a sweat and getting engaged then yes I'd agree, if the Leafs are ready to play and are firing on all cylinders they're a difficult team to play against

 

[TGB]

Sounds like you have only been watching when they lose and not when Toronto wins.

Well, this makes no sense whatsoever.

 

[Captain Crunch]

The Leafs did not play their best game, there were multiple chances that were right on the goal line and Anderson managed to find a way to keep it out.

Also didn't help that Kallgren had zero structure last night either. He was beat by too many goals where he should have been square, and was completely out of position on that 4th goal. He was guessing and cheating far more than needed. Can't complain too much when he is a decent #3 and #4 on our depth chart overall though.

It also doesn’t help when your PK gives up 2 goals and your PP lays an egg.

 

[Mr_Fun]

No way of knowing, but I somehow get the feeling had we played Barfalo a week ago, we'd have seen a better result. I think they came in right at the time when the Leafs would have laid a turd against anyone. That's not to say that the Sabres did play really hard and really well; they did.

 

[Leafs1991]

Well, this makes no sense whatsoever.

It does. Have you seen their recent wins against playoff teams?

 

[saffronleaf]

I feel like starting a "not the least bit worried about Nylander" club. Can't wait for the playoffs to start!

just wish keefe would deploy him in a better way but what kenya do

 

[notDatsyuk]

No way of knowing, but I somehow get the feeling had we played Barfalo a week ago, we'd have seen a better result. I think they came in right at the time when the Leafs would have laid a turd against anyone. That's not to say that the Sabres did play really hard and really well; they did.

We played them twice last month, and lost 5-1 and 5-2.

 

[notDatsyuk]

Bunkis echoed the same sentiments this morning. Suggested 88,34 and 16. Thinks if Willie cannot play with Tavares or Matthews, he is not a fit on the team. I was thinking if they refuse to flip 16 and 88, then move Bunts to Tavares' line but moving Willie up might be worth a try. They have looked good in the past as a line.

At the end of the day, Marner and Matthews are a best line drivers and as such do not understand why they don't drive their "OWN" lines.

I think putting him with Matthews and Marner is a waste. I'd rather see him where he was in the playoffs, centering his own line, maybe with MIhkeyev and Kerfoot.

 

[JT AM da real deal]

I think putting him with Matthews and Marner is a waste. I'd rather see him where he was in the playoffs, centering his own line, maybe with MIhkeyev and Kerfoot.

Willy has our best player with Kerfoot last playoffs .. although he has been laying eggs now for quite some time .. to early to write him off .. playoffs are what counts .. regular season means nothing

 

[Brobust]

Bunkis echoed the same sentiments this morning. Suggested 88,34 and 16. Thinks if Willie cannot play with Tavares or Matthews, he is not a fit on the team. I was thinking if they refuse to flip 16 and 88, then move Bunts to Tavares' line but moving Willie up might be worth a try. They have looked good in the past as a line.

At the end of the day, Marner and Matthews are a best line drivers and as such do not understand why they don't drive their "OWN" lines.

Reason 88-34-16 will never happen is because Matthews plays some of the tougher minutes on the team. I do not want Nylander nullifying his defensive impact.

At this point, you have to use him like Babcock used Bozak and JVR. Very cushy offensive minutes.