Post-Game Talk: Leafs 2 Canadiens 1

[djdev]

i once saw a rangers fan get so angry before the end of the season that he was still angry when they hit the finals

like

it's not healthy... the anger got in the way of that guy enjoying his team in the cup finals. you don't want that to happen to you.

ye, i was angry last year...it was a bullshit end to the season. then a few days passed and i moved on lol. at the end of the day its a great way to spend 3 hours every other day and if they dont win it all it just means i get to enjoy less hockey, some people act like these players are doing something to them personally lol.

 

[Maple Leaf]

Habs only lost by one goal against the best team ever assembled that will win the cup every year until 2754. That's something. Learned that on Leafs boards.

Special comment, by a special Habs fan.

Leafs are the most important team for sure

 

[TMLeafer]

Had to catch up to this one later. Nice to see a W.

So satisfying that the scumbag plays 11 and 17 constantly make backfired at the end.

Really liked Engvall-Kampf-Kase. Kampf on the PK was huge. Kerfoot ... seems out of sync on offense.

 

[Gabriel426]

Habs only lost by one goal against the best team ever assembled that will win the cup every year until 2754. That's something. Learned that on Leafs boards.

Special comment, by a special Habs fan.

Imagine Habs missing the playoffs by a point. I will remind them if they only force OT in the season opener against the Leafs.

 

[supermann_98]

Great first game, 3 stars for me

1. Jack
2. Willy
3. Engvall

 

[Marmoset]

Nice win but the crowd was so out of it. Would it kill the people who are lucky enough to attend games to make some noise of appreciation or encouragement once in a while? When you have the first full capacity game since the pandemic hit you'd think the crowd could at least match the enthusiasm of the canned fans from last season. Its embarrassing, Martina Ortiz Luis turns the anthem over to the crowd and it was apathetic mumbling at best. This flaccid crowd put the team asleep to start the game, there was no energy at all.

I was very surprised by the crowd tonight. I wonder if the price of the tickets is a factor - an opener against Montreal is simply out of reach for a lot of people. Regardless, I would have expected better. As soon as the puck dropped to start the game it seemed like immediate silence, at least watching at home.

As far as the actual game goes, Campbell was obviously great. A shout out goes to Kampf, who I discussed a little on here with concern about his lack of offence. But if he is going to defend the opponent's best players like he did tonight for a whole season, he will be very valuable. Engvall also had a great game (we should forgive that EN attempt), and Nylander. I'm not sure anyone else really stood out for me good or bad. After one period I would have described about five or six guys as "bad" but I think everyone was decent after that.

I'm also paying some attention to the Sandin/Dermott/Liljegren thing. Tonight I don't think the two guys that played did anything to make me feel strongly one way or another.

 

[Stephen]

i once saw a rangers fan get so angry before the end of the season that he was still angry when they hit the finals

like

it's not healthy... the anger got in the way of that guy enjoying his team in the cup finals. you don't want that to happen to you.

I like how the Rangers tore up their rebuild to toughen up to avenge the Tom Wilson saga and get pumped on opening night by the Caps.

 

[AvroArrow]

Nylander is gonna have Pastrnak like break out season. Also jeez how many f***ing dives by the Habs tonight. Anderson is a big boy, you not seriously going down that easily The start was horrible but once they woke up, took full control. I'd like to see them start on time next game. Was very impressed with Campbell, Nylander and surprisingly Engvall. He was playing his ass off.

 

[Bellefour20]

lol @fans coming into the post game thread first game into the season and complaining about last year. i hated it, you hated it, we all hated it. but it was last year, whats the point of watching if a win makes u feel so badly lol? if theres no point in getting excited or enjoying a win, why not go do something else and save yourself the headache, or watch and bitch and keep it to yourself, the majority here want to enjoy the win lol.

its a game and its entertainment, act accordingly.

This first win was far from perfect. Another slow start, another game where they are coming from behind.

One of the themes from last season, is that this team has flaws and bad habits, which if not fixed, will be their downfall in the playoffs. They were winning through most of the season, yet they weren't playing anywhere near a complete game. So when they lost game 5, many of us could see the writing on the wall.

I think many would be ok with some losses, so long as they gave a team effort for 60 min. and showed they aren't the same team from the previous years.

Until they win 4 in the playoffs, they have 82 (now 81) to work towards that goal. We should see an improvement if they have any hope.

 

[The Iceman]

at 5v5, he lead Leafs defensemen in cf%, sf%, and xGF%. High danger chances were 8-1 for the Leafs with him on the ice. He also picked up an assist. Yeah it's just one game, but I don't understand why you have it out for him so much that you're questioning his place in the lineup after a performance like that

I agree with you, I think Snadin played great and is our best D prospect. He will create offense and have the odd gaffe.
As a young D that comes with the good. he competes hard every shift and is an intelligent player. A real keeper.

If there is a move made with the D, it will be Dermott to the press box and not Sandin, as part of a D rotation.

 

[PROUD PAPA]

I'll call that a fine start to the season. Took half a period to get their legs but they were convincing after that.
Hope Engvall got ripped for his stupid decision, that was bush league.

Managed to get Marner, Tavares and Rielly in my pool tonight.

 

[djdev]

This first win was far from perfect. Another slow start, another game where they are coming from behind.

One of the themes from last season, is that this team has flaws and bad habits, which if not fixed, will be their downfall in the playoffs. They were winning through most of the season, yet they weren't playing anywhere near a complete game. So when they lost game 5, many of us could see the writing on the wall.

I think many would be ok with some losses, so long as they gave a team effort for 60 min. and showed they aren't the same team from the previous years.

Until they win 4 in the playoffs, they have 82 (now 81) to work towards that goal. We should see an improvement if they have any hope.

sigh, way to miss the point. why worry about last year? will it change anything? enjoy the game, or dont..its no skin off my back. but im sure the majority of people here want to talk about this season now, and move on from last season.

 

[BlueBaron]

Campbell looked good. Nylander is a star now. My only worry is the power play and we need a few weeks and a full roster to gage it. Silenced Hab fans for a night. Not a bad night.

 

[OVO16]

I really dont like Justin Holl no more.

 

[ponder]

Overall a good game, especially considering no Matthews. My thoughts on the new guys:

Good

• Really liked Bunting. Worked hard, bit of a pest, generated some decent offence
• Kampf was as advertised - limited offence but great defensively

Mediocre

• Liked Kase’s game, generated some offence and not afraid to go to the danger areas. But … man he gets rocked a lot. Definitely worried he’ll get another concussion
• Ritchie didn’t do much, but he’s big, he screened Allen well, and had some good physical moments. Hoping for more in the future though

Weak

• Amadio was the weakest Leaf IMO. It’s just one game, but so far not seeing why we kept him over Brooks

Of the non-newbies, Engvall had one of his better games ever (other than the facepalm empty net attempt), Willie and Campbell were both studs, and I thought Rielly had a very good game too.

Hope Lily gets a look tomorrow. Dermott and Sandin were both solid, but neither were “can’t sit” level, worth sitting one to get an early look at Lily IMO.

 

[capfit9]

Overall a good game, especially considering no Matthews. My thoughts on the new guys:

Good

• Really liked Bunting. Worked hard, but of a pest, generated some decent offence
• Kampf was as advertised - limited offence but great defensively

Mediocre

• Liked Kase’s game, generated some offence and not afraid to go to the danger areas. But … man he gets rocked a lot. Definitely worried he’ll get another concussion
• Ritchie didn’t do much, but he’s big, he screened Allen well, and had some good physical moments. Hoping for more in the future though

Weak

• Amadio was the weakest Leaf IMO. It’s just one game, but so far not seeing why we kept him over Brooks

Of the non-newbies, Engvall had one of his better games ever (other than the facepalm empty net attempt), Willie and Campbell were both studs, and I thought Rielly had a very good game too.

From the Soo, so you know & Marner was meh

 

[LeafsOHLRangers98]

I really dont like Justin Holl no more.

The D would be fine with Liljegren in that spot.

 

[Leaf Fans]

Habs only lost by one goal against the best team ever assembled that will win the cup every year until 2754. That's something. Learned that on Leafs boards.

Special comment, by a special Habs fan.

He didn't learn that on the Leafs boards; it was his opinion from the start.

 

[ponder]

From the Soo, so you know & Marner was meh

Yeah, there could be some bias there for sure. Won’t write Amadio off after one game, but first impression, not impressed.

Marner, yeah, not really good or bad. Like he was decent, but didn’t have a strong game. That penalty he took was a complete BS call though, that’s not a call in any scenario, nevermind to give a 5-3 in the 3rd of a 1 goal game. Our PK was great though.

 

[zeke]

Even Strength xgf%

Ritchie (11:42) 61.5% --- Tavares (15:42) 59.6% --- Marner (14:06) 58.8%
Bunting (12:06) 82.7% -- Kerfoot (12:36) 74.4% --- Nylander (14:36) 80.8%
Engvall (13:12) 53.2% ---- Kampf (13:42) 56.2% ---- Kase (12:30) 50.6%
Simmonds (9:00) 20.6% - Amadio (9:18) 23.1% ---- Spezza (9:12) 00.0%

Rielly (17:06) 60.6% ----- Brodie (17:30) 62.6%
Muzzin (17:06) 36.8% ----- Holl (17:06) 33.2%
Sandin (14:54) 72.6% ----- Dermot (14:48) 71.4%​

 

[djdev]

holl was a hero on that 5v3 but i dint like his game other than that, also, i wonder if lily goes in tomorrow

 

[Lainehasaweirdface]

The Good Campbell, Nylander, Tavares, Kase, Kampf, the PK
The Bad Kerfoot, Keefe's coaching
The Ugly Engvall's shot on an empty net

Mostly Good

They miss Matthews and Mikheyev, but Mostly Matthews.

Keefe's coaching is just fine. Tactically he has the team play alot like Tampa and Colorado, 2-3 high cycle in the OZ, far side D activates in the rush, etc. He loaded up Nylander-Tavares-Marner a couple times after an MTL icing. What exactly are you seeing with his coaching that's bad?

 

[NMacrules]

So much for the crackdown on crosschecking. That little weasel Gallagher cross checked someone on almost every shift including the one that hurt Bunting. He needs a crosscheck in the teeth to take that shitty grin away.

 

[NMacrules]

Nylander is gonna have Pastrnak like break out season. Also jeez how many f***ing dives by the Habs tonight. Anderson is a big boy, you not seriously going down that easily The start was horrible but once they woke up, took full control. I'd like to see them start on time next game. Was very impressed with Campbell, Nylander and surprisingly Engvall. He was playing his ass off.

I slo-mo'd Spezza trip on Gallagher. Spezza was upset because Gallagher dove and he never touched him. Watch it...Gallagher sensed the stick was there and dove. Worst part is, the refs were suckered by that little weasel once again. Of all the players...I hate him the most.

 

[SprDaVE]

Even Strength xgf%

Ritchie (11:42) 61.5% --- Tavares (15:42) 59.6% --- Marner (14:06) 58.8%
Bunting (12:06) 82.7% -- Kerfoot (12:36) 74.4% --- Nylander (14:36) 80.8%
Engvall (13:12) 53.2% ---- Kampf (13:42) 56.2% ---- Kase (12:30) 50.6%
Simmonds (9:00) 20.6% - Amadio (9:18) 23.1% ---- Spezza (9:12) 00.0%

Rielly (17:06) 60.6% ----- Brodie (17:30) 62.6%
Muzzin (17:06) 36.8% ----- Holl (17:06) 33.2%
Sandin (14:54) 72.6% ----- Dermot (14:48) 71.4%​

Yeesh that 4th line... Gonna need a spark there.