Post-Game Talk: Leafs 2 Canadiens 1

[1specter]

I think that was the best game I've ever seen Engvall play

 

[The Iceman]

I couldn't care less about Amadio v Brooks, if someone likes Amadio then cheers, if someone likes Brooks then so what? I hope they're right too because Brooks did nothing for us to dislike him. But stating Brooks wouldn't get claimed is nonsense. You clearly have some obsession with Brooks failing to the point you made up some fake army of Brooks obsessed people that doesn't actually exist. He put up 4 goals in 11 games, there are plenty of teams who will give him a shot to show he can stick in the NHL. Whether he sticks or not is uncertain but he will be given the shot by someone nonetheless. If you google Brooks there's already articles being written in Montreal that are very high on him. One even thinks he can be the next Paul Byron so no, your opinion is not shared by the majority so maybe cool it on the "you people".

Next Paul Byron....$3.5/year 4th line guy?

 

[Nooodles]

Goal aside, “when Nylander was on the ice, 75 per cent of shot attempts were directed at Montreal’s net, and the Leafs held a 6-0 edge in high-danger chances. He registered five shots on goal, threw a hit, blocked a shot, stole a game-high four pucks, and pitched in on Toronto’s excellent 4-for-4 penalty kill.”

Nylander's maturity on full display in Maple Leafs' Opening Night win

...but..when do we trade him?

 

[therealkoho]

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.

Not healthy in the least, what is also not healthy is having to read page after page of nonsensical vitriol spewed by the same people for almost exactly the same illogical reasoning. It's funny that it doesn't seem to matter that the team may be enjoying success but that the player who's the focus of their denigrating is contributing to that very success. The narrative among these denizens of LeaFland is unshakeable and grows in intensity as the season wears on.

The defeatism and negativity that's on display 24/7 would get any one of them the heave-ho out of any dressing room or social group without much delay.

The Leafs are one of the elite teams in the league currently and historically one of the best to ever wear the Royal Blue and White. Try to remember that and be aware that a majority of us just want to enjoy the good times now and ahead. You can't under any circumstances change the past, so please just let it stay in the past where it belongs.

Cheers

 

[Caroline Says ll]

Overall very satisfying game.

There was no line on Montreal that excelled. Some of the Leaf lines were less than great but overall outperformed their competition.

Everything about Nylander was great today. The shot, the patience, the steals. Even him jarring at the ref on the bench when Marner got put in the box.

I am also extremely excited for Sandin this season. He has only played like 30 games so of course there is gonna be some misplays. This game alone his shot was extremely dangerous and is one of those that almost always reach the net. He is active by the blueline and patient and always in motion. He will be an integral weapon all season.

 

[therealkoho]

I'd give them a little more time. Spezza started ok but had a pretty off game for his standard. Amadio was fine. Simmonds was whatever.

When Matthews is back next week, it'll push out someone and it will help.

It's pretty tough for Spezza having to carry Simmonds nearly every shift and Amadio every 3rd.

For me the Wayne train needs to go into the roundhouse and be retired. I really don't want to see the sad spectacle we saw with Jumbo played out with Simmonds this year.

Gabriel skates better at this point in his career and has hands that are pretty good, and no worse then what I was able to see last night.

 

[notbias]

It's pretty tough for Spezza having to carry Simmonds nearly every shift and Amadio every 3rd.

For me the Wayne train needs to go into the roundhouse and be retired. I really don't want to see the sad spectacle we saw with Jumbo played out with Simmonds this year.

Gabriel skates better at this point in his career and has hands that are pretty good, and no worse then what I was able to see last night.

Gabriel is worse than Simmonds at everything.. maybe even fighting.

If Engvall can consistently look like that, we may see Simmonds pushed out of the lineup anyway, we are missing two regulars and I would assume that Amadio and Simmonds are who they would replace.

 

[Avilaj07]

When Matthews returns,

Ritchie- Matthews- Marner
Bunting- Tavares- Nylander
Kerfoot- Kampf- Kase
Engvall- Spezza- Amadio
Simmonds

When Mikheyev returns

Ritchie- Matthews- Marner
Bunting- Tavares- Nylander
Engvall- Kampf- Kase
Mikheyev- Spezza- Amadio

Trade Kerfoot and release Simmonds

 

[Nylander88]

I'd like to see Semyonov play tonight in Amadio's spot. I think that 4th line needs a little more pace in between Simmonds and Spezza

 

[Leafsman]

...but..when do we trade him?

THat was funny!!!

Nylander is definitely starting to shut up all the haters!

 

[Go4soda]

First ten mins we were shit, after that we dictated the play and had chances to run away with the game. Glad our PK is off to a strong start, being a bottom 10 team in the league isn't going to cut it.

I would assume with the back to back, Lilly will get into the lineup for Sandin.

More pucks to the net tonight was nice to see. Still some spells of over-passing though.

 

[egd27]

Though they're not going to dominate the Habs for a full 60min.

While I think the Leafs ARE better, they're still a team that just went to the cup finals

Yea, I get there won't be 60 mins of domination against any NHL team, but why can't/won't they set the tone early in high profile games?

 

[Orfieus]

I really really didn't like how much Montreal was diving, deserved to get that late penalty

 

[SprDaVE]

Yea, I get there won't be 60 mins of domination against any NHL team, but why can't/won't they set the tone early in high profile games?

Recency bias? I've see that team last year dominate early in many games.

Of course, they should have started much better last night. Nooooo doubt. But I think MTL was just as hungry to shut us up and they had something to prove. The Leafs were able to fan the fire and come on top.

It's not always how you start a game and other teams have their own reasons to set the tone early.

 

[al secord]

a star is reborn

The neck of a champion right there

 

[BlueForever75]

Engvall played great but the best players along with him on the ice were Nylander and Kase.

I enjoyed watching Nylander win puck battles, he seems to have gained some strength over the summer. That shot was just nasty.

As for Kase, he is like a bumblebee buzzing around with high motor. If I am not mistaken he had the most scoring chances than any Leaf.

Honorable mention goes to Kampf. I like his game. He is so strong on puck and draws, and his defensive awareness is second to none on the Leafs. Good player and good showing.

 

[bbgobie]

Nothing came of it, but there was a play in the 2nd where I think Engvall dished to Reilly and Engvall found open space in the slot and was real patient waiting for the pass in prime shooting position. Reilly didn't get him the pass but that play stood out to me.
He seems to be improving. Maybe he's a late bloomer. If he got him as a college free agent we'd be all over him.

 

[Contenderorpretender]

I really really didn't like how much Montreal was diving, deserved to get that late penalty

You see caufield dive as he was about to shoot. So embarrassing

 

[JT AM da real deal]

Willy and Soup were very dominant and decided our fate .. slow start but who cares .. da team has skill and it won with that skill .. early season games they need to rack up points with their skill .. but same issues remain when games ramp up with speed and intensity/hitting like for 1st 15 minutes last night as season nears end da skill will not show through .. we really need some faster players as you can see only Kerfoot and Willy can excel in a speed game .. too bad for Sandin but league is smart and everyone will continue to throw pucks into his corner and then beat him to pucks .. Dermy did his best to cover up a few of those plays but teams are gonna exploit Sandin's lack of foot speed all season long .. he has a tremendous amount of skill and core strength but he really needs to lengthen his stride if he is gonna survive in NHL .. i hope to see Lily tonight who has better straight line speed

 

[ER89]

I think that was the best game I've ever seen Engvall play

Really eh

 

[zeke]

. Even him jarring at the ref on the bench when Marner got put in the box.

Yeah I noticed that. And it wasn't just yapping but he seemed to make himself the focus of the ref and his teammates and didn't back down from the ref at all. Definitely looked a bit leader-y.

 

[Peasy]

I wish Marner could develop a shot like Nylander. He would be even a bigger threat if he did. This is why Nylander should have been the half wall option last year on the pp. Marner cant beat nhl goalies from distance so everyone knows hes just going to pass. Thats not the case with Nylander. Will be interesting to see the PP run when everyone is healthy. Keep your foot on the gas willy.

 

[Ashdown2]

I couldn't care less about Amadio v Brooks, if someone likes Amadio then cheers, if someone likes Brooks then so what? I hope they're right too because Brooks did nothing for us to dislike him. But stating Brooks wouldn't get claimed is nonsense. You clearly have some obsession with Brooks failing to the point you made up some fake army of Brooks obsessed people that doesn't actually exist. He put up 4 goals in 11 games, there are plenty of teams who will give him a shot to show he can stick in the NHL. Whether he sticks or not is uncertain but he will be given the shot by someone nonetheless. If you google Brooks there's already articles being written in Montreal that are very high on him. One even thinks he can be the next Paul Byron so no, your opinion is not shared by the majority so maybe cool it on the "you people".

hilarious .. you said i say U people like its a made up army and then say im in the minority .......... so which is it ? you cant have it both ways. ..
Like I mentioned many times already , there is already a 40 page brooks thread ... go there if you still want to talk about that subject. Last time i checked he wasnt in the lineup for this game .

 

[Brown Dog]

Funny to see Gallagher developing a nice bald patch on top when his bucket came off. Hope he gets chirped for that comb-over.

 

[mydnyte]

what ever happened to the cross check crack down, or was it a pre-season only test?
was another poorly ref'd game, and even the call at the end (Anderson) was poor.
Anderson charged in and tried to play tough guy, but, that should have been evened out, as technically we started things.
missing a bunch of calls earlier doesnt mean you make a questionable call right at the end. i.e. we get called for cheesy trips, and mtl gets away with cross checks, and identical trips, in succession after we were 2 men down.
...i'm glad i only saw the 3rd period if the whole game was non-called that way.