Post-Game Talk: Leafs 2 Canadiens 1

[Racer88]

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Ah yes, the team that magically is the best 1st period team in hockey DESPITE always sucking for the 1st 5 minutes

Are you denying that they sucked last night for the first 8 minutes or so?

 

[Dekes For Days]

You have to realize that whatever metric is being used to say the Leafs are the "number 1 team in the first period" (feel free to show your numbers) doesn't align with their own self critique.

The numbers were provided - #1 in the league in 1st period goals and goal differential. Montreal had a couple strong starts later in the series when they were desperate, which seems to be the only thing some people can remember, but that doesn't equate to some deep-rooted problem with the team.

Thornton's quote doesn't say anything you're suggesting, and I'm not sure how you're claiming to have extrapolated the team's feelings, talking points, and goals from such a nothing quote.

 

[Stephen]

You should have spent that 5 minutes watching the first 5 minutes of the game yesterday as Leafs got blitzed out of the gate as Montreal ranked up 5-6 shots and quality scoring chances and Leafs could easily have been trailing early if not for Campbell.

Your defense is based on actual goals scored, but that doesn't tell the full story of what starting on time is in reference to. IMO

Montreal came out of the gates like it was their home game opener, and you would have expected it would be the Leafs that came out of the gates on a new season at home with the pedal to the medal, full of energy and adrenaline from a full house and home crowd.

Glad they righted the ship with the assistance of a few PPs in the 1st to change the momentum of the game to their side.

Agreed. Back in the day if you stayed up late to watch the West Coast games, Pacific Division teams would come out looking for the knockout punch in the first 10 minutes of the games. It was obvious that they were ready to go as they were a mile a minute on the forecheck and would run puck retrievers through the end wall. The Leafs aren't built that way from a physical perspective, but whatever Montreal was doing in the first 10 minutes, that's the level we want to start.

 

[Confucius]

Are you denying that they sucked last night for the first 8 minutes or so?

We paced our way to victory

 

[Teeder Keon]

The neck of a champion right there

I’ll try not “neck-le “ and dime you ……..
I know I know , but what do you want from me this early into our year of destiny

 

[ACC1224]

I spent like 5 minutes looking it up, so it's possible I missed the odd one, but I have the Leafs outscoring opponents 17-11 in the opening 5 minutes of games last year and 32-19 in the first 10 minutes.

Thanks for doing the leg work. Not sure goals tell the whole story though. They were steamrolled starting out last night but didn't give up a goal. Thankfully Campbell came to work on time, they could have easily been down by 2.

 

[Teeder Keon]

I really like that Leafs are moving away from their high skilled figure skating teams of the past that played on the perimeter believing puck possession the key to success to this new formation now of icing a hockey team where players (particularly the new additions) that play with grit and a backbone and not afraid to play in traffic and score some greasy goals.

This current team is well rounded and able to play the game in more ways then just attacking and scoring on the rush. As someone who believes strong defense wins the play of the aggressive PK helped win this game. David Kampf played a big role in the win and face-off dot.

Kase for a guy coming off 5 concussion it was nice to see he is not scared to play in traffic and take a hit to make a play. Bunting crashing the net and playing near the blue paint.

While it wasn't an overly physical game and Montreal isn't really a tough opponent particularly without Price and Weber the Leafs other then the first 5 minutes played a pretty solid game overall. Campbell made the key saves when he had to, and Leafs rode a 2-1 win to victory.

Bravo bravo

 

[IPS]

eh. that's not true at all.

Last year the Leafs led the league in goal differential in the 1st period at +23.

They led the league in goals for in the 1st period with 61. They were 5th in the league in fewest 1st period goals allowed with 38.

And the worst first period team in the playoffs

 

[Budz]

Glad they won but very disappointed that once again they failed to be ready to start the game. Campbell was the reason they won and good on him

This “slow start once again” narrative is lazy. Leafs led the league in first period goals last year.

Was it a crap start - you bet. Is it a trend - no sir.
1 game.

edit - Sorry was reading thread in order - it looks like someone else said the same thing.

 

[zeke]

Are you denying that they sucked last night for the first 8 minutes or so?

they were hilariously terrible in the first 7 minutes of this game.

 

[IPS]

If the slow start costed them the game (like in the playoffs) then yeah, fire away. But the Leafs came back and dominated almost every minute of the game afterwards. 'Tis a nothing burger.

 

[Teeder Keon]

No idea.

I think we are the best “ drop the puck to start the game team “ in the league ??
Any stats ?

 

[stickty111]

 

[Discoverer]

Thanks for doing the leg work. Not sure goals tell the whole story though. They were steamrolled starting out last night but didn't give up a goal. Thankfully Campbell came to work on time, they could have easily been down by 2.

Yeah, goals definitely don't tell the whole story, but it at least gives a decent glimpse, and I think it should at least make us reconsider whether slow starts are really an ongoing problem.

Actually, I would guess fans of pretty much every team have the same complaint because, as someone else said, the games where the team does have a poor start (like last night) really stand out.

 

[93gilmour93]

 

[Menzinger]

While the first 5-7 min of the game weren't the best for the Leafs, the couple good chances the Habs had during that time definitely got dwarfed by the multiple Leafs chances later on in game (lost track of how many posts/near misses the Leafs had)

That game could have easily ended as a 4-1 Leafs victory. The Habs were lucky that the final score was so close

 

[Discoverer]

You should have spent that 5 minutes watching the first 5 minutes of the game yesterday as Leafs got blitzed out of the gate as Montreal ranked up 5-6 shots and quality scoring chances and Leafs could easily have been trailing early if not for Campbell.

Your defense is based on actual goals scored, but that doesn't tell the full story of what starting on time is in reference to. IMO

Montreal came out of the gates like it was their home game opener, and you would have expected it would be the Leafs that came out of the gates on a new season at home with the pedal to the medal, full of energy and adrenaline from a full house and home crowd.

Glad they righted the ship with the assistance of a few PPs in the 1st to change the momentum of the game to their side.

There's a big difference between "The Leafs sucked to start the game last night" (which they did) and "The Leafs regularly suck to start the game" (which they don't, even though it sometimes feels that way).

 

[therealkoho]

Leafs literally were the best 1st period team in hockey last year.

Arguably and maybe it's a cold hard fact, but that doesn't change getting outshot 6 to 3 in the first 7 minutes and Jack having to stop a couple of 2 on 1's and a few highly dangerous chances, while the Montreal net minder was wondering when the game was going to start. Once the Bud's got going they pretty much dominated for 53 minutes and that's including all that time on the PK.

 

[A1LeafNation]

Rat play by Marner with the stick poke to back of knee.

We need more rats in the line up.

This ain't elementary gym class.

 

[therealkoho]

They did?

My exact thought

 

[A1LeafNation]

I'm still waiting to see Marner do something like this.

 

[ACC1224]

There's a big difference between "The Leafs sucked to start the game last night" (which they did) and "The Leafs regularly suck to start the game" (which they don't, even though it sometimes feels that way).

I don't think anyone said that or believes that.

 

[ACC1224]

I'm still waiting to see Marner do something like this.

Marner steals the puck all the time.
He was 5th in the league last year.

2020-21 NHL Takeaway Leaders | StatMuse

 

[AllDay28]

Something I’ve become obsessed with in soccer and now hockey is “expected goals”. Based on opportunities TavAres had a xG of 0.8 last night. Was nice to see Kase up there as well (0.9). If he can stay healthy he will be a steal.

also never betting $172 on this team again. Sweaty dub but stressful

 

[therealkoho]

This “slow start once again” narrative is lazy. Leafs led the league in first period goals last year.

Was it a crap start - you bet. Is it a trend - no sir.
1 game.

edit - Sorry was reading thread in order - it looks like someone else said the same thing.

Yep but that's OK because it was about last night's game and not some negative crapola about something that some Leafs team/player/contract or trade that turned into a horror show that dooms the Bud's forever or has offended their sensitivities/sensibilities.

If you're not sure what I mean just wait it'll happen soon. LeaFlanders just can't help themselves. Lol

They got the deuce and need another tonight.

Cheers got to start getting into game mode.