Post-Game Talk: Leafs 2 Rangers 1

[WTFMAN99]

I've been hesitant to get that emotionally invested this year too. I watch the regular season with excitement with the full attitude of we are defined by what happens in the playoffs.

I was the same. I didn't watched a period until the start of this month. But I've started to dabble more. I try to just enjoy the game and not think too long term, not getting the hopes up.

We all know when it really matters and I am very pessimistic for the playoffs (for obvious reasons). But that shouldn't stop me from enjoying their regular season wins when I can watch.

We're not the only ones...I have other friends that are...slowly getting back into it. The passion has been very slow to return, very few highs the last 15-20 years, I think if we go out with a whimper in the 1st round again, that will likely be the death blow although if they win and hit the second round at least, I am gonna be good for another decade, I just need *some* kind of win as a fan.

 

[MattySnipes]

We're now 11-1-1 in one goal games this season.

I believe its 7-1-1.

Leafs at 12 wins total. 3 recent games alone (non-1 goal win)

Beat Vegas 4-0
Beat Flyers 3-0
Beat Preds 3-0

 

[BrannigansLaw]

Missed the game because of my beer league. Happy to see we extended the streak

 

[saltming]

Of course. But when they collapse and there’s no breakdown, too often it turns in to lost possession as opposed to a shot. And I wouldn’t even say it’s much riskier because I’ve seen a ton of cycles lose possession as we try to feed the point and it goes the other way quickly.

I wouldn’t change the entry and start of play. But eventually a quick shot on goal + havoc/whistle is the play IMO. I would prefer they end that way, as opposed to lost possession. It may be a low percentage shot that you end up accepting, but at a certain point I think it’s worth it. Not to mention it may help open up more seams later in the game by keeping the defence honest and not just collapsing.

My $0.02

I've Seb that part happen too. I Thi k they will ultimately find a good balance as this is just a new weapon in their arsenal.
It bodes well

 

[justloveleafs]

I loved watching Pat Burns coached Leaf teams... I love pretty offence, pretty goals, but I know from life experiences..

Defence, is a team commitment...

I haven't seen the Leafs play this strongly,on both sides of the puck since Pat Burns...

Burns teams were so intelligent and engaged, it was the first thrill I EVER had watching Leaf hockey...

Keefe, has somehow, become Burnsian....

And I love it....

Obviously, the puck is as big as a pumpkin for Campbell, and nothing beats that....

And knowing you might have the best goalie in the NHL, is viagra, for the teams battle strategies

But this Kampf and Kase, are just superb, at what they do.....

These two are diagrams of old time defensive hockey.

Someone mentioned Bunting is a bit of a disappointment...For less than a million.....

U have to be kidding, he looks like a flea out there...Guy has balls of a gladiator,, size of a hyena, I for one, am only disappointed in one guys effort and that is Ritchie, who I predict will be out of the NHL, within two years...

The Leafs are playing playoff regular season hockey...

I hope Glenn Anderson, er sorry, Ondrej Kase, stays healthy, because I think his teammates,when they watch a guy, whose every shift could be his last, see a guy this crazy in the danger zones, well, imagine being in a dressing room with he, Kampf, and Bunting, along with Jack holster Campbell...

My final thoughts....I never liked pure firewagon hockey....

Seemed like gambling to me...

This style being played now, is just pure solid...

I move Toronto up to serious contender status...

I hope they play a second goaler a lot, Campbell is defining himself as a Kawhi, to my eyes..

 

[Rude Dog]

Was at the game. good atmosphere. Feels like it’s better this year. Then again winning is fun.

 

[Vaive50]

Core 4 did nothing… doesn’t matter still win

Soup is so good.

Why would you say that the core 4 did nothing, if not for Tavares and Matthews, there is no way Reilly would have scored what turned out to be the game winner. They both recorded the assists. Reilly had the puck gift wrapped to him and then he finished it off but that gift was from JT and Pappi. BTW, JT only had it because of Willy.

 

[AvroArrow]

Toronto 3rd overall
Edmonton 5th overall
Calgary 7th overall
Winnipeg 10th overall

Good thing we play in the shit North division and not against real competition

 

[Kiwi]

Unfortunately I was working so I didn't see the game but if what I'm reading in here is correct we deserved our victory and Soup and Rielly had excellent games

Awesome stuff

 

[AvroArrow]

Unfortunately I was working so I didn't see the game but if what I'm reading in here is correct we deserved our victory and Soup and Rielly had excellent games

Awesome stuff

Maybe I'm biased but I think we were the better team for the first say 57 minutes, Soup was outstanding once again, Rielly scored both goals, and saved what basically would've been an empty net tap in to tie the game at the end.

 

[danny90]

End of the game was pretty rough but that’s what happens when you have a 1 goal lead glad they were able to withstand

 

[Coachcorner]

Excellent coaching. It was the perfect call.

Y'all been looking for the all or nothing series of prime bout our leafs no? that brings us so close to the keefe nosehairs... like right there. The man is REAL. He played too, a hard son of a gun he was back then. My appreciation even lifted higher after seeing the series. Always had respect for the fool, but that guy is one hard stone. Speaks aaaight too. A brave f***er that one.

 

[ChurchOfMatthews]

First line was a little stale tonight but that comes with having an anchor on the line. Would much rather see Bunting on the first line but we're winning games so...

Did I mention Jack Campbell is the real deal!

 

[Jmo89]

We're not the only ones...I have other friends that are...slowly getting back into it. The passion has been very slow to return, very few highs the last 15-20 years, I think if we go out with a whimper in the 1st round again, that will likely be the death blow although if they win and hit the second round at least, I am gonna be good for another decade, I just need *some* kind of win as a fan.

Tonight was the first game I watched a period. Still haven't seen a full game. Prior to that I watched the last 8 minutes of Tampa game, and a few minutes of the Buffalo game.

Im happy with how well they're playing and still root for them always, but the most recent playoff failure sucked out alot of the emjoyment for me.

 

[meefer]

I said I wouldn't watch this year...buddy took me to home opener since he got tickets...lately found myself watching 1-2 periods where I can. Happy to see what they're doing but still feel very burned and will forever be skeptical until they actually win a playoff round but that's 2 good winning streaks now.

I've been hesitant to get that emotionally invested this year too. I watch the regular season with excitement with the full attitude of we are defined by what happens in the playoffs.

I was the same. I didn't watched a period until the start of this month. But I've started to dabble more. I try to just enjoy the game and not think too long term, not getting the hopes up.

We all know when it really matters and I am very pessimistic for the playoffs (for obvious reasons). But that shouldn't stop me from enjoying their regular season wins when I can watch.

Be like the Buddha baby, "The secret of health for both mind and body is not to mourn for the past, nor to worry about the future, but to live the present moment wisely and earnestly.” – Buddha

 

[nsleaf]

 

[horner]

This is the best TEAM we have had during the the Dubas era.
We are playing playoff hockey in November a true defensive team game with Soup the stopper.
We aren't playing giveaway sloppy hockey.
We finally have a responsible shutdown line .
We finally have a forth line that Can hit and produce points.
We finally have a team that wont take any bullshit from opposition teams.
We aren't scoring as much but that is fine take care of your defensive responsibilities and the rest will follow .

This is the way a team wins in the playoffs .
Keep up the great work

 

[TheBeastCoast]

I feel like I watched a different game then Ranger fans...who all seem to think they played great tonight?

 

[Macallan18]

Unfortunately I was working so I didn't see the game but if what I'm reading in here is correct we deserved our victory and Soup and Rielly had excellent games

Awesome stuff

we deserved to win, but only by a slim margin. We got outplayed in the first, and led by 1. After that we played better, but like Wellington said, it was a near run thing.

 

[TheKule]

I feel like I watched a different game then Ranger fans...who all seem to think they played great tonight?

That's been a recurring theme with that fanbase since I started on HF 10 years ago. They go under the radar but for my money, they are collectively the least knowledgeable group on here.

 

[Gary Nylund]

I've been hesitant to get that emotionally invested this year too. I watch the regular season with excitement with the full attitude of we are defined by what happens in the playoffs.

I've been invested from the start and am enjoying every minute but yup, I never lose sight of the fact that none of it matters much until the playoffs.

For some reason I've been checking the standings every morning after games and it's cool to see that this heater has already taken us up to where I more or less expected us to be - 6th overall. Still only 4th in our division though, interesting to think about how long this can last, it's hard to even contemplate a scenario where a team could be 6th overall at the end of the year and get the wildcard. 2021-22 NHL Summary | Hockey-Reference.com

With each passing game, I get more and more pissed off that Campbell wasn't extended in the summer. IMHO Dubas has made two big mistakes since taking over, the Marner contract and now this. It's not even how big or small these mistakes were, it's that they were 100% clear mistakes and how someone supposedly so smart could make them is beyond me. Oh well, other than that he's been good but damn, it's hard to think about having to trade Muzzin or something in order to be able to sign Campbell.

 

[crump]

Doesn’t mean anything. We’re playing in a weak Canadian division. Once we start playing all the other.....wait wut? We’re #3 in the whole league? 3 points out of 1st overall? Our goalie is #1 in wins, Sv% and GGA? I’m going to the main boards.

 

[Notsince67]

For a spell there, this team looked like it was coached by Trotz.
Great to see a stifling team with dangerous scorers ready to pounce.
When their shooting % gets back, the rest of the league will be on suicide watch.

 

[HamiltonNHL]

With each passing game, I get more and more pissed off that Campbell wasn't extended in the summer. IMHO Dubas has made two big mistakes since taking over, the Marner contract and now this. It's not even how big or small these mistakes were, it's that they were 100% clear mistakes and how someone supposedly so smart could make them is beyond me

Dubas added to his goalie blunders with Mrazek. I don’t fault him for Mrazek getting injured, although that was obviously the risk.

I’d love to eventually know what contract offers were discussed by Campbell and Dubas.

If Campbell leaves, I’ll be upset.

We need a good goalie for Matthews possible last year next year. I’m trading Matthews if he doesn’t sign

 

[ACC1224]

For a spell there, this team looked like it was coached by Trotz.
Great to see a stifling team with dangerous scorers ready to pounce.
When their shooting % gets back, the rest of the league will be on suicide watch.

Makes you wonder what could have been had they grabbed Trotz when available.