Post-Game Talk: Leafs 4 Oilers 3 in OT

[belair]

Why wouldn't you split up the top line after going up 3-1? I mean, you're allowed to do that. How much say does the coach have here in how these guys get deployed?

Losses like this hurt the most because they're completely avoidable from the fan's perspective.

We were losing the possession game all night, if that wasn't apparent. And instead of adjusting once they had control of the game on the scoreboard, they continued to do the same thing and eventually pucks started going in for Toronto.

That isn't how you beat the Leafs.

 

[DropTheGloves]

Laffs always get the fabric glove treatment by the leauges media and the refs. What do we expect? I knew this was going to happen. Called it at the end of the first...

On the flip side, it’s exactly why both their fans the and media are absolutely gobsmacked when they get run out in the first round every year. Supposedly they’re the perfect team until they aren’t.

 

[CycloneSweep]

They had 2 fluke goals.

We were off for a week.

No need for people to lose their minds.

We will get them Monday night.

I mean the only things I'm really saying has been true all season.We need another legit top 6 winger so that we aren't a one line team, and Nuge is not a top 6 NHL center.

Tonight we just ended up getting exposed because of it

 

[Black Gold Extractor]

I like how no one expects any offense from the other 3 lines.

Literally, my expectation when McDavid and Draisaitl are together and playing a playoff team are:

McDrai magic
Get scored on only once
Don't get scored on
Don't get scored on

 

[Snipes45]

Once again made clear in this game is that both McDavid and Draisaitl are so far ahead of Matthews it's not even a conversation anymore.

The guy has to be one of the most one dimensional and opportunistic unimpressive players I've ever seen. Besides his shot, there's nothing that stands out about his game. It's remarkable how often you wouldn't even realize he's out there with the way he floats around.

You don't notice Matthews 95% of a hockey game. He does nothing.

Just liked I posted earlier. Elite Sean Monohan who needs to be carried. Does nothing and then will somehow pop one on. That's why he is an elite scorer.

But it is absolutely embarrassing putting him in the same breath as Drai or McDavid

They do soooo many things better than Matthews does. A Matthews is still great to have though. Not at that $$

 

[brentashton]

It's the roll players for the Leafs. They have big strong depth players with speed and some skill. We just don't have that depth. We need many upgrades. Either that or some real top six and LD difference makers that push everyone down a spot. Alex Stalock should be in net next game.

Goaltending wasn’t the problem tonight. I’d even go as far to say it was a strength.

 

[flashy]

I blame McDavid more on that. No idea why he was skating around Toronto's blue line. If he comes back to grab the puck like je should, there's no reason for Drai to make that pass.

thats fair. but i still think throwing a pass down the middle with 3 guys, even as the best passer in the game, was incredibly dumb. my issue with mcdavid was that he made obvious that a set play was about to happen. If he was just hanging at the blue line i would of been fine with that, but he litterally button hooked in front of 2 f***ing players at center and started going ham.

 

[Drivesaitl]

Anyway, still a very good game, and the Leafs are much more the veteran savvy club and have a way deeper lineup. I mean on paper these teams aren't close, and the Oilers need a legend performance by Drai even to get the point.

Truth be told the Leafs are a really hard out in this division, and only the Oilers and Winnipeg are seeing the Leafs best games. They half ass against everybody else. People came into this game like it was gonna be Oilers rolling or something. Reality check is Leafs are just very good and have a lot of players that can beat you any night. The Leafs didn't even have Matthew and Simmonds in the lineup when they spanked us 3 games in a row. Leafs have now beat us 6 times, this is no illusion, and this is the hill the Oilers have to climb to get out of division. We're not near good enough and even if we won this game I would be saying that. Without help, and even with the Oilers allstars standing on heads it would be hard to take a Leafs playoff series 6 games.

Leafs are loaded.

 

[McJadeddog]

So Toronto has been called for 2 penalties in the last 4 games we've played against them. League average is about 4 penalties a game! lol. So they have taken less penalties over 4 games than are called in 1 normal game. Tell me again how that doesn't affect the game and how it makes a lick of sense?

 

[Brown Cat]

Pathetic.

Pathetic

 

[KeithIsActuallyBad]

Anyway, still a very good game, and the Leafs are much more the veteran savvy club and have a way deeper lineup. I mean on paper these teams aren't close, and the Oilers need a legend performance by Drai even to get the point.

Truth be told the Leafs are a really hard out in this division, and only the Oilers and Winnipeg are seeing the Leafs best games. They half ass against everybody else. People came into this game like it was gonna be Oilers rolling or something. Reality check is Leafs are just very good and have a lot of players that can beat you any night. The Leafs didn't even have Matthew and Simmonds in the lineup when they spanked us 3 games in a row. Leafs have now beat us 6 times, this is no illusion, and this is the hill the Oilers have to climb to get out of division. We're not near good enough and even if we won this game I would be saying that. Without help, and even with the Oilers allstars standing on heads it would be hard to take a Leafs playoff series 6 games.

Leafs are loaded.

Or, and hear me out, stacking the top line against loaded games is a stupid idea.

 

[soothsayer]

Hate to say it, but I think McDavid had his bell rung a bit there. Took him a few moments to get his bearings back and it was too late.

Shoot, you might be right. It was super obvious how slowly he skated back. That would make sense.

 

[Duke74]

This team has a habit of ruining my Saturday nights.

 

[MoontoScott]

Something I really like about a playoff-type game like this is you find out who your elite level players are. I won't bother stating which ones clearly are because we know that but I will say that in a game like this you have to get a better performance from RNH and Yams.

RNH continues to drift like a rudderless ship out there. After all this time you'd think he would have learned to look over his shoulder in the defensive zone to watch for latecomers.

On balance I thought the Leafs were definitely the better team. Yes, they had a fluky goal but they also hit a crossbar and a post.

I have to question how much time Bear played in the 3rd period. He was shaky all night.

Credit Smith for keeping us in the game but unfortunately he isn't paid to back check.

 

[Brown Cat]

So anybody new on teh "trade rnh" train?

 

[McDNicks17]

People need to think of him more along the lines of a Shawn Horcoff or Brendan Morrison, none of them do a whole lot away from elite talent, but are smart enough to generally be in the right places to compliment what the talent is doing and cover defensive shortcomings.

But you also need another guy covering his defensive shortcomings like on the Nylander goal.

 

[McAsuno]

Nuge with 11 even strength points this year, and he played a lot with McDavid. Good god, wake tf up.

 

[LTIR]

I like how no one expects any offense from the other 3 lines.

When was the last time Kahun, Yama, Archi or Pulju showed that they can score 10 goals this season?
We got 2 scoring threats in top 6 and then Barrie/Nurse.

Swap Nuge with Drai on 2nd line and you get the same production From the wingers.
Right now atleast we got one line scoring.

 

[Paralyzer008]

Against better teams, you can't always just pray McDavid and Draisaitl can do it all.

 

[CycloneSweep]

Since the Nuge line was put together, they have had abysmal possession numbers outside of like one game.

Makes me wonder if this is Tippets way of begging for a forward

 

[KeithIsActuallyBad]

So anybody new on teh "trade rnh" train?

I'm on the "Play him with actual goddamn linemates instead of being a stubborn asshole coach." train.

 

[NotAVacuumSalesman]

Russell was wayy worse than Bear in this one.

In the 1st period he failed to get it out twice, both of which nearly resulted in goals against.

Get him out for Bouch.

Bouch was in over his head the last time he played against Laffs

 

[KeithIsActuallyBad]

Since the Nuge line was put together, they have had abysmal possession numbers outside of like one game.

Makes me wonder if this is Tippets way of begging for a forward

Makes me wonder if Tippett is braindead for not putting Yamamoto and RNH with Draisatl.

 

[94 Oil Drops]

Really need a LW for second line. Rackell would be who I would target

I'd way rather get him than Hall. I think he'd get hot for us in the playoffs.