Post-Game Talk: Leafs 5 Canucks 1

[therealkoho]

Lehtonen played a pretty good game there. It will be interesting to see how he is, against stronger competition.

he certainly exhibits all kinds of confidence in the offensive zone and is starting to look real comfortable playing in his own zone and getting physical

A lot of people had him starting right out of the gate without seeing a minute of his game, I'm glad the Leafs are taking their time with him, he needed it

It may cost Dermott his spot on the team if Lehtonen keeps improving, but it's not like that would be a bad thing, having a spare NHL quality Dman is money

 

[BertCorbeau]

After tomorrow's game the Canucks have 3 days off as the return home for a long stretch of games in Vancouver. 11 of 14 in Vancouver to be exact, and of those other three two are in Winnipeg and one is in Calgary.

The tired, weary Canucks could be looking ahead at a small break and travel home and just want to get out of Toronto. So hopefully our Leafs can come out with another strong effort and jump on them to take the Canucks out of it early.

 

[Gary Nylund]

I don't know, I have enjoyed the last 2 games, no stress, those 1 goal games lead to A LOT of nervous moments, it's been nice not feeling like my heart is in my neck.

100% this. Good teams don't always win against the bad teams, every Leaf fan should know this quite well so it's nice to pound on the weakies for a change. I want to see them keep doing it and show some consistency.

 

[Mess]

It appears the next big line of attack on the Leafs is going to be a "weak division" argument.

If Leafs were still competing against their regular Atlantic Div, the Leafs would only be in a Wild Card position based on point% with TB,BOS and Florida holding down the top 3 spots and Leafs just slightly ahead of Montreal at present and in a real battle for a playoff spot.

At present 4 of the 6 teams are playing at .500 or less (and one of those still will make the playoffs) and Leafs just needing to finish ahead of 3 of them and it looks like Ottawa and Vancouver look like locks to finish near the bottom of the NHL overall.

Leafs are going to cruise to 1 of the 2 top spots in the CDN div. IMO

 

[egd27]

Tavares and Nylander need to step it up.

Yea, being PPG players isn't going to cut it

 

[LEAFANFORLIFE23]

Yea, being PPG players isn't going to cut it

I think that was sarcasm, at least I hope so

 

[Judas Tavares]

100% this. Good teams don't always win against the bad teams, every Leaf fan should know this quite well so it's nice to pound on the weakies for a change. I want to see them keep doing it and show some consistency.

We have had many close games where the sentiment from some is that we should be dominating more and making it easier on ourselves.

We have had 2-straight games where it was easy and the sentiment from some was they need to be pushed by a tougher opponent in a close game.

The takeaway? If there was ever a perfect example of "you can't make everyone happy" a Leafs win is it. A win is a win is a win but there will always be some sort of complaint tied to it.

I'm trying to figure out the perfect score to a game vs. What oppenent that would legit make this whole fanbase happy. Maybe 3-0 vs. Boston? Is that too close? Not close enough? Would 4-0 be too easy? Would 2-0 make us sweat too much? Would 4-1 be a problem because we gave up a goal?

 

[CincoHolio]

I'm happy the team is winning but Vancouver looks like, just...idk...the worst team I've ever seen take the ice. I don't know if they could beat a good AHL team with the way they're "playing". None of this is hyperbole. The Canucks org is simply in a rotten rotten place right now.

 

[Leafs1991]

It appears the next big line of attack on the Leafs is going to be a "weak division" argument.

The thing is, while Ottawa sucks, and Vancouver is having a bad year, the division isn't terrible. It's not great but it's definitely not the worst division in the league, that's for sure. They're ranked 3rd for me.

 

[LeafSteel]

The Good: It used to be when watching the Leafs, win or lose, there would be several times during games that you'd say to yourself about a player on the opposition, "geez I'd love to have that guy on the Leafs!" Haven't had that thought cross my mind too much this year(Edmonton excepted) because who doesn't want McJeebuzz.

The Bad: the Canucks team game is nonexistent, the Canadiens made them look silly too, are they really that bad? Tyler Myers 3 more years at 6m

The Ugly: Holtby's freak-out, I don't care how many cups, vezina's or whatever's you have, you don't EVER, EVER, EVER show up your team-mates in public, you save that for the room. If he starts on Monday and they hang him out to dry again, don't feel bad because he's brought it on himself.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

It would be interesting seeing them play Boston, Tampa, Colorado or the Blues and get a real measure of who they really are against the other elite teams in the league.

Auston for Hart and/or the Rocket, Lady Byng, Mitch for Hart and/or the Ross, Lady Byng, either one for the Lindsay

those things are a real possibility if they maintain these levels of play!

it's a dark horse but Justin Holl getting some Norris votes, is he kind of like the Hyman of the Dcorps. A guy who received nothing but derision from LeaFland and is now becoming a fan fave, IRONY!

some of us were pushing very hard for Holl to get a chance, something Babcock wouldn’t do.

It’s nice to see Holl given and making the most of his opportunity.

 

[Big Muddy]

Dominant game from us. We are rolling. Poor Vancouver - they aren't doing well & things don't look good there (now & future).

As for our division, yes there's really only one team at the moment that appears to be serious competition -> Montreal.

Based on last years regular season point percentage, Edmonton was 12th and we were 13th. So, its helpful to our playoff aspirations that we are in one of the weaker divisions. Time for us to swoop in and make good.

 

[The Podium]

Lehtonen is looking much better, a lot more comfortable out there.

 

[Zybalto]

If Leafs were still competing against their regular Atlantic Div, the Leafs would only be in a Wild Card position based on point% with TB,BOS and Florida holding down the top 3 spots and Leafs just slightly ahead of Montreal at present and in a real battle for a playoff spot.

At present 4 of the 6 teams are playing at .500 or less (and one of those still will make the playoffs) and Leafs just needing to finish ahead of 3 of them and it looks like Ottawa and Vancouver look like locks to finish near the bottom of the NHL overall.

Leafs are going to cruise to 1 of the 2 top spots in the CDN div. IMO

While it is nice that the Leafs don't have to fight and claw in what was obviously the best division in hockey last year, you have to remember if they were competing against the regular Atlantic division, those teams would also have to face much better teams, like an improved Montreal or Keefes Leafs!...the same Leafs that beat Tampa twice down the stretch last year with half a dcore.

The only thing the new divisions have proven so far is how insanely good the Atlantic was going to be this year and really, when it comes down to it, I'm less inclined to even compare teams/players from the different divisions without cross division play. Every division has different characteristics and I'm grateful we get to be in the division with an abundance of creative offensive firepower. You can pretty much labl this division the "Fun" division....and whoever comes out of it will be as dangerous a team as any other.....

 

[zeke]

If Leafs were still competing against their regular Atlantic Div, the Leafs would only be in a Wild Card position based on point% with TB,BOS and Florida holding down the top 3 spots and Leafs just slightly ahead of Montreal at present and in a real battle for a playoff spot.

The Leafs would actually be in a very comfortable playoffs position at the moment, given that they have a better record than any team in the Metro division, and miles ahead of the metro's 4th place team NJ.

 

[justashadowof]

Why are the Leafs' coaches and training staff wearing masks? It looks ridiculous.

 

[Dekes For Days]

Why are the Leafs' coaches and training staff wearing masks? It looks ridiculous.

In case you missed it, there's this thing called a global pandemic going around.

 

[X66]

If Leafs were still competing against their regular Atlantic Div, the Leafs would only be in a Wild Card position based on point% with TB,BOS and Florida holding down the top 3 spots and Leafs just slightly ahead of Montreal at present and in a real battle for a playoff spot.

This is such an irrelevant comment.

They are not even playing against each other, and have no barring on each other.

All their records could be completely different if the actual Atlantic existed lol.

Mess you don't have to galaxy brain everything.

 

[Stephen]

Why are the Leafs' coaches and training staff wearing masks? It looks ridiculous.

A lot of these precautions seem to be silly in isolation, but the fact is if any of these inconveniences can reduce transmission to at least one person in the event of an outbreak, I think it's worth it.

 

[ItsFineImFine]

Anyone else think it's really stupid how teams only rotate the 4th line or bottom pair? Like it's a jam-packed 50+ game schedule, maybe give Tavares who's in his 30s now the occasional night off or give Nylander or Simmonds or Muzzin an occasional game. Will it really make a difference to the team's chances of winning of Vesey sits for one game so you get a look at someone else in that spot?

But nope, the guys that rotate out of the lineup are the guys who are playing less than 10 minutes a night and need the rest the least. And then even these guys they don't wanna take out of the line up so as not to disrupt '4th line chemistry'.....fine then take out one of the top 9 out from the lineup. And every time they put a guy in, he goes on the 4th line so we can't even judge him much.

 

[Stephen]

If Leafs were still competing against their regular Atlantic Div, the Leafs would only be in a Wild Card position based on point% with TB,BOS and Florida holding down the top 3 spots and Leafs just slightly ahead of Montreal at present and in a real battle for a playoff spot.

At present 4 of the 6 teams are playing at .500 or less (and one of those still will make the playoffs) and Leafs just needing to finish ahead of 3 of them and it looks like Ottawa and Vancouver look like locks to finish near the bottom of the NHL overall.

Leafs are going to cruise to 1 of the 2 top spots in the CDN div. IMO

Hey Mess, flex a little. If the Atlantic Division teams were playing Toronto on a regular basis, all their winning percentages would take a hit...

 

[Auston 316]

Why are the Leafs' coaches and training staff wearing masks? It looks ridiculous.

Optics.

 

[Srsly]

I think that was sarcasm, at least I hope so

I was actually just thinking about how spoiled we are. With Matthews and Marner looking so dynamic out there Tavares and Nylander look sluggish by comparison. It’s not every season our second line can perform so well and have it not appear notable. Hopefully the team stays strong and we do something special.

 

[Subway Schenn]

Holy shit, has the mood ever been as rosy here?!

Hope we can keep playing like this and completely tighten up on that D as we go along. Tough to win the Cup but gotta start somewhere and this is the most optimistic I've ever felt as a Leafs fan. Auston will probably be better than Mats and Mats was my Jesus. Feels good!

 

[Srsly]

Hey Mess, flex a little. If the Atlantic Division teams were playing Toronto on a regular basis, all their winning percentages would take a hit...

Agreed, those teams would also be playing the Leafs so it’s a silly thing to worry about. Who’s to say the Leafs wouldn’t have won a few of those games.

 

[IPS]

If Leafs were still competing against their regular Atlantic Div, the Leafs would only be in a Wild Card position based on point% with TB,BOS and Florida holding down the top 3 spots and Leafs just slightly ahead of Montreal at present and in a real battle for a playoff spot.

At present 4 of the 6 teams are playing at .500 or less (and one of those still will make the playoffs) and Leafs just needing to finish ahead of 3 of them and it looks like Ottawa and Vancouver look like locks to finish near the bottom of the NHL overall.

Leafs are going to cruise to 1 of the 2 top spots in the CDN div. IMO

The same division you called weak and painted as a benefit that the Leafs played in it?!