Post-Game Talk: Leafs beat kings

[stickty111]

Taking your like button away is just cruel. Zeke never hurts anybody. What's with the mods man.

@zeke is awesome.

 

[Notsince67]

Not going to be a popular sentiment but Nylander is either hurt or starting to mail it in again.
He was so good in the playoffs and the start of the season, I'm thinking he's hurt.

I agree. Would explain the previous game's obvious contact avoidance. I'm thinking ribs or something

 

[Cleetus]

Bunting goal, changed to Auston Matthews,Goal at 13:16 of the second period now reads Auston Matthews from Michael Bunting and John Tavares

 

[leafsfan5]

Fun fact: Since November 1st the leafs have surrendered two goals or less in every game except for two (against Buffalo/LA). That's 10 out of 12 games

That's elite right there

 

[cupcrazyman]

Ritchie...The gift that continues to disappoint.....

 

[Cleetus]

Ritchie...The gift that continues to disappoint.....

thought he played well last night...

 

[Twine Tickler]

It did work out well but it seems the Leafs won it initially but now it seems to be sliding back in LA's direction. Muzzin has really regressed this year, looks really old.
Plus side to Durzi is the right hand shot, Liljegren is quite a bit better at the moment though.

Ya I mean as much as Muzz has regressed, it's not nearly as bad as some people make it out to be. He's definitely lost a bit of a step I'd say. But he routinely plays against the best players on the other teams. Hard minutes to eat.

He is far from a liability IMO. not that you said or insinuated it at all, just want to mention he is still filling a role that is very much needed on our club.

I think Durzi will have a career in the show. He's got the raw abilities to make things happen. But he needs to learn how to play within his limitations. He was a bit of a fish out of water at times yesterday, and really only shined on the PP. I thought he faired ok to good. I think his Pt totals kind of masked what would have been a pretty poor showing if I'm being honest. In fairness, he was playing a very good team in his first NHL game. Combine that with first game jitters, I was just happy he was able to get on the scoresheet after f***ing up on the Kerfoot goal. I never like seeing a young player getting spit roasted in their first game, and it was kind of looking that way early on. He kind of looked like Dermott less the lateral skating abilities.

His decision making was very Dermott like and transitional Defense was very similar.

I'm sure if Derms was on the PP, he'd have a couple multi point games like Durzi had last night that otherwise masks a couple blunders. I see their upsides as similar. Maybe I am completely off on that, but there is clearly very similar holes in both of their games.

 

[1specter]

thought he played well last night...

He needs a goal bad. Think it could do wonders for his confidence

 

[kevsh]

Only in Toronto can you get a horrible penalty for a hit and still not even be credited with an actual hit.

Honestly, for some reason right after Matthews got penalty I wondered out loud if illegal hits (that is, ones called as a penalty) actually officially are recorded as hits?

 

[Canada4Gold]

Just finished watching the game. Really solid outing.

Refs were awful. Matthews penalty was bogus. Nylander penalty the typical stupid call where 2 guys run into each other by accident, the team that has the puck gets the interference penalty.

Can't believe nobody here saw the blatent too many men on the ice just as the 4 on 4 early in the game was ending. Kings had 4 guys on the ice, our penalty ends so they passed it back to try to kill time, guy jumps on the ice and receives a pass. The guy coming off wasn't in camera shot yet but as the camera panned towards their defensive zone a second later we see the guy going off is still on the ice. It wasn't easy to pick up on TV because they both weren't in camera shot the whole time. I don't understand how the officials can miss it though. I guess we're the only team allowed to get too many men on the ice penalties.

Hope Kampf is ok. That looked like a broken wrist

 

[stickty111]

Ya I mean as much as Muzz has regressed, it's not nearly as bad as some people make it out to be. He's definitely lost a bit of a step I'd say. But he routinely plays against the best players on the other teams. Hard minutes to eat.

He is far from a liability IMO. not that you said or insinuated it at all, just want to mention he is still filling a role that is very much needed on our club.

I think Durzi will have a career in the show. He's got the raw abilities to make things happen. But he needs to learn how to play within his limitations. He was a bit of a fish out of water at times yesterday, and really only shined on the PP. I thought he faired ok to good. I think his Pt totals kind of masked what would have been a pretty poor showing if I'm being honest. In fairness, he was playing a very good team in his first NHL game. Combine that with first game jitters, I was just happy he was able to get on the scoresheet after f***ing up on the Kerfoot goal. I never like seeing a young player getting spit roasted in their first game, and it was kind of looking that way early on. He kind of looked like Dermott less the lateral skating abilities.

His decision making was very Dermott like and transitional Defense was very similar.

I'm sure if Derms was on the PP, he'd have a couple multi point games like Durzi had last night that otherwise masks a couple blunders. I see their upsides as similar. Maybe I am completely off on that, but there is clearly very similar holes in both of their games.

Yup it's still a clear win in the Leafs favor, but LA is probably happy with the deal too. It's pretty much a top pair d man in Muzzin for a 3rd liner, 3rd pair d man and a decent young d man in Bojnfort. Dubas has absolutely no regrets with this trade.

 

[TheDoldrums]

I know Durzi put up some points but my god, he had absolutely awful defensive positioning most of the time. I know it was his first game but he really didn't look at all like a NHL player when he was trying to defend.

There were a couple times the defense bailed out Campbell when he was out of position too with good clears on loose pucks. No doubt Jack is having an incredible year but we're giving him a lot of support with a pretty great defensive structure.

 

[Martin Skoula]

Fun fact: Since November 1st the leafs have surrendered two goals or less in every game except for two (against Buffalo/LA). That's 10 out of 12 games

That's elite right there

That's a just a fluke you stats watcher. The leafs are apparently a run and gun team, just wait until the other teams start actually trying. 5 GAA by March guaranteed.

 

[robertmac43]

The miced up Auston moment following his goal was great! Loving this teams play right now, looks like people are starting to mesh from top to bottom!

 

[ACC1224]

Wasn't he on the trade block? Tongue in cheek comment. Don't usually see Engvall in the title and I wouldn't say he lead us.

Got it. Thought you were implying that it would somehow influence his value to other teams which is obviously absurd

 

[Twine Tickler]

thought he played well last night...

he's been playing well for a while if you ask me. Pts aren't everything. He's doing a lot of little things we've not had in a long time. However he is like Engvall in the sense that he can have 90% of his game be good, and then 10% of it where he makes completely brain dead plays, sometimes even inexcusable plays that kind of evaporates what was largely a good game. Consistency from shift to shift has been my biggest issue with Nick from the start of the year. But I actually think he is getting better in this regard each passing game.

 

[Nylanderthal]

Typical Leafs giving up first NHL points and goals to rookies Good for Durzi .. over PPG in the AHL this year. Perhaps the Kings have something with him. No idea on his defensive game though.

Went to bed after the second period. Watching that was fun. Leafs are due for a correction in their team shooting percentage, so hopefully we see more of these types of games soon.

The good: the Leafs dominance tonight

The bad: that boarding penalty on Matthews

The ugly: those Kings helmets. Who the hell in their right mind things that is a good look?

It’s a shame, because the Gretzky era unis are sweet otherwise. The silver on the crest and elbows really popped, the helmets were a bit too much

 

[therealkoho]

This is just fun to hear, what a good bunch of guys.

I can guarantee I never once said "I love you!" After scoring a goal, usually it was just something like "atta be boys let's keep it going let's get some more!" That was a new one for me.

 

[Racer88]

Only in Toronto can you get a horrible penalty for a hit and still not even be credited with an actual hit.

On this we agree 100%.

 

[notDatsyuk]

Is that what their jerseys looked like last night? Was had to see them through the glare of the helmets.

Yep. Following the Knights into flash trash territory.

The sad demise of a once-great team.

I can't decide if those tacky helmets are worse than the Sharks' day-glo uniforms or not.

Maybe someone should start a poll.

 

[notDatsyuk]

Honestly, for some reason right after Matthews got penalty I wondered out loud if illegal hits (that is, ones called as a penalty) actually officially are recorded as hits?

Since Matthews wasn't credited with a single hit in the game, the easy answer is 'no'.

Looking at the full play by play listing for a couple of other games , that seems to be consistent.

 

[notDatsyuk]

I thought we played a much better game than the last one, against what is, at least for now, a better team.

A little disappointed by the late goal, but otherwise a solid performance.

 

[Zonk]

Ya I mean as much as Muzz has regressed, it's not nearly as bad as some people make it out to be. He's definitely lost a bit of a step I'd say. But he routinely plays against the best players on the other teams. Hard minutes to eat.

He is far from a liability IMO. not that you said or insinuated it at all, just want to mention he is still filling a role that is very much needed on our club.

I think Durzi will have a career in the show. He's got the raw abilities to make things happen. But he needs to learn how to play within his limitations. He was a bit of a fish out of water at times yesterday, and really only shined on the PP. I thought he faired ok to good. I think his Pt totals kind of masked what would have been a pretty poor showing if I'm being honest. In fairness, he was playing a very good team in his first NHL game. Combine that with first game jitters, I was just happy he was able to get on the scoresheet after f***ing up on the Kerfoot goal. I never like seeing a young player getting spit roasted in their first game, and it was kind of looking that way early on. He kind of looked like Dermott less the lateral skating abilities.

His decision making was very Dermott like and transitional Defense was very similar.

I'm sure if Derms was on the PP, he'd have a couple multi point games like Durzi had last night that otherwise masks a couple blunders. I see their upsides as similar. Maybe I am completely off on that, but there is clearly very similar holes in both of their games.

I felt that Durzi's weakest shift was on the Engvall goal. Engvall was Durzi's man to cover and he was nowhere near him. The goal and assist masked how much he has to learn defensively.

 

[Racer88]

Yep. Following the Knights into flash trash territory.

The sad demise of a once-great team.

I can't decide if those tacky helmets are worse than the Sharks' day-glo uniforms or not.

Maybe someone should start a poll.

My vote is they are worst ever helmets

 

[Twine Tickler]

I felt that Durzi's weakest shift was on the Engvall goal. Engvall was Durzi's man to cover and he was nowhere near him. The goal and assist masked how much he has to learn defensively.

yup.

Maybe it's because I was keying in on him being a former Leafs prospect, but I did think he was noticeably poor defensively throughout the entirety of the game. But he was also playing a very strong team in his first ever NHL game. A team that when they establish a cycle is very hard to contain.

The Kerfoot goal is entirely on him. When that shit happens in beer league it drives me absolutely f***ing bananas. If there is no lane, stop trying to force it. That puck absolutely cannot be blocked by the high guy. The fact that he looked off Arvidsson covering the LD he should have known better to just throw that puck down low.

Simple play that we've seen Dermott do a million times over. Just not a high IQ play at all.

The Engvall goal was bad for sure, but I really don't think anyone, including the viewer thought Simmonds could pull that toe drag dish off. I legit didn't even see Engvall going to the net because I was so fixated on Simmonds there. It was a hell of a play by Simmer, and good on Engvall to go to the net with a purpose there. Ya he slipped behind Durzi there, but Simmer usually shoots that, and Durzi was kind of covering the shooting lane for his partner who got completely walked a second prior. Tough play.

All n all, lots to learn for Durzi. Hope the best for him. I just know this was a late game for some eastern viewers and may not have caught anything other than the box score. Seeing a Durzi 1 + 1, along with Muzzin's slight decline this year may have sent some in a tailspin. I just wanted to set temper the expectations a bit from what I saw. Pretty sure Kings fans wouldn't disagree with my assessment either.