Post-Game Talk: Leafs beat Rags 3-2 OT

[Dayjobdave]

Joe Bowen:

Sweet. Thx. He scored the Willie goal

 

[al secord]

All smiles..View attachment 641569

Sonofabitch

 

[Martin Skoula]

Anyone using the word Gosh is aces in my book.

Mitch, that was sick!
Sammy, my man.
Keefe's expectations of Willy are growing, kid was out for a big amount of the 3rd.
TL to tie and JT missing by a whisker at the end.

Maybe my eyes are playing tricks on me...is anyone else seeing the gap between the forwards and D increasing in our zone? During the period when we were losing D to injury every other game, I found our structure to be as tight as I've seen it in years. F coming back, supporting D down low, and really allowing D short passes to break out quickly and effectively. The stretch pass because of the length between the two is becoming a thing again, at least to my eyes, and I think we're having more difficulty breaking out of our end because of it. Or am I wrong?

I'm seeing it too. I'm hoping the answer is that playing that way is too demanding on the forwards in terms of stamina and they don't want them gassed for the playoffs, now that the D is mostly healthy again they can afford to go punch for punch offensively and win more than they lose. Not like an extra few wins will give us any other playoff opponent.

Really hoping that they intend to flip the switch back to the Rielly-less style in the playoffs, when they play the way they are now it looks exactly like every game 7 we've played in the past 5 years. Bunch of messy incomplete breakouts, pace is constantly shifting from nothing happening for 5 minutes to constant breakaways at both ends for a few minutes, and we overthink play in the offensive zone leading to Tavares and Matthews poking at a covered puck as our only consistent chances.

 

[wingman75]

2 come from behind wins in a row.

And both while not playing a complete 60 minutes.

As frustrating as it is to watch, we need wins like this. Good teams find ways to win right?

Bad habit though, to not play 60 minutes and get rewarded with two points. Thankfully we have a ton of games left to get things in order before the playoffs come calling.

 

[bansheebeat]

Besides the obvious, I really liked McMann's game again. Especially in the 1st half.

 

[Zonk]

Marner with an unreal goal.

Not to down play the Rangers but without their goalie, this game may have been a 4-1 game.

Pretty sure that if the Rangers had played with an empty net the Leafs would have scored more than 4 goals.

 

[crump]

That was a sweet OT goal. Nice to win a few in extra time finally. We usually are horrible in OT. Unreal skill on display there.

 

[SprDaVE]

Joey Anderson drew 2 penalties and had an assist.

I'm glad he's playing over Simmonds and Hunt.

 

[HogTown06]

I walked into the living room as the OT goal was happening... I yelled at my son "turn off the goddamn PS5 and go to bed..."

 

[Stephen]

Marner, that was gross man

Great to see him just decide to take over in OT like that. I think he saw Panarin was defending lazily and just decided to go for it.

 

[93gilmour93]

 

[BertCorbeau]

Rangers have been playing well after a slow start to the season, good defensively. Nice to see the Leafs overcome it.

Marner learning from Nylander to just take it to the net in OT. Beautiful goal.

Samsonov continues to roll, love to see it.

 

[Confucius]

Pretty sure that if the Rangers had played with an empty net the Leafs would have scored more than 4 goals.

Well if we are splitting hairs, how do they score one less goal if their goalie doesn’t play.

 

[AcerComputer]

Leafs needed this win

 

[Teeder Keon]

Unreal the magic show rolls on

It’s Maaaaaaggicc

 

[kb]

Pretty sure that if the Rangers had played with an empty net the Leafs would have scored more than 4 goals.

You forgot the "Kerfoot Factor".

 

[Gabriel426]

Great play by MM.
Lilly is really good. I said long ago that once he gets more confidence his offensive instincts will start showing and he has done just that this season.
Really like how Keefe would start the OT with Lilly. It shows he has the coach confidence and hope that continues.

 

[PromisedLand]

Marner with an unreal goal.

Not to down play the Rangers but without their goalie, this game may have been a 4-1 game.

Sammy made some incredible saves too man. I am not sure about that...

 

[1specter]

Marner with an unreal goal.

Not to down play the Rangers but without their goalie, this game may have been a 4-1 game.

I disagree, the Rangers had plenty of chances and played us hard. They also missed a gimme with the Kreider tip that went through the crease along with other huge saves by Samsonov

 

[meefer]

I'm seeing it too. I'm hoping the answer is that playing that way is too demanding on the forwards in terms of stamina and they don't want them gassed for the playoffs, now that the D is mostly healthy again they can afford to go punch for punch offensively and win more than they lose. Not like an extra few wins will give us any other playoff opponent.

Really hoping that they intend to flip the switch back to the Rielly-less style in the playoffs, when they play the way they are now it looks exactly like every game 7 we've played in the past 5 years. Bunch of messy incomplete breakouts, pace is constantly shifting from nothing happening for 5 minutes to constant breakaways at both ends for a few minutes, and we overthink play in the offensive zone leading to Tavares and Matthews poking at a covered puck as our only consistent chances.

Hahaha, ya with Boston playing the way they are, not a chance.

But, is it too demanding or is it reverting back to old habits? If we're correct, I'd guess the coaching staff sees it too. I'd examine more closely and emphasize the need for proper support. I don't trust the flipping switch way of playing hockey.

 

[Teeder Keon]

Besides the obvious, I really liked McMann's game again. Especially in the 1st half.

Thx for that
I couldn’t watch the game tonight , but was listening…
I didn’t make out the type of game Bobby M had
I’m a huge fan of his
So super to hear the positive feedback about him
GLG

 

[Budz]

Things I liked:
-Sammy’s ability to give confidence to the team and making important saves down 2-1. With other goalies of late - that game is a 4-1 loss.
-Holmberg. Nice speed and mitts
-Coach Keefe going 88 34 16 in the 3rd. Created a spark.
-Lily. Great game and made up for the penalty.

Concerns:

Rielly is not a defensive defensemen, he’s offensive I keep hearing. Right now - he does neither well. He does not belong on our PP. He is our worst contract currently imo.

Holl battled the puck a bit.

Kerfoot not decisive in the o zone and a terrible own zone give away.

Gio - looks tired. Love the guy.

Breakouts poor tonight. Gaps too big between forwards and D.

 

[Gabriel426]

Forgot to mention that Holmberg goal, kid got game.

 

[BertCorbeau]

Great play by MM.
Lilly is really good. I said long ago that once he gets more confidence his offensive instincts will start showing and he has done just that this season.
Really like how Keefe would start the OT with Lilly. It shows he has the coach confidence and hope that continues.

Liljegren has had an excellent emergence as a top 4 d-man this year.. he's played over 20 mins in 6 of the last 7 games ... and that one game is when he got hit with that puck in the third against Winnipeg.

 

[Macallan18]

Kerfoot..... where offence goes to die