Post-Game Talk: Leafs beat Tampa

[BertCorbeau]

He still had the least TOI amongst dmen. Like what the actual hell is Keefe thinking there?

He and Liljegren seem to be getting some softer usage. In this game against Tampa it kinda made sense since Keefe probably wanted didn't want Lily exposed with the last change.

 

[kk87]

I don't care about defense. I don't care about goaltending. I don't care about depth.

Playing like this, 34 and 16 can singlehandedly pull this team as far as they want. God level shenanigans

 

[crump]

Matthews is a machine. What a performance from the first line. Jack was great...so important to see his game come back.

I saw Vaive score his 54th, now I've seen Matthews score his 54th. We are all going to see him make history...Unreal.

 

[CantLoseWithMatthews]

Really happy with the game but I need to call out Keefe here. Why the f*** are Liljegren and Gio getting such little ice-time? They are our best pairing and Holl/Lyubushkin have been kind of bad.

They didn't play much, but they went up mainly against Kucherov/Point. Tampa didn't even register a shot with Kucherov on the ice against Liljegren/Gio

 

[Apotheosis]

The Leafs have had two 100 point players in their history

They could have two 100 point players this season alone! What a feat for Marner given he missed 9 games with that injury earlier in the year. Needs 16 points in his remaining 13 games.

He is going to do it. And if he does, Matthews probably finishes with like 110ish.

 

[rielledup]

FEELS great man. Huge win. 7 pts for the best duo in the league. Matthews hatty, Marner since Jan 15th is wowww

View attachment 526694

Everytime I've seen Matthew's in regular clothes I'm surprised how small he looks. I would guess he's 190 not 220. Maybe he has huge legs.

 

[Teeder Keon]

Easily the most impressive win of the season.

No question about it brotha ….
In every area possible .
GLG

 

[Morbo]

Mains are having a melt down. The narrative has changed again boys, Matthews is actually a bum being carried by Marner. Marner should win the Hart over McDavid for how bad he's carrying Matthews.

you love to see it

 

[TheShape]

Can you imagine being Carolina, having a great season, winning your division and having to play Tampa In The first round?

The playoff format is nothing short of insane, the NHL gets nothing right.

 

[Hockey 4 Life]

So proud of these guys, the team has come such a long way. We have to keep Engvall and Mik moving forward as well.

 

[TGB]

There is no doubt this team is a Stanley Cup contender and one of the best Leaf teams in history. We’ve never had a playmaker like Marner and a goal scorer like Matthews. We are truly privileged to be watching this team.

God, it feels good to have some elite level players playing for your team, doesn't it? You're always looking at the superstars on OTHER teams doing awesome stuff and here's one of the most storied teams in history puttering along, throwing out the odd 40 goal guy or hot but short lived goalie here and there and doing pretty well at times, sure, but very rarely that one super elite guy (the last time we had one I was 10 years old).

Now Toronto has multiple. In the winter you got Matthews, and in the summer you got Springer and Vladdy. And we just saw what Leonard did for the Raptors.

 

[DraftSchmaft]

The Leafs have had two 100 point players in their history

They could have two 100 point players this season alone! What a feat for Marner given he missed 9 games with that injury earlier in the year. Needs 16 points in his remaining 13 games.

16 points in 13 games is easy mode for Marner

 

[Teeder Keon]

Called it two days ago. Him and Marner were due for another 4-6 point game where they just go off. Funny enough, they were so dominant I can see them doing it again. We might legitimately see Matthews finish his season similarly to Malkin in 2011-2012 when Crosby was out. 109 points in 75 games.

 

[Maplebeasts]

He and Liljegren seem to be getting some softer usage. In this game against Tampa it kinda made sense since Keefe probably wanted didn't want Lily exposed with the last change.

Why would he be exposed when he's better than Holl and Lyubushkin? If Keefe is serious about winning games he needs to actually play his best defensemen the most minutes.

 

[ER89]

Mains are having a melt down. The narrative has changed again boys, Matthews is actually a bum being carried by Marner. Marner should win the Hart over McDavid for how bad he's carrying Matthews.

Man I'm having a field day. I love trolling.

 

[riffle]

I was cooking during the game and didn't really have a good eye on him, nor did I catch his number. How'd he do?

Had a real chance for his first one on PP2, and then had another SOG at 5v5. Didn't look horribly out of place or get owned. Seems like he may be able to quickly turn his curve into a straight line. Much more encouraged about him vs. his forgettable debut at Philly.

 

[Maplebeasts]

They didn't play much, but they went up mainly against Kucherov/Point. Tampa didn't even register a shot with Kucherov on the ice against Liljegren/Gio

I just wish Keefe would roll the 3 pairings instead of giving them significantly less minutes than the other 2 pairings though. We're trying to win games and playing your best pairing the least seems antithetical to that objective.

 

[Teeder Keon]

That bum had trouble finishing, coulda had a hattrick if not for those stone hands...

 

[glue]

Huge win, they looked very good and convincing. Bring on Florida

 

[Buds17]

He still had the least TOI amongst dmen. Like what the actual hell is Keefe thinking there?

The gap between 1 and 6 at least wasn't as pronounced as it has been at times. Including the forwards in this as well, I thought Keefe managed to effectively spread the ice time around tonight.

 

[CantLoseWithMatthews]

I just wish Keefe would roll the 3 pairings instead of giving them significantly less minutes than the other 2 pairings though. We're trying to win games and playing your best pairing the least seems antithetical to that objective.

Rielly and Lyubushkin playing 5 or 6 minutes more than Liljegren and Giordano is pretty hard to justify, agreed. Especially since it's probably a sign that Liljegren is the guy coming out for Muzzin

 

[ER89]

I say we leave the third line as is with Kase eng and Kampf or kerf.

Try bunting with jt and mikh so he can play a grinder type game. And go with William Mitch and Matty.

I'm loathe to change that first line but we need scoring from the second line badly.

 

[Maplebeasts]

The gap between 1 and 6 at least wasn't as pronounced as it has been at times. Including the forwards in this as well, I thought Keefe managed to effectively spread the ice time around tonight.

Giving your best pairing (analytically it;'s not even close since they were paired together) 17 minutes and the Rielly-Lyubushkin pair 20+ when they were having bad defensive games seems like a mistake to me. Gio and Lilly should NEVER be 2+ minutes behind Lyubushkin in ice time.

 

[MSZ]

Joe Bowen's calls on all 3 Matthews goals:

 

[Torontonian]

Picture perfect game from the Leafs, hard to find a better game all season then that tonight. Played hard for the full 60 mins, didn't sit back in the 3rd and nurse the lead either, Campbell played well tonight as well.

Will be hard to find the debbie downers after that