Post-Game Talk: Leafs begin season with a WIN. 6-5 in the shootout

[francis246]

Okay @Guided by Veseys and @Cleetus, apologies for my overreactions on the GDT. This is why I want to avoid GDT's when it's going bad. I get emotional

Anyways thats why you pay guys like Auston. I don't care about the AAV. You keep him at whatever number.
Lots to clean up but better in a win.


What did he ask?

Asked Matthews if he felt the crowd was dead. Matthews response to Steve was just like, gtfo of here Steve. Just some really odd questions, he asked a couple other dumb questions that Matthews was left speechless haha

This was the other question he asked him:

 

[TheBeastCoast]

I do very much appreciate how open Matthews is with his absolute disdain for Simmons. Don't think it matters if he asked a good question he is never getting a decent answer out of him ever again lol

 

[francis246]

I do very much appreciate how open Matthews is with his absolute disdain for Simmons. Don't think it matters if he asked a good question he is never getting a decent answer out of him ever again lol

If I was Matthews I’d tell Simmons to f*** off and a couple other choice words. But Simmons would probably go home and Jack off to that sound clip. He loves this kind of thing.

 

[CapspaceKiller]

Matthews will score a lot of goals this year....I know I know

Klingberg looked pretty good, that's promising

Take the W and move on it

 

[centipede2233]

The leafs are gonna need to win a lot of high scoring games with that defence and goaltending…the unfortunate part is this leaf team is not winning the Stanley cup with this defence. It just isn’t. You know what Stanley cup winning teams do when they are up 2-1 going into the third period of game 6 of the final, they shut the team down. Toronto has had this problem for years, maybe decades….

 

[SprDaVE]

First goal: Clean breakaway after Brodie forgets how to skate. Could've been stopped but it was a clean bloody breakaway.
Second goal: 3 on 1 break, well executed. McCabe horrid pinch and Klingberg may as well have been a pylon.
Denied offside goal: Powerplay, pass from behind the net across the mouth of the net put straight up into the blocker side corner. Well executed.
Third goal: Powerplay, 100% screened (by his own player), absolutely deft deflection (by his own player) right into the top corner.
Fourth goal: 100% screened (by his own player, again), another perfect deflection.
Fifth goal: Partial breakaway after Liljegren forgets how to hockey. Cut down the angle and got froze by the fake shot. Probably the one he could've had if any.

2 well tipped screened goals, 1 full blown breakaway, 1 partial breakaway, and a 3 on 1.

But lets go blame the goalie after that pitiful performance from our Dmen. Watch the highlights please and tell me which ones he should've had and remember the highlights also don't show a few huge saves he had in clutch moments.

Imo the 1st and 5th were stoppable but they were both basically clean breaks due to the D completely fumbling. To blame a goalie for those idk man... I bet if it was Woll we'd be singing a different tune.

A breakaway is stoppable. Top goaltenders do it all the time... that's why they are top goaltenders. The Leafs had mistakes but they also only let up something like 15 shots and there was 4 goals against. Samsonov was not busy. He needs to make tough saves. I don't think it's unreasonable to expect a good goaltender to make tough saves when needed, in particular breakaways especially.

If this was Woll, my tune would be similar. The difference is that Samsonov is the defacto #1 goaltender and he needs to be better. So much better. But it's a long season and 1 game does not make a season. But he wasn't good last night, by his own admission as well.

 

[Sypher04]

The leafs are gonna need to win a lot of high scoring games with that defence and goaltending…the unfortunate part is this leaf team is not winning the Stanley cup with this defence. It just isn’t. You know what Stanley cup winning teams do when they are up 2-1 going into the third game of game 6 of the final, they shut the team down. Toronto has had this problem for years, maybe decades….

Game 1 of 82.

 

[Voodoo Child]

Don’t troll but man the Habs board is super tasty.

‘Xkehaj dummied Reaves!’

It was a draw - Reaves threw a big hit, Xkehaj jumped him, Reaves then got in a few shots, than Xkehaj did, then they fell to the ice.

‘Caufield got two goals.’

No, he did not. A glance at the scoresheet reveals this or do I need to give you one in your language that nobody likes?

‘Four Leaf goals came with the man advantage!’

No - two of them did, the other two might not have happened if somebody could clear. Each team had six guys on the ice when Matthews said ‘alright enough…’

‘Allen lost us the game!’

42 shots was it? He was way better than Sammy was. That second AM goal was hideous - so was Sammy being practically in the corner when Ylonen juked him.

All that - and twice, two times, you had two goal leads.

A lot of good things for them to take away from this: Slaf looked dynamite and that Xkehaj is a gamer but still…they lost because they don’t have a superstar, enter reality with us.

 

[Spargon]

Love that Xkehaj had this date circled because he wanted to flex on Reaves. Dude gets an instigator, barely does anything, then pushes Reaves into the net ending it. I am sure Habs fans are acting like hes UFC champ though

 

[All Mod Cons]

The leafs are gonna need to win a lot of high scoring games with that defence and goaltending…the unfortunate part is this leaf team is not winning the Stanley cup with this defence. It just isn’t. You know what Stanley cup winning teams do when they are up 2-1 going into the third game of game 6 of the final, they shut the team down. Toronto has had this problem for years, maybe decades….

Brad knows this. He needs time. He doesn't have the combination of cap space and tradable assets at the moment to resolve it. You gotta remember, last season about 1/3 of our roster where guys we were just loaning from the deadline to the end of the season.

 

[weems]

Nylander just keeps getting better.
He was all over the ice last night, creating chances with his skating and skill and was a big factor in Matthews game tying goal.
He can definitely be frustrating at times but we're most likely going to regret it if we trade him or he walks.

 

[Voodoo Child]

Love that Xkehaj had this date circled because he wanted to flex on Reaves. Dude gets an instigator, barely does anything, then pushes Reaves into the net ending it. I am sure Habs fans are acting like hes UFC champ though

Thing is - yeah he can fight but he’s got decent skating and great offensive acumen for a guy his size.

You typically don’t want a guy like that fighting every game. Not just in the chance he gets smoked - and one day he will - but you want him on the ice and not in the box.

 

[Notsince67]

Song is awful but who am I to criticisize a winning streak

 

[Hellcat]

I think this sum's up my opinion on the game very succinctly ...

Nylander just keeps getting better.
He was all over the ice last night, creating chances with his skating and skill and was a big factor in Matthews game tying goal.
He can definitely be frustrating at times but we're most likely going to regret it if we trade him or he walks.

He continues to play like last night he's gonna be an eleven million per year man. It's not in Tre's best interest to wait.

In my mind when I think about who is the guy who is most likely to score Matty is #1, Willie is #2.

 

[Warden of the North]

Don't give a f*** what it looked like. Matty hatty, beat the Habs, 81 more games to make it look pretty in the process

 

[Welsh Maple Leaf]

What a bonkers game - nice to start with the W

 

[Hellcat]

Love that Xkehaj had this date circled because he wanted to flex on Reaves. Dude gets an instigator, barely does anything, then pushes Reaves into the net ending it. I am sure Habs fans are acting like hes UFC champ though

Grabbing a guy from behind is kind of a p***y move ,

if anyone wants a good laugh; oilers board is pure comedy

Their sad because they have the 3rd best player in the world?

 

[Niagara Bill]

1 game, take the points and run.
Obvious that our D is very weak. Brodie, Gio is a 7 not 6, and Lillys mistakes continue.

 

[666]

I don't think it's unreasonable to expect a good goaltender to make tough saves when needed, in particular breakaways especially.

Didn't he do that in the shootout?

 

[Hellcat]

The leafs are gonna need to win a lot of high scoring games with that defence and goaltending…the unfortunate part is this leaf team is not winning the Stanley cup with this defence. It just isn’t. You know what Stanley cup winning teams do when they are up 2-1 going into the third game of game 6 of the final, they shut the team down. Toronto has had this problem for years, maybe decades….

Yup I've been saying this for months, a lot of 9, 10, 11, 12 goal games. Bert is a moron he just drags his ape knuckles around and does what ever stupid shit comes to mind, Domi is not know for his d he's a liability without the puck, Tavares is a sub par defender, Willie is hot and cold, Lily is well Lilly 6th at best, Brodie & Gio are old as Jesus dust, Rielly has never played without the puck well, McCabe is well not a consistently good defender, Klingberg is a one trick pony, heaven help us if he is defending in his own end in game 7 of any OT series .... I can go on but this team is built to win track meets not defend the line. Wea re what we are, i think there should be no surprises for anyone.

 

[SprDaVE]

Didn't he do that in the shootout?

He did. Now if he could do it during regular time... ya?

 

[crump]

New players: Bertuzzi, Domi, Minten, Gregor, Reaves, Klingberg.. and Knies is sort of new. That’s a lot of guys playing their first home opener in a Leaf uniform. There is going to be some …. Issues, but surprisingly the biggest issue was established Leafs falling down whiffing on passes, shots.

But the good:

Great start for Matthews, Nylander.

Marner had a normal game some good, some bad Some missed passes and shots but generally very good. Shootout goal was sweet.

Klingberg: if that’s his usage this season he is going to have a rebound year. Was never put in a vulnerable defensive situation and when he found himself back there he found a way out and had support. His PP work is awesome. That pass to Nylander was perfectly in his wheelhouse and with perfect speed.

Reaves: energy speed, good on the forecheck some sweet hits. Again, if that’s his usage he is a perfect 4th line disrupter. Responsible enough defensively.

Gregor Showed his speed and got us back in the game. Great signing if he keeps it up.

Gio, Rielly, McCabe were all steady.

Minten and Knies looked kind of nervous, but got better as the game went on.

Bertuzzi Loved his push back around the net, had some chances, was making some plays, looks like he is starting to gel with those guys.

The Bad:

Sammy played like he woke up in the middle of a fire alarm. Redeemed himself in the shootout, but mostly looked nervous, unfocused, unaware. The main reason we didn’t win this game in regulation.

Domi has to get the puck out of our end when it comes up the wall. He had time space, no excuse for that givaway. Some bad plays defensively. Turned the puck over in all zones. Didn’t generate much offensively.

Brodie: possibly his worst game as a Leaf. Falling down, tipping pucks into his own net. Obviously it’s just a one off. Has dealt with loss recently, maybe jitters. Doubt we see a game like that from him again in a while .

Liljegren a few bad plays and cost a goal against.

Jarnkrok. Bad offensive zone penalty. Not too bad otherwise. Showed a lot of speed .

Fun type of game to watch when we win.

Looking forward to this group developing chemistry and going on a tear this season.

 

[MCR74]

Wasn't pretty, but that's hockey for you. Hopefully it won't take them too long to work out the kinks.

 

[Anthrax442]

I'm watching highlights. Klinberg defending the 2 on 1 on 2nd goal gave me Barrie flashbacks. Just skate backwards and not commit to any of the attackers.

 

[Evilhomer]

Yup I've been saying this for months, a lot of 9, 10, 11, 12 goal games. Bert is a moron he just drags his ape knuckles around and does what ever stupid shit comes to mind, Domi is not know for his d he's a liability without the puck, Tavares is a sub par defender, Willie is hot and cold, Lily is well Lilly 6th at best, Brodie & Gio are old as Jesus dust, Rielly has never played without the puck well, McCabe is well not a consistently good defender, Klingberg is a one trick pony, heaven help us if he is defending in his own end in game 7 of any OT series .... I can go on but this team is built to win track meets not defend the line. Wea re what we are, i think there should be no surprises for anyone.

I think you are vastly over-estimating the team's defensive issues. They will be fine, and in fact likely one of the best defensive teams in the league by the time the season ends. Reading anything into the first 10 games of the season is foolish. I expect that the Leafs will be 8-1-1 or similar in the first 10 games, and most people here will be planning the parade, but that will be over-estimating the team, as well. At some point during the season Toronto will acquire two defensive defensemen, and another third line centre (Minten is nice, but I don't think relying on a rookie to be the third line centre of a Stanley Cup winning team is realistic).