Post-Game Talk: Leafs Blow Another Lead, Lose to Avs

[wingman75]

Clearly a banner night for this organization on every conceivable level, right down to the arena staff. I'm so proud to be a fan of this team.

No context, no story. Does look excessive though.

 

[All Mod Cons]

1 powerplay all game vs 4 powerplays, 2x back to back calls at 3-0 and 3 non calls on a tripping on Domi on a 2 on 1, cross check boarding to Matthews in the corner is game management to ensure Colorado could stay in the game relative to what looked like a blowout in progress. They got back to back calls when they were down, they didn't give Toronto a call to stop Colorado comeback momentum.

That is preferential treatment in favour of Colorado to keep interest levels up in one market at the expense of a golden goose market that will eat NHL shit whatever happens. That is the league saying, these saps will pay $150 a period to sit in the lower bowl whatever product is in front of them. We don't mind stacking the deck to keep building that PP feast that is Mackinnon, Rantanen, Makar.

This is 100% right imo. I've been far more critical of the Leafs over the last 6 or 7 years. Always get referred to as a hater.

But the refereeing when it comes to the Leafs is generally quite one-sided. Not always, but very often.

Any momentum in a game for the Leafs has to be made 5v5. We do not get multiple PPs when trailing by a few goals. Conversely, the reason we're are blowing leads left, right and centre is once we do get a good lead in a game, we get called by the officials until the team we're beating starts to gain some life in their game. Our PK isn't good enough and it's costing us.

The timing of penalties called and not called in Leafs games are astonishing. I don't know how anyone can watch these last two games and think that both the Islanders and Avs committed a single infraction each.

 

[Stephen]

This is 100% right imo. I've been far more critical of the Leafs over the last 6 or 7 years. Always get referred to as a hater.

But the refereeing when it comes to the Leafs is generally quite one-sided. Not always, but very often.

Any momentum in a game for the Leafs has to be made 5v5. We do not get multiple PPs when trailing by a few goals. Conversely, the reason we're are blowing leads left, right and centre is once we do get a good lead in a game, we get called by the officials until the team we're beating starts to gain some life in their game. Our PK isn't good enough and it's costing us.

The timing of penalties called and not called in Leafs games are astonishing. I don't know how anyone can watch these last two games and think that both the Islanders and Avs committed a single infraction each.

The Leafs have what, 1 5 on 3 all season. And at 3-0 towards 3-1, the refs handed the Avs a delayed powerplay that turned into consecutive. Those were calls where the officials were looking to call something.

And like you I’m not saying the Leafs didn’t blow it. But the refs clearly intervened to give Colorado life. And that’s sus.

 

[stealth1]

Sure, but don't fool yourself into thinking that path is without risk. It is very difficult to trade elite players and improve your team. There is a far greater likelihood that such a move sets the team back.

To answer your second question, I would probably fire Keefe at the end of this season because I think his message has gotten stale, and I've never felt that he held the teams best players accountable. However, for any meaningful improvement to be made the front office must improve the defense via UFA.

With what money. With Nylander's cap hit next season and Tavares on the books still there isn't cap space to change much. This is what happens when you put all your money on 4 forwards.

 

[Stephen]

Of course, it is to some extent because if you really look at any battle along the boards or in front of the net, you could probably have multiple penalties every minute or so.

If they called everything, the game would descend into farce.

Well, they could have called 4 penalties for each team but obviously chose not to. Once they got Colorado’s rally started they chose not to interrupt it.

Come off it man. The Leafs didn’t deserve to win but the refs were definitely out to job them.

 

[Scion]

With what money. With Nylander's cap hit next season and Tavares on the books still there isn't cap space to change much. This is what happens when you put all your money on 4 forwards.

There is quite a bit of cap opening up this summer with internal UFA's and the cap set to rise. Even with the raises to 88 and 34, and then of course in a years time JT's 11M comes off the books and the Leafs really have some wiggle room. If it were up to me I would look to retool between now and next season with the goal of ramping up for a serious run in 2025.

 

[wingman75]

This is 100% right imo. I've been far more critical of the Leafs over the last 6 or 7 years. Always get referred to as a hater.

But the refereeing when it comes to the Leafs is generally quite one-sided. Not always, but very often.

Any momentum in a game for the Leafs has to be made 5v5. We do not get multiple PPs when trailing by a few goals. Conversely, the reason we're are blowing leads left, right and centre is once we do get a good lead in a game, we get called by the officials until the team we're beating starts to gain some life in their game. Our PK isn't good enough and it's costing us.

The timing of penalties called and not called in Leafs games are astonishing. I don't know how anyone can watch these last two games and think that both the Islanders and Avs committed a single infraction each.

Great point to make the extra point that the timing of the calls and non-calls are probably more important than the actual number!

 

[Rare Jewel]

Both teams got away with calls. Just that the Refs allowed egregious ones for the Avs. And you can't deny the disparency between the amount of power plays. Check out every game today, they all have roughly the same amount of powerplays.

The discrepancy in the PPs is correlated to the way the game was being played. After the Drouin goal, they carried the play.

Honestly, I don't think the Matthews play was a penalty, they probably missed on the Domi play. But again, they likely missed a Leaf one in there as well.

 

[Maple Leaf]

Clearly a banner night for this organization on every conceivable level, right down to the arena staff. I'm so proud to be a fan of this team.

 

[Rare Jewel]

Clearly a banner night for this organization on every conceivable level, right down to the arena staff. I'm so proud to be a fan of this team.

FFS...

 

[IPS]

Clearly a banner night for this organization on every conceivable level, right down to the arena staff. I'm so proud to be a fan of this team.

Say goodbye to your job asshole. Enjoy the lawsuit too, you probably deserve it.

 

[ULF_55]

I don't think the Matthews play was a penalty, they probably missed on the Domi play. But again, they likely missed a Leaf one in there as well.

Are you referring to the crosscheck?

You think that was AI generated?

Even visually impaired would call that one.

 

[The Hanging Jowl]

No context, no story. Does look excessive though.

Don't care. Someone does that to me or someone I know about, I will bide my time and then find him on my own terms and make him pay.

 

[ULF_55]

Clearly a banner night for this organization on every conceivable level, right down to the arena staff. I'm so proud to be a fan of this team.

So what is the reason for this interaction?

 

[HofT]

The discrepancy in the PPs is correlated to the way the game was being played. After the Drouin goal, they carried the play.

Honestly, I don't think the Matthews play was a penalty, they probably missed on the Domi play. But again, they likely missed a Leaf one in there as well.

Both teams benefited from some miscalls, but it's evident that the referees were more lenient with the Avs, mainly the egregious ones like the cross check against Matthews. Keep mind, this is status quo, nothing surprising. Another lopsided officiated game against the leafs, and it's especially noticeable difference in power plays compared to other games played tonight. It is what it is and that's why leafs will never fundamentally win. They generate too much revenue for league to care. I just wish the Leafs and players grew some balls. Like what McCabe did after his penalty

 

[All Mod Cons]

The discrepancy in the PPs is correlated to the way the game was being played. After the Drouin goal, they carried the play.

Honestly, I don't think the Matthews play was a penalty, they probably missed on the Domi play. But again, they likely missed a Leaf one in there as well.

But that isn't how they call the game though. At least not for the Leafs. Honestly, we've been 105+ point team in the regular season for half a decade now. Over that time, we are generally dismantling teams in the regular season more often than not.

If, as you say, the refs are calling the penalties correlating to the game that is being played, there is no way we should be in the bottom half a dozen teams year after year for PP opportunities. We haven't just been taking the lead with a minute left in the game for the passed 5 or 6 years.

So either, the refs are calling penalties correlating to how the games are going, which I agree but in reverse of what you suggested. Or they are game managing the majority of Leafs games. But don't give the Leafs the PPs to help change the momentum in games.

 

[Rare Jewel]

Well, they could have called 4 penalties for each team but obviously chose not to. Once they got Colorado’s rally started they chose not to interrupt it.

Come off it man. The Leafs didn’t deserve to win but the refs were definitely out to job them.

Yeah, they clearly had them on their proline.

I'm sorry but I can't rationalize that the refs or the league are out to get Toronto. I think you have to assume that the refs, in particular, are completely professional and try to call it evenly. They are going to miss stuff, and I'll concede the Domi play if you like, but based on the balance of how the game was played, I don't feel it was a factor.

 

[notDatsyuk]

He didn't move Nylander up , he moved Knies down, Knies easily had his worse game of his pro career. Looking for your stick while the other team has possession in your zone and they score will usually get your ass stapled to the bench he's lucky he only got demoted.

Knies, JT, and Bert were benched for most of the third. Bert had one shift, and prior to pulling Jones, Knies and JT had two each. Basically Keefe took the one player from each line playing (reasonably) well, and played them with Mitch.

 

[Rare Jewel]

Both teams benefited from some miscalls, but it's evident that the referees were more lenient with the Avs, mainly the egregious ones like the cross check against Matthews. Keep mind, this is status quo, nothing surprising. Another lopsided officiated game against the leafs, and it's especially noticeable difference in power plays compared to other games played tonight. It is what it is and that's why leafs will never fundamentally win. They generate too much revenue for league to care. I just wish the Leafs and players grew some balls. Like what McCabe did after his penalty

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Perhaps it has something to do with being possibly the fastest hockey team around. Teams like that will draw a lot of penalties.

 

[Rare Jewel]

Are you referring to the crosscheck?

You think that was AI generated?

Even visually impaired would call that one.

Nah, Manson used his stick to push him he landed awkwardly against the boards and ice.

Matthews knows what a cross-check is; ask Dahlin.

 

[BayStBullies]

The time for a new coach is long past. Now we are just burning years from the most expensive core to ever exist.

 

[ULF_55]

Nah, Manson used his stick to push him he landed awkwardly against the boards and ice.

Matthews knows what a cross-check is; ask Dahlin.

You better look up what the definition of crosschecking is.

 

[All Mod Cons]

Perhaps it has something to do with being possibly the fastest hockey team around. Teams like that will draw a lot of penalties.

We were one of the fastest teams in the league from 2017-2021. I don't see the correlation with being fast and getting PPs.

 

[ANDI P IS CUTE]

its a country club culture ever since babcock left- shanahan must have incriminating evidence on the leafs mlse brass. ive said since i joined this message board they are an unbalanced, soft, insecure wimpy team. it starts at the top ironically a power forward with multiple cups runs this team but he must be the softest president in leafs history. the CULTURE reeks and the inmates run the asylum. This is not a team in any way shape or form; its a few stars overpaid who lack killer instinct and a bunch of old players or young soft players. This team will never win a thing till shanahan is gone and we get a real coach and defense/goalie.

 

[HofT]

Perhaps it has something to do with being possibly the fastest hockey team around. Teams like that will draw a lot of penalties.

And a team with high possession should yield roughly the same.