Post-Game Talk: Leafs Blowout Kings 6-2

[notDatsyuk]

Nylander himself says he has chemistry with Tavares. Nylander enjoyed his best seasons with Tavares. Domi had like 6 goals last year.

First, I wouldn't put too much stock in what players say in public about each other, especially current teammates. It's virtually always 'nice noises'.

Except for his first couple of seasons, Nylander has always played mainly with Tavares - not a surprise they have been his best. That doesn't mean he wouldn't have been better away from JT then, or in the future.

I'm not sure what Domi only having 9 goals has to do with the line's chemistry. Domi had exactly the same number of points as JT at ES last year, in almost 20% less ES ice time. He's also clearly more of a set-up man than JT, which is likely better for the second-best shooter and scorer on the team.

 

[Squiffy]

Matthews-Marner are starting to get going a little bit.

Domi-Nylander are magic together and McMann complimented them well with the 2 goals. Although I will say, I wouldn't want Domi playing center in the playoffs.

I thought that Tavares and Robertson were brutal together. No chemistry, looked out of sorts. Just a bad line right now.

Defence, coaching and goaltending has been great.

If offense is our biggest concern we are set up well.

I'd bet secretly Berube is glad for that little let down they had so he could have that moment.
IMO, it's a good thing when the Coach is the toughest guy on the team. Brings lots of memories of Quinn and Burns.

Other then the Reaver I’d take the coach in a square down at centre over anyone on the roster lol..

Like you said it's only 4 games, so the sample is way too small to really make any conclusions but the directness and power we're playing with is far greater than before. Way less messing around with the puck in the neutral zone, way less curling back and holding possession at all costs. Just fast north-south, get pucks in deep, forecheck and wear the opposing teams defence down and get pucks to the net. I think this playstyle is far more sustainable to winning in the playoffs and it's one where if you can master, teams hate having to deal with this type of opponent.

We haven't played any of NYR, BOS, DAL, EDM, TB, CAR yet, so we will have to prove we can play this way against the leagues elite and consistently.

Let’s be reality. When’s the first Bruins game?

 

[Rare Jewel]

Let’s be reality. When’s the first Bruins game?

Next Saturday, actually.

 

[Squiffy]

Next Saturday, actually.

Right. Then at home against them Nov. 5. See if they play like home ice is a thing in that one. Maybe this year SBA is out house.

 

[TMLBlueandWhite]

It has been like 4 games, and the Leafs don't make the schedule. Here is the schedule so you can see how long it will be till the Leafs play a team that you think is a contender: Toronto Maple Leafs Schedule | Toronto Maple Leafs

That's actually the first time I looked at the full schedule this year.

The first half looks like a bit of a cake walk. But after New Years the chickens come home to roost and the schedule looks harder. I just hope they are able to get a big enough lead the first half they can glide to a playoffs spot the rest of the year.

Seems like almost every year after the all-star game they go on a brutal skid that leaves fans questioning their motives.

 

[TMLBlueandWhite]

Wait..pound heads? Who? We still need something that can play top 9 before they make Reeves assistant press box cheerleader.

McMann and Knies can definitely bring the pain.

So can Benoit. I was surprised to see OEL has a bit of a mean streak in him. I also think we could see a few more of the other grunts try to impress Berube by throwing down a lot more this year.

And I expect pretty much everyone on the team including OEL, and possibly even Benoit, will score more goals than Reaves this year.

 

[ACC1224]

Right. Then at home against them Nov. 5. See if they play like home ice is a thing in that one. Maybe this year SBA is out house.

It would be a long time coming.

 

[Skullz]

Loved that McMann - Domi - Nylander line. All of them play with pace: we need to keep that together for an extended run.

OEL and Stolarz continue to be outstanding.

Love it.

 

[darrylsittler27]

McMann and Knies can definitely bring the pain.

So can Benoit. I was surprised to see OEL has a bit of a mean streak in him. I also think we could see a few more of the other grunts try to impress Berube by throwing down a lot more this year.

And I expect pretty much everyone on the team including OEL, and possibly even Benoit, will score more goals than Reaves this year.

I was talking in the top 9 forwards. To drop Reeves you need more than Knies and McCann. We are notorious for not having a Clark, Kadri, Domi who will respond when our guys are targeted. Thus Reeves continues to get ice time. I don't know who that guy is....

 

[rumman]

Against New York I’d sit Holmberg and put Pacioretty on that third line. And as far as I’m concerned McMann should never see the fourth line again.

Depends, anyone not carrying yheir weight should be sat imo………

Like you said it's only 4 games, so the sample is way too small to really make any conclusions but the directness and power we're playing with is far greater than before. Way less messing around with the puck in the neutral zone, way less curling back and holding possession at all costs. Just fast north-south, get pucks in deep, forecheck and wear the opposing teams defence down and get pucks to the net. I think this playstyle is far more sustainable to winning in the playoffs and it's one where if you can master, teams hate having to deal with this type of opponent.

We haven't played any of NYR, BOS, DAL, EDM, TB, CAR yet, so we will have to prove we can play this way against the leagues elite and consistently.

Stules did s loop de loop play on the first goal, I’ll bet Berube would of disliked that if they hadn’t of scored, I hate that fancy cutie shit…….

 

[Dough72]

First, I wouldn't put too much stock in what players say in public about each other, especially current teammates. It's virtually always 'nice noises'.

it wasn't a nice-guy answer. And Nylander has brought up chemistry more than once. A tank in front of the net who can finish is auto-chemistry for any winger.

 

[DutchHockeyGuy]

Bobby McMann. Very happy he’s back. Playing with fire in his belly.

 

[darrylsittler27]

Bobby McMann. Very happy he’s back. Playing with fire in his belly.

The reason I think McCann is the real deal is his size and determination plus skating. Kinda like finding a Tucker at 27.

 

[Jojalu]

Depends, anyone not carrying yheir weight should be sat imo………


Stules did s loop de loop play on the first goal, I’ll bet Berube would of disliked that if they hadn’t of scored, I hate that fancy cutie shit…….

He is not going to force them to completely quit playing with creativity. It is their biggest strength.

He will however probably preach situational times to do it.

Nylander is very good at winding around after entering the zone and allowing for space to open up. Why would he try and stop that?

 

[rumman]

He is not going to force them to completely quit playing with creativity. It is their biggest strength.

He will however probably preach situational times to do it.

Nylander is very good at winding around after entering the zone and allowing for space to open up. Why would he try and stop that?

Not exactly north south hockey, that play is what gets Styles in trouble more often than not, he likes playing shinny and it shows……

 

[Jojalu]

Not exactly north south hockey, that play is what gets Styles in trouble more often than not, he likes playing shinny and it shows……

It won't be such an absolute. The Leafs will play more North/South, but he won't stifle their creativity.

I would go on the record suggesting Nylander has had far more good happen than bad being creative.

 

[rumman]

It won't be such an absolute. The Leafs will play more North/South, but he won't stifle their creativity.

I would go on the record suggesting Nylander has had far more good happen than bad being creative.

That shit doesn’t work in the playoffs, and they should play playoff hockey every game imo……..

 

[Jojalu]

That shit doesn’t work in the playoffs, and they should play playoff hockey every game imo……..

It does work in the playoffs.

You might need to go back and have a look at all the goals scored last year by every team.

What doesn't work is if that ia the only way you play.

There is 100% a time to be creative, and there are times you just need to keep it simple and go hard to the net.

If Berube can get these guys to have a well balanced attack which imo you need, the Leafs will find success. Even if it is 80/20 North/South with some creativity sprinkled in

 

[Lightsol]

He is not going to force them to completely quit playing with creativity. It is their biggest strength.

He will however probably preach situational times to do it.

Nylander is very good at winding around after entering the zone and allowing for space to open up. Why would he try and stop that?

McMann and Domi were both deep in the o-zone and Nylander's circling forced both of them to have to turn around and leave the zone and then go back in. If it hadn't led to McCabe's nice feed to McMann I suspect Berube would have been angrier; why are you blowing the o-zone when you have the numbers advantage?
I agree that you don't want to stifle the team's offensive creativity, but forcing your teammates to turn around and vacate the o-zone is just dumb.

 

[Jmo89]

Domi quietly off to an excellent start. It seems it doesn't really matter who he plays with.

One thing I noticed yesterday, when OEL flubbed his pass coming out of their own end, the lack of panic and poise to just skate over and get the puck back from LA was refreshing. Too often we would see the D make the same mistake and then panic and get themselves out of position by trying to do too much.

Domi seems to be that perfect mix who is talented enough to play with and compliment the stars well, while not being good enough individually to demand top dollar. In the last three years alone he's shown he can keep up with Kane, Matthews, and now Nylander.

I'm not sure how difficult it is to find that mix of player but the Leafs should consider grabbing another if they can. It looks like Knies and McMann will round out the top 6, but they need a better winger on the 3rd line that can slide up and down imo.

Unfortunately it doesn't look like Robertson will be that player.

 

[Lightsol]

Tavares killed every single play his linemates tried setting up last night. He was brutal

Tavares plays a slower, more methodical style of hockey than guys like Robertson and Holmberg. It's not a good match; he'd work better with a Knies or a McMann.
Personally, I'd probably sit either Holmberg or Kampf next game and put Patches next to Tavares; might work better. The only concern is speed.

 

[notDatsyuk]

Depends, anyone not carrying yheir weight should be sat imo………


Stules did s loop de loop play on the first goal, I’ll bet Berube would of disliked that if they hadn’t of scored, I hate that fancy cutie shit…….

At least he didn't try fancy dipsy-doodles or a low percentage pass like some. He regrouped and caught them on a line change. Would a dump in the corner be better? Maybe. If he'd lost the puck in the neutral zone it would have been worse.

I suppose the saving grace is that he's the one player on the team who can (usually) do it successfully.

 

[notDatsyuk]

it wasn't a nice-guy answer. And Nylander has brought up chemistry more than once. A tank in front of the net who can finish is auto-chemistry for any winger.

Unless you are Willy, you have no way of knowing, and how often have you heard him, or any other player, say anything but nice about a current teammate?

A tank and a racecar are not "auto-chemistry", and the fact is that JT has not finished an awful lot of Willy's setups recently. Willy has been the better scorer and finisher for several years now, in addition to being the better skater and playmaker.

 

[rumman]

At least he didn't try fancy dipsy-doodles or a low percentage pass like some. He regrouped and caught them on a line change. Would a dump in the corner be better? Maybe. If he'd lost the puck in the neutral zone it would have been worse.

I suppose the saving grace is that he's the one player on the team who can (usually) do it successfully.

Like I said, he got away with it and they scored, but I don’t think Berube likes that type of play, he’d probably like it dumped in and have hus pkayers be successful in digging it out……..

 

[Smif]

Tavares killed every single play his linemates tried setting up last night. He was brutal

He can't even carry the puck right now, he's losing his hands now, not just his legs.