Post-Game Talk: Leafs Book Their Tickets for Game 7 [MOD WARNING in OP]

[leafs in five]

I really think 4th line effort giver S. Lorentz should have tried to shoot or pass the puck on that 2-on-0

 

[egd27]

They are bound to be remembered as the biggest and greediest chokers in Leafs history.

They very well may be the biggest and greediest chokers in sports history.

14 opportunities to win a playoff series and just1 success on an OT goal that could best be described as a very fortunate bounce.

 

[hoglund]

What radio station were the Leafs on last night? I wanted to listen to the post game show and 590 had the Blue Jays and 1050 had basketball.

 

[notbias]

You gotta be rich to destroy a perfectly good stick, and I feel for whoever has to clean up this guy’s mess, like a spoiled child imo………

If MacKinnon or Crosby did it, you'd wet your pants with excitement and say how our stars need to show emotion.

If they don't show emotion, fans will cry, and when they do, fans cry.

That's hardly much of a prediction. I think a Toronto/Tampa series will also go 7 games.

That is another prediction...

People are blinded by the hate towards the top players, it's amazing they can ignore the rest of the game and what's going on out there -- but refuse to put any blame on the depth of the team..

It's like they don't understand hockey is a team game, if you want to win the entire team needs to be playing well.. not just the guys making the most money..

The bottom 6 going even or negative game in and game out isn't a way to win a series, let alone 16 games in the playoffs.. at some point you need your bottom 6 to actually win a matchup.

Two things can be true (I saw you posted this already, so not speaking to you) the stars need to produce more and the bottom six have done nothing to contribute to winning.

 

[rumman]

I mean...I don't think there is a single player in the league paying for their own sticks lol

No shit, it was a metaphor to describe the entitlement……

 

[Peasy]

People are blinded by the hate towards the top players, it's amazing they can ignore the rest of the game and what's going on out there -- but refuse to put any blame on the depth of the team..

It's like they don't understand hockey is a team game, if you want to win the entire team needs to be playing well.. not just the guys making the most money..

The bottom 6 going even or negative game in and game out isn't a way to win a series, let alone 16 games in the playoffs.. at some point you need your bottom 6 to actually win a matchup.

If Leafs dont get a buncha random goals from their D men this series so far, theyre likely already cooked.

 

[Jojalu]

If I had a dollar for every time I’ve said this……….

I know I am destined to serve a life sentence.

The reason I can sleep at night is that my kids are fairweather fans at best and for the most part don't care

 

[The Hanging Jowl]

You gotta be rich to destroy a perfectly good stick, and I feel for whoever has to clean up this guy’s mess, like a spoiled child imo………

I'll bet that stick costs $500-$600 these days. I was half expecting Nylander to say "Quit crying bro and shoot the puck." in this vid.

 

[TakeTheBody]

Last night was scary, scary bad. Berube is the right guy but the skeletons are deep. Maybe a exorcism is needed.

 

[ToneDog]

What radio station were the Leafs on last night? I wanted to listen to the post game show and 590 had the Blue Jays and 1050 had basketball.

Listen to the Leafs post game show podcast with Bunkis, Bourne and McKee. Called it like they see it.

 

[Gallagbi]

I really think 4th line effort giver S. Lorentz should have tried to shoot or pass the puck on that 2-on-0

He had a few brutal decisions. Got himself in great spots and just couldn't execute. There's the 2on0 but another pass opportunity or two for uncovered guys in the slot he just passed behind

 

[IPS]

bottom six have done nothing to contribute to winning.

Domi OT game 2 winner?!

 

[ToneDog]

Last night was scary, scary bad. Berube is the right guy but the skeletons are deep. Maybe a exorcism is needed.

Boune said the same thing last night. They need an exorcist. LOL.

 

[Gallagbi]

Stolarz played well, but does anyone think that they'll start Woll in game six?

It makes sense for them to do so. You can always come back to him if you lose Game 6

 

[leafs in five]

He had a few brutal decisions. Got himself in great spots and just couldn't execute. There's the 2on0 but another pass opportunity or two for uncovered guys in the slot he just passed behind

yeah was trying to find the clip, I think it was Jarnkrok wide open in the slot

 

[meefer]

Two things can be true:

1. We've seen games like that from this team before
2. The past does not predict the future and the Leafs are still going to win this series.

Don't let trolls get you guys beyond worked up. Avoid the main boards for the next 24 hours and things will be ok. That is the HockeyVirus guarantee.

I love this. The most buoyant response from what I’ve read so far, and it ain’t all of it. I checked out after the 3rd goal. Had to do some visa travel, and the game was bugging me all day. I’ve seen this movie, but we’re up 3-2. You brought me back with your cheeky guarantee. Thanks, I’m smiling again.

 

[notbias]

Domi OT game 2 winner?!

One thing...

Regardless, my point is, that the 3rd line has been losing (more goals against than for), the 4th line is tied, and the 1st and 2nd lines are both winning.

They have had moments, but they aren't really helping them win, it is mostly the top six producing while not getting scored on as much.

 

[ACC1224]

Stolarz played well, but does anyone think that they'll start Woll in game six?

I think they'd have to consider it. Worse case you go back to Stolarz for a game 7.

 

[HockeyVirus]

I love this. The most buoyant response from what I’ve read so far, and it ain’t all of it. I checked out after the 3rd goal. Had to do some visa travel, and the game was bugging me all day. I’ve seen this movie, but we’re up 3-2. You brought me back with your cheeky guarantee. Thanks, I’m smiling again.

I think the main difference is usually, they are in close series and these stinkers cost them the series. In this case, they still have 2 kicks at the can to rebound and this team is very good at rebounding.

 

[TopCheeseShotta]

Sports Psychology department..

Where are you????

I have never seen a team so in their feelings as this one. You could tell from puck drop. The bobbling, the avoidance of the hard areas - all the typical signs from this squad when push comes to shove.

But it was to a MAN, practically. Sure, there was some limp pushback from Knies and OEL and Laughton and Benny here and there, but only once the game got going. But Calle frickin Jarnkrok can't be your best player all night. Woof.

I watched Mo, and Carlo, and Matty and even Stollie look like they were scared to death out there in the first 5 mins. Bobbles, skittish, frantic, in a cloud.

I've never seen a team be so uniformly unprepared as this one. Repeatedly, in the exact same way - everrrryy Year. It makes no sense, really.

So, aside from the obvious personnel that remains the same in their core (who deserve all the blame don't get me wrong), what the hell are they feeding these guys to have them be so lethargic, so apathetic, so uninterested in digging in and doing what's necessary to win??

Whatever it is, it clearly can't be rooted out of their system or culture or building or whatever. So how do they possibly show up differently? Maybe they can do it on the road moreso than home..? I dunno. I give up.

 

[Zack47]

The problems run deep. Too much to say. But the continuing problem that never gets solved is what I call "the Top 6 / Bottom 6 metaphor" problem. Once you accept that distinction, you are blind to many other problems that follow. That term implies that the the third line is quasi equivalent to the 4th line, which is useless. The 3rd line should be a gentle drop-off from the 2nd line, not a proxy of the 4th line. We need a Top 9.

We know what happened: there isn't enough money to have a strong third line centre. Going back to when Kadri was there -- think about the 3 centres down the middle they had. But they need wingers who can score reliably. It IS the missing piece of the puzzle. Why is this the problem? Because in the playoffs it is too easy to concentrate your defensive play on the first two lines only, because no one else is a threat.

They won't win with Matthews and Marner. Ryan O'Rielly, apparently a straight up guy, said "there are two guys on the Leafs who will never win the cup." It was a major comment. It could be Marner and Matthews or Marner and Nylander. but I think it is Marner and Matthews. Matthews is not a leader, not a captain. He is distant, he doesn't communicate. He may be injured but the accuracy of his shot, his trademark, is gone. Marner is not primarily a goal scorer.

I would much rather have 6 guys making 7 million each than 4 making over 10,000, or whatever they make...

 

[ACC1224]

The problems run deep. Too much to say. But the continuing problem that never gets solved is what I call "the Top 6 / Bottom 6 metaphor" problem. Once you accept that distinction, you are blind to many other problems that follow. That term implies that the the third line is quasi equivalent to the 4th line, which is useless. The 3rd line should be a gentle drop-off from the 2nd line, not a proxy of the 4th line. We need a Top 9.

We know what happened: there isn't enough money to have a strong third line centre. Going back to when Kadri was there -- think about the 3 centres down the middle they had. But they need wingers who can score reliably. It IS the missing piece of the puzzle. Why is this the problem? Because in the playoffs it is too easy to concentrate your defensive play on the first two lines only, because no one else is a threat.

They won't win with Matthews and Marner. Ryan O'Rielly, apparently a straight up guy, said "there are two guys on the Leafs who will never win the cup." It was a major comment. It could be Marner and Matthews or Marner and Nylander. but I think it is Marner and Matthews. Matthews is not a leader, not a captain. He is distant, he doesn't communicate. He may be injured but the accuracy of his shot, his trademark, is gone. Marner is not primarily a goal scorer.

I would much rather have 6 guys making 7 million each than 4 making over 10,000, or whatever they make...

He was referring to Matthews and Nylander.

 

[Zack47]

I genuinely believe at this point that our core players start making their offseason bookings/plans starting early May. Ryan O'Reilly somehow willed the team into beating Tampa that year, and then our core players clearly threw the second series as quickly as they could. They had shit booked in like Cabo or something and O'reilly was messing up their plans. And then O'Reilly noped out of this city as quickly as he could and hinted over and over again at massive culture/locker room problems.

Exactly.... lets' just face it....

 

[BallardEra]

Goals are 15-12 in the series (removing two ENGs from last night) in favour of the Leafs.

It's a lot tighter than most want to admit.

Leafs need to find a way to end this tomorrow night.

 

[GoonieFace]

Domi OT game 2 winner?!

Benoit OT winner. OEL 2 goals as well. They are getting some contributions from other players.

Besides Knies and to some extent Tavares, the rest have not been great.

Marner had the goal in game 1 and the nice assist to Matthews. Other than that, it’s a bunch of secondary assists, and 6 shots.

Matthews has been pretty awful, at least offensively.

Nylander hasn’t been great, but has some primary assists at least. Holmberg destroys all momentum on that line as well.