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

[Stephen]

Who won the face-off in OT for the Benoit winner?

If claim to fame this series is one F/O win, it says a lot about how useless the rest of the time has been.

 

[RayzorIsDull]

If claim to fame this series is one F/O win, it says a lot about how useless the rest of the time has been.

Well he's getting ripped for losing the face-off that led to the 1st goal. That's my point he can get all the blame but even if he performs well in game 6 they will mention "where was that earlier, do it in rd 2." The only way he can win with you is if they won a cup which is a crazy standard to hold any player to.

 

[rumman]

Coach had some interesting comments.

The one the stood out to me was related to the PP, the game ender, the one with the soft turnover and SHG, where he said it wasn't direct enough and there were not enough pucks towards the net.

To me that says these guys went off script, and fell back into their safe-pass-it-around-the-perimeter style of play.

Imagine having to convince guys, professionals, that what they natively do is wrong. On top of that, the proof is in the pudding, yet they still fall back to what they feel most comfortable doing.

That part is amazing to me mainly becasue we all know these are some of the most talented and best players in the world, and you would think they have made adjustments throughout their career to become as good as they are, but collectively they cannot cmmit to doing what is necessary when it most matters.

Perhaps I am over analyzing.

I was surprised he left yhem out after the first empty netter, maybe that was him telling them no one’s going to do it for you?

 

[Maple Leaf]

I mean they need to beat this AHL team if they are legit

 

[rumman]

Maybe, just maybe these guys aren't capable of elevating their game. If I was a GM and these came to me and asked for McDavid or Drai money I would laugh in their face. These guys can only win a maximum of three games per series, that is it.

Well easy yo rid yourself of 16 and 91, I yhink 34 would waive to go to Vegas or another contender in the southern US. That leaves figuring out how to convince Styles and Mo to waive. It sucks losing two of them for nothing, but the return on the others would be great building blocks to complement Knies going forward……

 

[rumman]

I say that being a huge Mathews fan too. It may be time to move on from him if he doesn’t step up soon. Same could be said about Marner and the other core players. Although Tavares has been solid.

JT’s been good, but it would have to be such a team friendly deal for me to welcome him back, he’s not yhe problem, but he’s also not the solution either……

 

[rumman]

I was a big Matthews fan but just seems like he missed every character upgrade over the years, failed to keep step with every other franchise player, can’t win a meaningful game to save his life and the worst was the injury debacle in last years playoffs. Fight on the bench. No show for the 3rd period, misses two elimination games. No explanation ever given. Really off putting.

Besides not living up to his contract, I find him unlikeable as a person…….

 

[rumman]

What a gross concept to blame secondary scoring when OEL has 2 goals, Rielly had 2 goals, Benoit and Domi each have OT winners and Matthews wonderful assists totals was padded by a Benoit blast. Yeah sure every scrub can chip and and score a la Garry Valk but if someone else is doing all the scoring and winning, why do we even need AM34?

News flash, the Leafs don’t need him, they just have to realize that……

 

[definedMF]

Late 80's for me. It hasn't been a great ride, but what do you want?

I'm staying away from the main playoff thread. I'm sure people are just licking their chops for a reverse sweep. There's time to change that.

So you have seen successes before, I haven't.

Maybe that is the distinction here, how can I, like many of us, not feel lost when this core has repeatedly shown that they can't do it in these touch moments bar once in 14 attempts.

I would think since you have seen true warriors, seen successes where they pushed through and went far, that this core seems to lack all of the characteristics of from before that are required to win?

 

[hockeyes]

I don't think it's physically possible to play worse than what they showed yesterday. They showed more life in previous chokes imo, yesterday was more like a "we don't even want to pretend anymore" game.

 

[Stephen]

Well he's getting ripped for losing the face-off that led to the 1st goal. That's my point he can get all the blame but even if he performs well in game 6 they will mention "where was that earlier, do it in rd 2." The only way he can win with you is if they won a cup which is a crazy standard to hold any player to.

I think the historic issue is he’s been so bad over the course of his career that he would need to make a miracle run to clear away all the baggage. For every good thing he does he’s already effed up in 15 other instances. Low intensity, low compete, second best, double clutch. No leadership, no quality control. And AM34 never got the heat that Mitch (rightfully) received.

 

[hullsy47]

I’m convinced if Marner signs with a team that Mathews would be open to being traded to said team. I’m thinking that’s something Dubas couldn’t resist………

Ill take crosby

And some of the new D, I’m sure the likes of Tanev, OEL, and Carlo are thinking WTF……..

Defence has been great

 

[rumman]

I don't think it's physically possible to play worse than what they showed yesterday. They showed more life in previous chokes imo, yesterday was more like a "we don't even want to pretend anymore" game.

Why do I hear 34, 16, 88, and 44 saying in unison “hold our beers…..”

 

[rumman]

Ill take crosby
Defence has been great

Yes, everyone but Mo has been more than solid imo…….

 

[rumman]

Ill take crosby
Defence has been great

I’d welcome what Sid has left, he’s always had the heart of a champion, that goes a very long way in my book……

 

[RayzorIsDull]

I think the historic issue is he’s been so bad over the course of his career that he would need to make a miracle run to clear away all the baggage. For every good thing he does he’s already effed up in 15 other instances. Low intensity, low compete, second best, double clutch. No leadership, no quality control. And AM34 never got the heat that Mitch (rightfully) received.

So what's the solution? You can't trade him because after what you just posted I don't see why any team would want him. I mean a lot of this has to be hyperbole. You don't believe he does 15 bad things for every good thing. They would be missing the playoffs every year if that was the case.

 

[Cypruss]

I've heard he lives in NY state. Does any other president of a NHL team not live in the city of the team he's president of?

It's good enough for our new prime minister, so surely good enough for a NHL president?

 

[Stephen]

So what's the solution? You can't trade him because after what you just posted I don't see why any team would want him. I mean a lot of this has to be hyperbole. You don't believe he does 15 bad things for every good thing. They would be missing the playoffs every year if that was the case.

I wouldn’t mind blowing up the franchise and just build something different. There’s no necessary evil gotta live with this or that. Get rid of all of them.

 

[MCR74]

So you have seen successes before, I haven't.

Maybe that is the distinction here, how can I, like many of us, not feel lost when this core has repeatedly shown that they can't do it in these touch moments bar once in 14 attempts.

I would think since you have seen true warriors, seen successes where they pushed through and went far, that this core seems to lack all of the characteristics of from before that are required to win?

They're not Clark / Gilmour / Sundin caliber, no.

The whole team was shit last night. Not holding my breath, but bad games happen.

 

[Racer88]

Marner is playing like he hates playoff hockey

Both him and Mathews look like it……..maybe it’s because they don’t get any more money for the playoffs

 

[Suntouchable13]

Still no accountability last night during players media availability post game. "Ottawa is a good team, 4th win is the hardest, we're still in a good position" but nobody said they weren't good enough. Nobody took ownership.

 

[Dayjobdave]

Captain Fantastic and the No Show Cowboys……..

Don’t bring Sir Elton into this mess…

 

[Racer88]

I’m convinced he’d move to another team especially if they were a legit contender, Vegas would be a great trading partner imo……

That would be be awesome because he is the lamest super star

 

[Racer88]

The few who keep simping for this core at this point are embarrassing. Blaming depth players like Lorentz lmao, maybe if the top six could engage themselves physically like Lorentz they'd have more goals.

lol. That’s what kills me the guys ripping on players making close to minimum or 2-3 mill. The problem was, is and always will be the make up of the core 4-5 and the money allotted to them

 

[rumman]

Don’t bring Sir Elton into this mess…

His old stuff was fantastic, he list me with Rock of the Westies, should have never dumped his drummer and bass player, Captain Fantastic was his last great album imo…..