Speculation: Leafs dressing room filled with illness

[IronHookem]

The flu? We are SO unlucky! Oh well, time to accept defeat and run it back next year, which WILL be different!

Shoot this team into the sun.

 

[Tie Domi Esquire]

Toughest market in the league, everyone.

 

[kevsh]

The fact that no one on the Leafs or any legit (if there are any) reporters have said anything publicly, including Berube in his comments re: last game.

And it's not like saying a couple of players were battling something a few nights ago gives Florida an opening to exploit it. What are they going to do, check harder and hope for a bowel movement? This isn't Slap Shot.

Maybe one or two had a flu bug a few nights ago, maybe, doesn't explain away a near total-team breakdown last night.

 

[mr figgles]

Didn't Matthews have the shits last year too?

 

[LeafalCrusader]

Cramps

 

[keonsbitterness]

My head hurts.

 

[BTO]

I hate to be the bearer of bad news.. but there is mostly certainly some sort of flu/virus/Covid stuff going around at the moment. I'm not suggesting that's an excuse for this team in the least, just correcting your assertion.

Maybe it’s the measles.

 

[al secord]

Put some tussin’ on it and get to work .

 

[Nineteen67]

I know they have yellow fever, but they’ve had it for years.

 

[Folignos Helmet]

They’ve been sick for 9 years.

 

[CzarDemidov]

Toughest market in the league, everyone.

If after so many years of let downs and disappointment my team’s local media was peddling these excuses on behalf of the organization I’d be probably livid.

If there is an illness, the organization can talk about it, the commentators and pundits don’t need to do the PR job for them mid-series, no less.

Infection control is part of a team’s responsibility in any case.

 

[Leaf Fans]

There has been speculation over the past 24 hours even before last night debacle, that there is an illness running through the Leafs dressing room. Insider Steve Dangle makes a compelling argument that this may actually be the case. Giving some real examples:

1. Although Stolarz is believed to have suffered a concussion, he was throwing up in game at the bench. Could it have been concussion related? Probably. But could he also be suffering from a stomach bug of sorts? Possible.

2. Game 3 had multiple players head to dressing room for no apparent reason only to return and play without any indication that anything was physically wrong. Tanev, Jarnkrok, McCabe and Knies all let the ice in short spurts in game 3. As Dangle put it, is it possible they all had equipment issues? Probably not. Is it possible they all experienced injuries? No. As all 4 came back and played extensive minutes without any sign of any injury. Pooping and throwing up??? Possibly.

3. Matt Murray who would have been your backup in game 4 was scratched. Would the Leafs rather have Murray or inexperienced Hildeby on bench after Stolarz went down? My guess is that he was sick as Dangle speculates.

4. Matthews kept out of practice after game 3. Could it have been a maintenance day based on other injury? Very possible. Could he have been under the weather? Possible as well. Has he been visible the past 2 games? Barely. Something is up.

5. OEL kept out of practice before game 5 with what is deemed an illness. It speaks for itself based on the designation and report on his status from Berube.


All in all, this doesn't excuse the effort put forth last night. But is it possible that the Leafs are struggling as bad as they are because of illness at a bad time. I cannot phantom the thought that they looked as bad as they have against Florida because they are just that bad of a team. They are a good team, one that outplayed Florida for 7 periods to start the series. But for it to vanish all together is not normal. The effort is not there. Its not like they are getting beaten by a hot goalie like in the past. They are barely playing.

Just something to ponder.

The scratch of Murray was illness.

 

[Leaf Fans]

The flu? We are SO unlucky! Oh well, time to accept defeat and run it back next year, which WILL be different!

Shoot this team into the sun.

They might no be able to do that as two of the core are pending UFAs.

 

[Leafshater67]

The annual playoff flu. Stop making excuses for these guys, no matter what they will find a way to lose.

 

[BrannigansLaw]

Who cares? Man up and push through.

Exactly. IDGAF if they all got leprosy, you get paid the money. Show up.

Also, isn’t it convenient that they seemingly always get sick around this time of year? It’s like clockwork

 

[Blanka]

Okay. Maybe they should wear masks and wash their hands more often, then.

And the very scientific stand 2m apart.

 

[MSZ]

Okay. Maybe they should wear masks and wash their hands more often, then.

Don't forget the vaccines.