Post-Game Talk: Leafs hold on to win a thriller!

[saint2e]

This was an ugly win for the Leafs. It was not pretty at all.

Thing is, last season this would be an ugly loss for the Leafs. A win is a win, and I will gladly take it. These are the games you need to win to be successful.

 

[bringthecuphome]

3 points out of first in the conference. That's all I gots to say about that.

isnt it 2

 

[KesselLooksLikeRadar*]

This was an ugly win for the Leafs. It was not pretty at all.

Thing is, last season this would be an ugly loss for the Leafs. A win is a win, and I will gladly take it. These are the games you need to win to be successful.

To be fair, we never really trailed... I think we're just overreacting just a tad.

 

[LeafOfBread]

If you watch any other team's games, how many teams out there play "full 60 minutes" or whatever? Fact is, every night you're playing against NHL teams with NHL caliber players. Teams are not always going to look great for the whole game. You're not always going to shut down an NHL team for the whole game. Does not mean that everybody has to be satisfied, there is always room for improvement, but I take the win 10/10 times and don't complain too much.

Not every game can be a perfect 60 minute effort, but this team is not playing to their capabilities. They've been sloppy for a little while now.

The reality is, since those 2 games in a row against Montreal and Philly where the Leafs were just dominant and great defensively, they haven't really put out a full 60 minute effort, and have had many sloppy games like this where they were outshot heavily and the transition game looked piss poor.

Part of it is personnel, we don't have a puck mover on that blueline right now. Not a single one of those guys is a true a PMD, Phaneuf can rush the puck but he doesn't have smooth control, while Holzer and Fraser are shutdown guys who have no offensive skills at all, and Kostka is too simple to play an offensive game in the NHL, he can only make small 4 foot passes. Gunnar has a good first pass but he's not a puck mover and he's not playing at 100%.

The closest thing we have is Franson, but he's too slow and immobile, though his passing, vision and stick skills are fantastic. He's perfect for the PP and 3rd pairing but not capable of being a guy who can rush the puck up effortlessly, like Jake Gardiner.

To have good puck possession, you need a good puck mover. This team is one of the worst in the league in puck possession and we will never be able to beat teams like Boston who have aggressive forechecks that give you no time or space and will eat teams like this alive. If we beat Boston tomorrow with no line-up changes, I will eat some major crow.

 

[Erdinger]

Best thing about this win? Tomorrow is, essentially, a free game. Who cares if we win or lose? Might as well just try some stupid **** where we can't in other games, and try to confuse Boston.

Just keep using flying V's to **** with them.

I'd like to see this too. I'd like to see Marchand crying on the bench again as well

 

[The Caveman]

We won. Awesome.

I could give a s**t how we do it. Keep winning boys.

 

[WillNyeTheHockeyGuy]

isnt it 2

3. We've played one more game than the Habs.

I'm on board with the "**** around next game" thing. I'd like to see a McLaren/Orr vs Lucic fight. That'd be pretty darn exciting.

 

[rojac]

And we all know how much Sens fans know about hockey.

Remember when Murray was pulling "mindtricks" with Burke to get Cowen instead of Kadri?

I've never understood how Leaf fans can read the garbage that some of their brethren spew forth on the Leafs board and then feel superior when that same sort of garbage is spread around by fans of other teams.

Every team has its idiot fans. The Leafs are not an exception. Quit acting like our poop doesn't stink.

 

[Caesium]

I think the more Grabo plays like the way he played tonight (2 minute w/empty net) I can see him being the 2nd amnesty player.

Unless he looks like he's going to start putting up 60-70 points, he either needs to be bought out or traded. Brutal contract. He's not a terrible player, but 5.5 for that long is a nightmare when the Leafs should realistically be looking to find an upgrade over him next season.

 

[RealisticLeaf55]

I'd like to see this too. I'd like to see Marchand crying on the bench again as well

Take a long hard look at my avatar man!

 

[rojac]

Now there's a thread on the main board going on about how the Sens will be a powerhouse next year and whatnot. Didn't Melnyk predict that for this season?

Yes. And there's been a thread there for a couple of days asking if the Leafs are going to be the next "it' team in the NHL. I don't reallly see the difference. We have our idiots; they have theirs.

 

[Orfieus]

Let's look at the last 4 games,

Wed Feb. 27 MTL blows TO out of the water 5-2
Thurs Feb. 28 TO squeaks by the Islanders in OT 5-4
Mon March. 4 TO plays a disgusting game but since Brodeur is injured TO scrapes by NJ 4-2
Wed March. 6 TO defense collapses with 10min left but still manages to beat Ottawa 5-4

To sum up, TO has been playing like **** and something needs to change. They will not win tomorrow with current roster and I just hope it WILL be a blowout and force the hand on TO management to make some smart changes on our defense. Just like last year the only reason we are where we are now is because of our scoring and once that drys up we all know what that looks like.

 

[tacoburrito]

i think bozak said it best.. they are finding ways to win even when they arnt playing so well.. thats what you need

 

[HellasLEAF]

Hey guys, I'd really like to watch this one as I'd missed it. But not stream it online.

Anyway or site I can download the full game and pop it onto a usb stick??

HD would be nice but not gonna get picky here!

 

[The Caveman]

I can't believe this board. The Leafs at halfway through the season have almost the same record and goal differential as the Pens - yes those Pens with Crosby, Malkin etc.. Get some perspective here kids, this is called league parity.

 

[p.l.f.]

game in 6 minutes
http://video.mapleleafs.nhl.com/videocenter/console?catid=802&id=214355&lang=en

 

[CanadianHockey]

Solid game. Glad I got to see the Orr-Neil fight that I hoped for pre-game, even if it didn't amount to a whole lot haha.

Sens board just ripping on Reimer and calling him MAF 2.0 and saying he is not a number one goalie yet Bishops goals were as soft as a friggin' bounce sheet. I also think Anderson is horribly over-rated and gets easily exposed. The guy is a joke in the playoffs, much like the Sens in general.

Outside of that, great game and good win by the Leafs. GO LEAFS GO

Anderson's got a .933 SV% in the playoffs on two 8th seeded teams. He's been anything but a joke in the playoffs.

Also, a lot of Sens fans were ripping Bishop in our GDT; I doubt you'd find many who would say Bishop is better than Reimer. I think most would argue Bishop is good as a backup and poor as a starter, while Reimer's an average starter.

I can't believe this board. The Leafs at halfway through the season have almost the same record and goal differential as the Pens - yes those Pens with Crosby, Malkin etc.. Get some perspective here kids, this is called league parity.

Pretty much every board is like this. Edmonton was two points out of a playoff berth and people were calling for half the roster to be traded. Ottawa loses one game, some posters demand Murray gets fired and the entire roster blown up (again). Habs lose when they're 1st in the East, and some of their posters are calling for Price to be traded.

 

[BertCorbeau]

I was definitely disappointed the Leafs didn't completely shut it down after Kadri's goal, but in all honesty the Leafs have been very good holding leads in the third period all season so I'll allow this one slip up

Give credit to Ottawa for working their butts off to stay in it .. They're a great coached team

Tomorrow's game DOES worry me but I'm kind of glad this game went the way it did because I think Carlyle needs a reason to get angry and get the team fired up for a very tough game tomorrow .. Hopefully it'll be easier for him to light a fire under this team's *** and get them going tomorrow

 

[CanadianHockey]

Yes. And there's been a thread there for a couple of days asking if the Leafs are going to be the next "it' team in the NHL. I don't reallly see the difference. We have our idiots; they have theirs.

To be fair, that thread was started by a Wings fan.

 

[WillNyeTheHockeyGuy]

Solid game. Glad I got to see the Orr-Neil fight that I hoped for pre-game, even if it didn't amount to a whole lot haha.





Anderson's got a .933 SV% in the playoffs on two 8th seeded teams. He's been anything but a joke in the playoffs.

Also, a lot of Sens fans were ripping Bishop in our GDT; I doubt you'd find many who would say Bishop is better than Reimer. I think most would argue Bishop is good as a backup and poor as a starter, while Reimer's an average starter.



Pretty much every board is like this. Edmonton was two points out of a playoff berth and people were calling for half the roster to be traded. Ottawa loses one game, some posters demand Murray gets fired and the entire roster blown up (again). Habs lose when they're 1st in the East, and some of their posters are calling for Price to be traded.

We're lucky Anderson wasn't playing. Imagine where you guys would be if Karlsson, Spezza, and Anderson weren't injured...

Yeah we won, and "whee, bragging rights", but it wasn't the best win. No offense, but your roster is depleted due to injuries so we weren't playing the greatest team, yet you still managed to score 4 on us. Thank god we won that one, but it's kind of worrying.

 

[Dwight K Schrute]

Can you guys believe the sens are now whining about McLaren's knockout? Paul MacLean: "what did that guy play the rest of the night? 3 minutes?"

Ken Campbell ‏@THNKenCampbell
Zach Smith of Sens said McLaren "was asking (Dziurzynski) to fight as soon as we got on the ice. That's what McLaren does."

... Smith, if you don't like what McLaren 'does', just fight him

 

[Dwight K Schrute]

We're lucky Anderson wasn't playing. Imagine where you guys would be if Karlsson, Spezza, and Anderson weren't injured...

Yeah we won, and "whee, bragging rights", but it wasn't the best win. No offense, but your roster is depleted due to injuries so we weren't playing the greatest team, yet you still managed to score 4 on us. Thank god we won that one, but it's kind of worrying.

Yeah and Boston blew a 3 goal lead against the worst team in the East last night. Big deal. A win is a win.

 

[WillNyeTheHockeyGuy]

Can you guys believe the sens are now whining about McLaren's knockout? Paul MacLean: "what did that guy play the rest of the night? 3 minutes?"

Same thing the Habs were whining about in that blowout. I mean hats off to Dziurzynski for even having the balls to fight, but it's not like they didn't expect that after he challenged Fraser ****in McLaren to a fight. Sour grapes.

 

[X66]

I'm glad we won a wild game. Not because of the outcome, but I'm happy to know how we react in those situations up a goal with the other team pressing.

People shouldn't be too shocked Ottawa stormed back, they scored two quick goals, much like we did in the first. Goals can come at any time, it's just fitting it was in this game because it was crazy overall.

Now off to Boston where the whole world expects you to lose, only difference is, the game needs to be PLAYED

 

[WillNyeTheHockeyGuy]

Yeah and Boston blew a 3 goal lead against the worst team in the East last night. Big deal. A win is a win.

Yes, a win is a win, but what's wrong with a little concern with the way this team's playing? Nothing wrong with a little minor criticism now is there? I'm not ****ing on the team, I think they just need to play a bit better defensively.

Don't get the whole Kessel hate though, sure he made 2 blunders, but he had 3 points and don't forget about that 200ft play leading to a primary assist for him.