GDT: Leafs @Jets. 8pm

[Gary Nylund]

You're right - 3yrs ago they did manage to beat one good team, but even that team wasn't a real elite team

 

[zeke]

Did it get them to the 2nd round?

Where they lost to a mediocre team.

 

[JT AM da real deal]

I truly hope that the Marner scratch was Marner’s choice. Keefe gives me funny vibes sometimes.
Marner was terrible last game but scratching him is an overstep if that was the case. Way too valuable of a player to mess around with.

It sends da proper message to him .. and it sends it to Willy too .. you guys will be benched if you screw this thing up for us by being selfish or scared with stupid plays .. many many coaches over da years incl. Hunter have had to do this to Mitch .. Keefer is just da latest ... everyones luvs Mitch great kid but he has a tendency to get very selfish at times

 

[zeke]

 

[Ziggdiezan]

Where they lost to a mediocre team.

So the 1st round win was meaningful then? As without it they wouldn't have made it to the 2nd round....

 

[Guided by Veseys]

You don’t scratch a top ten player in the league because of a shitty game. That’s nuts. Maybe after a shitty season or something. It could put the room on edge. Why create unnecessary discord?

 

[ShaneFalco]

Even if it is punishment, it's not a bad thing. Marner needs to realize he can't make those plays when the games become important. Maybe it gets him refocused. Also it's about time a coach keeps him accountable. It's probably just rest though.

Bit of both I'm guessing

 

[IPS]

Or Marner played the most minutes of any forward in the league and resting him a game is a good idea???

 

[zeke]

So the 1st round win was meaningful then? As without it they wouldn't have made it to the 2nd round....

When do they hang their 2nd round banner?

 

[Gary Nylund]

Well hopefully but if Marner wanted to play I certainly hope Keefe didn’t say “sorry Mitch you need to sit”. Mitch can play when he wants to play as far as I’m concerned.
Only reason I mention it is because here and on Twitter people have already speculated that Marner’s poor play may have influenced this call. I’m sure after last game Mitch might have hoped to play a better game and finish off the regular season in style with the boys.

I'm sure Marner's fine with resting and twitter is full of all kinds of nonsense (that's what I hear anyway). Marner's had a great year, TBH I was baffled that so many people were on his case for the OT giveaway. No big deal as far as I'm concerned, Mitch is awesome!

 

[stickty111]

Well hopefully but if Marner wanted to play I certainly hope Keefe didn’t say “sorry Mitch you need to sit”. Mitch can play when he wants to play as far as I’m concerned.
Only reason I mention it is because here and on Twitter people have already speculated that Marner’s poor play may have influenced this call. I’m sure after last game Mitch might have hoped to play a better game and finish off the regular season in style with the boys.

I get what you are saying but that would indicate Marner is above the team which he isn't. Doing this move says to Marner we won't tolerate those plays from anyone.

 

[Ziggdiezan]

When do they hang their 2nd round banner?

Probably a ton of room at Scotiabank place where there hasn't been a 2nd round banner for decades.

Not really sure what your trying to argue at this point?

 

[Ziggdiezan]

Or Marner played the most minutes of any forward in the league and resting him a game is a good idea???

Interesting stat but makes sense as he plays all situations 1st unit

 

[Suntouchable13]

When do they hang their 2nd round banner?

I don’t understand your point. Yea, losing to Boston and Washington weren’t “bad” results but you gotta start winning at some point. So if they lose to MTL this year, you’re ok with that? That’s not a “bad” result?

 

[ACC1224]

I truly hope that the Marner scratch was Marner’s choice. Keefe gives me funny vibes sometimes.
Marner was terrible last game but scratching him is an overstep if that was the case. Way too valuable of a player to mess around with.

Thanks for posting about the game, almost missed this.
Be great if those who want to argue about the playoffs could do it in that thread.

 

[Gary Nylund]

When do they hang their 2nd round banner?

When do we hang our "we played really well in losing round 1" banner?

Wait, do you not get to hang those when you get destroyed 5-1 in game 7 or get outscored 4-0 in the 3rd period of game 7?

 

[zeke]

Probably a ton of room at Scotiabank place where there hasn't been a 2nd round banner for decades.

Not really sure what your trying to argue at this point?

Am I being unclear?

Beating the coyotes in round 1 is an absolutely meaningless accomplished that is neither something that brings joy nor something that tells us anything about their current playoff ability.

 

[Marshy]

So Maurice says there's a gentleman's agreement tonight among the players for both teams - nobody is finishing their checks too hard...play fast and try to win but don't run anyone through the boards and have maybe a bit more respect out there (realizing that there are more important games around the corner).

(paraphrasing)

 

[ACC1224]

Probably a ton of room at Scotiabank place where there hasn't been a 2nd round banner for decades.

Not really sure what your trying to argue at this point?

or what it has to do with tonight’s game?

 

[Gary Nylund]

I don’t understand your point. Yea, losing to Boston and Washington weren’t “bad” results but you gotta start winning at some point. So if they lose to MTL this year, you’re ok with that? That’s not a “bad” result?

Two sides to that coin anyway IMO. Losing in 7 to Boston is OK on the surface but when you get the shit kicked out of you 5-1 in game 7, or get humiliated 4-0 in another game 7, the "but gee whiz we played so well" narrative loses much of it's credibility (not that it was ever much of a narrative to begin with).

 

[ShaneFalco]

Well hopefully but if Marner wanted to play I certainly hope Keefe didn’t say “sorry Mitch you need to sit”. Mitch can play when he wants to play as far as I’m concerned.
Only reason I mention it is because here and on Twitter people have already speculated that Marner’s poor play may have influenced this call. I’m sure after last game Mitch might have hoped to play a better game and finish off the regular season in style with the boys.

Marner isn't above getting a kick in the ass. He wasn't the only one guilty, but said he "wasn't engaged" the first game against CBJ last year

 

[ACC1224]

I saw Marner wince at one point last game. I’m guessing his sitting is to give him a rest/maintenance. His play doesn’t warrant a benching.

 

[3blizzard4]

I hope this is not the game the Jets decide to show the Oilers what's in store for them.

 

[Jimmy Firecracker]

Hope Tavares gets his 20th tonight!

 

[Marshy]

I hope this is not the game the Jets decide to show the Oilers what's in store for them.

Porous defence. Sub-par goaltending...feeble offence. Lack of cohesive structure and adherence to any semblance of a system?