Toggle sidebar

Post-Game Talk: Leafs Lose 2-0 To Pittsburgh

  • Xenforo Cloud will be upgrading us to version 2.3.5 on March 3rd at 12 AM GMT. This version has increased stability and fixes several bugs. We expect downtime for the duration of the update. The admin team will continue to work on existing issues, templates and upgrade all necessary available addons to minimize impact of this new version. Click Here for Updates
Status
Not open for further replies.
Every NHL player is defenceable, heck, our giraffe, Engvall, gives McDavid fits...

Every opposing player in the NHL, has been drilled for the past three years on how to contain this guy...

Matthews is a pretty slick skater and all that, but, he is thick bodied, so players are keeping as tight to him as possible, forcing him to do things he can do pretty well, but not elite...

He has had wrist surgery so the shot is still good, but is not the laser it was previously...will it come back, it may or may not

Such is the life of an athlete in a contact sport...

Makes investing in them as a GM, frustrating...

Both Marner and Matthews look compromised, to my eye test... Both still excellent hockey players, but neither looking elite so far...Might still get that back, but its not there with any consistency...

When I think of how much Marner is taking of the cap, I shudder still.

Matthews, still to me, is worth every penny....Big strong, hugely talented, engaged enough of the time, star personality emerging.. Sure, worth a lot. A must have for any franchise...
 
Bluelines said:
This is the result you get when you see Keefe matched up vs a good coach or hot goalie, this is a replay of the Columbus series, a replay of the last 3 games vs the Habs. Keefe's fatal flaw is once the other coach figures out Keefe's weakness or if there is a hot goalie, Keefe has zero ability to adjust midgame. Keefe just keeps rolling out the same lines, refuses to adjust to what will help the team win, he has one approach and one approach only, he refuses to play a grinding game, when a grinding game is what that game dictates. Who is responsible to tell the guys like Simmonds, Ritchie, to take away the eyes of Jarry? How often did we just park a guy in front of the net and make life miserable on Jarry? On the 5 on 3 why the F was Bunting not on the ice? You send two of our guys to the net to take Jarrys eyes away and then bang and crash the net and ram the puck down their throat. This is what Bunting does. He is s junk yard dog and a crease critter. If a finesse game is not working ADJUST your game. Not Rocket Surgery Sheldon.

Last night is a preview of what we should expect in the playoffs, if we make it, this year.
Click to expand...

If Keefe is so easy to figure out, why have only 2 teams in the last 12 games done it?

The fact is, we’re seeing a team show up more often than not, which is refreshingly new and hasn’t been the case since the Quinn era.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Kurtz, Gallagbi and Mad hatter
ToneDog said:
So is there anybody left who thinks Hyman would not be missed ?? Doubt Matty and Mitch regret not leaving some scraps on the table so Shanny and Kyle could surround them with a better supporting cast. We moved Kerfoot from C to LW and our LW is still sad, even if you like Kerfoot and Bunting.
Click to expand...

I don’t think anyone would argue against having Hyman, but Hyman at his current dollar and term should be a non starter for most teams in the league.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Gallagbi, geo25 and ToneDog
ToneDog said:
So is there anybody left who thinks Hyman would not be missed ?? Doubt Matty and Mitch regret not leaving some scraps on the table so Shanny and Kyle could surround them with a better supporting cast. We moved Kerfoot from C to LW and our LW is still sad, even if you like Kerfoot and Bunting.
Click to expand...
True words, but what's done is done and can't be changed. So far the Leafs haven't gotten enough for the fans hard earned dollars. I'm truly hoping that changes this year with the best outcome possible, if it doesn't I think the team will offload one of the big contracts. If they don't then Mrazek is the guy because honestly who'll take that contract.

LeaFland can piss and moan all they want about the lower end of the roster costing them games or right now Mitch I suppose is the favored whipping boy. Positions that could be upgraded if more money was available would be upgraded asap, but instead it's a wing and a prayer and crossed fingers for one year wonders on " value" contracts. They can't stay on that road if they want any kind of sustainable success in the playoffs.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 57 Years No Cup and ToneDog
justloveleafs said:
Matthews is a pretty slick skater and all that, but, he is thick bodied, so players are keeping as tight to him as possible, forcing him to do things he can do pretty well, but not elite...

He has had wrist surgery so the shot is still good, but is not the laser it was previously...will it come back, it may or may not

Such is the life of an athlete in a contact sport...

Makes investing in them as a GM, frustrating...
Click to expand...
Matthews is an interesting case right now. He's taken a couple of those vintage Matthews shots that beat a goalie clean. The shot against Saros and a wrister on the powerplay earlier in the season. I think that's encouraging and we see it come back full steam soon.

I think the bigger issue, which you noted, is that teams seem to have dialed in on how to defend Mitch and Matthews after the MTL series. All they do is send one guy after them to hound them relentlessly when they have the puck while the rest of the team collapses to the middle of the ice. These players love to hang on to the puck and teams know it. Watch other elite players and you'll see them make that quick pass more often than not when looking at that kind of defensive pressure/structure. Matthews and Marner still try to play like the Globetrotters... sometimes it works, most often it doesn't.

They have to use their teammates and find open ice. Teams learned how to contain Ovi by his 8th season or so, and he in turn learned how to disappear on the ice. Teams figure this stuff out a lot quicker these days with all the video work and prep, so unless you're McDavid with the cheatcodes or Draisaitl facing QoC below his pay grade you've got to adjust. Matthews and Marner become easy to defend by simply having the puck too often. It sounds weird but it seems to me that's what's happening. No Hyman on the wing to grind out their turnovers and steal some attention doesn't help. They're going to have to dig deep.
 
The Podium said:
I don’t think anyone would argue against having Hyman, but Hyman at his current dollar and term should be a non starter for most teams in the league.
Click to expand...

Agreed, it was correct not to sign Hyman to the deal the Oilers gave him. It will not age well but if you are being honest, our 3 8 digit stars are not worth their cap hits and it will be our downfall IMO.
 
  • Like
Reactions: geo25
ToneDog said:
Agreed, it was correct not to sign Hyman to the deal the Oilers gave him. It will not age well but if you are being honest, our 3 8 digit stars are not worth their cap hits and it will be our downfall IMO.
Click to expand...

I would say Matthew’s is worth his, Tavares and Marner are not however.
 
The Podium said:
I would say Matthew’s is worth his, Tavares and Marner are not however.
Click to expand...

Matthews dominant and scoring at the rate he was last year, yes. Many blame McDavid for the Oilers lack of playoff success but truth is, when McDavid has the puck every opponent on the ice is scared shitless. I can't say the same for any Leaf this year. Maybe they have been reading this board and are saving it for the playoffs. ;)
 
zeke said:
Clean outworked in this one. Not good enough.

And yeah ZERO even strength (non-EN) points for the Big 4 in 3gms since Keefe switched them back for no real reason.
Click to expand...
Matthews whined and got Marner back with him. Sorry Auston, but it's time to put the team first instead of your individual stats. Marner with Tavares works.
 
  • Like
Reactions: BallardEra and geo25
Matthews GQ said:
That's their true problem, they can't score goals this season. Godly goaltending from Campbell has bloated their record. Without him, they'd be under .500%... no one can dispute that either.

The Leafs sit near the bottom of the NHL is goals per game on average. Pretty much says the whole story. Zero secondary scoring.

Kerfoot, 2 goals, Engvall, 1 goal, Simmonds, 1 goal, Ritchie, 0 goals... they need help offensively.
Click to expand...
They need the $40 million gang to produce to the level of their paycheques.
 
  • Like
Reactions: ToneDog
Top 10 reasons why we lost:

10. Team was not skating well
9. Why is Ritchie still on the top line in the last 6 minutes
8. PP sucked again
7. No secondary scoring either
6. Couldn’t string 2 passes together
5. Whiffed on multiple shots
4. No adjustment by Keefe
3. Giveaway city
2. Hot Goalie
1. Great defensive game by the Pens

But yes, it’s our Achilles heal and the good coaches know it. Shut down Marner and Matthews and play a heavy forecheck.
 
  • Like
Reactions: ToneDog
Pens fan here. Pens played a typical 200 foot game and they play north south and bring speed and zone pressure to a team like the Leafs. Toronto has top talent and they played well enough but Pens just were better at playing what they do well. Jarry was very good and that was the difference. What I really noticed was just how little an impact your star JT the FA signing was. Normally he is a Pens killer but I hardly noticed him last night.
 
  • Like
Reactions: ToneDog
What is scary is you have 1000 posters on here seeing that Matthews and Marner aren't clicking and teams now got a blueprint from MTL last year to shutdown those 2. You take away the Marner pass to Matthews and there is no other threat on that line to score.

Just don't understand how 100's on this board can see it so easily but the coaching staff refused to acknowledge it. I wonder if the analytics dept is telling Dubas and Keefe that that pairing is good based on time of possession or some crazy numbers stats. My eye test and simple math of have they scored 5 on 5 or was the 5 on 5 scoring better when Tavares- Marner and Nylander- Matthews combos going?

I hope it is not the analytic dept that is dictating who plays with who? If so I want to see the stat where they say Nick Ritchie on the top line???? Oh wait I can look that up on Capfriendly and his contract justification lol.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 57 Years No Cup
Bounces didn't go our way in this one as we hit 3-4 posts and came close.

Love how Campbell just shuts the down in the 3rd and lets nothing by inorder to give his team a chance in every game, many of which we have been able to turn into wins as a result.
 
  • Like
Reactions: BallardEra
GardinerTheForward said:
What if they are physicians :sarcasm:?
Click to expand...
spies-like-us-doctor.gif
 
A lot of over-reaction on Matthews' seemingly disinterested play.

I don't know what is going on - it is clear he's not his usual self - but he did deliver a few big hits and jumped all over a player trying to dig a puck out from under Campbell late in the game.

That suggests to me it's not him "checking out" but that he's still not up to speed after missing camp. Yes, he should be by now but I don't doubt where his head his at or his effort.
 
crump said:
Top 10 reasons why we lost:

But yes, it’s our Achilles heal and the good coaches know it. Shut down Marner and Matthews and play a heavy forecheck.
Click to expand...

Which begs the question if Marner & Tavares work and Nylander & Matthews work then why does the coach play right into the opposition's game plan to shutdown Marner and Matthews when played together?
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Latest posts

Ad

Ad

Top Bottom