Post-Game Talk: Leafs Lose 2-1

[stickty111]

Hits were 46-16 for Montreal.

Which means we had the puck majority of the game. Those numbers show Toronto on a good light.

Montreal's first 36 came in the first 2 periods, because they basically didn't have the puck at all in that time.

 

[Garthinater]

Marner and Nylander need to swap lines.

Yes, I know that Marner/Matthews is insane. But I'd rather two good lines than 1 great line and a tire fire.

But isn't babcock the worst for not playing marner with matthews?

 

[Menzinger]

The hits stat for the game is interesting beacuse it definitely didn't look like the Habs were dominating any significant portion of the game.

They just ended up with a couple goals and the Leafs looked a bit sloppy for the last 5 minutes or so but even then its not like they got out worked physically, they just weren't executing plays well

 

[ACC1224]

Figured they would split the two games, so after winning Wednesday I expected this.

 

[Guided by Veseys]

The Habs were hitting everything that moved but it didn’t seem too effective, except for Anderson. Anderson is pretty much the only heavy hitter there and he made a difference when he was in the ice with our D and Nylander. He tried to destroy Willy the game before though so I’m not surprised if he was in Will’s head a bit.
Most of the time the Habs were throwing non stop ineffective hits that were putting themselves out of position and creating lots of leafs chances. It’s a phenomenon known as Phaneufing (and previously “The Schenn”)

 

[ToneDog]

1. If the argument was that this was a playoff like game because of the physicality and based off of that, the leafs won't be successful in the playoffs because Montreal shut down Marner and Matthews.. they didn't. Marner and Matthews were buzzing.
2. Between Nylander and Tavares plus the guys who are injured we have plenty of secondary scoring. We're missing a top 6 F, the F who was always going to be the primary scorer on the 3rd line, and Robertson who it seems will bring a lot of offense to this team.

There's no shutting down Mitch and Matty, and even if there was, secondary scoring will be a non issue once we get healthy. This team is above average defensively. We have a top 10 starter in the league and probably a top 5 back up. Where are the holes?

Nope it has nothing to do with last night. Who are these guys in our bottom 6 that can provide offence ??

Robertson is not a gimme. Jumbo is past his best before date. There is shutting down Matty and Marner. We saw it last year vs Jackets.

The holes are on the LW and bottom 6. Pretty predictable once we dumped AJ and Kappy and replaced them with Vesey, Barabanov, Anderson, Petan, Engval, Boyd, Brooks and Jumbo. Simmonds is working out.

 

[zeke]

But isn't babcock the worst for not playing marner with matthews?

Yes, one of the most idiotic coaching decisions in the history of hockey.

 

[IPS]

Lmao first loss in ages, a one goal loss in a game we outplayed a desperate team, and this leafs board goes full on meltdown mode.

You guys are hilarious.

Even brought out a couple of the haters who went into hiding!

 

[Brian Evinou]

T

Wait, is this your work? Because it's excellent. You're very talented.

Thank you, yes. I make one after every game!

 

[Gallagbi]

Nope it has nothing to do with last night. Who are these guys in our bottom 6 that can provide offence ??

Robertson is not a gimme. Jumbo is past his best before date. There is shutting down Matty and Marner. We saw it last year vs Jackets.

The holes are on the LW and bottom 6. Pretty predictable once we dumped AJ and Kappy and replaced them with Vesey, Barabanov, Anderson, Petan, Engval, Boyd, Brooks and Jumbo. Simmonds is working out.

What are you expecting out of a bottom 6? A prime Thornton is a Hart trophy winner, of course we don't have that in our bottom 6. Same with Spezza and Simmonds, legit top line players in their prime. Currently they are solid for their role.

We're currently missing a 3rd line in Thornton, Simmonds, and Robertson and still icing a competitive 3rd line.

We need more from the second line and/or some bounces.

 

[Mess]

After 15 games each Toronto (23 pts) and Montreal (20) are separated by 3 points at the top of the North standings.

Tampa Bay leads the Central with 21pts in 13 games and Boston leads the East with 22 points in 14 games.

That makes non pandemic Atlantic Div teams the top 4 teams in the league with only STL tied with Montreal. Florida is just behind with 18 points in 12 games.

 

[67leafs]

No Simmonds - no grit
Leafs out hit 50-15 nuff said.

 

[ToneDog]

What are you expecting out of a bottom 6? A prime Thornton is a Hart trophy winner, of course we don't have that in our bottom 6. Same with Spezza and Simmonds, legit top line players in their prime. Currently they are solid for their role.

We're currently missing a 3rd line in Thornton, Simmonds, and Robertson and still icing a competitive 3rd line.

We need more from the second line and/or some bounces.

I expect our #3 and #4 lines to have a role. At the moment they have no identity and bring nothing. No offence, no sandpaper, no energy. And yes, our #2 line must produce but until Willie wakes up and decides to show up more than once a week, we are what we are and will be in tough if we get out of the North.

 

[sparxx87]

Lmao first loss in ages, a one goal loss in a game we outplayed a desperate team, and this leafs board goes full on meltdown mode.

You guys are hilarious.

Yep. This wasn’t one they gave away, Montréal took it in the third. That’s going to happen against good teams sometimes.

On to the next one.

 

[zeke]

Nope it has nothing to do with last night. Who are these guys in our bottom 6 that can provide offence ??

Robertson is not a gimme. Jumbo is past his best before date. There is shutting down Matty and Marner. We saw it last year vs Jackets.

The holes are on the LW and bottom 6. Pretty predictable once we dumped AJ and Kappy and replaced them with Vesey, Barabanov, Anderson, Petan, Engval, Boyd, Brooks and Jumbo. Simmonds is working out.

Leafs Top 6: 32 goals
Leafs Bot 6: 16 goals

Habs Top 6: 32 goals
Habs Bot 6: 9 goals

TB Top 6: 28 goals
TB Bot 6: 17 goals

BOS Top 6: 29 goals
BOS Bot 6: 8 goals

 

[Lainehasaweirdface]

Nope it has nothing to do with last night. Who are these guys in our bottom 6 that can provide offence ??

Robertson is not a gimme. Jumbo is past his best before date. There is shutting down Matty and Marner. We saw it last year vs Jackets.

The holes are on the LW and bottom 6. Pretty predictable once we dumped AJ and Kappy and replaced them with Vesey, Barabanov, Anderson, Petan, Engval, Boyd, Brooks and Jumbo. Simmonds is working out.

Jumbo still has offensive prowess. His underlying stats the last two years were still off the charts good. Main issue was the guys he was passing to. He's at worst a top nine F. Robertson isn't a sure bet but he's bound to bring some offense and energy. Anderson can bring a little offense, Petan can bring offense, Spezza can still chip in. Mikheyev, we'll see it seems like that wrist injury has really affected his puck skills, hopefully he can get it back. Secondary scoring isn't an issue with this team. I guess they could use a top 6 LW but I have no idea how you could possibly say this team's bottom 6 is a problem. It's like you want the bottom 6 to be a 2nd top 6?

Cbus didn't shut either of them down. Matthews had 6pts in 5 games. Marner a little I guess, but they weren't the main issues.

 

[ToneDog]

Leafs Top 6: 32 goals
Leafs Bot 6: 16 goals

Habs Top 6: 32 goals
Habs Bot 6: 9 goals

TB Top 6: 28 goals
TB Bot 6: 17 goals

BOS Top 6: 29 goals
BOS Bot 6: 8 goals

The number are not bad but I am still skeptical. Matty with 11 and Mitch with 7 are exceeding expectations. JT and Willie have been disappointing lately (Willie with 2 in last 14 games, JT 1 5v5 goal). Spezza and Simmonds are not going to keep up that goal scoring pace. You also have to factor in that of our 46 goals 15 (1/3) are PP goals and 3 (IIRC) are empty netters.

 

[zeke]

This was only the 2nd time this year the leafs were held under 3 goals, and it took a few posts on glorious chances and matthews missing a couple glorious chances of his own to do it.

On the other end, this was the 8th time and 4th in a row that the leafs have held their opponents to under 3 goals. And there's only been 2 games this year where the leafs gave up more than 3 goals in regular time - the first 2 games of the year.

 

[ToneDog]

Jumbo still has offensive prowess. His underlying stats the last two years were still off the charts good. Main issue was the guys he was passing to. He's at worst a top nine F. Robertson isn't a sure bet but he's bound to bring some offense and energy. Anderson can bring a little offense, Petan can bring offense, Spezza can still chip in. Mikheyev, we'll see it seems like that wrist injury has really affected his puck skills, hopefully he can get it back. Secondary scoring isn't an issue with this team. I guess they could use a top 6 LW but I have no idea how you could possibly say this team's bottom 6 is a problem. It's like you want the bottom 6 to be a 2nd top 6?

Cbus didn't shut either of them down. Matthews had 6pts in 5 games. Marner a little I guess, but they weren't the main issues.

Agree with most of what you say but take away that 5 minute outburst in game 4 and I would say CBJ did a pretty good number on Mitch. Matty was a beast and is much more difficult to shut down because he has so many weapons.

 

[CanadasTeam]

Welcome to the board, Brian -- that's very cool cartoon work you do

It captures the Muzzin-Anderson storyline very well LOL

 

[cannucky]

I thought this guy willed the Habs to a win in the 3rd period last night. We could use one to play with JT.

Or better yet an 11 million dollar JT that wills us a few games .

 

[Captain14]

Tough to lose that way, especially after playing what I thought to be their best two periods of the season, could have 4-0 after one with a few breaks.
One thing that is glaringly obvious:
JT is awfully slow to react to loose pucks in the D Zone, like his skates are in quicksand.
Willie’s constant letting the puck go while turning away to avoid any contact will not win you playoff games.
I don’t want to beat up on the guy anymore than I and many others already do, however, he is just not what we need on this roster.
We have won all year in spite of his unwillingness to engage for loose pucks, we can possibly add a major asset by moving him.

 

[Willchel Marlynder]

Gallagher is awesome

Gallagher is great, but if JT needs someone like him to get going why is he the captain making 11M?

 

[cannucky]

Split with a league leading team is acceptable , not absolutely destroying Ottawa 3 straight this week is totally unacceptable , this is the Ottawa team that gave Mcjesus his 6 point lead in the points race and this will tell us what we really are .

 

[Isaac Nootin]

No Simmonds - no grit
Leafs out hit 50-15 nuff said.

You clearly have no idea why the hits were so lopsided. Nuff said indeed.