Post-Game Talk: Leafs Lose 2-1

[Lainehasaweirdface]

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.

Fair, hopefully with the work done on his shot Marner can be less of a one trick pony in the playoffs! I don't see Winnepeg or Calgary doing as good of job defensively as Columbus did last year anyways so I think either way we win a series or two!

 

[Captain14]

Not saying they deserved to win that game but the refs only missed about a bajillion penalties in those first two periods to keep the Habs only down by one..

They certainly did!
It’s unbelievable to watch the inconsistencies of the officiating game by game.
They either call every ticky tack penalty or call nothing.
How can any team be certain of what’s a penalty and what’s not a penalty.
The NHL should be embarrassed.

 

[Captain14]

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

I have always thought that the “total hits” stat to be misleading.
If your winning the hits category, you should be losingthe puck possession category.
IMO, the Habs were outhitting us because we had the puck for most of the first two periods.

 

[BertCorbeau]

Tavares and Nylander deserve a shot against Ottawa to get back in sync. If that line can't do it then, probably time for a shuffle up. Either drop Hyman down with them, or flip Marner and Nylander to see if that gets both lines rolling.

 

[BertCorbeau]

I think the person counting the hits last night was the same person counting the shots in Wednesday's game.

 

[CanadasTeam]

Engvall . I can’t stand him. I’ll leave it at that

The guy has good size, yet some people single out Willy as soft (okay, rightfully so *sometimes*) but I think Engvall is even softer with no finish.

 

[Zybalto]

Tampa is the best team easily
Carolina is the 2nd best team out of both divisions
Columbus punted us from the play in round and have had solid playoff success over the last few seasons
Florida looks much better and were pushing us when the regular season was cancelled
Dallas made the finals last season

Yeah, it ain't that close alright

I thought last years playoffs showed that inferior teams can make it pretty far with hot goaltending and there were so many examples in the bubble.

Montreal is a lot better with their off season upgrades and kids taking a step up but they were no where near the playoffs last year yet had a good showing as Price was amazing. The team wasn't that great though. The Jackets weren't the defensive juggernaut they were made out to be but their goaltending played at an insanely higher level than it did during the regular season and bailed them out from first being beaten in the Play-ins and then from being smoked by massive margins in every game against the eventual cup champs (instead every game was a 1 goal game) The Isles had lost 11 of 13 and 7 in a row down the stretch and were crashing out of the playoffs as their goaltending (and scoring) hit a cold streak. It was as bad as any Leafs collapse in the past and their board was calling for firings. The Covid break helped them to regroup but they were a team in disarray and certain to not make the playoffs. Chicago was outplayed badly yet pulled off a play-ins upset as well. Vancouver was outplayed badly even further into the playoffs as they rode hot goaltending with an obviously inferior team. (makes sense to let go of the whole reason for your success eh Canucks?)

I can keep going but I think I've made my point. I'm far more interested in having a team that makes it to the dance every year for their shot than be one of the one hit wonders we see every year. Toronto is one of the better teams in the league and has been for a while now. Here is how I would rank a combination of the Central/North divisions:

Tampa

Toronto
Carolina
Montreal

Edmonton
Dallas
Calgary
Florida
Winnipeg
Columbus
Chicago

Vancouver
Nashville

Detroit
Ottawa

I'm higher on Edmonton than most people but I have been since the start of the year (although they did have to play us quite a bit and they are starting to finally back me up as of late) As far as "Florida pushing us" goes, do you mean the same Florida we solidly beat with half a Dcore in that big game before the break last year? I'm not convinced quite yet.

I personally think its nice to not be in a group of death for once and its also very nice having so much parity between the divisions although it is odd hearing so much talk of weakness aimed at our division. Dont buy it. The cap has enforced league parity pretty hard so it was infuriating enough to somehow end up with things like being a top team ion hockey with no home ice so just enjoy the feeling of being where we should be for once.

 

[Lainehasaweirdface]

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.

He's literally one of the best players in the league at recovering loose pucks/creating turnovers. I agree, he doesn't engage physically in puck battles enough. Neither does Nic Ehlers, but you need players who can create and put up points. You don't just throw a top line player overboard because he doesn't play like a 3rd line player.

 

[egd27]

But they are the Sens, you know those games are their Stanley Cup game 7s. I wouldn't be holding my breath expecting all 6 pts.

Well if we know they are going to play hard, then............

 

[Lainehasaweirdface]

The guy has good size, yet some people single out Willy as soft (okay, rightfully so *sometimes*) but I think Engvall is even softer with no finish.

The problem with Engvall is he constantly ends up in bad body position when engaging in puck battles because he falls for even the simplest feigns and he's too soft to recover once he's in that position.

 

[baton elevated]

Three things that drove me crazy the last few years with the Leafs is much improved.
1) The breakout from defense to offense. Passing has greatly improved
2) The D do not get panicked in the D zone like previous years
3) Their board work, they don't lose every battle and although not very physical, they fish out a lot of pucks in skates.

As evidenced from last night (A very winnable game) they still need to develope the killer instinct. Put teams away and give them no life.

Travis Boyd needs to stay on his feet, every Time he is near contact he ends up on his knees. Not very solid in that regard.

I usually get very critical and upset after a Leaf loss, but not last night. Yes we could have put the Babs 7 pts behind us but it will be fine when the games count more. We are a superior team when playing all out and don't foresee any concern with any of the North foes.

When we get our injuries back it will solidify an already very good unit. A little tweek and we are going to the show.

Speed and counter punching transitional hockey are our bread and butter. When are executing we are a dangerous team!

 

[Stigma]

T

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

That's amazing. Such a great way to document an entire season! You should seriously consider a comic book. I think a lot of us would buy it.

 

[Captain14]

Tavares and Nylander deserve a shot against Ottawa to get back in sync. If that line can't do it then, probably time for a shuffle up. Either drop Hyman down with them, or flip Marner and Nylander to see if that gets both lines rolling.

I don’t think I would mess around with breaking up the first line, they are successful on almost every shift.
Robertson should play on the second line when he returns, if that doesn’t work, then you drop Willie to the 4th line or make him a healthy scratch for a game or two until he wants compete.
If Montreal can make their leading scorer from last year a healthy scratch, then we can sure as hell do the same to Willie.

 

[IrishInOntario]

You're going to lose games. Habs are a solid team too. Very competitive back and forth, with solid goaltending.

Nobody likes losing to Montreal (me included) but it was a fun, defensive game.

 

[Suntouchable13]

I think the team has been really good overall. One issue I have is this: can one of JT or Willy step up and drive that line? JT specifically doesn't look like a 11M dollar player. He just doesn't drive the play like I expected out of him.

 

[Bellzy]

Gotta love home much this “fan base” hates on the team when they have one bad period that cost them a game. WAKE UP guys, we’re still number 1 in the league. Take a look at the record, that’s not because we’re lucky. Relax. Jeeze

 

[Captain14]

He's literally one of the best players in the league at recovering loose pucks/creating turnovers. I agree, he doesn't engage physically in puck battles enough. Neither does Nic Ehlers, but you need players who can create and put up points. You don't just throw a top line player overboard because he doesn't play like a 3rd line player.

I understand your point. I see him grab loose pucks with his speed, only to cough it up again when an opponent sets his sights on him.
Trust me, I want him to succeed, he is a talented player, but his effort level is not consistent from shift to shift.
Maybe I am too hard on him, but with that paycheck, I expect a hell of a lot more.

 

[rumman]

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

 

[socko]

The way the team has been carried by Matthews and Marner so far this year, you would think we were Edmonton. Where the hell is everyone else? Spezza has probably been the 3rd most dangerous forward offensively this year and he's on the 4th line.

 

[Captain14]

Right now we're trying to have two 1st lines and a mediocre 3rd line. Maybe we could have one 1st line and two 2nd lines?

Hyman - Matthews - Marner
Engvall - Tavares - Mikheyev
Vesey - Kerfoot - Nylander

This!
Except Robertson to the 2nd line in lieu of Engvall.

 

[rumman]

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.

Sadly this is the depth you get when so much of your cap goes to 4 players, more so when 2 of said 4 aren’t pulling their weight...........

 

[Gallagbi]

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.

They have a role, it's just not the gritty bang'em up role you want.

They've been productive, most are doing well on possession and almost all play on some effective special teams.

 

[hoglund]

I think the person counting the hits last night was the same person counting the shots in Wednesday's game.

The team with more hits doesn't mean the other team was being manhandled it means the team with more hits didn't have the puck and was being outplayed.

 

[Gary Nylund]

Carolina being the 2nd best team out of both divisions is highly debatable
and re: Columbus - a best of 5 play-in round after months inactivity is indicative of very little and Columbus has shed too many quality players for past playoff success to be particularly relevant

Columbus shed those quality players before last season began and were expected to be absolutely terrible, they had even worse injury issues then we did ( they even led the NHL in that category IIRC) yet they had roughly the same record we did. So it's not just 5 games, that's 70 where they played us even before taking us out in the playoffs where it matters most.

 

[Gallagbi]

Sadly this is the depth you get when so much of your cap goes to 4 players, more so when 2 of said 4 aren’t pulling their weight...........

Were 11-3-1 with a very productive second line and solid bottom 6 (that Zeke just showed) that has dealt with injuries most of the year.

I want that JT/Nylander line to elevate to PPG territory because they're capable, not because that's expected of a second line.