Post-Game Talk: Leafs lose 3-2 in OT | Down 3-0 in the Series

[ACC1224]

Matthews hit the post 2 mins into the game. I still can't figure out how it is not a shot on net. But your point remains true

Being awarded one more shot on net doesn’t make his performance any less disappointing

 

[ShaneFalco]

from the hotstove

For me, one of the stories that will resonate the most from this game was that I can’t name five players on the Leafs who were worse than Mitch Marner tonight. He created nothing. He constantly turned the puck over (the list could go on and on, really). And yet guess who led all Leafs forwards in ice time? Marner.

It is one of the stories of Sheldon Keefe’s entire NHL coaching career to this point. Ice time is predetermined and good or poor play doesn’t change anything. The common retort to this criticism is that Marner is one of their best players, and Keefe has to play him. But he really doesn’t, particularly when he’s playing so poorly.

It’s a disservice to the players who are actually playing well. If you don’t think, say, Jarnkrok could have taken some of those minutes and also done nothing with them other than simply not turn the puck over, I’m not sure what to tell you.

On principle alone, Keefe can’t trot players out there for big minutes when they are underperforming and essentially wilting under the weight of the moment. We’ve had this conversation for years now under this coach. It’s not just about this one game. It’s about accountability throughout the season and playoffs. He can’t simply throw his hands up in the air and say, “Marner is a good player, and we can never bench him because you never know… Maybe he’ll snap out of it!”

Clearly, Keefe is not going to change, and it’s disappointing — and frustrating — to watch it play out over and over again.

 

[ACC1224]

He has more points in the last 2 playoffs in 24 games than Marner has in his playoff career.

Yep way more than Matthews too. Guy is a beast.

 

[Jojalu]

Being awarded one more shot on net doesn’t make his performance any less disappointing

100% true.

 

[ShaneFalco]

No accountability with Keefe. His only answer is to play the core more, despite if they'r eplaying poorly, or if someone else is out-playing them
Mitch looks ike he's ready for his cottage

 

[Shooter2x]

No offence to my boy Styles but how does a team that owns Matthews not have Matthews on the TV screen every other shift like Nylander in the 1st period.

Kampf and Lafferty are a waste of energy for Nylanders shifts, no offence to them as well. Matthews can at least rush it in and do his curl and shoot.

 

[janesy12]

0 Goals, 4 Assists in 3 games in this series from the "Core 4".
Meanwhile Hyman has 5 assists in 2 games in the Oilers 2nd round series.

 

[justashadowof]

Matthews hit the post 2 mins into the game. I still can't figure out how it is not a shot on net. But your point remains true

Because if the net was empty it wouldn't have been a goal. Same way a long shot to the center of an empty net that slows and stops on the goal line isn't a shot on goal.

 

[Nineteen67]

Who do you think current management would move that would net us enough in return to turn this mess around

What’s done is done. They messed up the rebuild and are what they are, and, in my opinion, they’re not just player or two away.

 

[janesy12]

No offence to my boy Styles but how does a team that owns Matthews not have Matthews on the TV screen every other shift like Nylander in the 1st period.

Kampf and Lafferty are a waste of energy for Nylanders shifts, no offence to them as well. Matthews can at least rush it in and do his curl and shoot.

Kampf was our best forward last night, and Lafferty scored a goal.

 

[DarkKnight]

That time of the year when “Babcock” is a top trend on Twitter.

 

[Jojalu]

Because if the net was empty it wouldn't have been a goal. Same way a long shot to the center of an empty net that slows and stops on the goal line isn't a shot on goal.

I guess that makes sense.

 

[KPower]

I don’t want no false hope. Just bow out on Wednesday like the losers you are.

 

[Jojalu]

Lol.

Carlo just said at least MM and AM will have a lot of time to buy a new hat in Miami to show up with on Wed

 

[Suntouchable13]

Very eerie how similar this is to the Raptors 2018 playoffs before the big changes made that lead to the championship a year later. Won the first round, in shaky fashion, in 6 games. Then got swept by LBJ in the 2nd round as the higher seed. Florida doesn't compare to LeBron's Cavs, but still.

 

[TheBeastCoast]

Very eerie how similar this is to the Raptors 2018 playoffs before the big changes made that lead to the championship a year later. Won the first round, in shaky fashion, in 6 games. Then got swept by LBJ in the 2nd round as the higher seed. Florida doesn't compare to LeBron's Cavs, but still.

There also probably isn't a Kawhi to trade for to save the day.

 

[Shooter2x]

Kampf was our best forward last night, and Lafferty scored a goal.

Yes doing their own thing on the 2 on 1 that didn't require killing the energy of a top guy.

We still needed more goals so you don't become random just because someone did a good thing.

 

[justashadowof]

I remember back to this core's first trip to the playoffs and Marner was the only one of the young stars who understood how to play NHL playoff hockey. I thought at the time with years of experience he would harden up and develop a man's game like say the type of player Justin Williams became in the playoffs. But it's like Marner has just not matured at all in that way. He's a reliable regular season points producer but there's no playoff gear.

 

[janesy12]

Yes doing their own thing on the 2 on 1 that didn't require killing the energy of a top guy.

We still needed more goals so you don't become random just because someone did a good thing.

Okay....did Nylander/any of the core 4 score?
Leafs had 11 forwards so someone had to be floated around the lines. Nylander seemed to be that guy as Kampf/Lafferty looked good and Nylander had been the best top guy so far this series.

Hence why Keefe rolled Nylander with those two guys.

 

[Gallagbi]

Matthews hit the post 2 mins into the game. I still can't figure out how it is not a shot on net. But your point remains true

Posts arent a shot on goal

 

[Rob Brown]

No offence to my boy Styles but how does a team that owns Matthews not have Matthews on the TV screen every other shift like Nylander in the 1st period.

Kampf and Lafferty are a waste of energy for Nylanders shifts, no offence to them as well. Matthews can at least rush it in and do his curl and shoot.

I thought Kampf and Lafferty played well last night, personally.

 

[NoClass]

Dumb rule.

It’s because it doesn’t affect the goalie’s stats.

 

[janesy12]

I remember back to this core's first trip to the playoffs and Marner was the only one of the young stars who understood how to play NHL playoff hockey. I thought at the time with years of experience he would harden up and develop a man's game like say the type of player Justin Williams became in the playoffs. But it's like Marner has just not matured at all in that way. He's a reliable regular season points producer but there's no playoff gear.

I remember the optimism after that Capitals series...I thought we finally had a core to bring some playoff success. Playing a hard fought series against the President's Trophy winners.

Fast foward 7 years, and they've accomplished what? A series win against an exhausted, injury riddled Tampa team that dominated the series.

 

[Gallagbi]

I thought Kampf and Lafferty played well last night, personally.

Id add Kerfoot as well, our 4th line was arguably our best players

 

[Rob Brown]

It’s because it doesn’t affect the goalie’s stats.

Yeah I get it, I've always just found it silly cause the puck literally hits the net and it's not counted as a shot haha.