Post-Game Talk: Leafs lose 3-2 in OT

[ACC1224]

I wonder if there is any correlation between the low regular season give a shit meter and losing in the playoffs? Probably just a coincidence.

 

[Gary Nylund]

The same same users who I respect to not overanalyze one game were joining in too. Incredibly disappointing

Like I get it if you don't trust the team. I certainly don't, but it has nothing to do with losing to the Habs in January. The reality is we won't know until the playoffs.

This.

 

[Canadian Finn]

dont expect anything ever

just dont

fixed that, and agree.

 

[Al14]

The chicken or the egg?

Perhaps years of mismanagement, disappointment, playing down to weaker opponents, blown leads, embarrassing losses, playoff failures, etc. are what have a lot of this fan base at their wits end. After so many years it blends together. It's not just a game in October or January anymore. It's compounded so much. Especially for the long time fans.

Thank you for summing this up so perfectly. I'm growing more and more disillusioned by the failures of our Leafs at every turn.

Sure, they have a good regular season going and all, but losing they way they do like last night shouldn't happen if they're a true 'contender'. If everything were reversed standings wise, I bet the Habs would have blown us out last night without any mercy. 6 or 7 to 2 would be my guess.

As I have said many times on here, I was 12 years old in 1967 when our Leafs last won the SC. I'm now 67 and may not ever get to witness a Leafs SC championship as an adult. It's heartbreaking to think of me being gone before they win it again.

Winning games in October and January are just as important as winning games in May and June. Sure, despite the standings, any team can beat another on any given day, however regularly dropping points to bottom feeders should not happen if a team is a true SC contender. JMHO.

I have very little faith in our Leafs management team, and I especially don't trust our highly paid core of players. Whether or not they know it or will admit to it, our core players are in it for the money. If they truly wanted a SC championship, they would not have been so greedy and handcuffed our ability to surround them with quality support players.

One of the current core players has to go. As much as I wanted Taveras, signing him to $11M was the beginning of the end for getting our core youth signed for deals that would allow our Leafs to bring in quality support players.

Sure, our Leafs could very well go all the way this season, however all signs point to another disaster like we have witnessed for the last 6 seasons.

 

[Pebble live]

I want to attribute these types of losses to the randomness of hockey but a team like the Boston Bruins are shattering that logic for me. They just show up, work hard, play hard, and do their job every single night. The Bruins are the team we should be comparing the Leafs with. That is the caliber of team we'll be up against come playoffs and where the leafs should be.

It's not easy but I bring myself to watch a few Bruins games a month. They're incredibly good. If they have a bad period they come out and dominate the rest of the game. If they're having a good night its full on from puck drop to the final buzzer.It's impressive. Their depth makes the leafs look shallow. I just don't see them faltering this season. Leafs just have not taken the step they've managed to take.

Overall its shaping up to be another good season for the leafs. They're fun to watch. They are not quite there yet if the Bruins are anything to go by.

 

[Canadian Finn]

Nobody on the Leafs was going to go after a Habs player because they knew that they would have to face Jack eye the maniac. That freed up the Habs to run wild

that maniac was free for anyone to sign.

unfortunately our dickpimple of a GM was fornicating to his spreadsheets and missed the boat.

I'll be wearing my Xhekaj jersey at Scotia Bank Centre on February for the Habs Leafs Family day long weekend game.

 

[NewZealandMike]

that maniac was free for anyone to sign.

unfortunately our dickpimple of a GM was fornicating to his spreadsheets and missed the boat.

I'll be wearing my Xhekaj jersey at Scotia Bank Centre on February for the Habs Leafs Family day long weekend game.

I totally agree with this

 

[The Podium]

that maniac was free for anyone to sign.

unfortunately our dickpimple of a GM was fornicating to his spreadsheets and missed the boat.

I'll be wearing my Xhekaj jersey at Scotia Bank Centre on February for the Habs Leafs Family day long weekend game.

You realize Xhekaj was a Costco employee and not playing hockey at the time the Habs signed him. It’s not like that was an obvious signing. He’s also bad at anything but fighting.

 

[Pebble live]

that maniac was free for anyone to sign.

unfortunately our dickpimple of a GM was fornicating to his spreadsheets and missed the boat.

I'll be wearing my Xhekaj jersey at Scotia Bank Centre on February for the Habs Leafs Family day long weekend game.

It's so hard to watch leaf players avoid going into corners and physical contact. They do everything they can to avoid scrums as well. I just don't get it.

I watch a good chunk of different teams. The leafs are one of, if not the most physically shy team in the league. I like what ZAR, Hunt, McMann have brought. They play hard, but the only guy in the top 6 who can play with some grit is Bunting. He's the modern day tucker and we need more of his type.

 

[notDatsyuk]

I don't know why Tavares didn't try to change off.

And why they didn't force Nylander to stay on and and skate the puck.

I'd be more comfortable with Engvall out there than Tavares, not because he's a superior player, but because he can skate.

I think there's a real problem with Willy and JT. A lot of it has to do with speed and awareness. In OT, Tavares had a couple of good spots to pass the puck but didn't, instead making low percentage plays and almost losing the puck. At that point, Willy went to the bench. JT continued until he did lose it, at which point Montreal maintained possession until they scored.

Except on the PP, I don't think those two should be on the ice together, especially in OT.

 

[Dekes For Days]

Sure, they have a good regular season going and all, but losing they way they do like last night shouldn't happen if they're a true 'contender'.

All "true contenders" have games like last night.

Whether or not they know it or will admit to it, our core players are in it for the money. If they truly wanted a SC championship, they would not have been so greedy and handcuffed our ability to surround them with quality support players.

There's nothing to suggest that our core players are just "in it for the money". They weren't greedy. They wanted to be paid what they had earned like everybody else. The pandemic-induced flat cap and bad drafting in 2015-2017 is what held back our support players, but we were still able to add quality support players through effective management, and have had a top tier team throughout.

 

[JL17]

You realize Xhekaj was a Costco employee and not playing hockey at the time the Habs signed him. It’s not like that was an obvious signing. He’s also bad at anything but fighting.

You realize he played in the OHL for 3 years. He wasn’t a random guy that just signed.

 

[ULF_55]

There's nothing to suggest that our core players are just "in it for the money". They weren't greedy. They wanted to be paid what they had earned like everybody else. The pandemic-induced flat cap and bad drafting in 2015-2017 is what held back our support players, but we were still able to add quality support players through effective management, and have had a top tier team throughout.

Leafs will get a hint about where their heads are at in July.

I'm not overly concerned one way or the other.

Be nice to see Matthews signed long term, but that's out of the Leafs control, so I won't blame management if Matthews wants to leave.

 

[PromisedLand]

When we lose a regular season game, the sky is falling. And when we win most of our regular season games and are 4th overall, that doesn't mean anything. Am I doing this right?

I’m an optimistic pessimist.

I’m positive things will go wrong.

Wait What? WHAT?

 

[Gary Nylund]

I’m an optimistic pessimist.

I’m positive things will go wrong.

Wait What? WHAT?

The pessimist thinks things can't get any worse then they already are. The optimist says sure they can.

 

[Niagara Bill]

Grit is the word for sure, but coaching is the gorilla.
I have never seen Keefe increase 4th line workload at the expense of line 1 or 2.
Messages must be sent.
1. To your top lines who are sleeping
2. To line 3 and 4 to do their jobs, wake up the team or you will be replaced. Fighting is not required, just physicality and energy.

I recall one game where Imlach started 5 dmen in a game against Montreal...maybe a little dumb, but it sent a message. We won 4 cups in 7 years.

 

[ToneDog]

It's so hard to watch leaf players avoid going into corners and physical contact. They do everything they can to avoid scrums as well. I just don't get it.

I watch a good chunk of different teams. The leafs are one of, if not the most physically shy team in the league. I like what ZAR, Hunt, McMann have brought. They play hard, but the only guy in the top 6 who can play with some grit is Bunting. He's the modern day tucker and we need more of his type.

If we are lucky, maybe the next GM will not address it using duct tape. IMO you can't change the mix at this stage and you can't afford to empty the cupboard to do it.

Let the chips fall where they might. The GM has bet it all on this core. Let it play out and if it fails, he needs to fall on his sword.

 

[PromisedLand]

Thank you for summing this up so perfectly. I'm growing more and more disillusioned by the failures of our Leafs at every turn.

Sure, they have a good regular season going and all, but losing they way they do like last night shouldn't happen if they're a true 'contender'. If everything were reversed standings wise, I bet the Habs would have blown us out last night without any mercy. 6 or 7 to 2 would be my guess.

As I have said many times on here, I was 12 years old in 1967 when our Leafs last won the SC. I'm now 67 and may not ever get to witness a Leafs SC championship as an adult. It's heartbreaking to think of me being gone before they win it again.

Winning games in October and January are just as important as winning games in May and June. Sure, despite the standings, any team can beat another on any given day, however regularly dropping points to bottom feeders should not happen if a team is a true SC contender. JMHO.

I have very little faith in our Leafs management team, and I especially don't trust our highly paid core of players. Whether or not they know it or will admit to it, our core players are in it for the money. If they truly wanted a SC championship, they would not have been so greedy and handcuffed our ability to surround them with quality support players.

One of the current core players has to go. As much as I wanted Taveras, signing him to $11M was the beginning of the end for getting our core youth signed for deals that would allow our Leafs to bring in quality support players.

Sure, our Leafs could very well go all the way this season, however all signs point to another disaster like we have witnessed for the last 6 seasons.

IMHO it comes down to the "mindset"

Either you have a mindset of a "winning team" or you don't.

There is no magic switch that they can flip and bring on a winning mindset and attitude just before Game 1 of the playoffs.

it is an attitude you have it or you don't.

 

[PromisedLand]

Leafs will get a hint about where their heads are at in July.

I'm not overly concerned one way or the other.

Be nice to see Matthews signed long term, but that's out of the Leafs control, so I won't blame management if Matthews wants to leave.

Oh I am blaming management 100% if Matthews walks.

 

[All Mod Cons]

Oh I am blaming management 100% if Matthews walks.

I imagine the fans will get their fair shame of blame.

It was obviously our fault.

 

[PromisedLand]

I imagine the fans will get their fair shame of blame.

It was obviously our fault.

6 yrs of Matthews+Marner+Nylander

and

about 4/5 yrs of Matthews+Marner+Nylander+Tavares

clearly fans' fault they can't get it done in the playoffs. Fans' fault for the contracts/term/aav that was given. Fans' fault that we can't have a stable goalie.. Fans' fault that keefe got outcoached against CBJ, Montreal and Bolts.

Its all fans' fault.

 

[Canadian Finn]

You realize Xhekaj was a Costco employee and not playing hockey at the time the Habs signed him. It’s not like that was an obvious signing. He’s also bad at anything but fighting.

except he's not.

I watched 25+ games last year. You know, like actually watching, in person, face to face. Provides a bit more context than watching stats and spreadsheets.

Wish there was a Leaf with as much heart as Xhekaj.

 

[The Podium]

You realize he played in the OHL for 3 years. He wasn’t a random guy that just signed.

In 2020-21 he literally did not play a single game. Yea the OHL was on pause because of COVID, but that is factually correct. He was as close a random as it gets, so much so that at the time of the signing there were articles explaining who this obscure player is.

except he's not.

I watched 25+ games last year. You know, like actually watching, in person, face to face. Provides a bit more context than watching stats and spreadsheets.

Wish there was a Leaf with as much heart as Xhekaj.

He definitely has heart, he’s definitely physical. He is also definitely a defensive liability.

 

[Canadian Finn]

In 2020-21 he literally did not play a single game. Yea the OHL was on pause because of COVID, but that is factually correct. He was as close a random as it gets, so much so that at the time of the signing there were articles

explaining who this obscure player is.



He definitely has heart, he’s definitely physical. He is also definitely a defensive liability.

thankfully Dubas has ensured we don't have any defensive liabilities.

especially those with heart.

none of that stuff. we have holl and sandin instead.

(both of which Montreal would LAUGH at for one on one trade for Arber)

 

[The Podium]

thankfully Dubas has ensured we don't have any defensive liabilities.

especially those with heart.

none of that stuff. we have holl and sandin instead.

(both of which Montreal would LAUGH at for one on one trade for Arber)

Sandin for Xhakej would be one of the biggest lopsided trades in franchise history….

Go take a lap bud, player evaluation isn’t your strength