Post-Game Talk: Leafs lose 4-1

[Nineteen67]

Button is the biggest clown out there. We go on a 8-2 run beating Colorado and Vegas and he says nothing at all.

We lose one game to Boston and he comes out and says we’re not close to contending and our defence is terrible. Absolute joke.

You think he’s wrong!

Seems like an fair assessment

 

[myleafs]

Barring a trade, this will probably end up being the second line in the playoffs.

Im not sure I could take another 88-91 combo. Huge mistake to go back to that imo. Tavares looks as good as he has been this year playing away from the flashy gang and that 3rd line actually looks legit. I would be tempted to try Holmberg with Willy and Bert even though I think the 4th line has also looked quite legit lately but not sure where that leaves Domi as I dont think you want him on the 4th line.

 

[Nineteen67]

We may count errors differently .. when I watch from my 1st row blues i watch errors that cameras don't let you see on TV so unless you were at game you can't see them .. my errors include non puck related mistakes in gap control, shift changes, D positioning for outlets, D incorrect use of board and net positioning, net front errors, wall errors, plus stuff you see from camera related to puck possession .. we got completely manhandled and outplayed and all our goals against were completely self inflicted by out D core .. unless Sammy/Woll go Bobbo we are gone in 5 games

With large screen TVs and 8K capability there’s no reason we can’t see more of the ice rather the camera following the puck.

 

[myleafs]

All the games against the Bs have been tight affairs, including this one.

This thread makes it seem like this was sort of one-sided blowout or something. Get all sort of hot takes in here that despite the Leafs outshooting and outhitting the Bruins and hitting posts that they somehow were "outworked".

Just isolate the lines and pairings that got exposed and make changes going forward. Still have the trade deadline to come and Tre is on the block now. Lets see if he has some TDL magic in him.

Saying the leafs outplayed the bruins last night as you have been doing in here is head scratching. Bruins were outclassing the leafs last night and after going up 3 the leafs turned it up a bit as they do. Its only one game and the leafs have been quite good lately so Im not too hard on them today but to act as if they were the better team last night is really reaching.

 

[Gary Nylund]

Except after the first shift with the Brodie/Lily pairing gave the Bruins that first big chance, the Leafs dominated the next 5 minutes right?

Then the Bruins capitalized on PP1 staying out too long and Reaves taking a shot off the hand and then blown coverage leaving a guy wide open on the PK for the 2nd (not naming names). The Leafs hit a few posts as the game went on and Swayman had an incredible game (Woll wasnt bad either).

I understand score effects too but this game didnt make me think we couldnt hang with them, thats for sure.

Shots: 33-27 Leafs
Scoring chances: 31-26 Leafs
High Danger Chances: 15-14 Leafs
Blocked Shots: 13-10 Leafs
Hits: 46-43 Leafs
Takeaways: 15-7 Leafs

It was a hard fought game both ways and we'll get em in 2 games. This is a Leafs team that has just beaten the Avs, Knights, Rangers, Stars , and the Jets back to back not long ago.

One of the hottest teams in hockey.

I stopped paying attention after it was 3-0. I had the game on, but yeah, wasn't paying much attention.

Here's what I did see, on our first PP, we were so bad that Boston almost scored right there, just brutal. We were lucky to escape but that wake up call was ignored and soon we were down 3-0, the shots on goal were what, 12-2 or something at one point and the game was as good as over.

I stand by what I said earlier, outshooting them after that means nothing, the game was basically over before we started.

It was just one game, beat them on Thursday and everyone will be happy once again. Or more to the point, beat them in game 1 of the playoffs and everyone will be happy again. Win the playoff series and people will be over the moon and saying now that we got that monkey off our backs, we're going all the way, oh wait, that was last year, never mind.

This team is the hottest team in hockey every now and then but so what? That has never translated into playoff success and I have to say, the glory of all those February/November runs we've had in the past wore off for me about a minute after they happened. I still remember Gilmour's speech to the fans before the playoffs in 1993, I still get goosebumps just thinking about it.

The real season starts in about 6 weeks, we'll see what happens then. I don't see much reason to believe it's not going to go the same way all these previous years have gone though, we'll see.

 

[Fogelhund]

You think he’s wrong!

Seems like an fair assessment

Yes, the D isn't good enough, the bigger question being, is that even relevant?

 

[PromisedLand]

Agree with this.

Would it make sense then for Marner to play with a C that will go inside said perimeter? Tavares does it. Consistently. If Mitch needs to patrol the outside, and make wizardry passes, SOMEONE has to be inside that effing triangle to do something with them. The two culprits in this picture with Mitchy are not him.

 

[Gary Nylund]

Im not sure I could take another 88-91 combo. Huge mistake to go back to that imo. Tavares looks as good as he has been this year playing away from the flashy gang and that 3rd line actually looks legit. I would be tempted to try Holmberg with Willy and Bert even though I think the 4th line has also looked quite legit lately but not sure where that leaves Domi as I dont think you want him on the 4th line.

Yeah if there's one thing I wouldn't touch right now it's that 3rd line with JT. Not sure what to do with the rest of it so I guess I'll just leave that to our "future legend in the making" coach.

I wonder if Dubas would interested in kickstarting that rebuild by trading for Keefe? Send us Crosby, retain some salary and we'll toss in a 1st round pick, conditional on us winning the cup, win win for both teams!

 

[Zybalto]

You think he’s wrong!

Seems like an fair assessment

Not from a hack so disingenuous.

So tell us about Boston getting having a bad last month Craig? How about losing to the Kraken x2, Flames x2, Isles and Caps in the last month by a combined score of 23-8?

What you won't see is a video of him going after Bostons backend, that's for sure. He's too busy kissing it.

 

[Fogelhund]

I stopped paying attention after it was 3-0. I had the game on, but yeah, wasn't paying much attention.

Here's what I did see, on our first PP, we were so bad that Boston almost scored right there, just brutal. We were lucky to escape but that wake up call was ignored and soon we were down 3-0, the shots on goal were what, 12-2 or something at one point and the game was as good as over.

I stand by what I said earlier, outshooting them after that means nothing, the game was basically over before we started.

It was just one game, beat them on Thursday and everyone will be happy once again. Or more to the point, beat them in game 1 of the playoffs and everyone will be happy again. Win the playoff series and people will be over the moon and saying now that we got that monkey off our backs, we're going all the way, oh wait, that was last year, never mind.

This team is the hottest team in hockey every now and then but so what? That has never translated into playoff success and I have to say, the glory of all those February/November runs we've had in the past wore off for me about a minute after they happened. I still remember Gilmour's speech to the fans before the playoffs in 1993, I still get goosebumps just thinking about it.

The real season starts in about 6 weeks, we'll see what happens then. I don't see much reason to believe it's not going to go the same way all these previous years have gone though, we'll see.

To me the key is the effort I see... we've seen when Matthews takes over games... He just seems to use his incredible talent, and wills them to success.... and that's great, and doesn't happen very often. Last night, it just didn't seem like they had enough compete. As you say the PP... a lack of attention to details. The 9-1 streak was great, but then I think they start to believe they are amazingly good, and then the effort drops, and this is what happens.

Even though we have a couple of holes, I think if this team was firing on all cylinders, and playing hard to a man, we could compete in a seven game series with anyone. But, they just don't play that way consistently.

Teams are going to lose games, that's no big deal... it's how they don't show up enough in the big games that are important... and sometimes don't show up for the lessor teams too.

 

[ACC1224]

Great timing.
After last nights disappointment we just got our renewal notice and playoff invoice.

Anyone who doesn't believe they want to go to the finals every year hasn't seen a playoff ticket invoice.

 

[Nineteen67]

Yes, the D isn't good enough, the bigger question being, is that even relevant?

Kind of, when asked about trade deadline needs I think it’s relevant to bring up the needs on D.

 

[myleafs]

Not from a hack so disingenuous.

So tell us about Boston getting having a bad last month Craig? How about losing to the Kraken x2, Flames x2, Isles and Caps in the last month by a combined score of 23-8?

What you won't see is a video of him going after Bostons backend, that's for sure. He's too busy kissing it.

So you dont agree with him? You think our D is sufficient?

 

[Nineteen67]

Not from a hack so disingenuous.

So tell us about Boston getting having a bad last month Craig? How about losing to the Kraken x2, Flames x2, Isles and Caps in the last month by a combined score of 23-8?

What you won't see is a video of him going after Bostons backend, that's for sure. He's too busy kissing it.

Did the guy ask him about Boston’s trade deadline needs?

 

[LEAFANFORLIFE23]

We may count errors differently .. when I watch from my 1st row blues i watch errors that cameras don't let you see on TV so unless you were at game you can't see them .. my errors include non puck related mistakes in gap control, shift changes, D positioning for outlets, D incorrect use of board and net positioning, net front errors, wall errors, plus stuff you see from camera related to puck possession .. we got completely manhandled and outplayed and all our goals against were completely self inflicted by out D core .. unless Sammy/Woll go Bobbo we are gone in 5 games

So you decided based off of ONE game, where they admittedly weren't great but it's ONE game that they will be out in 5?

Would you be saying the same thing they played the exact same way last night but instead of having 5 pucks hit the post and bounce out they bounce in? Or the puck that sat on the line goes in?

Because That's what last night was, it was a few bounces that didn't go their way, they could play that EXACT same game on Thursday but this time those pucks hit the post and go in and the result is different.

They are 9-2 in their last 11, I'm not panicing like you because they hit a few posts last night.

 

[Gary Nylund]

To me the key is the effort I see... we've seen when Matthews takes over games... He just seems to use his incredible talent, and wills them to success.... and that's great, and doesn't happen very often. Last night, it just didn't seem like they had enough compete. As you say the PP... a lack of attention to details. The 9-1 streak was great, but then I think they start to believe they are amazingly good, and then the effort drops, and this is what happens.

Even though we have a couple of holes, I think if this team was firing on all cylinders, and playing hard to a man, we could compete in a seven game series with anyone. But, they just don't play that way consistently.

Teams are going to lose games, that's no big deal... it's how they don't show up enough in the big games that are important... and sometimes don't show up for the lessor teams too.

Yup. We we're at our best, we've shown that we can play with anyone. But can we play at a high level for two months when the real games begin? The answer is clearly no, usually we can do it for about 6 games and that's about it.

Great timing.
After last nights disappointment we just got our renewal notice and playoff invoice.

Anyone who doesn't believe they want to go to the finals every year hasn't seen a playoff ticket invoice.

It's one thing to want to go. Being ready, able and willing to pay the price to get there, that's another thing entirely.

 

[Evilhomer]

I stopped paying attention after it was 3-0. I had the game on, but yeah, wasn't paying much attention.

Here's what I did see, on our first PP, we were so bad that Boston almost scored right there, just brutal. We were lucky to escape but that wake up call was ignored and soon we were down 3-0, the shots on goal were what, 12-2 or something at one point and the game was as good as over.

I stand by what I said earlier, outshooting them after that means nothing, the game was basically over before we started.

It was just one game, beat them on Thursday and everyone will be happy once again. Or more to the point, beat them in game 1 of the playoffs and everyone will be happy again. Win the playoff series and people will be over the moon and saying now that we got that monkey off our backs, we're going all the way, oh wait, that was last year, never mind.

This team is the hottest team in hockey every now and then but so what? That has never translated into playoff success and I have to say, the glory of all those February/November runs we've had in the past wore off for me about a minute after they happened. I still remember Gilmour's speech to the fans before the playoffs in 1993, I still get goosebumps just thinking about it.

The real season starts in about 6 weeks, we'll see what happens then. I don't see much reason to believe it's not going to go the same way all these previous years have gone though, we'll see.

It's the right attitude to have. Regular season games don't mean much other than determining playoff seeding. Get home ice advantage if you can, but otherwise the rest of the regular season doesn't matter much.

 

[PromisedLand]

Huh? I replied to a bunch of your posts last night, no? I'm not a big fan of posting during the game because it's usually a gong show in the gameday thread.

What you talking about?

GDTs are awesome with emotional roller coaster. I freakin' LOVE raw emotion in GDTs

 

[34]

This team is in big trouble. They can still miss the playoffs. Even if they do get in, they will get smashed in the first round.

Matthews and Nylander completely disappear against good teams. They have zero chance of beating Boston, NYR, Florida, Carolina or Tampa. They won’t win a game.

 

[Sypher04]

This team is in big trouble. They can still miss the playoffs. Even if they do get in, they will get smashed in the first round.

Matthews and Nylander completely disappear against good teams. They have zero chance of beating Boston, NYR, Florida, Carolina or Tampa. They won’t win a game.

If this isn’t sarcasm you should be go cheer for another team lol

 

[PromisedLand]

The easiest way to summarize this group's continued failure year after year:
They simply aren't.

Tampa got smoked by Columbus and realized they had to play nasty to win. They won.
Florida got called out by their coach, they started to play nasty and they went to a Cup final.

Competitive players realize that if what they're doing isn't working, they find a way. Any way. Even if it means nice guys playing dirty.
This core - none of them - have that. And that is why there is zero chance this group is going anywhere in the playoffs again this year, next year or the year after, as long as this core is here.

To be fair Keith Tkachuck called Panthers soft and other interesting things at the beginning; then Maurice doubled down on it and BOOM there was a response to that from the "Team".

When Barkov is playing dirty you know its not the same team anymore.

 

[PromisedLand]

Rielly is really not that good. They need to try to shed his 7.5M contract or whatever it is. He also can’t QB a PP worth a shit.

Leafs are the only PP in the league if am not mistaken with no point shot threat. In the playoffs, it becomes so predictable too. And PPs have ruined us so many times in the playoffs. And I actually love rielly

 

[Fogelhund]

Leafs are the only PP in the league if am not mistaken with no point shot threat. In the playoffs, it becomes so predictable too. And PPs have ruined us so many times in the playoffs. And I actually love rielly

Rielly is really not that good. They need to try to shed his 7.5M contract or whatever it is. He also can’t QB a PP worth a shit.

Noting, this is the #2 PP team in the league currently.

Second, Point shots are so overrated... their success rate is incredibly low, 1% with no traffic, 3% with traffic.... tips are another story, and you don't need a good shot for tips.

 

[Zybalto]

Saying the leafs outplayed the bruins last night as you have been doing in here is head scratching. Bruins were outclassing the leafs last night and after going up 3 the leafs turned it up a bit as they do. Its only one game and the leafs have been quite good lately so Im not too hard on them today but to act as if they were the better team last night is really reaching.

Only saying it was a back and forth game, which it was and which all the games they played have been.

Folks are making it seem like shots were 40-20 and the Leafs were run over or something and then we all get to be bridge jumpers in a PGT.

So you dont agree with him? You think our D is sufficient?

I'd like to add another dman for sure. It's not a good thing that Marner was used as a D. Health is actually a bigger worry for me and the decimated dcore the early part of the year also coincided with the worst Leaf team game.

Since December 23rd, the Leafs have allowed the fewest shots in the league 5v5 (3rd all situations) and is top 10 for all other 5v5 defensive numbers across the board. The Leafs have also beat a ton of good teams over that stretch. I don't mind talking about it but using Button as any kind of authority on anything just triggers me.

They just got Boosh in a yrade and Lily back from injury and Woll back from injury so let not start making huge pronouncements about a team that's been playing well, including defensively dealing with adversity.

Oh no, they lost....dropping to 13-4 on this run with wins against the Avs, Knights, Jets×2, Stars and Rangers.

They won't be able to beat any good team.......

 

[Evilhomer]

What you talking about?

GDTs are awesome with emotional roller coaster. I freakin' LOVE raw emotion in GDTs

The ledge-jumping when they go down a goal or two is a bit much for me.