Post-Game Talk: Leafs lose 4-2

[SeaOfBlue]

Played a meh game tonight, still thought it was a winnable game and our top line was awful tonight. It seemed like the team couldn't connect with each other and every play was sloppy. Don't understand the Andersen hate for todays game, first goal was back door tap in on the PK, second goal was a point shot tipped in and lastly the third goal was just a nice shot.

In saying that our PK needs to find a way to improve, last couple playoff rounds its killed us and its 15th in the league right now.

Our PK literally did not give up a goal against Columbus... And actually scored a goal too.

Andersen has been the biggest problem on our PK. Maybe not in this game, but in general.

 

[meefer]

if I went to the range id be swinging like Bryson DeChambeau lol, take the frustration out with some hard swings lol

Based on today's efforts, Bryson ain't worrying about me. Though, truth be told, a couple went down the middle. A cool 34* today and the swinging is easy.

 

[Munber1]

 

[Steve776]

Holy hell stay away from Canucks twitter.

Stay away from Twitter period.

 

[GBLeaf]

Demko steals two on the bounce for the Canucks.

Just have to take it on the chin and move on.

 

[BTP]

We need adversity. This is good in the long run.

 

[horner]

Hyman or Mik with Marner and Mathews

Thornton doesn't have the energy for top line minutes.

Love the 2nd line

 

[Welsh Maple Leaf]

Leafs managed to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory as we've seen them do way too many f***ing times.

Let's pause all the best team in Canada talk until they can handle a bottom feeder again.

Or we could look at the standings.

Bad 2 games. Get a grip.

 

[Didalee Hed]

Holy hell stay away from Canucks twitter.

How do you get there?

 

[JayfromNB1219]

Nylander is a veteran now .unacceptable flipping that puck over tye glass .
Lazy play .
U eat that puck first

Did you even see the play lol? There was no reason to “eat” the puck along the boards he had very little pressure on him, you could see he was trying to soft bank it off the glass for Kerfoot to jump around the D and skate on to...the puck bounced on him it’s bad luck

That rule needs to be refined though...how do you call delay of game on a play like that with no pressure on the puck carrier basically right at the blue line

 

[JayfromNB1219]

Don't get mad but expectations may be a tad high. Playing in, arguable, the weakest division in the league. There is no bite to this dog. Fancy skaters and shooters. Great at the wide open game. When they were bottled up like the last 2 games and forechecked, they are mediocre. Keep saying they are not a playoff team.

Over here acting like the central division are world beaters lmao
Tampa (Legit)
Florida (LOL)
Carolina (meh)
Chicago (LOL)
Columbus (meh)
Nashville (fire sale)
Dallas (old)
Detroit (still a few years away)

 

[makbeer]

Those blaming Freddy obviously didn’t watch the game.

he wasn’t great but he wasn’t trash.

the biggest sieve on the ice was Reilly by a mile. How does this guy avoid the criticism for so long. He was literally just standing there looking lost half the time.

 

[scotian1]

What I found alarming was the so many unforced turnovers that they had. The ultimate being the blind pass from Marner to the Canucks that led to a goal but there were many, many more as well. Perhaps they were a result of being tired. Whatever the cause, they can't play like that/ There were so many weak clearing attempts in their own end that ended right on Vancouver sticks.

 

[Cor]

I might be the Minority here , don’t know ?
Fred’s not perfect , but he’s one of the better ones in my opinion ..
But I don’t think tonight was on him , sorry folks , we played poorly everywhere

We actually didn’t play that poorly. At 5v5, we actually had the higher xGF. We controlled most of the even strength player.

Overall, Canucks were slighter higher, due to the extra powerplay.

This is just another game, where the opponent’s excepted goal total is in the low 2 range, and Freddy let’s in 4. Another game where Freddy isn’t the better goalie.

The Hoglander goal needs to be a save. He’s fully square to the shooter. Muzzin and Hyman clogged the two passing options.

The JT Miller goal, Freddy took a low danger shot attempt, and kicked it straight to the slot and gave Miller a tap in. Defense could’ve been stronger there, but Freddy’s control needs to be better.

Other two goals were fluke powerplay calls. Our PK needs to improve. This is why everyone is drooling over Taylor Hall, but all I want is a Calle Jarnkrok type player who is a real good PK player but can also play 2LW/RW for us

 

[Notsince67]

A simple zone entry for a tired line isn't "high reward". And a high IQ player will know when to take those chances, but Marner has always struggled with his decision making.

Creativity is sky high, production is fantastic, but he needs to identify better

Interesting premise. 100% laughable but interesting nevertheless

 

[The Hanging Jowl]

What I found alarming was the so many unforced turnovers that they had. The ultimate being the blind pass from Marner to the Canucks that led to a goal but there were many, many more as well. Perhaps they were a result of being tired. Whatever the cause, they can't play like that/ There were so many weak clearing attempts in their own end that ended right on Vancouver sticks.

Exactly. I was wondering if there was something wrong with the ice there were so many unforced turnovers, errant passes and mishandled passes. It was painful and frustrating to watch. I think Keefe needs to work on reacting to a strong forecheck because imo, that's how both Calgary and Vancouver beat us.

I think a strong forecheck is also especially effective against our reversal play. For 3 years I've been pointing out to people the no-look passes from the corners and half boards aren't accidents, it's literally the team system Babcock introduced from day 1 and that they've almost perfected now. When one of those passes goes bad, it's not the passer at fault - he's doing what's being asked. It's whoever was supposed to be there to accept the reversal. I wish more people would realize this and stop automatically blaming the passer. Anyway, the point I'm making is when the other team constantly forechecks, it makes it harder to make those reversals work. I honestly think that's the scouting report on the Leafs right now. It's up to Keefe to adjust mid-game and have a backup plan when it's not working.

 

[Captain Crunch]

Our PK literally did not give up a goal against Columbus... And actually scored a goal too.

Andersen has been the biggest problem on our PK. Maybe not in this game, but in general.

Sorry, I disagree. Although I don’t feel Andersen is the goalie to take us all the way, I believe our PK is not good enough to win a Cup, let alone go on a deep playoff run. The PK being good against a somewhat offensively challenged Columbus team does not inspire much confidence.
Also, I don’t see us challenging the true Cup contenders (Tampa, Vegas to name a few) with Rielly being considered our #1 dman. He actually seems to have gotten worse in his own zone.

 

[ShaneFalco]

Holy hell stay away from Canucks twitter.

Yeah I saw that

 

[ottomaddox]

Joe/Matt/Marn tried to rush their offence too much. They either tried to score on the rush, tried to be cute, or passed once too many.

They'll get it right.

They can't win them all. Toronto was on an amazing pace, but it's impossible to sustain that. Most of the best teams only win 62% of the time. As long as they are on the upswing as the playoffs approach. That's all I care about.

 

[DarkKnight]

I’m so whatever about this two game stint and people throwing out the criticism will be eating crow once again. Rinse, repeat.

All teams, players, ebb and flow. We see it every year and yet we seemingly can’t stop over reacting. Is it the team or the followers?

 

[Leaftors]

Imagine what it wwould be like if we walked the Canadian division, only lost 7 games in the regular season to make it to the second round and lose.

two losses and guys are saying Keefe is like Babcock LOL

 

[Suntouchable13]

Did you even see the play lol? There was no reason to “eat” the puck along the boards he had very little pressure on him, you could see he was trying to soft bank it off the glass for Kerfoot to jump around the D and skate on to...the puck bounced on him it’s bad luck

That rule needs to be refined though...how do you call delay of game on a play like that with no pressure on the puck carrier basically right at the blue line

The rule is fine the way it is. Letting the refs make a judgment call on this is no bueno.

 

[Mess]

Lucky I didn't bet any money on this game, as I would have lost, as I thought this was a safe bet with very little chance Leafs drop 2 against the lowly Canucks who entered the series -6 games below .500 hockey.

 

[Warden of the North]

Most irritating game of the season by a long shot.

I'll leave it at that

 

[hullsy47]

Did you even see the play lol? There was no reason to “eat” the puck along the boards he had very little pressure on him, you could see he was trying to soft bank it off the glass for Kerfoot to jump around the D and skate on to...the puck bounced on him it’s bad luck

That rule needs to be refined though...how do you call delay of game on a play like that with no pressure on the puck carrier basically right at the blue line