Post-Game Talk: Leafs lose 4-2

[Willchel Marlynder]

Are you kidding me? Nylander literally lost us this game because he is so afraid being hit that he throws puck over the glass as soon as he sees van player started to approach. The player was not even close to him.

It's a bad penalty to take, but so is high-sticking someone in the O zone. We didn't lose because of that penalty just like we didn't lose because of the Matthews penalty. Both contributed to the loss just like every unsuccessful PK contributes to every loss. Could have used a timely save from Andersen and the first line didn't look great again. We looked good for most of the game, just need to keep the foot on the gas for all 60 minutes.

 

[Leaf4Life79]

No excuses. Leafs got humiliated and swept. Andersen sucks.

Which is the reason why they lost.. yup, he sucks.

 

[DitchMarner]

Ugh... I didn't really care that they lost to VAN on Thursday, but this loss is hard to swallow. Losing two games in a row to a shitty team isn't good.

The top line was atrocious tonight. What the f*** was with that line's passing and puck management?

 

[Ciao]

Vancouver is much improved from earlier in the season and Demko is giving them exceptional confidence that they can overcome the quantity of giveaways that plague them. Thought they worked hard a checked well in both games. Closed time and space for Toronto and made the Leafs top line look really pedestrian.

Looking forward to the alcohol induced hot takes in this thread about how the sky is falling... Despite the team having obvious flaws and simply coming back down to Earth a little bit.

I thought the Canucks played pretty well, too.

 

[ECYCLE]

Thornton has been fantastic apart from a couple games....why would you want to take him off the top line?

The topline has been missing for both games and I don't think Matthews is the issue. Marner needs a swift kick in the rear and get focused again.

 

[Stephen]

But, a few games back, they we're incredible... I am pretty sure AM's wrist is bothering him, I saw him take ONE decent shot all game... rest of the game he was not in his usual spots, passing the puck when he normally would have taken the shot.. meh.. Andersen is done for, ill put 5 on it, that he won't be back next season... wonder who they will go after.. Campbell is for sure better then him!

The alternative to being hurt is he's just not playing well and out of sync. I personally prefer that to the idea that he's injured.

Marner is a co-play driver on that line and he was hogging a lot of shots and leaving the puck in horrible places all game. Thornton is on battery saver mode.

That said, I don't like it when Matthews gets the rough treatment out there. We need Simmonds and another out there to make sure liberties aren't being taken on AM34. It's not progressive to say this, but if a team thinks it's a wise investment to cross check our best player half a dozen times a night, there should be someone to give that treatment right back to their best player tenfold.

 

[frizzer1]

I agree that Marner tried to do too much but that was because with Matthews wrist injury Marner had to become the shooter on that line.

 

[The Legend]

I do wonder how much of the lack of energy is on Keef and his ice time distribution, he is running his top forwards 20+ minutes most nights in a condensed schedule. Doesn't take a genius to figure out they will be tired.

They had 41 shots playing their 5th game in 8 days.

 

[Gallagbi]

Anybody else loving the bipolar nature of this fanbase recently?

Rarely does a team get this far into the season without having their offense dry up for a spell and running into a hot goalie, on a desperate team. This is simply a typical mid-season hurdle that Toronto has to overcome. They need to get their offense back on track. That's how they're built. That's where their money is invested and that's their preferred style of play... I will say this. They need to add a top 6 forward. They're currently playing with ZERO legitimate top 6 left wings now that Hyman is playing on the 3rd line.

We need a trade for an offensive upgrade. Matthews needs to get healthy and the team needs to keep working through this typical midseason slump in play. This is still a very immature team among its best players, and they struggle to handle success at times.

You must be new, we're always like this

 

[RaptorLeaf13]

By the looks of it. I think Awesome goaltending by the other team’s goalie can kill the Leafs. I have noticed when the Leafs get frustrated to score goals, they get off their game plan and things don’t end well for the leafs. They completely choke and make bad decisions with the puck. Brings back memories of the Columbus Blue Jackets. I wish we had a true elite goaltender to make stops like Demko did. I have no confidence in Andersen. I think Campbell should be the starter when he comes back. This is what the Leafs are missing. I am not blaming Andersen for the loss, but consistency and timely saves are needed from him. I also see over the years his game has declined. Please DO NOT resign him. He is a complete waste of money.

 

[Mitch Matthews]

This team will never go anywhere with Freddy. He needs to be shipped out

 

[wingman75]

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

I feel that was a fluke play. I didn't mind it, looked to me like he was trying to headman to Kerfoot along the boards and just got under it. Bad luck.

I do take issue with the lazy and sloppy play through out the game though, not by Nylander, thought he was very good tonight.

The team played so smart in the EDM games, b/c they knew if they just gave the puck up they were f***ed with McDavid and Drai ready to pounce... I guess they though the Canucks were a junior team? Because they definitely gave a junior effort... the no look passes in dangerous areas, soft on the puck all over the ice...

Also, wtf is with our PK? It is absolute trash.

 

[Leaf4Life79]

I'd give it a period before switching up the lines next game. See if the top line clicks, if not,

Thornton - Matthews - Willy
Hyman - JT - Marner
Engvall - Kerfoot - Mik

nah puck that..

Hyman-Matthews-Marner
Thornton-JT-Willy
Engvall-Kerfoot-Soup

 

[Martin Skoula]

Teams should also be picking up on the fact that if you draw us in the playoffs, make sure to turn the temp up in the building and get the ice as bad as you can get away with. You'll score off bad bounces while we struggle to complete a 5 foot pass.

I think the top line hit double digits in falls without contact today.

 

[phillipmike]

Sucks, these were games they could have won but Vancouver played well.

Cant win them all. A little adversity cant hurt, they got to learn to battle back. Plus they built up enough of a cushion where they are still in the drivers seat.

 

[Gallagbi]

I agree that Marner tried to do too much but that was because with Matthews wrist injury Marner had to become the shooter on that line.

Weird how both of his brutal plays were silly passes

 

[Ciao]

RIELLY is the scapegoat for looking like complete ass on that 3rd goal.

The puck got caught in his skate.

I really don't know if that was a bad play or just bad luck?

 

[hockeyes]

They had 41 shots playing their 5th game in 8 days.

Sure, but they were also visibly exhausted and made a ton of mistakes. The 41 shots speaks more to how terrible Vancouver is than how good our guys played.

 

[Man Bear Pig]

Which is the reason why they lost.. yup, he sucks.

Maybe he does suck. But where are our big boys? Marner and Matthews haven't been doing anything.

 

[BertCorbeau]

I disagree. A team that wants to be a Stanley Cup champion should want to bring their A game as habit and as who they really are, not play down a level and hopefully escape with 2 points. (Essentially cut corners).

Thing is I think the effort wasn’t far off, the execution was.

I didn’t see anything in their game tonight that causes me concern. Yes they need to be better in some areas for sure but it’s not as bad as it’s being portrayed here. Not happy about it but slumps happen in the season.

Hughson and Simpson did their best jinxes by saying the Canucks hasn’t come back in the third all year and the Leafs have been near perfect.

Shit happens. If this carries forward into the Jets series I’ll start to raise an eyebrow.

 

[Leaf4Life79]

The alternative to being hurt is he's just not playing well and out of sync. I personally prefer that to the idea that he's injured.

Marner is a co-play driver on that line and he was hogging a lot of shots and leaving the puck in horrible places all game. Thornton is on battery saver mode.

Fair enough... I think Joe is not 100% either. But agreed with your thoughts on Marner.

 

[34]

Leafs can still miss the playoffs with a bad losing streak here. I won’t be surprised.

 

[ViewsFromThe6ix]

Did you watch the game tonight? He was fanning on passes, two steps behind, just awful

Okay, that's one game. Again, how does that discount what he did for the games he played prior?

Thornton signed here to play with Matthews and Marner. He's not getting taken off for one bad game.

 

[Superstar]

I disagree. A team that wants to be a Stanley Cup champion should want to bring their A game as habit and as who they really are, not play down a level and hopefully escape with 2 points. (Essentially cut corners).

I was being specific on their ability to beat Vancouver, and that they didn't need their A game to beat them, but crap the bed with some terrible loose hockey and giveaways even in a tie game midway in the 3rd period tonight...Vancouver is not exactly a juggernaut, yet they swept the Leafs in these 2 games...didn't even come away with a single point.

 

[Gallagbi]

nah puck that..

Hyman-Matthews-Marner
Thornton-JT-Willy
Engvall-Kerfoot-Soup

I'd rather see Willy with Matthews right now. Matthew and Marner look out of sync and it's a good opportunity to get some variety with the big 4