Post-Game Talk: Leafs lose 4-2

[Cpt Maple Leaf]

I'm not basing my assessment on this one meaningless game. Nylander is a talented offensive player but his deficits are obvious and fairly well known.

The biggest issue I have with him is consistency. Especially as I said, on the back check. It's not as if I'm the first to state this.

It's not as glaring when his offense overshadows this. If he's at the wrong end of a season ending playoff goal though...

Nothing more frustrating than watching a half-assed effort on the back check, especially from a big kid with such talent.

 

[Gallagbi]

You do realize Winnipeg is also in the playoffs and didn't want to get bruised and broken?

Winnipeg is on a massive skid looking for momentum going into the playoffs and they didn't exactly look stellar.

 

[Marshy]

I see what you're saying, but they weren't until these last 2 games. I think after clinching the division, the coaching staff just told the players to chill. They know how important the games starting next week are.

We shall see.

 

[LastOne2100]

Winnipeg is on a massive skid looking for momentum going into the playoffs and they didn't exactly look stellar.

Right, because momentum going into the playoffs is important for everyone but the Leafs?

 

[egd27]

Yes you're absolutely right...it may not matter.

But they shouldve been up for the game to win...in case it DOES matter.

And the beginning of the conversation you've jumped into was completely about point one.

I am not arguing point two.

 

[CantLoseWithMatthews]

Complaining about effort level isn't a major issue? Come again?

the Leafs won their division for the first time in 20 years and have their highest point percentage ever. if you think this game indicates major effort issues, you need a bit of perspective

 

[LastOne2100]

the Leafs won their division for the first time in 20 years and have their highest point percentage ever. if you think this game indicates major effort issues, you need a bit of perspective

They are trying to win a cup. Not be the best Leaf team in 20 years because that's a terribly low bar.

 

[Leafsfan74]

PP is a major issue. Complaining about the effort level and results in these games is not.

I'd like to see more one timers from the point and a body in front. A few greasy goals and looks rather than the slow, predictable plays down low.

For me, key to PP is speed. Set up, pass around and rifle it fast. Don't succeed, reset the formation and do it again until you do.

Leafs seem uncertain, predictable and slow. All teams cheat down low, collapse as they expect the pass to Matthews.

Muzzin can fire the puck, he should take the opportunity once in awhile. Even a wrist shot works from time to time.

 

[CantLoseWithMatthews]

They are trying to win a cup. Not be the best Leaf team in 20 years because that's a terribly low bar.

this game wasn't for the cup

 

[Suntouchable13]

They are trying to win a cup. Not be the best Leaf team in 20 years because that's a terribly low bar.

I think it's possible that the coaching staff told the players to chill and take it easy.

 

[egd27]

I see what you're saying, but they weren't until these last 2 games. I think after clinching the division, the coaching staff just told the players to chill. They know how important the games starting next week are.

I hope so, or they just decided to do it themselves.

I can see both sides of the "chill" strategy, let's see how it pans out.

 

[Gallagbi]

Right, because momentum going into the playoffs is important for everyone but the Leafs?

I'd say our momentum was has been shown consistently over the past few weeks, months and season.

This was Winnipeg's first b2b win in a month and their first win vs. a playoff team over that span.

I also don't think Winnipeg was going nuts to impress or compete overly hard themselves, but the broadcast also noted how it seemed more important for Winnipeg to get this one

 

[LastOne2100]

I think it's possible that the coaching staff told the players to chill and take it easy.

If so, that's really a questionable decision from the coaching staff. You can be sure the top contenders who tore up the league going into the playoffs were not told to "take it easy" and that losses were acceptable.

We are trying to foster a winning culture.

 

[Legion34]

People are so worried about the seeding.

1.) it is NO given that we get final four
2.) there is no gaurantee being the highe seed would be better

what if it’s “Toronto Washington colorado Tampa”

i would rather play Washington.
You are either good enough or not. If we can’t beat colorado/florida/Carolina etc in the semis. We can’t beat them in the finals

 

[Marshy]

the Leafs won their division for the first time in 20 years and have their highest point percentage ever. if you think this game indicates major effort issues, you need a bit of perspective

Don't take your foot off the gas. Vegas didn't. Colorado didn't. Let's see who played it right.

Tell me about perspective when you watched the last Habs-Leafs playoff series. I did.

 

[justloveleafs]

Total aside peeps.

We have such a good team. Really fine team.

This was not an important game. In fact, I would have liked to see Rittich play

Pretend, all of you, that you took on a position of 20 million dollars of TSLA for a flip.

Have I done that. UGHHH, maybe.

But Jack Campbell, Fred Andersen. These guys take big time flips.

I really want all of you, to stomach, one day, what these guys go through.

Its thrilling for sure. But their wives don't really ever get it. Or ever understand or tolerate it.

This game was nothing for us

Literally just the boys, skating, airing it out.

Good energy for the boys, I REALLY, don't want to hear about how my man, Jack Campbell, performed over the last five games.

Lets enjoy, the series against montreal. Hey, they are not going to roll over Not even close.

But, could be a lot of fun. War baby. Its going to be war.

Anyone consider what Winnipeg and Edmonton are going to do to each other. That is going to be a total war.

 

[blue stick]

just glad nobody was injured, Go Leafs!

 

[leafsfan5]

That is not a fact. Teams are re-seeded leaving the division so being 4th versus 6th can absolutely matter.

Who cares? Why are people so obsessed with avoiding Colorado/Vegas? Come final 4 you may avoid them and congratulations, you could get the defending cup champions who are absolutely stacked in Tampa. Every team in the final 4 will be good

 

[Menzinger]

I see what you're saying, but they weren't until these last 2 games. I think after clinching the division, the coaching staff just told the players to chill. They know how important the games starting next week are.

It should be pretty obvious the entire team was going at maybe 60% effort at best. And that it wasn't a coincidence....

Since clinching the division the only thing that matters is game 1 against the Habs. They just needed to ride thing s out to that point without losing anyone to some stupid play or dumb accident (which they managed to do).

 

[Suntouchable13]

Don't take your foot off the gas. Vegas didn't. Colorado didn't. Let's see who played it right.

Tell me about perspective when you watched the last Habs-Leafs playoff series. I did.

Should we look at the bigger picture and see that their record to finish the season, after the little 0-3-2 blip, was 7-1-2? Or that they are 0-1-1 in the last 2 games? What should we put more emphasis on?

 

[BudForLife]

And the beginning of the conversation you've jumped into was completely about point one.

I am not arguing point two.

Ok, sorry, my bad.

All I was trying to point out is that it never hurts to just take care of business.

 

[LastOne2100]

Who cares? Why are people so obsessed with avoiding Colorado/Vegas? Come final 4 you may avoid them and congratulations, you could get the defending cup champions who are absolutely stacked in Tampa. Every team in the final 4 will be good

I am not obsessed with avoiding them - I am simply not sure this team can get through them with the current culture of showing up when they feel like it.

 

[Marshy]

Should we look at the bigger picture and see that their record to finish the season, after the little 0-3-2 blip, was 7-1-2? Or that they are 0-1-1 in the last 2 games? What should we put more emphasis on?

See my last post. Tell me where you're confused. I thought I was pretty clear.

 

[Pandemonia]

You're a bright guy, you get it perfectly.

Translation: You agree with me.

 

[LastOne2100]

Should we look at the bigger picture and see that their record to finish the season, after the little 0-3-2 blip, was 7-1-2? Or that they are 0-1-1 in the last 2 games? What should we put more emphasis on?

I expect you're right and this is insignificant. But maybe this turns into a losing skid - of which we'd had some even in this fantastic season.

I get that it's certainly not that important, and definitely nothing to be losing sleep over, but I certainly think the team would've had more confidence being 2-0 or even 1-1 instead of 0-2 going out against bad opponents.

A lot of the game is mental, and even this team has shown that it can be fragile if things aren't going right.