Post-Game Talk: Leafs lose 4-2

[Scott r]

Guaranteed first round exit

 

[Pi]

I think the issue is when you have a playoff underachiever like the Leafs, the regular season doesn’t matter when they win. But it matters if they lose. And how they lose.

It’s a weird situation, sounds unfair but let me explain. In the regular season you want them to win in high volume, show dominance, show efficiency. But it doesn’t guarantee that the playoff gear is there until playoffs.

On the other hand, losing matters when there’s a pretty clear pattern of losing certain play styles against lower seed teams with talent disparities. Shows you they’re falling into someone else’s asymmetrical play style and could be vulnerable. Especially vs a good team with the same plan. Doesn’t mean anything either but isn’t helpful if you’re looking for a big tune up.

I feel the opposite way. I watch marquee games this season and haven't watched every game...I rarely get upset whether they win or lose because I know any single game isn't going to change my mind or my outlook towards the team.

They just need to show up starting Game 1 of the playoffs and realize that they only way they shut their own fans and haters up is by winning in the playoffs.

The tune up to the playoffs doesn't concern me at all. They can flop to the playoffs or they can win 18 games on the trot heading into the playoffs, and I would feel the same way.

I think it's an even bigger letdown if they were to go on a run before the playoffs begin only to go cold in the playoffs. I'd much rather they work through different lineups, different combinations, give some ice time to Knies when he signs, Abruzzese etc. Work Muzzin back into the line up etc.

There are teams that are much worse than the Leafs have ever been in the last 5 years that have won multiple playoff rounds...The absolutely mediocre Arizona Coyotes won solely because of Bryzgalov and Mike Smith back in the day and made it to the WCF IIRC so there is no question they can win, they just have to do it.

Getting mad or being disappointed because they lost game 64 of an 82 game season after outplaying and outshooting the opponent 50-17 with our 3rd string goalie in net isn't something that makes sense to me.

 

[Beyonder91]

@Morgs

As much as you tried to defend him he knows he messed up.
He also scored an important goal.
Yes, we can mention both plays.

 

[BertCorbeau]

Either will do

Flames are playing some good fire wagon hockey in this one ... The Oilers are the Oilers, that defense Haha

 

[Cleetus]

Either will do

I will take Calgary's Tempo please

 

[Dragao6]

JFJ wasn't even allowed a rebuild. Teacher's pension plan went out and got Burke. Dubas walked into the best situation any GM would give an arm and leg and has set this franchise back years because of his stupidity. on top of that he has a rookie coach that doesn't know how to deploy his players, make in game adjustments or plan for his opponents.

Leafs gonna get cleaned out in the playoffs in 4 or 5 games regardless of who their opponent is.

Still wished we would have kept our picks instead of the gio trade
Gio is good and will help but this team isn’t going anywhere
He was always coming next season and it better be cheap but should have kept those picks

Those 2nds have been used to get prospects like knies!
Have been wasting picks on this team that isn’t built right for a few years now
Making same mistakes Burke made when he took over
Bad evaluation of what u got with no light at the end of the tunnel that I can see

 

[BallardEra]

Just saw that Simmonds has 0 goals in his last 30 games and 1 goal in his last 37 games. Didn’t know it was that bad for him.

 

[LastOne2100]

I will take Calgary's Tempo please

Imagine making it to the playoffs while everything is clicking and you're on a tear, instead of sputtering in with a flat tire after riding a hot start to the season like we have the last few years.

 

[BertCorbeau]

If you come to expect the Leafs to find any way to lose the game, you won't be disappointed

 

[Rude Dog]

Guaranteed first round exit

so confident? Make some money and bet your life savings. I prefer to wait to see how it plays out.

 

[riffle]

I am not sure I agree. Sure, Nylander hasn't been performing, but no one outside of the first and third lines has been.

Calling out Nylander specifically and letting the vets off the hook is lazy, spineless coaching. Man up Keefe and hold others accountable too.

Willy needs this. Some players don't need calling out. He is one who does. I would expect to see not good Will tomorrow night, but GREAT Will.

He's the most polarizing player on this team by a mile. Always will have people excuse the inexcusable with him. Just how it is. Not saying you're one of his defenders, just that he has legions who will turn the other way when he makes lazy, purposeless plays.

One of the most frustrating players I've ever seen. So, so, so talented. Equally passionless most of the time.

 

[fahad203]

Still wished we would have kept our picks instead of the gio trade
Gio is good and will help but this team isn’t going anywhere
He was always coming next season and it better be cheap but should have kept those picks

Those 2nds have been used to get prospects like knies!
Have been wasting picks on this team that isn’t built right for a few years now
Making same mistakes Burke made when he took over
Bad evaluation of what u got with no bright light in the future

Gio trade was a good trade. Exactly the player we need
But we need 2 more of him

Gio will coem through as a very good player. But the fact is, you could have Lidstorm and Bourque but if you don't have at least NHL calibre goaltending, you are not winning anything

There are no gurantees they would have gotten you Knies. For the record Knies hasn't amounted to anything yet. Let's not get carried away
Also, it's because we have Knies we can depart with 2nd rounders

 

[BertCorbeau]

Just saw that Simmonds has 0 goals in his last 30 games and 1 goal in his last 38 games. Didn’t know it was that bad for him.

He's sluggish out there. So behind the play. He and Spezza just shouldn't be paired together, not enough speed. Spezza is looking really ineffective in that stretch too. He'd benefit from faster wingers that could turn over pucks and open up space.

Blackwell-Spezza-Anderson would be a nice line.

 

[57 Years No Cup]

That applies to every team in the league then. Only 1 team has won the Cup in the last 2 years, and with blatant cheating.

How did they cheat? Surely you're not talking about legal circumvention of the salary cap?

 

[fahad203]

so confident? Make some money and bet your life savings. I prefer to wait to see how it plays out.

You must be a new Leafs fan
I have been waiting for 20 years for a series win

So far we got was 4-1 collapse against Boston
3-2 loss to Columbus playing 5 games at home
3-1 loss defecit against Habs

 

[Divine]

How did they cheat? Surely you're not talking about legal circumvention of the salary cap?

Nope, talking about illegal circumvention of the salary cap.

Purposely kept a healthy player out until Game 1 of the playoffs, even though he was practicing with the team for a month.

They literally could not afford to enter him into the lineup if they wanted to, so I don't know how you can deem him unfit to play when he couldn't even legally play when 100% healthy due to how invested they were to bring him in during the playoffs.

 

[hotpaws]

I am not sure I agree. Sure, Nylander hasn't been performing, but no one outside of the first and third lines has been.

Calling out Nylander specifically and letting the vets off the hook is lazy, spineless coaching. Man up Keefe and hold others accountable too.

playing favorites is how a coach loses the room

no idea why he needed to single out Willie unless it's to deflect away from JT's poor play

 

[All Mod Cons]

All we need now is the PP to stop scoring and go like 0-40 and we've managed to perfect a Leafs season again.

 

[2 Slick]

I just hope Campbell can get it together so that the first round is entertaining to watch at least. Having to try and watch Mrazek lose his posts in games that matter won't make me a happy camper. Take ownership, Jack. Not .940%+, just .915% to .920% which is what you normally do.

 

[Dragao6]

Gio trade was a good trade. Exactly the player we need
But we need 2 more of him

Gio will coem through as a very good player. But the fact is, you could have Lidstorm and Bourque but if you don't have at least NHL calibre goaltending, you are not winning anything

There are no gurantees they would have gotten you Knies. For the record Knies hasn't amounted to anything yet. Let's not get carried away
Also, it's because we have Knies we can depart with 2nd rounders

U kinda proved my point thanks

 

[cupcrazyman]

Okay now watch us beat the Panthers and Bruins lol

Only on my Playstation.

 

[Pi]

The humiliation word is so f***ing over used here on this board. Give it a rest. They lost, but it wasn’t a humiliation. MTL literally won on a questionable tripping call. We had 50 shots on goal. Obviously you want them to win, but it’s the NHL, shit teams are going to win. Leafs are not going to go 82-0. Not every loss to a shitty team qualifies as humiliation.

The biggest issue I have with some of the people here is that they want to post: "See I told you, the Leafs are not a playoff winning team" every time they lose to shitty teams but disappear when they beat Boston, Tampa, Colorado, St. Louis, Carolina etc.

If you are so sure they won't win in the playoffs, just wait till the playoffs begin and when they lose, come hear and gloat about it...

Just don't put so much weight on every single regular season game because that's just going to leave you disappointed.

We've got Boston, Tampa and Florida in the next week. We could go 3-0 and my opinion of this team would not change one bit and it is: I don't give a shit what you accomplish in the regular season, show me what you can do in the playoffs"

 

[CelticDruid]

About time Keefe called out Tavares for once , but he wouldn't want to hurt Tavares feelings. Keefe and his Junior B post game briefs.

 

[fahad203]

I just hope Campbell can get it together so that the first round is entertaining to watch at least. Having to try and watch Mrazek lose his posts in games that matter won't make me a happy camper. Take ownership, Jack. Not .940%+, just .915% to .920% which is what you normally do.

I mean he had 10 years to get it together. Is one season really who he is?

 

[LastOne2100]

Willy needs this. Some players don't need calling out. He is one who does. I would expect to see not good Will tomorrow night, but GREAT Will.

He's the most polarizing player on this team by a mile. Always will have people excuse the inexcusable with him. Just how it is.

One of the most frustrating players I've ever seen. So, so, so talented. Equally passionless most of the time.

Honestly I feel for him, and I can definitely see why he would become so unmotivated. He has been the easy scapegoat for multiple coaches now. When he does good things, he rarely gets praise, just skewered on every mistake or bad game. Other players having struggles get coddled (Marner earlier in the year, Tavares recently), he gets thrown under the bus. He plays HUGE for us in the playoffs, but that doesn't help get him any rope at all.

If I was him I'd be praying I get traded.

Also - if Nylander had someone who could actually shoot a puck on his line we'd be falling all over him. At least 2-3 insanely smart passes a game fanned on or muffined by his lines mates. That's gotta be demoralizing as well.