Post-Game Talk: Leafs lose 4-2

[Stephen]

Rielly is a different story, whether he was back or pinching at all shouldn't determine whether it was a trip or not.

Rielly, Matthews and the refs would all get primary, secondary and tertiary assists on that Byron goal. A good lesson to be learned from that play is the defense shouldn't pinch/rotate down unless there's someone who can rotate in for them, and if your defenseman is already roving, the forward should have presence of mind not to take the puck back down the ice because the point is open. But this happens so often and we get burned so often on this counter rush that I'm resigned to the fact that it won't ever be coached out of them. Because these possession plays are encouraged by the coaching staff who have done the risk calculation and feel like this is a net benefit.

 

[therealkoho]

At least someone is not happy and patting themselves on the back for a job well done because they outshot Montreal.

Spinny McSpinner, good one

 

[ULF_55]

Well I think Bunting - Matthews - Marner caters to team wins.

We shouldn't be splitting up one of the best lines in the league just because Nylander is playing like ass. Nylander shouldn't be rewarded with Matthews. Put him on the 3rd line against weaker competition and make him figure it out with guys like Kerfoot and Spezza on his line. He knows how to play with Kerfoot and it shouldn't be too hard for him to learn how to use Spezza.

Hey, if things are going well then there is no reason to make changes period.

Interestingly, Nylander 10 points in the last 10 games.

 

[NMacrules]

Yeah I doubt wright becomes better than Hughes. Man Canadian media loves hyping Canadian prospects to the moon

You mean like they hyped Hughes? Because they did.

 

[therealkoho]

Hey, if things are going well then there is no reason to make changes period.

Interestingly, Nylander 10 points in the last 10 games.

It's the miracle of christmas

 

[Bluelines]

Looking forward to post season changes. Getting rid of the President, gm, coach, marner/nylander trade as this team has no heart and just flashes of skill which are non existent in playoffs. They can’t even hit properly expect for Boosh.

Pretty easy trade to make Josh Anderson for Willie. Anderson is a 20 goal a year guy, Willie can get you 30 goals. Anserson is 5.5 mil per year, Willie 6.9 mil per. Andersen costs you about $275k per goal, Willie is about $232k per goal. Anderson hits like a dump truck, Willie hits like a ... butterfly ...

 

[TheGreatOne11]

On to the next game!

Some of y’all need to have a drink and take it easyy. You’d think you’ve bet your mortgage on the team or something lol.

No mortgage, just my sanity. But in all honesty I'm still not over losing that series last year and I'm still half in half out on this season, not even close to as invested as I was last year, so the pain just passes through me with each loss a bit easier I guess.

This is a big year for me as a fan, if we go nowhere again it may just be the final nail in the coffin for me to only watch the playoffs and stopping keeping up to date with the team.

This team has been a disappointment the entire time I've been a fan, fondest memories of are that run with Sundin and the old boys club, everything else has been tragic, and now even with so much "talent" on the team we haven't got out of the first round in what? Almost 20 years I think? God that's pathetic.

 

[Atomos2]

A team that deserved to win but is getting unlucky with goaltending? Yes

So the Columbus argument. The playoffs aren’t for moral victories

 

[JL17]

Matthews wants to play with Marner and so that’s why Keefe doesn’t cater to Nylander and move Marner to play with Tavares

If you move Marner off Matthews line and Matthews loses the Rocket by a goal or two … that’s not wise

That mentality will never allow this team to be successful. Should be more concerned about the team winning and advancing then losing the rocket.

 

[ULF_55]

No mortgage, just my sanity. But in all honesty I'm still not over losing that series last year and I'm still half in half out on this season, not even close to as invested as I was last year, so the pain just passes through me with each loss a bit easier I guess.

This is a big year for me as a fan, if we go nowhere again it may just be the final nail in the coffin for me to only watch the playoffs and stopping keeping up to date with the team.

This team has been a disappointment the entire time I've been a fan, fondest memories of are that run with Sundin and the old boys club, everything else has been tragic, and now even with so much "talent" on the team we haven't got out of the first round in what? Almost 20 years I think? God that's pathetic.

I guess the thing with this team, compared to the post expansion Leafs is that some of those post expansions made you think they could win something. Heck, some of those teams won a round in the playoffs.

The Best Of A Bad Lot

The Top Four Leaf Teams Since Expansion

www.pensionplanpuppets.com

Do we feel any of the Matthews era teams are even close to making this list?

 

[AvroArrow]

I think what you are trying to say is that an excellent goaltending performance can mask other issues or even be the difference maker when it comes down to a tight 7 game series.

Montreal last year was an anomaly; it is rare that you see a team like Montreal get so badly outplayed by Toronto and Vegas and have their goalie be able to steal that many games for them. Not saying it never happens, and that you don't need a goalie to come up big in some moments, but if you are betting on your goalie being the main reason why you win a series, then you are likely not winning many series.

Contrarily, you can't have a goalie who craps the bed in series clinching games like ours consistently do as well. We have seen great goalies crap the bed, and we have seen rookies go on a major tear.

What we don't see very often is teams winning when they are constantly getting caved in possession, or don't have high end skill leading the way offensively. They always hit a wall. It may not be the first round, or even the 2nd round, but it comes eventually. And short of a miracle, it won't change. The Leafs don't need a miracle to win a series... They mostly need guys to play to their expectations and have a goalie who doesn't crumble under the pressure at the worst possible time.

Pretty much this.

 

[Antropovsky]

Tell that to Boston who has one of the most aggressive blue lines when it comes to activating.

Are they exactly the same systems?

I have coached in the past, obviously not high level, but the skilled teams typically started strong, but the well coached teams always finished strong. Leafs seem to always start strong but fade off at the end. Probably a combination of heart/leadership and coaching.

 

[Captain Crunch]

I guess that could work if we were playing a team that has 2 really good defensive lines. If I was the coach I would try to make a version of an hbk line and let willy just run wild on weaker lines. Tavares works better with grinders. Like a poor mans crosby.

Bunting. Matthews. Marner
Kase. Tavares. Blackwell.
Spezza. Kerfoot. Nylander.
Kampf Line would be how I would go.

That’s contingent on kase being and staying.healthy. Which is far from certain

Not a bad idea at all, I just think that Tavares has had much more success with Marner.
Hopefully Keefe will try some line juggling for more than one period.

 

[Divine]

I know it's fun to hate on the Leafs and all... but how do you take this game and determine the Leafs suck, or are a 1st round exit team or anything.

I mean..

Might have been the most dominant game of the season... for any team.

Leafs had over double the expected goals, including the empty netter.

And 5 on 5, the xGF was 4.27 to 1.3 for the Leafs

 

[Knies iT]

Are they exactly the same systems? Whenever I watch thus team play we are letting many odd man rushes. Seems like whenever I tune in, its multiple rushes. I watched the Kraken game and they had 3 or 4 odd man rushes in a matter of 4 minutes. The team also allows many cross crease pass opportunities. Maybe I'm just the unlucky charm for this team, but when I watch I find the opposing team getting more dangerous chances then the leafs.

This team was getting sensational goaltending from Campbell at the beginning but when he sank to average to maybe below average the team has been pretty bad. Doesn't matter what goalie we have, they get lit up. Seems to be a sign of a team issue, rather than a goalie issue.

Well the system is more complex than just activation. But the o-zone activation is pretty aggressive in both the Leafs'/Bruins' cases.

The rest of the defensive structures are quite different.

But to your point it's also personnel that plays a factor. The Leafs are very active from the blueline but also generate next to no offense in terms of % of points from our D. Numerous odd man rushes in an aggressive system can be a sign of weak support from the forwards as well.

They do give up a ton of odd man rushes but I don't think it's an indictment on an activating blueline, but something deeper.

 

[Martin Skoula]

Pretty easy trade to make Josh Anderson for Willie. Anderson is a 20 goal a year guy, Willie can get you 30 goals. Anserson is 5.5 mil per year, Willie 6.9 mil per. Andersen costs you about $275k per goal, Willie is about $232k per goal. Anderson hits like a dump truck, Willie hits like a ... butterfly ...

Now do points. Nylander has the same points in his last 3 seasons (2 shortened seasons and 3/4 of this one) than Anderson has in his career with a 2 year head start.

Trading Nylander could work but I'd rather get back something better than a 30-40 point guy personally.

 

[notDatsyuk]

Ran over? Byron ran over Matthews? Thats really how you saw that sequence? Guy on the Habs board says Armia “ran over” 34 . Interesting interpretation of the events.

You're right. I was going from memory this morning. Armia knocked him down, and Byron scored.

Not as bad then - at least Armia is the same size.

 

[Antropovsky]

Well the system is more complex than just activation. But the o-zone activation is pretty aggressive in both the Leafs'/Bruins' cases.

The rest of the defensive structures are quite different.

But to your point it's also personnel that plays a factor. The Leafs are very active from the blueline but also generate next to no offense in terms of % of points from our D. Numerous odd man rushes in an aggressive system can be a sign of weak support from the forwards as well.

They do give up a ton of odd man rushes but I don't think it's an indictment on an activating blueline, but something deeper.

Would like to have seen a coach like Sutter instead of Keefe, but of course this is easy to say now.

 

[ponder]

We dominated the game but got unlucky. There’s a lot of luck in hockey, if you’re gonna be an NHL fan you just have to accept that - every good team has plenty of games where they badly outplay the opposition but lose. I don’t get criticizing the team for this effort.

 

[ToneDog]

Would like to have seen a coach like Sutter instead of Keefe, but of course this is easy to say now.

Gallant is doing a pretty good with the Rangers. Doesn't matter, Dubas is never going to axe his coach of a 100+ point team.

 

[myleafs]

Gio and Lub had solid, quiet, excellent defensive games. No unnecessary flash, but they get the job done.

I’m not yet sold on Blackwell, though I suspect (like many) that he’d complement JT much better if that albatross pairing on the second line were split up…

Totally agree about Gio and Lub. Liking both of their games. I noticed Blackwell all night and in a good way. He was engaged, physical and pretty smart with the puck. Id like to see him moved up the line up and see what he does there.

if it were up to me...line up would look like

58-34-16
47-91-65
11-15-88 or put 88 in the middle, might wake him up.
89-68-25

 

[Bluelines]

Now do points. Nylander has the same points in his last 3 seasons (2 shortened seasons and 3/4 of this one) than Anderson has in his career with a 2 year head start.

Trading Nylander could work but I'd rather get back something better than a 30-40 point guy personally.

There is no doubt that Willie has more offensive upside but with that trade we get back cap space and Josh brings n element of physicality that we don't have to the top 6. Not sure how Josh is defensively but they mentioned that the JT/WN line gave up as many goals as they scored. It was something like 71 goals scored for / 70 goals scored against. That is good for a 3rd or 4th line but your 2nd line should be outpacing your opponents by a comfortable margin.

JT has a no trade, so it makes sense if you are looking to open a little cap and change the look of your team , Willie is IMO my likely candidate to be traded. I built a trade scenario where JT Miller was on one wing, Anderson on the other and JT down the middle, that is a heavy heavy line that can score. If you moved out Kerfoot/Nylander, the cap hit for Miller/Anderson is not significantly more.

 

[CDN24]

There is no doubt that Willie has more offensive upside but with that trade we get back cap space and Josh brings n element of physicality that we don't have to the top 6. Not sure how Josh is defensively but they mentioned that the JT/WN line gave up as many goals as they scored. It was something like 71 goals scored for / 70 goals scored against. That is good for a 3rd or 4th line but your 2nd line should be outpacing your opponents by a comfortable margin.

JT has a no trade, so it makes sense if you are looking to open a little cap and change the look of your team , Willie is IMO my likely candidate to be traded. I built a trade scenario where JT Miller was on one wing, Anderson on the other and JT down the middle, that is a heavy heavy line that can score. If you moved out Kerfoot/Nylander, the cap hit for Miller/Anderson is not significantly more.

Habs will not trade Anderson for Nylander. He (Anderson) is cheaper, signed for longer and brings a unique skill set with his speed and physicality. Anderson is a much better compliment to their smaller skill guys (suzuki &Caulfield) than Nylander is. Plus Nylander will be a UFA before they are ready to compete.