Post-Game Talk: Leafs lose 4-2

[larek]

why dont you go back to the Habs board, and enjoy your no playoffs? Matthews has played fine.... he has been more physical than anything else, he had chances he hit posts, why single him out?

Just saying lol

 

[Aashir]

I think the biggest issue may be you got two net front guys (JT and Bert). Duplicate skills, and neither is a great passer. One of them has to go. Domi replaces JT. Bert to bumper. Or put Marner on PP2 and put a 2nd D out. But something has to change. This ain't working the way it is now. And that bump back play is long past it's stale date. I HATE it!

Yea that too

having two net front guys means the movement is mostly on the perimeter with matthews, rielly, and the accursed one swapping spots

whatever it is, keefe has to do something. This series is being lost currently on special teams, boston is eating us alive on the pp for the 3rd time in the past decade and we are doing diddly squat on the pp

 

[larek]

They don't get PAID in the playoffs !!!

And the playoffs brings a little more actual checking

Something that's rare in reg.season

 

[Jojalu]

That doesn’t make much sense. I’m sure they would rather do better things with their time than go somewhere they don’t want to be just because it’s free.

Socialites enjoy being seen in trendy places. It happens at Raptor games, Leaf games, the SuperBowl is the worst for it.

Anywhere there is a chance for attention they will go.

I have friends that are not Leaf fans that would 100% go to the game if the tickets were free but would not spend a cent on it themselves

 

[PromisedLand]

Swayman has been a problem for us, hopefully they go back to Ullmark for game 4.

Boston handily outshot the Leafs until the last 7 odd mins and the final shot counter read 34 boston to 30 Leafs; and Leafs had 5 PPs

I didnn't see one Bruin not hustle, and not be willing to take a hit to make a play or get the puck out either. Its a total team buy in. On top of that Boston had 2 freakin' rookies in their line up with their first "playoff" game ever

 

[pcruz]

They actually got the big goal on that 2nd goal.

But Keefe decides to keep the Matthews' line out for some reason and lets Boston go right back and score the go ahead.

As frustrating as the PP is, they are quite snakebitten this year .. they are doing a better job getting pucks around the net but not many bounces. Still, they need to find a way.

You think that having Matthews take 0 of the shots on the pp is beneficial in any way to the efficiency of the man advantage?

I don't understand how a team can have a tactical nuclear weapon and never even use it as a threat....


It's bananas and should lead to the immediate dismissal of the special teams coaches.

Same with the PK.

Matthews is by a good margin the team's best PK player this season.
And yet he isn't even afforded the chance to do it for God-only-knows reason.


The team is run by morons just like the Blue Jays and their brain-dead decision to pull the pitcher to end the season.

 

[JamieG19]

Playoffs is not like no touch reg. Season
Mathews has found this out
Check him and play physical against him

Auston pointless in 2 out of the 3 games. But Game 2 was awesome.
Marner is the concern. Interesting that 99% of the Toronto media is rushing to Marner's defense.

 

[Aashir]

Playoffs is not like no touch reg. Season
Mathews has found this out
Check him and play physical against him

at least make it look like you watched the game from the basement...

 

[Stephen]

I don't think we're a finesse team this year to be honest, we've got a lot of butchers out on the ice. I think we're struggling in transition a bit, and some of that has to fall onto coaching (and maybe some on the personnel on defense...Morgan is our only puck mover and he's not flying like he was last playoffs).

I assume we’re in a transitional state with this team kind of around 2000 when Pat Quinn changed his little skill team to the Gary Roberts era.

The next evolution will be to get higher end butchers who can play while filtering out some of the skill stock that can’t hang.

 

[All Mod Cons]

Regardless of goaltending, Liljegren, Marner, refs, Reeves, Klingberg, all the draft picks traded away, Nylander's potential concussion, Brodie, suspensions, coaching, the fans, the ice and everything we've discussed over the last 7 years, if our PP was just a normal, decent rate in the playoffs, we would've won so many more series over the years.

The PP, is pretty much the #1 factor that kills us year after year and year.

 

[Cleetus]

Just saying lol

saying what? that you have no clue about the games, calling matthews out as a habs fan no less? he has been carrying his weight all series long..... he has destroyed a few bruins, had chances, take your Matthews hate glasses off, and actually watch him play

 

[Al14]

Losing to Marchand is pretty much the worst. Despise that guy more than anyone else in professional sports I've ever watched.

Series isn't over though.

If the Refs have anything to say, and they do, this series is over as per their instructions from Jacobs !!!

Jacobs needs the playoff revenue more than MLSE !!!

 

[larek]

Auston pointless in 2 out of the 3 games. But Game 2 was awesome.
Marner is the concern. Interesting that 99% of the Toronto media is rushing to Marner's defense.

Marner struggles in playoffs
Little things even he struggles with

 

[Commander Clueless]

Second round was weird and uncomfortable anyway.

 

[Nineteen67]

ESPN was just breaking down the Leafs penalty killing. 3 Leafs along the boards and not taking the body, created a 3 on 1. Soft, dumb, and pathetic.

We broke that down in the GDT

 

[Cleetus]

Marner struggles in playoffs
Little things even he struggles with

ill agree with you on that one lol

 

[wingman75]

When he's ready to play even if he isn't 100% he's going to be better than whoever comes out of the lineup for him.
BUT, he's likely not to be 100% when he comes back, its the playoffs. Look at Marner, he doesn't look himself after coming back, and he's been a non-factor in the 3 games so far.

I assume it will be Robertson, who imo has played very good! But Nylander should be in another class. We'll see.

Even with him, this team does so much stupid shit they'll still find a way to lose.

 

[PromisedLand]

Won't do much, honestly

Just like when Manrer was out and coming back would fix the PP.


A "meh' D, and wonky Goatlending is what needs to change.

Penguins probably the only team I can remember in recent history to go all the way with so-so defense and avg to good goal tending.

But they had...

Crosby making his line-mates better and productive
Malkin making his line-mates better and productive
Kessel riding shotgun with freakin Bonino and Hagelin

Tavares doesn't make his linemates any better
Marner hasn't done it ever IMO; I don't remember Marner ever playing with avg line-mates and making them productive. Probably Bozak-JVR ???? That was ages ago....
Matthews may be approaching it but not there yet IMO

Leafs team structure is very flawed IMO

 

[3blizzard4]

Imagine paying thousands of dollars just to see these guys lay another playoff egg at home. 1-7 in their last 8 home games, f***ing pathetic

Playoffs tickets $$$

Then after a loss sitting in Gardiner construction traffic trying to get out of Spadina.

No thank you .

 

[WatchOut]

ESPN was just breaking down the Leafs penalty killing. 3 Leafs along the boards and not taking the body, created a 3 on 1. Soft, dumb, and pathetic.

McCabe has been making terrible reads on the pk. we allowed three goals because he decided to leave the front of the net when we have no other d-man back. This is also something Keefe need to address but like the powerplay, we won't see any adjustment.

 

[All Mod Cons]

Really wish we had Klingberg at least he would bring something to the PP and has a bomb.

Is the guy well enough for us to go 7D. And he literally plays the 2min PP and then sits.

 

[larek]

ill agree with you on that one lol

Be interesting to see what changes happen if Leafs get kicked out in first round

 

[JamieG19]

Swayman has been a problem for us, hopefully they go back to Ullmark for game 4.

Yes, fortunately for the Leafs Montgomery, or beloved "Monty" as the hockey media loves to call him, is a complete and utter moron who doesn't realize that the playoffs are different than the regular season. Leafs will win in 7 and Montgomery will be fired.

 

[Stephen]

I disagree. I think you use this as a why to lower his cost as a good learning experience. Defensemen maturity can take a longer time to develop, especially in playoff time.

A cost effective #4 is still quite valuable.

Does it make him untouchable? No .. but he doesn't need to be shot out of a cannon tonight. That was his 10th playoff game. And 5th with meaningful minutes. It's growing pains.

That’s an option, sure. But keep in mind a blueline is only 6 guys. And the next phase of this build will need some guys at the top of the rotation that can supplant Morgan, while providing a better blend of do it all stuff.

One big UFA add. One hockey trade you’re already a very different blueline. Keep Morgan. Keep McCabe. Keep Benoit. Maybe one of Boosh, Edmundson or Liljegren.

Not that much room for Liljegren and weird fitting pieces if you can get a big fish. Or he helps you get a big fish.

 

[wingman75]

We broke that down in the GDT

It's hilarious that they changed their PK structure late in the season, and it might be worse lol. Well done sirs, well done.