Post-Game Talk: Leafs lose 4-3 in OT, Samsonov terrible game

[Alamo Leafer]

Hawks have 6 wins.

Two of the wins against us.

Fml

1/3 of Hawks points comes from wins against the TML.

Now, that's a headline

 

[Alamo Leafer]

The GLG chants by Hawks fans didn't help also. Was the kick in pants their players needed to wake tfu I thought.

 

[Alamo Leafer]

Samsonov got them a point!

He also cost them a point!

 

[leafs in five]

Good crowd, fun game, frustrating team, baffling 1st line. Domi was v good.

 

[TMLBlueandWhite]

Lol, there ya go folks, there's your Stanley Cup contenders for ya.

Lost to the second last place team in the league. Leafs continue to play down to the competition. This was supposed to be the free spot on the bingo card.

Instead they were out hit, out shot, out played, and out scored by a pathetic Chicago team wanting to tank.

Where's the compete? Where's the desire to dominate a lesser opponent? Where's the will to change the narrative?

After 18 games Ryan Reaves has less PIM than Keefe and more goals than Domi.

How screwed up is that? Signs of some serious underlying issues if you ask me. At the end of the day the results are all that matter and, once again, the Leafs simply weren't good enough.

This team needs an overhaul if it wants to be a real contender.

 

[Racer88]

It might be time to focus on the $12M center and the $11M forward not the $7M outscoring them

I agree 100%

 

[centipede2233]

How many times the last several years where the leafs blow a 2-3 goal lead or a late 3rd period 1 goal lead. It happens over and over and over…and the common denominator the past several years is not good enough goaltending plus not good enough team defence plus not good enough defencemen. And until these are addressed, this team will continue to dissapoint. The shanahan era needs to be taken out behind the shed and end.

 

[rumman]

When he's on he's clearly a top 3 player in the league. When he's off..... well, at least he's defensively responsible I guess.

34 will never truly be considered a top three player as long as he continues to mail it in on a regular basis, I can’t think of a player that’s that good that plays that indifferent on a regular basis………

Knies has been good, the other 2, not so much

Can’t see why you’d blame it on the guy making pennies on the dollar of the other two, 34 and 16 should be driving their own lines and killing it on a regular basis, but here we are……….

 

[rumman]

Trade them for all I care now.

Far too many games when they're not a factor at all. Too much salary tide up in these two slackers IMHO.

Taveras needs to go as well !!!

I'd rather lose to bottom feeders with no-name players at this point.

It’s the same excuses every year, nothing changes. You’d think they’d of matured by now…………

Is playing with Matthews in Marner's contract?

Or is playing with Marner in Mathew’s contract?

 

[rumman]

I’ve always hated Chicago with a passion. My earliest hockey hatred was probably Roenick, Chelios, Suter, Belfour and Poulin and Graham. Probably Weinrich.

Their recently pathetic off ice history and Gary Bettman’s unrelenting efforts to make them into hockey’s Chicago Bulls has not changed my mind.

I used to love the way the Hawks played dump and chase hockey, especially in their old barn…….

 

[RunItBackAgain]

All the exact same signs as seasons past. Practice how you want to play and we are gearing up to get schooled once again this post-season.

Not really sure how anyone could expect a cup at this point we’d have to luck into 4 straight round wins. Joke.

 

[rumman]

They may get a playoff spot, but first round exit is imminent. Marner/Matthews suck. I feel for Knies who fights for every puck and these two morons just doing nothing.

Hard work beats talent when talent doesn’t work hard……..

Matthews is completely MIA and has been for some time now

No surprise, he got paid………

 

[rumman]

I think it's because Mitch being so off his game personally. There is a lot to scratch your head about with Mitch Marners game right now. He is also a lot slower it seems. Maybe it's me though but he seems slower.

You’d think a “top 3” player could drive his own line, yet here we are…….

 

[rumman]

You are right, Marner is not the player he once was. Perhaps this is impacting Matthews as Marner is his winger. Who knows… but hopefully they both snap out of it.

I don’t think 34 needs 16, I think 34 has to work harder and more consistently. 16 should drive his own line. I wouldn’t break up the 3rd line, they’re the only line that works hard on a consistent basis…….

 

[rumman]

I think we’re getting real close to a new coach. If we lose tomorrow to Dubas’ Penguins that could very well spell the end.

There are lots of issues but only a few things we can actually change. Keefe is top of the list.

Doubt it, I still can’t understand why they extended Keefe, where they worried he’d walk at the end of the season? And who’s idea was it to extend him?

 

[Evilhomer]

Lots of games in hand on most teams and a really favourable schedule over the next couple of months will help. I would also expect to see at least one new defenseman brought in during that stretch as by mid-December they will presumably have certainty on the availability of Klingberg's cap space. Some of that cap space should also be used on a third line centre. I get that the third line is playing well right now, but I'm not sure I want Max Domi as my third line centre in the playoffs.

 

[rumman]

I agree 100% but some want to keeps shuffling their winger like that is going to wake them up.
They should be making their winger better not the other way round

Got to feel for whoever has to play left wing on that line, “okay kid, go inspire the multi millionaires………”

 

[BallardEra]

Doubt it, I still can’t understand why they extended Keefe, where they worried he’d walk at the end of the season? And who’s idea was it to extend him?

 

[BallardEra]

They are 10-5-3 after 18 games.

Last year they were 9-5-4 after 18 games.

 

[Niagara Bill]

When they under perform it’s a reason not an excuse. We don’t know what that reason is.

Reason does not matter. Only results.
If you waste time discovering the reason you still have to go back to your routine that helped you be superior, if you have the desire to be superior.
I bet next season he will be better prepared with a contract year coming.

 

[Arzak]

Luke Richardson said postgame that top 6’s usually match up but with the injuries he went with the Dickinson line vs AM & MM. and told them pregame that both often sulk getting back into coverage when they lose the puck. Play transition with speed and you should get opportunities.
He was spot on.

Also said he told the team to be more physical than they have been. That Toronto doesn’t handle physicality well.

You can't talk like that about Mitch "Lock for Selke now that Bergy is gone" Marner. You'll hear from Paul.

Keefe needs to split M&M .

 

[rumman]

Reaves it is!!!

Too funny, although Semenko did okay with Kurri and 99………

 

[HamiltonNHL]

Lost to the second last place team in the league. Leafs continue to play down to the competition.

It’s the hallmark of this team.

 

[ACC1224]

I don’t think 34 needs 16, I think 34 has to work harder and more consistently. 16 should drive his own line. I wouldn’t break up the 3rd line, they’re the only line that works hard on a consistent basis…….

Seems one star gets the brunt of the criticism while the other is rarely mentioned when they should be held to the highest standard on the team. They both need to be much better but too many here seem to have too narrow a vision,

 

[rumman]

They are 10-5-3 after 18 games.

Last year they were 9-5-4 after 18 games.

Personally I’m more concerned with effort than result. We know this team is talented, we also know they can’t put forth the effort consistently………