Post-Game Talk: Leafs lose 5 -1

[kevsh]

if we try to swing with bruins in a fast uptempo rush game we are dead to rights .. we dont have lines 2 and 3 to play that way

Funny thing is, the last time these teams played played it was the opposite: Bruins tried to play a fast rush game against the Leafs in game 1, lost badly, readjusted then went on to win the series.

 

[rumman]

We outshot and outchanced them. On top of that, our expected goals were significantly higher than theirs. The difference? Swayman stood on his head. He made key save after key save. Sammy made maybe one or two great saves and no exceptional saves. At this time of year your goaltender needs to make almost every great save and a few exceptional ones in order for you to go anywhere in the playoffs.

“Out chanced” them doesn’t mean shit if you don’t win, on paper the Leafs should win the series, but the games played on ice not paper…….

 

[ToneDog]

Mathews and Marner work great together , the issue is Mitch can carry JT better then Willie and sometimes is took both of them working together to get Tavares somewhat productive .

the problem with this team is they're still trying to cater to Tavares instead of just accepting it's hurts the team trying to make him a core piece , they should throw him on the 3rd line , limit his minutes and let him take draws then shift to the wing

You and I work great together with Matthews. Both should be able to work together with less talented players. Sorry Mitch and Willie are not $11.5+ players and only a dumb rich owner would pay them that much. They are not close to the class of the McDavids, Macs, Matthews, Pastas. Draisaitls. They are not even worth Tkachuk/Rantanen money.

 

[The Shrike]

Could be anything from his system, adjustments, preparation, etc. Whatever he is preaching is clearly not working towards the end goal of winning a Cup.

Leafs will need a different coach to take them to that final step. Keefe is Boudreau 2.0 and the Leafs need to find their version of Trotz.

The problem though is Trotz wasn't the difference in that cup win for Washington, Holtby was.

.922 Sv% for all playoff games, but more importantly, in the 5 games where a playoff series was on the line he was .951

That's what wins Stanley Cups, not the sub .900 goaltending we get here on a regular basis.

 

[TheShape]

the problem with this team is they're still trying to cater to Tavares instead of just accepting it's hurts the team trying to make him a core piece , they should throw him on the 3rd line , limit his minutes and let him take draws then shift to the wing

I thought Tavares could at least transition into a functional LW for us at this point, but I don't even think he can do that. Everything's too slow, his skillset is declining rapidly, he handles the puck like a tennis ball, which is usually the first sign that things are starting to go. Need to find a way to get rid of him this summer, if not, he shouldn't play any higher than the 3rd line next season.

 

[Punch Drunk Loov]

“Out chanced” them doesn’t mean shit if you don’t win, on paper the Leafs should win the series, but the games played on ice not paper…….

Yep. Can't believe this needs to be said.

If we converted on 2 chances we'd still lose

If Sammy saw this puck he'd have saved it

If the refs managed the game a different way we'd have less penalties

If Reaves read the play differently...

If willy wasn't hurt


All ifs. Did we win or not? This is not year 1 this is year 8. Stop tolerating obviously bad games.

Some of yall could be lawyers the way you can spin an atrocious performance into someone else's fault. It's legitimately impressive and I respect it lol

 

[ToneDog]

The problem though is Trotz wasn't the difference in that cup win for Washington, Holtby was.

.922 Sv% for all playoff games, but more importantly, in the 5 games where a playoff series was on the line he was .951

That's what wins Stanley Cups, not the sub .900 goaltending we get here on a regular basis.

A big save and a big hit turned that series around or the VGK would have 2 cups.

 

[BallardEra]

The problem though is Trotz wasn't the difference in that cup win for Washington, Holtby was.

.922 Sv% for all playoff games, but more importantly, in the 5 games where a playoff series was on the line he was .951

That's what wins Stanley Cups, not the sub .900 goaltending we get here on a regular basis.

Holtby was almost always great in the playoffs for the Caps. The main issue there was going through the Pens almost every playoffs and the fact Kuznetsov stepped up to match Malkin.

What would you say is the reason that the Leafs have gone 8 straight playoff games having scored less than 3 goals in each of them?

A big save and a big hit turned that series around or the VGK would have 2 cups.

Knights didn’t have the depth to match the Caps in that series.

 

[Gallagbi]

The problem though is Trotz wasn't the difference in that cup win for Washington, Holtby was.

.922 Sv% for all playoff games, but more importantly, in the 5 games where a playoff series was on the line he was .951

That's what wins Stanley Cups, not the sub .900 goaltending we get here on a regular basis.

Kinda funny the Holtby lost his starters gig that year and only played because Grubauer fumbled so badly in games 1&2

 

[A1LeafNation]

Holtby was almost always great in the playoffs for the Caps. The main issue there was going through the Pens almost every playoffs and the fact Kuznetsov stepped up to match Malkin.

What would you say is the reason that the Leafs have gone 8 straight playoff games having scored less than 3 goals in each of them?


Knights didn’t have the depth to match the Caps in that series.

Is it too much to ask for Tavares to step up match Charlie Coyle....ffs

 

[dimi78]

Copy and paste this and it applies to every series since 2018? Perimeter team who prefer not to fight in the dirty areas or make life difficult for the other team's goalie. Rinse and repeat.

There are people here who truly believe Leafs just get "goalie'd" in every series. No, it ain't that.

Oh they do get goalied but more so of there own not matching up against the opposition goaltender to have a chance to win a sereies.

Every playoff game they've lost in these 8 years the Leafs received clear 2nd best goaltending between the 2 playing. That was no different last night

To have a chance in the playoffs youre goalie has to go toe for toe, and match big save to the big save the opposition does and give up no softies. The Leafs haven't had goaltending mentally strong enough to elavate there play in the playoffs since Ed Belfour. That's why they can't hold leads defending in last minute of the games they get scored on all the time and the root cause of the PK issues

You guys can go overanalyze everything to death, rip the organization apart if it makes you feel better. The team in front has been good enough for playoff runs but unfortunatelly the Leafs goalies have been mental mush.

Did Samsonov have a good season? All he showed is that he's a mental mush and could lose himself at any moment.

Masive mistake by managemnt not rechognizing the issues in goal. Once Woll returned and clearly showed he's behind the 8 ball they should have made mountains move to solidy the goaltending position.

All this overanaylzing and nic picking to death about this teams best playes it's outstanding how bacward people have it. Teams that receieve the type of goaltending the Leafs have gotton this year don't make the playoffs. The team is constantly having to over come its goaltending to make the playoffs and once there they get exposed as to what really is the issue.

 

[hotpaws]

You and I work great together with Matthews. Both should be able to work together with less talented players. Sorry Mitch and Willie are not $11.5+ players and only a dumb rich owner would pay them that much. They are not close to the class of the McDavids, Macs, Matthews, Pastas. Draisaitls. They are not even worth Tkachuk/Rantanen money.

Mathews isn't McD who's wingers just need to hang around the crease ala HeyMan while CD banks pucks off them but i do agree that Willie/Mitch aren't worth 11m but neither is JT and signing him is why they got what they got .

 

[BallardEra]

Is it too much to ask for Tavares to step up match Charlie Coyle....ffs

Sadly it looks like Tavares’ game has dropped off at this point in his career.

 

[Dale Gribble]

Players don't get paid during the Playoffs, so why would Matthews, Marner, Tavares, and Nylander show up ?

At least with Rielly you know he wants to win.

 

[horner]

Even providing perspective to that guy, he’s as biased as they come, don’t know why he still posts here, he’s obviously a Dubas disciple………


HOW????

Marner trade retain 2 mil
personally I think Marner will want to leave

We are stuck with JT

 

[TheGreenTBer]

When it comes to the playoffs, Marners brain is in complete shambles. He's afraid to possess the puck. He hears footsteps coming and wants to get rid of it asap, which often results in a terrible pass or flipping it over the glass. As talented as he is, his game has many holes in it. Especially at playoff time.

The only chance of changing this core is to move on from him. It honestly has to be done in order to balance this team.

Leafs need good, reliable goaltending and depth more than we need a $11M/year forward that disappoints in the playoffs.

I think it might be good for Mitch himself as well. I think a fresh start would be good for him.

 

[TheShape]

Oh they do get goalied but more so of there own not matching up against the opposition goaltender to have a chance to win a sereies.

Every playoff game they've lost in these 8 years the Leafs received clear 2nd best goaltending between the 2 playing. That was no different last night

To have a chance in the playoffs youre goalie has to go toe for toe, and match big save to the big save the opposition does and give up no softies. The Leafs haven't had goaltending mentally strong enough to elavate there play in the playoffs since Ed Belfour. That's why they can't hold leads defending in last minute of the games they get scored on all the time and the root cause of the PK issues

You guys can go overanalyze everything to death, rip the organization apart if it makes you feel better. The team in front has been good enough for playoff runs but unfortunatelly the Leafs goalies have been mental mush.

Did Samsonov have a good season? All he showed is that he's a mental mush and could lose himself at any moment.

Masive mistake by managemnt not rechognizing the issues in goal. Once Woll returned and clearly showed he's behind the 8 ball they should have made mountains move to solidy the goaltending position.

All this overanaylzing and nic picking to death about this teams best playes it's outstanding how bacward people have it. Teams that receieve the type of goaltending the Leafs have gotton this year don't make the playoffs. The team is constantly having to over come its goaltending to make the playoffs and once there they get exposed as to what really is the issue.

Holy wall of text. Anyway, who the Leafs have in goal has nothing to do with how the Leafs' forwards don't make life difficult enough for the opposing goalie time and time again. We scored one goal last night, and go figure it was from the 4th line who caused chaos in front of Swayman.

 

[The Shrike]

Holtby was almost always great in the playoffs for the Caps. The main issue there was going through the Pens almost every playoffs and the fact Kuznetsov stepped up to match Malkin.

What would you say is the reason that the Leafs have gone 8 straight playoff games having scored less than 3 goals in each of them?


Knights didn’t have the depth to match the Caps in that series.

Playing too defensively. Coach knows goaltending is sub par, so he gets the team to tighten up defensively to compensate. The end result of that strategy on a highly talented offensive team is more scoring chances lost than the less talented team they're most likely playing.

 

[Shooter2x]

Has Ilya made up his own rule that if there's any semblance of a screen , he shouldn't be expected to try to track the puck?

 

[Al14]

One game means very little. We’ve all been here before

Stay the course, the boys got this.

Need to figure out the goaltending and stay out of the box

It's hard to stay out of the box when the Refs are bound and determined to put you there.

Any Leafs minor miscue is penalty worthy, all the while Bruins similar miscues are ignored.

 

[57 Years No Cup]

I am not sure the amount of snot is the problem, it is knowing when to use it.

Leafs looked like clowns in the first period trying to prove they had snot, not stopping to think if it made sense in that moment.

Controlled snot is where it's at.

I've said this before, and I still believe it... it is good that we now initiate physicality, but our ability to play through it has not improved one iota imo.

Great observation. So true.

 

[Al14]

Darts

Bowling for Bucks???

 

[Torontonian]

Oh give us a break. So you have access to Nylander's medical report? Please inform us wise one!!!! You know it's just a "tweak" and he's just sitting out because he's a Euro that doesn't care...even though he's been the best playoff performer on the team.

Seriously it's absolute garbage to jump to the conclusion that it's not a significant injury. Let's keep the same line of logic going throughout the entire playoffs. Name some more players who "care" so when they get injured and miss 1 playoff game we can accuse them of faking it or not having heart.

Common sense would show you that he played the entire game and the last 2 mins trying to get Matthews his 70th goal, are you telling me he's good enough to play that meaningless 2 mins and not good enough to start the playoffs?

The point is, players play hurt.. ours decided we do not.

 

[colchar]

On top of that, our expected goals were significantly higher than theirs.

Why does anyone think something like this matters? Reality matters, not some probability statistic. That stat is so far beyond meaningless that it is laughable. The scoreboard matters, nothing else.

It is moronic things like this that show how stupid allegedly advanced stats can be.

 

[Blanka]

“Out chanced” them doesn’t mean shit if you don’t win, on paper the Leafs should win the series, but the games played on ice not paper…….

Oh shit. I didn't know that.