Post-Game Talk: Leafs lose 5-2 in Vegas

[Stephen]

All three of Matthews, Marner, and Tavares used the term "it's a wake-up call" in their post game interviews. I think that call should have been made a few months ago.

It’s disgraceful because those guys have been guilty of being half asleep at the wheel as anyone and they’re the “leadership” past and present.

 

[francis246]

You’re right, Joe Woll blew it for them early when they were pacing for like 60 shots after 12 minutes.

That second goal was an absolute back breaker. Toronto was pressing after that first goal, that muffin backhander going in killed all momentum

 

[banks]

Even with some obvious flaws on the roster, and some players not at their best, the Leafs are fighting for 1st in the Atlantic and are 7-2-1 in their last 10.

The team played a fine game, and were just let down by the goalie in the 1st period. Lucky us we have a different goalie playing at the top of his game to rely on instead.

I don't get the doom and gloom in this thread. You'd think we just lost 8 straight watching Michael Grabner and Joe Colborne out there with the way people are saying to blow it up. Funny enough, the biggest strength this season has been goaltending, so I won't overreact to a bad 20 minutes of goaltending during a Wednesday game against a good opponent.

 

[Stephen]

That second goal was an absolute back breaker. Toronto was pressing after that first goal, that muffin backhander going in killed all momentum

No idea what’s wrong with that guy but his mental game has fallen apart for a while now. Firmly a backup at this point.

 

[LEAFANFORLIFE23]

The loss is 100% on Joseph Woll, and and I know people aren't going to want to hear that, they are going to blame the defense but no it's not.

3 goals on 7 is not a defense issue especially when the 2nd and 3rd goals were what they were.

You can put the first goal on McCabe because he just wasn't paying attention but even that doesn't happen without that bad rebound.

That is one thing Stolarz has on Woll, Stolarz rebound control is MILES better it's not even close.

That's 2 stinkers in a row for Woll, he won the first one so you throw that one away because he won anyway.

Not tonight you can't throw this one away because the playoffs are coming and we need him at his best and right now he's not even close.

In fact he's playing the worst hockey of his career.

7 of they last 8 goals against him are HIS fault and the 8th which is the first one last night is still partly his fault, McCabe does need to be better but also that was an AWFUL rebound

 

[The Hanging Jowl]

No idea what’s wrong with that guy but his mental game has fallen apart for a while now. Firmly a backup at this point.

They call it the Gudas effect.

 

[thewave]

They call it the Gudas effect.

Watching Gudas yell in his face with no response from the team or anything was one of the most embarrassing moments in Leafs history.

 

[The Hanging Jowl]

That second goal was an absolute back breaker. Toronto was pressing after that first goal, that muffin backhander going in killed all momentum

It was all three goals. Why the hell was he sliding to his left when a guy was going short side on the first goal when there was no cross seam pass available? Sorry, be was very bad.

 

[Stephen]

It was all three goals. Why the hell was he sliding to his left when a guy was going short side on the first goal when there was no cross seam pass available? Sorry, be was very bad.

He’s guessing a lot and over committing to where he thinks the puck will go as opposed to calmly staying in position with good technique. I wonder if there’s some funky goalie coach work going on too cause I noticed Stolarz was biting hard on the SJ wraparound like he was playing man on man D and sliding out of his crease. That or they aren’t trusting the D with Tanev out and are playing anxious.

 

[NVious]

The last dominant win we had over a true contender was in November 3-0 over Vegas.

Almost choked vs Canes (win 6-3)
Almost choked vs Oilers (win 4-3)
Lost Minny 3-1
Won vs Oil 4-3
Almost choked vs Tampa (win 5-3)
Lost to Canes 6-3
Lost to Dallas 4-1
Lost to Washington 5-2
Lost to Jets 5-2
Won 5-3 vs Dallas (I guess this was somewhat dominant????)
Lost 3-1 Washington
Won 5-3 Tampa
Lost 5-1 Florida

There's some OT wins vs New Jersey in there, but that's how we look vs contenders. It looks like we can hang with the alright upper end teams, but we never pump them, but then we get pumped A LOT vs the very best.

 

[Malachi Crunch]

Oops delete

 

[thewave]

Oops delete

Knies for a shot at it is bad business. Good stuff from Tre. No all day long

 

[The Hanging Jowl]

Watching Gudas yell in his face with no response from the team or anything was one of the most embarrassing moments in Leafs history.

I'm still angry about it today. Dude should have been put in a body bag over that.

 

[Menzinger]

Bad game but I don't think we should draw too much from it

The Leafs schedule sucks this year in terms of awkward travel and also back to backs.

Don't really want Benoit in the top 6 for the playoffs

 

[indigobuffalo]

Rielly-OEL garbage again.

Isn’t OEL playing injured?

 

[Jimmy Firecracker]

Isn’t OEL playing injured?

Maybe? He was questionable before the game against the Penguins. Even still, that pairing was mediocre at best beforehand.

 

[Jojalu]

I agree to a certain extent, but this team despite winning alot of games in the past dozen games, haven't looked like a team prepared for the playoffs. It has been the case all year that if the goaltending isn't rock solid, we'll lose. Our offence, despite the amount we pay our top 5, is very inconsistent. Our goal differntial is only 18. That is poor for a first place team and by far the lowest of any top three teams in each division of the conference.

They have looked awful since Tanev was injured.

He is looking like the MVP

 

[IPS]

Team should consider putting their foot on the gas this last quarter, establish yourselves and get a wildcard matchup vs Detroit or Columbus and prove you're actually for real. This performances lately have just been disgraceful.

 

[Aashir]

Like I said we needed Mitch Marner to be elite to win, he was not and so we lost

William nylander kept up his crusade of grabbing 1pt/game to end at 82 points

Matthews scored and yet he looks/looked so bad

Woll was Garrett sparks level, Michael Hutchinson level. Basically unplayable that game

The team missed Tanev as well, as does McCabe who plays much better with him.

 

[arso40]

Isn’t OEL playing injured?

Maybe but I think it’s just the result of playing with a defender that doesn’t defend

 

[therealkoho]

Jarnkrok in case some maybe weren't aware has 2 games under his belt in about a year, but I'm sure the idea that he's a useless, non-physical and any other denigrations mentioned are quite well founded

Scouting reports on Calle all seem to mention his high hockeyQ, his above average wheels, his complete two way game, his ability to play all 3 forward positions and play up and down the line-up. He tends toward the defensive side of the puck but can chip in. His only drawback is weighing 186 I suppose

Hes a very useful kind of player to have in the lineup come playoff time.

 

[horner]

Matthews is not 100%. Tavares can't keep up. Marner and Nylander are afraid of their shadows. Rielly can't defend for his life. Frauds when push comes to shove.

If we get n

Matthews is not 100%. Tavares can't keep up. Marner and Nylander are afraid of their shadows. Rielly can't defend for his life. Frauds when push comes to shove.

Mathews if he has a chronic back issue we are in worse shape than we think.

Personally I would rather keep Marner, we don't have anyone in the top 6 than can pass like him. He makes others better

JT we shouldn't sign him.

MO trade him at the draft .

Pick one
Woll or Stolarz
We need a 2nd line center

MO JT Marner and Domi not here next year

32 mil to build a team

I look at other teams they spend 48 mil on forward ours is 62 mil and we have no third lor 4th line crazy
You can't win this way we have proven that.

Listening to kipper and bourne Sam McKee says why aren't we like TB and Florida dumping assets for a playoff run .
For one thing Florida has a core that won the cup last yr .

TB has the same core that has won the cup and Vasi is back .

We have done nothing with our core and Mathews is hurt .

 

[SkateSave]

The real problem was Woll in this game, and the lack of push back in the second. The team looked good in the first and was carrying play. They got caved in the second. The third was garbage time.

McCabe was off on that first goal. Ok, let the guy come to the net, weird, but maybe your'e taking the second man? No, not him either? Well ok then.

There isn't any leadership on this team. None. Stuff happens to the team. Things go up and down. That's the way she goes boys.

 

[rutz]

I would think they’ve talked to him about a possible trade by tomorrow’s deadline.

Rielly is part of the Core 5 who run this team and all have no movement clauses. He isn't going anywhere unfortunately. Too many overpaid stars with no true #1 defenceman is a recipe to get knocked out of the 1st or 2nd round of the Stanley Cup playoffs.

 

[rutz]

One thing I would have done after that awful PP in the second where they gave up the breakaway and other chances that PP shouldn’t have come out for the rest of the game. Or they should have mixed up the 2 units.

Berube does not hold the PP accountable.