Post-Game Talk: Leafs lose 5-2

[Smif]

I think when AM and Willie are back, this is a different team. Then you add Nick in the mix. And this is a completely different team. Also, Marner needs to stop with highlight wheel plays, keep it simple and boom- he is worth every penny.
Gally-AM-Marner
Nick-JT-Willie
Hyman-Engvall-Soup
Spezza-Kerfoot-Simmonds

Highlight what plays? Wheel??

 

[Optimist]

This team is in trouble heading into the post season. It's coming up soon and we still are playing line bingo every game. And it's only gonna get worse when the new guys pencil in.

 

[Stephen]

The one thing that scares me about this team and it's core is that when things tighten up and become more of that playoff style hockey, our core just doesn't have that drive, that hunger, that do whatever it takes mentality. You'd never see McDavid or Crosby or Ovechkin and multiple other star players give that puck over the way Marner did today. It wasn't so much the turnover, it was more just the carelessness and lack of intensity that caused it, and Matthews has done it multiple times as well.

I don't think it'd fair to say McDavid, Crosby or Ovechkin haven't ever given away the puck in spectacular fashion that hurt their teams like Marner did tonight vs Ehlers, or the way Matthews and Marner were sleepwalking through that 3 on 3 in Calgary that resulted in the L. This hockey and it happens even if it's not acceptable.

But like you say, what bugs me is the lack of drive, hunger and battle and sacrifice physically. When I think about Marner in soft play OHL mode, it's like he's playing a different sport than a Nathan Mackinnon who is flying in a straight line at the net because he wants to score. Or compare and contrast Marner's soft trying to split the D vs Calgary vs when Brayden Point is taking the puck through 2 guys to score in the playoffs. Soft, weak and cute plays.

 

[ChickenMcNugget]

Let's be real, if the Leafs were healthy and they were missing their starter and 3 top 6 players, this would have been a blow out the other way. Either way, they can't enter the playoffs with a PP that is firing at 3%. It's inexcusable with the talent on this team. Malhotra has to be sent packing now; so, a replacement has room to fix this garbage before the playoffs.

Jets are missing wheeler too. Campbell didnt play well either.

 

[Stephen]

Jets are missing wheeler too. Campbell didnt play well either.

Campbell is a great story but needs to be monitored closely as well since he's not a bonafide starter with a real track record. Mirage or the real deal, the Leafs can't just feed him ice time if he's not playing well.

 

[slozo]

This team is in trouble heading into the post season. It's coming up soon and we still are playing line bingo every game. And it's only gonna get worse when the new guys pencil in.

And you call yourself the "Optimist"?!?
That joke writes itself.

Postseason is still a few weeks away.
Yes, we have some major bad mojo with the pp right now, yes, it's brutal right now (frustratingly so, with the talent we have on it).
Yes, this team shuffles lines when 2 of our top players are out, AND we've lost a few games and look a bit out of sorts . . . this is strange to you?

This too shall pass.

 

[Leaf4Life]

Just fix our PP and we should be good

 

[klmdg]

I get flamed for this.

So we are not going to push back. I am not even saying fighting but push back like a hit, maybe a talk or maybe nudge on the shin pads

We didn't do this when Tavares got rocked by Kassian
When Matthews got pushed around by Tanev and maulled
When Hyman got run over by Pionk and Lowry last time we played them
When Josh Anderson taking constant run at Muzzin

So when are we ever going to push back ? Are we always going to be that team that just cares about 2 points ?

At some point your have to just stand up for yourself and have a statement game


Hence my hatred for Simmonds. Sure he has a wrist injury but doesn't mean he can't hit, doesn't mean he can't have a talk

Amen!

PLD f***ed us over in the play-in with the dirty hit on Muzzin, and then the plain as day head shot on Kerfoot tonight

He needs to pay, and when it became 4-2, that was the time to send the message

 

[klmdg]

Jets are missing wheeler too. Campbell didnt play well either.

Wheeler's almost done

He's basically their Spezza

 

[McSnypsky]

Anyone got video of the Dubois hit on Kerfoot?

 

[Bellefour20]

Kinda glad the game against the Canucks on Saturday likely won't happen. With the way this team is playing right now, facing a covid-riddled Canucks team and losing, would be this season's zamboni driver game.

 

[Teeder Keon]

Anyone got video of the Dubois hit on Kerfoot?

Yes and if you look closely , in the background you get a glimpse of our players skating away from their fallen teammate , just like any other video of a hard no respect hit on one of our players ...
I’m telling you , One of our elites are going to get seriously hurt and some of you are going to blame the refs and call me old school dinosaur
It’s not going to be fun when we see AM on the ice in agony after a devastating hit or fists to face

 

[Runforthecup]

When it’s bad it’s awful! The powerplay is just a joke at this point. Hopefully Willy and Matthews are back ASAP and Foligno gets cleared. Such a shame.

Who is this Foligno guy. Are you talking about the guy who has not had more than 0.4 pts per game for 5 years?

 

[DaWatcher]

We are still a bunch of figure skaters at the end of the day. There is no physical push back from this team. The only guy I saw through a few hits was 41 year old Joe Thornton.

 

[CanadasTeam]

Who is this Foligno guy. Are you talking about the guy who has not had more than 0.4 pts per game for 5 years?

Honest question, do you really believe they brought Foligno in for his point production?

 

[TMLegend]

Forgot they were playing tonight lol. Doesn't looked like I missed much.

 

[Teeder Keon]

Amen!

PLD f***ed us over in the play-in with the dirty hit on Muzzin, and then the plain as day head shot on Kerfoot tonight

He needs to pay, and when it became 4-2, that was the time to send the message

We did send a message , unfortunately it was the same old message we’ve been sending the last number of years .....we won’t fight , hit , and stand up for ourselves or our teammates ...
We need a crazy brawl to unite this team ...

 

[Cypruss]

I was a little surprised that no one tried to pound Dubois in the 3rd for that head shot. I know it's a 1 goal game, and I'm not a huge fan of fighting for no reason but if there was ever a time to send a message to a team that you still have to play 3 more times, and maybe the playoffs that was a time to do it

Hyman 2 hand chop to Pionks head was a type of response, no?

 

[Cypruss]

The more I see this Winnipeg team, the less impressed I am with their overall defensive play. Hellebuck, and the freebies the leafs gave them tonight, was the difference.
The next time these teams meet things may be different with Matthews, Nylander, Foligno and Nash playing.

Still confident that over a 7 game series, the leafs come out on top.

 

[Superstar]

Players reading too much about how they are good and forget to play good

Yep, still a big sign of immaturity...they think the names on the back of their jerseys is bigger and more talented than the other team. Holl needs to stop thinking he's Bobby Orr and start playing some sound defense.

 

[stickty111]

Leafs recalled Liljegren and Sandin to the taxi squad. They won't play them obviously because our defence should play every game for some reason, but at least they are up.

 

[Superstar]

Im mad that they didn’t win every game this season. Bunch of losers

Wendel Clark would of won every game for sure.

Wendel would have beaten the crap out of somebody or body checked someone hard!

 

[stickty111]

Canucks fans look to have lied about Malhotra to us. He's making the wrong adjustment when he does make them. This is when Keefe needs to act like the boss and take control.

 

[Leaf Fans]

Boy are we in for a rude awakening in the first round...

We need one. Wake up team!

 

[SeaOfBlue]

Missed the first Period powerplays.

Last one looked decent with the movement and opportunities, just need to get rid of those longer Rielly and Marner floaters. There are better options, it's not ever a good choice.

I don't think there were too many floaters on the last two PP's. There were on the first two, but once again, give them a better option. Marner and Thornton really needs to stay away from the blueline unless Rielly is not on the blueline though. Just not a high IQ game for Marner most of the night.

We got guys in proper position on the last two PP's and, not surprisingly, Rielly and Marner were able to find guys for good chances. If we continue to have PP's like the last one, especially with Matthews and Nylander on there again, then we will start scoring a ton of goals.