Post-Game Talk: Leafs lose 5-2

[DraftSchmaft]

Speed, or lack thereof from the backend if / when Holl McCabe Schenn are in the lineup at the same time will be a huge concern. Saw McCabe's lack of speed with my own eyes tonight. A pattern is emerging where we make the team much worse in our attempts to inject more physicality. I stand by my opinion we should have just went all in skill and chased guys like Kane after O'Reilly. We will actually be relatively the best in that department so we can get away with being softer than opponents. Now we're just tied skill wise and weaker in other areas compared to our first round (edit - playoff) opponents.

I mean, I really like McCabe from an isolated point of view, he's a dress-and-forget reliable bottom pairing D...was he the best move based on our team makeup and 1st round opponents?.....highly doubt that. This game sort of showed that. We didn't capitalize on the finishing touch after adding O'Reilly and the cash flow for trades evaporated into thin air on things we shouldn't have chased (Sandin counts as cash flow for trades).

(Let me be clear I want more physicality, I just don't agree with how we do it and the final outcome of the roster based on everything)

This guy and probably morgs are the only posters who ever really have a realistic grasp on the team and the league.

If we don't have another trick up our sleeve we are the worst team out of boston Tampa and the Rangers with respects to playoff games. These teams are solid right through and have D and goaltending to boot. Devils and Canes are also close to 50/50. Literally the only team I can say for certain I'd vote a 4-6 game series win in our favor with > 90% confidence is last wild card.

Get me back Sandin and the 1st for trade capital and let's make some actual cup winning moves. You don't follow up losing Muzzin with spending 1sts on Jake McCabes. I agree, just be the best in something and ride that to the end. In 2023 you definitely want to be the best in speed, skill and IQ. We could have easily done that this season by riding a stacked top 6 following up with reliable guys like Kerfoot Kampf Acciari in the bottom 6.

 

[MarnerElite]

I don't get the Schenn love all of a sudden...If i remember correctly, there were quite a few who called him Schitt or something like that...which i get...The guy would give up the puck on the blue line so often and then couldn't catch up due to lack of speed...Has he changed that much? We don't have much in terms of punishing dmen but i honestly think it's too overrated(because those dmen end up making more mistakes then their other abilities can hide).

 

[ACC1224]

Remember that time when all the boys went out fishing in the ocean sun before the game against the Panthers? And got their asses handed to them? I guess that they never learned anything from that.

What?

I don't get the Schenn love all of a sudden...If i remember correctly, there were quite a few who called him Schitt or something like that...which i get...The guy would give up the puck on the blue line so often and then couldn't catch up due to lack of speed...Has he changed that much? We don't have much in terms of punishing dmen but i honestly think it's too overrated(because those dmen end up making more mistakes then their other abilities can hide).

He’s not looked at as a #1 any longer.

 

[iCanada]

Bro, why was Holl the only one taking runs at people?

What happened to the new toughness they got?

where was the 4th line?

Holl was the only one who didn't know how scary RNH is.

 

[Kiwi]

That was a good old fashioned ass kicking

We sucked but it's not entirely unexpected when we've just turned over a quarter of the lineup, it takes time and practice to get chemistry with new line and teammates

We will be better for this, hopefully Keefe has a rethink about the lineup and the boys have looked pretty disengaged recently

This should help get the guys heads in the game
Nothing like a curb stomping to make you show up next game

 

[tmlms13]

They said he was playing for his life, had 4 hits and was minus 1. No mention of him being good.

It was implied fairly obviously

 

[Zero1]

Matthews has been very disappointing. How are you not motivated playing against McDavid?

 

[stickty111]

Stinker. What can you do

 

[blue stick]

Remember that time when all the boys went out fishing in the ocean sun before the game against the Panthers? And got their asses handed to them? I guess that they never learned anything from that.

They're millionaire kids, it's not like they're going to go down and volunteer at the food bank.

 

[CelticDruid]

Someone's fighting Lucic tomorrow.

Poor Holl.

 

[Hoglund4MvP]

You know your D stinks when you have to admit you can't lose Justin Holl at this point without risking getting even worse.

What have we done.

Where is Sandin! I'm in so much stress over the Sandin trade. Dubas is like Holl. He reels you in with something very good, then says psyche, I still suck.

 

[Gabriel426]

The only D replacement tonight is McCabe for Sandin and some here are suggesting McCabe is bad due to his lack of speed and wants Sandin back? Did people already forget Sandin lacks speed. Did they just romanticize Sandin into Adam Fox like I kept seeing here.

It is ONE game and the opponent is McD. You take away McD out of the equation from the start and Leafs will still lose but it is not the end of the World.

Lafferty and Acciari are depth, they ain’t going to score goals or create offence.

No doubt the team would be great if they could get Kane or Ekholm but that’s just not enough cap and I don’t think Kane wanted to come to the Leafs at all, it was really Rangers or bust for him. Just look at what Rangers gave up for Kane.

It is just some here just thought the Leafs will go undefeated from now till hoisting the Cup.
We will lose games and might even lose big but as long as we win the 4th game in each playoffs series, that’s all it matters.

 

[Mr_Fun]

The biggest takeaway tonight for me was how easy Skinners night was. We made their D look like the 2000 NJ Devils.

Oh well. I'm honestly more Interested in how we play this entire 5 game road trip than an individual game.

 

[Antropovsky]

Meh.... Moved the deck chairs and the team again looks the same. It's early but looking more and more like a coach or core problem.

 

[AllDay28]

So should we sell off everyone and try and get Bedard?

 

[TorMapleJays]

They are showcasing Holl for a trade….. right?

 

[notDatsyuk]

So, after all those trades, all we still need to fix is the third line, the defence, and the goaltending.

Judging from appearances, Leafs lead the league in five stats:

1) forwards blowing the defensive zone too soon, which leads directly to

2) defencemen not having an outlet, so they curl back and get caught by the forecheck, or

3) low percentage passes

4) uncovered opposing players

5) unfinished checks.

(Not necessarily in that order.)

All five on full display last night.

 

[Gabriel426]

The biggest takeaway tonight for me was how easy Skinners night was. We made their D look like the 2000 NJ Devils.

Oh well. I'm honestly more Interested in how we play this entire 5 game road trip than an individual game.

I really think Skinner knows all he need to do is not let in 4 goals or more bc McD will get 5.
That’s why he is so calm in net.

 

[rojac]

You know your D stinks when you have to admit you can't lose Justin Holl at this point without risking getting even worse.

What have we done.

Where is Sandin! I'm in so much stress over the Sandin trade. Dubas is like Holl. He reels you in with something very good, then says psyche, I still suck.

Seriously? You‘re stressed out over a trade of a third pairing d-man? What’s going to happen when the Leafs actually trade away a valuable piece?

 

[LeafSteel]

 

[Dave92]

Another loser performance by Matthews. This guy belongs in Arizona.

 

[kb]

 

[Mr_Fun]

I really think Skinner knows all he need to do is not let in 4 goals or more bc McD will get 5.
That’s why he is so calm in net.

Perhaps, but it seems like we generally have a lot more high quality chances against them. I mean, their D played their A game tonight, no doubt.

 

[Jimmy Firecracker]

McCabe had the bad penalty to start but he wasn’t on for a goal against tonight. There are good reasons to be mad about this game but he’s not one of them.

 

[Gabriel426]

Perhaps, but it seems like we generally have a lot more high quality chances against them. I mean, their D played their A game tonight, no doubt.

They managed to keep the boys outside. Also AM is not doing well and JT seems quite useless tonight.

JT either score in a game or visible in the wrong way.

Willie also showed his tendency to blow the zone early will haunt him. Which is a good lesson for him to learn tonight. As he always do better after a bad game.