Post-Game Talk: Leafs lose 5-3

[Gary Nylund]

It's 1-1 - I'll take it
Definitely a different team that stands up for eachother
PP is starting off slow, PK hasn't been great either
Time for Spezza to slide in. Still think we may need Clifford out there though

This is definitely something different and it gives me hope!

 

[Twine Tickler]

Felt the effort right out of the gate was exactly what we needed. Utterly dominated the 1st period only to fall short with 3 seconds left in the period off of a broken play. Same narrative to start the second. Came out strong only to have TB exploit the first defensive breakdown of the period for us.

Just felt like we were not going to get any bounces yesterday.

I am proud of the effort, disappointed with the result. TB played well I thought, and Vasy was Vasy. It would have been a foolish thought to think we were going to run away with this series against this championship level squad. They know how to respond and they did just that. You have to give them credit where credit is due. 15-0-0 after a loss is absolutely remarkable.

We have our work cut out for us. It is going to be a dogfight right to the end. If I am Sheldon I get the boys to embrace this type of fight. This was always going to be the way this group broke through if/when they do. They are going to have to really earn it.

I will say, this group looks like they can do it this time around. They have more compete, and they look hungrier than I've ever seen.

Get them next game boys!!

GO LEAFS GO!!!!

 

[ToneDog]

Thought we'd make it out of the first tied at zeros but alas, they give one up with a couple of seconds to go in the first.

Gotta split in Tampa now.

 

[meefer]

*Liljegren played well.
*even though 5 got past him, Campbell’s game was not the reason we lost.
*one game our special teams dominated, one game theirs. 1-1
*Matthews, Marner and Bunting
*not the shit show some are presenting, we need more from JT’s line.
*stop the dumb stuff.
*acceptable, but...Mikheyev and Engvall. Speed and size, use them please.
*5x5 I think we’ve been the better team, we can win this series.
*GLG!

 

[The Management]

Can't put this all at the feet of Simmonds, even though I'd rather see Spezza swapped in.

I think play went noticeably downhill after Kerfoot's penalty in the second half of the first period. Before that we were pretty much controlling the play, although not to the extent we were in Game 1. Bad penalties and powerplay goals sucked the life right out of the team.

Vasilevsky also stood on his head, and looked a solid notch above Campbell.

Nothing we can't bounce back from on the road, but adjustments need to be made.

 

[Mess]

Thought we'd make it out of the first tied at zeros but alas, they give one up with a couple of seconds to go in the first.

Gotta split in Tampa now.

That is why you can't put too much value in regular season results.

It took the Leafs 82 games to secure home ice advantage against TB, and now all the Cup champs had to do was split the first 2 in TO, and are now heading home in a best of 5 with home ice advantage with 3 of the 5 remaining in Tampa.

Leafs go from favourites to underdogs, but luckily this is the postion the Leafs play best under, and need at least a split to recoup home ice in the series again.

 

[ToneDog]

*Liljegren played well.
*even though 5 got past him, Campbell’s game was not the reason we lost.
*one game our special teams dominated, one game theirs. 1-1
*Matthews, Marner and Bunting
*not the shit show some are presenting, we need more from JT’s line.
*stop the dumb stuff.
*acceptable, but...Mikheyev and Engvall. Speed and size, use them please.
*5x5 I think we’ve been the better team, we can win this series.
*GLG!

Not sure about Soup. He looked horrible on the Hedman goal and to give that up with seconds to go in period is a downer. Vasi probably stops the Perry breakaway. Soup needs to be better for us to have a chance.

 

[Brown Dog]

Not sure about Soup. He looked horrible on the Hedman goal and to give that up with seconds to go in period is a downer. Vasi probably stops the Perry breakaway. Soup needs to be better for us to have a chance.

He didn't stop the Kampf breakaway in Game 1.

 

[Lightsol]

What didn't you understand?

"Let's take our tough guys out of the lineup and then we won't take as many penalties! Just ignore the last 5 series we played where we did this very thing and ended up having twice as many penalties as our opponents!"

 

[Gallagbi]

Not sure about Soup. He looked horrible on the Hedman goal and to give that up with seconds to go in period is a downer. Vasi probably stops the Perry breakaway. Soup needs to be better for us to have a chance.

He was simply an issue last game. They didn't need him to steal things early, but they can't have him gifting those first 2.

 

[ToneDog]

He didn't stop the Kampf breakaway in Game 1.

Doubt Soup stops that either.

 

[Gary Nylund]

He was simply an issue last game. They didn't need him to steal things early, but they can't have him gifting those first 2.

I thought he played well and I can't blame him for that first goal, I mean he stopped the first shot and why the hell was Hedman all alone with time in front of our net?

 

[Cap'n Flavour]

... why are people harping on about Mikheyev and Engvall when Kampf was worse than both? And for that matter, the 4th line was utter garbage both games. Yes, that's mostly on Clifford and Simmonds, but Blackwell has been awful too. It seems like every shift they start in the o-zone ends with them hemmed in our own end and scrambling.

 

[Brown Dog]

TB's first goal was such a piss-off. They had the puck behind their own net with like 10 seconds left in the period. The defensive may have had a mind to just run out the clock. All we needed was one more stop and they are looking at 4 shutout periods to start the series and the second-best team in each one. Instead they go into the intermission with the ice-breaker and probably a healthy sigh of relief.

Still, I really liked the way the Leafs came out in the 2nd with maybe their best shift of the game. They answered with sustained pressure and would've had the equalizer if not for a brilliant save by Vasilevskiy. Perry's goal right after put the Leafs behind the 8-ball for the rest of the night. But it's a different story if the Perry goal was the opener instead of making it 2-0.

 

[Gallagbi]

I thought he played well and I can't blame him for that first goal, I mean he stopped the first shot and why the hell was Hedman all alone with time in front of our net?

Hedman is the only shot on the sequence so he didn't make the first save and all he needs to do is stay square instead of diving away from the puck

Muzzins misread causes the opportunity

 

[All Mod Cons]

"Let's take our tough guys out of the lineup and then we won't take as many penalties! Just ignore the last 5 series we played where we did this very thing and ended up having twice as many penalties as our opponents!"

You completely misunderstood what I was saying. A complete 180 in fact.

I'm saying if we take out our toughness, I.e. Simmonds and Clifford and play a squeaky clean game, the refs will put the whistles away. Meaning that Tampa will be able to slash, cross check, elbow, dubious hit the Leafs and play will go on. If we take out Clifford/Simmonds or both, it'll be free reign on the Leafs.

Damned if we do, damned if we don't.

 

[Mess]

Tampa's PP is just as talented and dangerous as the Leafs is, so you can't take bad penalties or it will cost the Leafs.

Kerfoot took a penalty that cost a goal and then scored SH to make up for that to breakeven.

Both of Simmonds penalties were needless and cost the Leafs 2 goals and that was the ultimate difference in this game.

 

[frog]

Leafs need to rough it up next game and intimidate tampa... When leafs hit they win when they poke check they lose clifford in.. Engvall out

 

[Gary Nylund]

Hedman is the only shot on the sequence so he didn't make the first save and all he needs to do is stay square instead of diving away from the puck

Muzzins misread causes the opportunity

Perhaps you should be blaming Muzzin then. Or the guy that took the penalty? Seems like the goalie is always the scapegoat for some reason.

 

[BigGulpsEh]

Leafs weren't as tight defensively and bobbling the puck a lot in their own end. Out of sync at times

PK was a step behind

Clean up the blatantly stupid penalties.

 

[Fonzieleaf]

Did Nylander die or something?

No he was good too.

 

[hoglund]

The Leafs looked like the better team in the 1st and if not for Vasilevskiy the Leafs were up 2 or 3 -0. That goal with 2 seconds left in the 1st was the turning point and was a sign that it wasn't the Leafs night.

 

[Gallagbi]

Perhaps you should be blaming Muzzin then. Or the guy that took the penalty? Seems like the goalie is always the scapegoat for some reason.

I have, I've made a few posts on how Muzzin played the situation poorly in the GDT and misread the threat as well as the time. I've also commented about Muzzin's overall poor play from last night as he struggled with his gap.

None of that changes some pretty shotty goaltending on those first 2 goals though where Campbell abandoned fundamentals and simply guessed, which is never a good look for a goalie.

 

[Tufted Titmouse]

We started to lose our grasp on this series when we started to try to be tough.

Clean body checks, stop taking dumb penalties and getting sucked into extra-curriculars, and skate+outwork the Lightning. That's how you beat that team in it's current state.

Tampa wants so badly for us to start playing this slower, choppier, scrumfest style because it takes away all the advantages we have over them.

If we come out flying, and checking tightly, in G3, I have no doubts we are the better team. If we come out trying to play TB's game, we will be lucky to win another game.

 

[Twine Tickler]

TB's first goal was such a piss-off. They had the puck behind their own net with like 10 seconds left in the period. The defensive may have had a mind to just run out the clock. All we needed was one more stop and they are looking at 4 shutout periods to start the series and the second-best team in each one. Instead they go into the intermission with the ice-breaker and probably a healthy sigh of relief.

Still, I really liked the way the Leafs came out in the 2nd with maybe their best shift of the game. They answered with sustained pressure and would've had the equalizer if not for a brilliant save by Vasilevskiy. Perry's goal right after put the Leafs behind the 8-ball for the rest of the night. But it's a different story if the Perry goal was the opener instead of making it 2-0.

Pretty well spot on.

It's unfortunate. Breakdowns happen, and sometimes you just need a bounce or 2, or even just a save you don't deserve. We just didn't get that this time around. In fairness it seemed like every bounce went our way in game 1.

I really don't think the boys need to feel defeated after that loss. There were far more positives to take away than negative IMO. We just have to clean up the mistakes and we will be fine. I absolutely love the heart and effort I am seeing from this group. It's the first time in 6 years that I'd be ok with a first round exit if they give us efforts like this every night. They went down swinging, and you have to give them credit for that. They've responded to every criticism thus far IMO. You just cannot win every game, certainly not against the B2B champs.

I will say, I think getting the first goal in the game is more important than ever. You can tell when we went down 3-1 that the boys felt like they really had to press to get 2 more past Vasy. He has that effect on any game plan. The 4-1 goal IMO does not happen if it's a tie game or we have the lead. But because we were down 2 we naturally had to incorporate more risk into the game plan knowing how hard it was going to be to get 2 more past Vasy.