Post-Game Talk: Leafs lose 5-3

[Willchel Marlynder]

I honestly think we should consider stacking the top line with Nylander. I understand regular season put Engvall on a pedestal but I just don't see Engvall and Kampf making use of Nylander's skillset. Are we going to go another playoffs under-utilizing Nylander? I thought we learned from mistakes.

If the PP isnt firing, 5v5 isn't going to get enough out of Nylander if he's out there with two third liners who are incapable of lighting up Tampa with him.

I love Nylander and think he can work in that spot, but The issue is we aren't getting good secondary scoring from JT and Willy. Throwing Nylander with Matthews and Marner won't solve that overall problem. Plus, I do think Bunts is just a better price for Matthews and Marner right now.

I think it's time to put Nylander and Tavares together as Nylander is being shafted in terms of Ice time. Keefe needs to have a round table discussion with both of them, come up with ways that JT can be more effective and tell Nylander while in the D zone he needs to treat it like a PK. He needs to apply pressure. Not the conservative style defending that seems to occur when he's with JT.


I think there is a chance Nylander and JT can provide some secondary offense. The problem is they are far too often trapped in their own end to see it. Tell them to figure it out, they're are superstars.

 

[ZEBROA]

Way back in the regular season St Louis figured out how to limit Matthews effectiveness. Many of the bottom feeders used this template to control the Leafs. In game one, Tampa thought they could outskill the Leafs. That did not work. In game two, Cooper made the adjustment and Matthews was, more or less, ineffective. Nylander wanted none of game 2. Game 3 will be very telling if Keefe can devise a plan to open up the first line.

What would you do?

 

[Shooter2x]

I love Nylander and think he can work in that spot, but The issue is we aren't getting good secondary scoring from JT and Willy. Throwing Nylander with Matthews and Marner won't solve that overall problem. Plus, I do think Bunts is just a better price for Matthews and Marner right now.

I think it's time to put Nylander and Tavares together as Nylander is being shafted in terms of Ice time. Keefe needs to have a round table discussion with both of them, come up with ways that JT can be more effective and tell Nylander while in the D zone he needs to treat it like a PK. He needs to apply pressure. Not the conservative style defending that seems to occur when he's with JT.


I think there is a chance Nylander and JT can provide some secondary offense. The problem is they are far too often trapped in their own end to see it. Tell them to figure it out, they're are superstars.

Agree if we're not stacking the top line with Nylander it's sink or swim JT-Nylander time. "Figure it out" time for real.

Playoffs against Tampa is a different breed of hockey we are massively over rating our depth players if we think JT and Nylander are going to go point per game with them, unless it's highly composed of power play points.

This isn't xGF time any more we need actual goals.

 

[Havoc]

Each game is different. If momentum meant something then the Leafs would have won tonight.

Tell that to the Vasi glove save

Leafs did come into game 2 with all the momentum, they owned period 1 excluding that bad goal at the very end. All over them, direct carry over from game 1. Depleted momentum with dumb penalties and then Tampa stole it for good with the glove save.

Last half of 3rd got it back so it does make me feel a bit better heading into game 3

 

[JT AM da real deal]

I love Nylander and think he can work in that spot, but The issue is we aren't getting good secondary scoring from JT and Willy. Throwing Nylander with Matthews and Marner won't solve that overall problem. Plus, I do think Bunts is just a better price for Matthews and Marner right now.

I think it's time to put Nylander and Tavares together as Nylander is being shafted in terms of Ice time. Keefe needs to have a round table discussion with both of them, come up with ways that JT can be more effective and tell Nylander while in the D zone he needs to treat it like a PK. He needs to apply pressure. Not the conservative style defending that seems to occur when he's with JT.


I think there is a chance Nylander and JT can provide some secondary offense. The problem is they are far too often trapped in their own end to see it. Tell them to figure it out, they're are superstars.

JT can't keep up .. ice is tilting every shift he is on da ice .. it is not his wingers it is JT himself .. watch really really closely next game .. watching it live at arena it is clear as day .. you can't tell on TV .. well you likely can't see it ever on TV .. biggest difference for me is watching games live .. hockey is not a good TV sport as you can't understand much from cameras .. need to run Willy with Kerfoot and somebody big to open up ice for them .. only real option we have is Wayner .. JT will do absolutely nothing in this series it is too fast for him

 

[Shooter2x]

JT can't keep up .. ice is tilting every shift he is on da ice .. it is not his wingers it is JT himself .. watch really really closely next game .. watching it live at arena it is clear as day .. you can't tell on TV .. well you likely can't see it ever on TV .. biggest difference for me is watching games live .. hockey is not a good TV sport as you can't understand much from cameras .. need to run Willy with Kerfoot and somebody big to open up ice for them .. only real option we have is Wayner .. JT will do absolutely nothing in this series it is too fast for him

Disagree. The way Nylander has been driving the puck to the net, either physically or with low shots, JT probably bangs one in or tips one home by now. Tavares is elite at puck tracking when a guy like Nylander carries the play. Engvall and Kampf are not puck trackers and do not know how to get into the right spots.

 

[Suntouchable13]

Game 3 is a must win since TB just doesn't lose back-to-back games. If Leafs go down 2-1, they are forced to win back-to-back games in this series in order to win

 

[leafsfan5]

Game 3 is a must win since TB just doesn't lose back-to-back games. If Leafs go down 2-1, they are forced to win back-to-back games in this series in order to win

I mean, Tampa just straight up doesn't lose series' as a whole at this point

If you want to beat them you will need to break their streaks. This team is capable, they just need to stay disciplined. Auston/Mitch are showing they can carry which is a great sign

 

[frog]

This is a bad take.

Engvall has been a net positive in more or less every game since late March.

He was terrible last night.. We started creating momentum and engvall does a blind clear with teamates open 2 or 3 times and wasnt even tired since he stayed on.. In the playoffs you need to feed off momentum and build it shift by shift but he killed it at least 3 times... Clifford is much more effective at building momentum to allow marner and mathews to do their thing the following shift

 

[JT AM da real deal]

Disagree. The way Nylander has been driving the puck to the net, either physically or with low shots, JT probably bangs one in or tips one home by now. Tavares is elite at puck tracking when a guy like Nylander carries the play. Engvall and Kampf are not puck trackers and do not know how to get into the right spots.

Were you at either game 1 or game 2 live in da arena? I think you need to go to a game live and see for yourself. It will get much worse in Tampa when Keefer can't line match to Tampa slowest center. I am flying down tomorrow and taking my dad to his seats on Friday and then my mom to game on Sunday. It is gonna get much worse.

 

[Brown Dog]

Hope Marner's granny didn't put any big money on her prediction of a 3-2 Leafs win last night. Lord knows there are enough sports gambling sites around based on all the commercials and insufferable intermission segments.

 

[Suntouchable13]

I mean, Tampa just straight up doesn't lose series' as a whole at this point

If you want to beat them you will need to break their streaks. This team is capable, they just need to stay disciplined. Auston/Mitch are showing they can carry which is a great sign

I believe we can do it. TB is a great team, but Leafs have got to them. 8 goals on Vasi in 2 games is great.

 

[m1ker]

Blackwell out. Spezza and clifford in. Double shift someone on the 4th line and don’t play clifford unless we have to.

 

[daethfromabove1979]

Tell that to the Vasi glove save

Leafs did come into game 2 with all the momentum, they owned period 1 excluding that bad goal at the very end. All over them, direct carry over from game 1. Depleted momentum with dumb penalties and then Tampa stole it for good with the glove save.

Last half of 3rd got it back so it does make me feel a bit better heading into game 3

That glove save was the game changer, totally turned the tide and was very deflating for the Leafs.

 

[m1ker]

Hope Marner's granny didn't put any big money on her prediction of a 3-2 Leafs win last night. Lord knows there are enough sports gambling sites around based on all the commercials and insufferable intermission segments.

#cancelmarnersgrandma

 

[Tufted Titmouse]

He was terrible last night.. We started creating momentum and engvall does a blind clear with teamates open 2 or 3 times and wasnt even tired since he stayed on.. In the playoffs you need to feed off momentum and build it shift by shift but he killed it at least 3 times... Clifford is much more effective at building momentum to allow marner and mathews to do their thing the following shift

Hard disagree. Engvall has been our 5th or 6th best player. Absolute horse defensively, wasn't on for either PK goals, brings speed and length.

 

[leafsfan5]

I believe we can do it. TB is a great team, but Leafs have got to them. 8 goals on Vasi in 2 games is great.

We definitely have the ability. Just cut down on the self-inflicted errors. We love to beat ourselves and Tampa is fine with letting that happen

 

[sxvnert]

Spezza Blackwell Kase

 

[myleafs]

I say bench him next game, but the game was over when he went to the box.

Leafs were not coming back.

A lot of people trashing on Simmonds...I thought he played great the 1st game and tried to do the right thing in the 2nd game but got a little careless. He is one of the few who will stand up to anyone and drop em if he needs to and I think the leafs are worse off if he isnt playing against Tampa. For the record I was not a fan of his this year for the most part but the last several games I have liked what he brings....just needs to be a little smarter. Same with Clifford.

Or just roll with the punches but hit their big stars on the next shift.

this and how bout getting in Vasi's grill like they were doing to Campbell. I was waiting for a little bit of retaliation for clearly making things uncomfortable for Soup but it never came.

 

[myleafs]

LTIR tavares as he is useless. 11 million and he is invisible for the second playoff game in a row. This captain is a disgrace.

I'm watching Matthews and Marner, Rielly showing grit and Engvall getting pissed off and then I see Tavares with no emotion at all. I could live with the slow plodding and ineffective so far style if he showed some passion, some sort of life but I just ain't seeing it. He is technically the leader of this team but I'm not seeing a lot of leading.

 

[myleafs]

Yep. In that order. Selectively start throwing heavy forechecking hits on their defensemen. Sergachev is prone to brain farts so he’s a soft target. Not obvious who else you could engage with the size of their blueline and lack of heavies on our team but Hedman is there if you want a battle and McDonagh hasn’t been fresh all year. Bogosian is old and can break down physically but he’s a monster as we all know. Then just make life hell for Point, Stamkos and Kucherov. Point takes a licking to make plays, so give him a licking. Stamkos can be a playoff no show so just pound him into ineffectivess. Kucherov is a hothead who will start going a little ape shit when harassed. Makes more sense to punish them than run around trying to settle scores with Fat Maroon.

I feel like this is what Tampa is doing to the Leafs. To me they are kinda playing the long game, hitting everything in sight and looking to wear down our boys and last night it was obvious they were targeting Giordano and Lily every chance they got. Over a long series that starts to have an effect. I'd like to see the Leafs do the same.

 

[myleafs]

What show though? They didn't do anything besides Perry freebie breakaway and Campbell freebie five hole.

The 3 of their goons combined for 1 hit. We had literally no reason to give in and take dumb penalties against them. They were a non-factor physically.

I would take their 4th line over ours in a heartbeat. They are shit disturbers and got in Campbells grill every chance they could all while not crossing the line into penalty land. Its what I want from our 4th line.

 

[Willchel Marlynder]

JT can't keep up .. ice is tilting every shift he is on da ice .. it is not his wingers it is JT himself .. watch really really closely next game .. watching it live at arena it is clear as day .. you can't tell on TV .. well you likely can't see it ever on TV .. biggest difference for me is watching games live .. hockey is not a good TV sport as you can't understand much from cameras .. need to run Willy with Kerfoot and somebody big to open up ice for them .. only real option we have is Wayner .. JT will do absolutely nothing in this series it is too fast for him

I actually don't mind running Mik/Engvall - Kerfoot - Nylander. I might actually prefer it. But I guess biggest thing is Kampf. Has Keefe ever put Kampf on the 4th line? A guy like Kase with JT seems ideal to me.

I would like to see:
Bunting - Matthews - Marner
Mik - Kerfoot - Nylander
Engvall - JT - Kase
Clifford/Spezza - Kampf - Blackwell

First line is elite, Second line is all speed and the third line has some jam and should be beneficial for Tavares.

If not that then you have to put Nylander and JT together. Trust me I get what you mean about JT, but if you give them mostly O zone starts we get to use JT's biggest strength right now in Face offs to start with the puck in the ozone. If Keefe trys to make it a focus for that line to really get their cycle game going then maybe they can get something through. Nylander is a strong boy and when hungry and and engaged he is great on the boards. A cycle game is where JT thrives. (Kase or Mik might be a better option than Kerfoot if that is the game plan for the line).

 

[Nineteen67]

Spezza Blackwell Kase

OK, Cooper.

 

[ULF_55]

So Leafs are winning the series 8-5 at the moment?