Post-Game Talk: Leafs lose 6-3

[wingman75]

Only 5 pages after a loss.
The interest in this place seems to be on a downward trend.

Wonder where people have migrated to?

I keep wondering the same thing?!

 

[ToneDog]

Jets fan here in peace .
Serious question, do you think the Jets really can beat the Leafs. I think they have lost the last 5 or 6 to your team.

If they want this game more than the Leafs, and not going through the motions to get to the Xmas break, of course they can win. Leafs just lost to the Islanders who can't score or defend much. Matthews is also probably out.

 

[Al14]

If they want this game more than the Leafs, and not going through the motions to get to the Xmas break, of course they can win. Leafs just lost to the Islanders who can't score or defend much. Matthews is also probably out.

Matthews needs to find a way to get healthy, and STAY HEALTHY.

Our Leafs might need to start thinking about trading Matthews. He can't stay healthy to save our Leafs, and himself.

 

[GoonieFace]

BOTH TEAMS need to be playing a back to back game IMHO. One team playing rested is an unfair advantage for the team that played the previous day.

This one was atrociously scheduled with the NYI coming off a 4 day rest and our Leafs playing 3 in 4 nights. The schedule maker needs to be drawn and quartered.

And, as always, the opposing team plays MUCH HARDER against our Leafs than they normally do against other NHL teams. It's like beating our Leafs is their Stanley Cup.

I'm also sick and tired of Toronto area players getting their 1st career goals against our Leafs.

My whine is over.

The other truth is that our Leafs played poorly and our goalie couldn't save them!

It’s a pretty poor excuse to use scheduling. It would be nearly impossible to have a “fair” schedule. These arenas all have other bookings for concerts etc.

If I’m not mistaken the Leafs record on the second night of a B2B is actually decent.

 

[Al14]

It’s a pretty poor excuse to use scheduling. It would be nearly impossible to have a “fair” schedule. These arenas all have other bookings for concerts etc.

If I’m not mistaken the Leafs record on the second night of a B2B is actually decent.

Come on, one team has a four day rest while the other played the previous night. IMHO, this is UNACCEPTABLE for any NHL team, not just our Leafs !!!

Back to backs are fine, however 1 team shouldn't have an extended rest while the other team played the previous day.

The team on the back to back is a lot more susceptible to injuries when playing tired. Thankfully, I'm not aware of any Leaf injuries suffered last night.

JMHO.

 

[ULF_55]

No D whatsoever. Im surprised it wasnt worse

New York Islanders - Toronto Maple Leafs - Dec 21, 2024 | NHL.com

NHL Gamecenter - New York Islanders vs. Toronto Maple Leafs, Dec 21, 2024 - summary, stats, boxscore, play by play, recap and more.

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1+2: Rielly front and center first 2 goals against.
3: Odds man rush, 2 on 1 becomes 3-2, rebound goal.
4: Off Tanev's knee, through 5 hole.
5: Changed direction on deflection.

 

[The Hanging Jowl]

It’s a pretty poor excuse to use scheduling. It would be nearly impossible to have a “fair” schedule. These arenas all have other bookings for concerts etc.

If I’m not mistaken the Leafs record on the second night of a B2B is actually decent.

I think someone on this board also said it has something to do with the Amazon Prime Monday night games throwing things off (where they demanded Leaf games).

 

[TMLBlueandWhite]

Come on, one team has a four day rest while the other played the previous night. IMHO, this is UNACCEPTABLE for any NHL team, not just our Leafs !!!

Back to backs are fine, however 1 team shouldn't have an extended rest while the other team played the previous day.

The team on the back to back is a lot more susceptible to injuries when playing tired. Thankfully, I'm not aware of any Leaf injuries suffered last night.

JMHO.

I'm sorry but I don't buy this as an excuse.

These guys are all elite athletes in the prime of their lives. I remember the training I had to go through and I didn't even reach a professional level. We're talking 6+ hours a day of weight lifting, cardio, and on ice practice, with only one day a week off completely for rest.

Two games in a row shouldn't be that big a deal for these guys.

 

[LeafsNet]

This team already checked out for Christmas a week ago. Has nothing to do with the scheduling at all….

Yes they got wins in December, but mentally you’re seeing huge defensive lapses that were being bailed out by good goaltending and scoring.

Yesterday was the worse defensive showing I’ve seen the Leafs this entire season.

Like I said, it’s almost like they’ve already checked out for Christmas and just showed up to play the game because they had to.

Horrible game. Please win Monday and then check out all you want until Boxing Day.

 

[Evilhomer]

It’s a pretty poor excuse to use scheduling. It would be nearly impossible to have a “fair” schedule. These arenas all have other bookings for concerts etc.

If I’m not mistaken the Leafs record on the second night of a B2B is actually decent.

People are complaining about the schedule, but don't seem to mind that the Leafs have played a very home-heavy schedule, against mostly mediocre teams, so far. They will be on the road a lot more in the second half of the season.

 

[Al14]

I'm sorry but I don't buy this as an excuse.

These guys are all elite athletes in the prime of their lives. I remember the training I had to go through and I didn't even reach a professional level. We're talking 6+ hours a day of weight lifting, cardio, and on ice practice, with only one day a week off completely for rest.

Two games in a row shouldn't be that big a deal for these guys.

One team had fresh legs, the other team DID NOT !!!

Muscle fatigue IS REAL, especially for high end athletes.

 

[leafsfan5]

Not one to be too upset over considering how brutal the schedule has been + NYI had like 3 days of rest + Woll had a rare off-night + Matthews is hurt

Hopefully we can rebound for Monday, would be good to start the break with a win

 

[leafsfan5]

It’s a pretty poor excuse to use scheduling. It would be nearly impossible to have a “fair” schedule. These arenas all have other bookings for concerts etc.

If I’m not mistaken the Leafs record on the second night of a B2B is actually decent.

I mean during an 82 game season it's a valid reason - Toronto just had 5 games in 8 days with 2 back to backs while NYI had 3 days off and was waiting for us.

It'll be impossible to have a fair schedule but it's fine to acknowledge that the outcome of that is some games will have one team with a pretty decent advantage. Leafs will have this in their favour some nights, other nights they won't

 

[ToneDog]

Not one to be too upset over considering how brutal the schedule has been + NYI had like 3 days of rest + Woll had a rare off-night + Matthews is hurt

Hopefully we can rebound for Monday, would be good to start the break with a win

Brutal schedule is probably the same for all teams given this 4 Nations Tournament? They've played 3 playoff teams in December. Lost to the Caps and beat NJ and Dallas thanks to their goalies sucking and ours excelling because they were outplayed in both games IMO.

Hawks, Preds, Ducks, Sabres, Wings are a combined 58-87-21

 

[grapes55]

Missed the game but did Kampf play top 6 most of the time? Or were the lines in a blender most of the time

 

[Roo]

we were due for a loss... guys are probably tired given the ridiculous schedule, and it showed in their sloppy play, defensively. This was a game where we would typically keep it close and at least get a point. Too many bad collapses and there is the L. Hoping for a better showing against the Jets.

Only 5 pages after a loss.
The interest in this place seems to be on a downward trend.

Wonder where people have migrated to?

probably people sick of the 'sky is falling, blow it up' crowd that is generally around and bitching following a loss

 

[Confucius]

Matthews will surely miss the game on Monday.

Leafs generally own the Jets but that will be a tough one for sure.

May get our 7th straight victory, and although it isn’t Saturday night we know there is nothing better for the Jets than beating us.

 

[torontoblood]

The Leafs performance tonight simply came down to tired and sloppy execution in a low event, low intensity type game against a boring opponent like the shitlanders, who were on a losing streak and were due for a win.

It was also the second game of a back-to-back. It was their 7th game in 11 days. The leafs had a very compressed schedule this week. They were mentally and physically tired, and in a 82- game season it happens from time to time. They will pace themselves and be better soon.

 

[LeafsNet]

This whole scheduling thing is nonsense….they were playing in Buffalo not Utah or LA…which is pretty much a GO Train ride nowadays. If you’re going to lose, then don’t lose so miserably. I don’t mind a 1-0 or a 2-1 loss., but the defensive lapses and the overall attitude was garbage…how do you let so many off man chances in one period alone?

They have another back-to-back coming up. Friday in Detroit, Saturday at home against Washington. Are they going to split those also or worse take L’s in both? Then Winnipeg and NYI again to close out the year.

Winning the division is an absolute must this year. The Leafs don’t lack talent, it literally comes down to mental games. Winning the division IMO would be a huge mental boost going into the playoffs.

 

[Leafsfan74]

I mean during an 82 game season it's a valid reason - Toronto just had 5 games in 8 days with 2 back to backs while NYI had 3 days off and was waiting for us.

It'll be impossible to have a fair schedule but it's fine to acknowledge that the outcome of that is some games will have one team with a pretty decent advantage. Leafs will have this in their favour some nights, other nights they won't

Look at it this way, it evens out throughout the year. Perhaps earlier in the year Leafs had the advantageous situation which lead to some wins.

Also a team has to adapt.

I was going to provide my own personal analogy but I'm not in the mood so I will just say this, from personal experience in sports; when you know you are outmatched, really tired or what have you, you keep it simple and try to grind it out.

It's one reason I would think a serious athlete would be training very hard (and hopefully safely) in the off season. Practice and training is the hard part so that the game itself is easier. Whether it's a game like this where you need to grind it out to try and force a 1-1 tie and hope to steal another point in OT, or the heavy load of playoffs; players have to find a way to play the right way every night and adapt.

This particular loss isn't as big a deal as the trajectory I've been seeing. If they lost 4-1 due to the Islanders scoring two PP goals, or just an average night, it habits. However, their bad habits are creeping in, trying to score off the rush, playing with less focus on defense for awhile now and it's only due to insane goaltending that they have won some of these games. All of the Islander goals were even strengthed.

That is a real problem.

 

[Racer88]

The game is three periods long.

Count 'em. One, two, and three. I really wish the Leafs would show up for them all.

Especially the first.

These guys are paid millions, MILLIONS, to play a game for a living. It's unacceptable for them to not show up on time. Kids everywhere the world over working at a crap minimum wage job can show up for their shift on time.

These guys should have been ready from the drop of the puck.

I feel bad for Berube facing the same challenges Keefe did. How to get these overpaid bums to take games against bottom feeders seriously enough to be ready on time. All I know is Berube better have them ready from now on as the schedule doesn't get any easier.

Shame on you Leafies shame on you.

Yup. Been fighting that issue since we got those guys and it’s not likely to ever change.

 

[GoonieFace]

One team had fresh legs, the other team DID NOT !!!

Muscle fatigue IS REAL, especially for high end athletes.

So what’s the excuse for the past 5 or 6 games, since they looked like garbage for the most part.

 

[colchar]

Only 5 pages after a loss.
The interest in this place seems to be on a downward trend.

Wonder where people have migrated to?

Um, you do know that Christmas is just days away right? People have other things to do.

 

[notDatsyuk]

The Leafs performance tonight simply came down to tired and sloppy execution in a low event, low intensity type game against a boring opponent like the shitlanders, who were on a losing streak and were due for a win.

It was also the second game of a back-to-back. It was their 7th game in 11 days. The leafs had a very compressed schedule this week. They were mentally and physically tired, and in a 82- game season it happens from time to time. They will pace themselves and be better soon.

So how come the player with the most ice time over the last 7 games (yes, even more than any defenceman) was easily the hardest working and best player?

 

[ruaware41]

Only 5 pages after a loss.
The interest in this place seems to be on a downward trend.

Wonder where people have migrated to?

speaking for myself and many fans, it seems like the Leafs are the boys who cried wolf one too many times. Too many people are used to the same routine and are not buying the hype train again with a few minor changes. Whether it is a new defenceman, a new ufa, a new coach, a newer coach, etc.

Been there done that. I have not watched one game in its entirety this year. We now want to see if this team will do anything different in the playoffs. For many of us, they have lost the privilege of having us cheering them on and buying the hype train and the ups and lows on a day to day basis during the regular season.

5 pages after a loss is a sharp decline though in any case compared to prior years.