Post-Game Talk: Leafs lose but earn respect

[FrozenJagrt]

Not that I miss the goonery of yesteryear, but I do wonder what a guy like Wendel would have done in a game like that. The dude saw red whenever someone tried to take liberties with the stars on his team.

 

[KingsHockey24]

You can have him, but only if you take Muzz back as well

Gladly.

 

[Confucius]

Love the bad blood that carried over from the North Division. That was some good old time hockey last night.

The score aside, I think that was an important game for this team moving forward.

Hopefully Sandin's injury won't be the worst case scenario.

Wonder why they didn't have their prearranged agreement ala last game, nobody gets hurt...

 

[myleafs]

Ritchie actually is the most useless human to ever lace them up. He needs to sit

If ever there was a time to show some metal, this game was it. I mean he stared a couple guys down but it would have been nice to see him be part of the sticking up for the team mentality that was going on. If he had done that his stock would have risen. Unfortunately he was passive and was happy to let Simmonds and Clifford do all the heavy lifting. Not a good sign.

 

[Leaftors]

congratulations Jets on your in season cup. it's the only cup they'll win this year, considering they might not even make the playoffs.

 

[Jimmy Firecracker]

Not that I miss the goonery of yesteryear, but I do wonder what a guy like Wendel would have done in a game like that. The dude saw red whenever someone tried to take liberties with the stars on his team.

Simmonds tried but the refs kept getting in the way.

 

[myleafs]

I'm confused as to what it is that Simmonds supposedly accomplished, other than killing any remote chance of a comeback.

Also that game should lay to rest any notion of players like Clifford serving a purpose, deterrent or otherwise.

wow interesting take. I was proud to be a leafs fan last night. The push back has been a long time coming. The boys are gaining much respect in my eyes. If you are going to lose, thats how you do it.

 

[Bigmarycombo]

Not only is that not true, but he does stand up for himself, and absolutely nothing Matthews does will ever change other players trying to pull this garbage on him.

He absolutely does nothing for standing up for himself. Smiling while your being rag dolled doesny quite cut it. Cross check someone spear someone take the penalty to send a message don’t f*** me or you will eat my stick.

 

[myleafs]

I called it last night that this game was going to be a blowout. Not good at all.

not sure what you were watching but that was one of the more satisfying games ive seen from this group.

 

[TheBeastCoast]

You can have him, but only if you take Muzz back as well

Wut?

 

[myleafs]

I don't know if I could stomach him if it got this bad:

I'm all for being the better person, not giving satisfaction to a bully, but take it from the Sedins - the good guy act doesn't cut it in the NHL.

I was living in Vancouver for this debacle. Sedin is a big boy, all he had to do was push back, toss Brad around easily but he didnt and it set the tone. Was a pivotal moment in that series.

 

[myleafs]

If that’s how you feel, which doesn’t shock me you should give up on hockey and watch WWE as it’s obvious you like clown shows

boooo hissss if you cant get giddy watching the boys stick up for each other then I dont know what to say man....just booooooo

 

[ThrowDemTongs]

Paul Maurice was never my friend

 

[BigGulpsEh]

He absolutely does nothing for standing up for himself. Smiling while your being rag dolled doesny quite cut it. Cross check someone spear someone take the penalty to send a message don’t f*** me or you will eat my stick.

Thats how I see it too. Matthews doesn't need to drop the gloves but he should stick up for himself in that situation

 

[BigGulpsEh]

Lot of weird messages saying Matthews needs to man up and become a goon and stand up for himself.

Wtf?

So because the refs are incompetent and let cheap shots go and clear mugging go, our players should change their game and become gutless pukes too?

How about Bettman and his incompetent referees learn how to really manage a game.

Giving both teams 5 power plays is not game management. 3rd rate league. What a joke.

Being a goon and standing up for yourself are vastly different.

Matthews doesnt need to drop the gloves but atleast don't get tossed around and do nothing about it.


Would you let someone just rag doll you and allow it?

 

[Ziggdiezan]

If I'm Shanahan, I make sure the NHL never assigns those 2 refs to officiate a leafs game again.

They are the same refs that officiated game 2 vs Boston

That is twice they lost control of a game and as a result players were injured and suspended.

This is needed from a player safety pov

Wow that is crazy that it is the same pair of refs... Good find

 

[Stephen]

The best players in the world are not going to drop the mitts and fight in that kind of situation. They're smarter than that. The only difference is Crosby and McDavid get that call, and the refs would step in to protect them much faster instead of just standing to the side watching for 10 seconds.

Mackinnon fights on a regular basis.

 

[Ziggdiezan]

The best players in the world are not going to drop the mitts and fight in that kind of situation. They're smarter than that. The only difference is Crosby and McDavid get that call, and the refs would step in to protect them much faster instead of just standing to the side watching for 10 seconds.

Agreed, Matthews is by far the least protected superstar in the league.

 

[Kurtz]

Here's Dubois running scared from Ritchie. Note his teammates admiring their laces rather than coming to his aid, while he's saved by the refs:



Here is the entire Winnipeg line wanting nothing to do with Simmonds, once more being saved by the refs:




But they all seemed to regain their bravery once they got to the bench.

 

[Jimmy Firecracker]

We need to kill them the next time they visit Toronto. Leave them with half dead team and take some suspensions, who cares. 5 games we lose and we come back, they pay the ultimate price for over 2-3 months and season end.

This is what I would prefer but we all know that ain't happening with this core sadly.

You know for a fact that the NHL is going to call both franchises with some bullshit warning about not letting the game get out of hand, when it’s only potentially like that now because of their own incompetence.

 

[LaPlante94]

You know for a fact that the NHL is going to call both franchises with some bullshit warning about not letting the game get out of hand, when it’s only potentially like that now because of their own incompetence.

They need to hold their refs accountable, especially when it's not this refs first time letting a game get like this. Last time Kadri got suspended because he let DeBrusk do whatever the hell he wanted and now Speeza possibly suspended and Simmonds fined because they let Dubois and Pionk do whatever they wanted. Maurice may have protected them that game, but when we play them in March he can't sit them on the bench for 3 whole periods so they will most likely have to answer the bell for what they did. Maybe not Pionk because he's a smaller guy and idk if Simmonds or Ritchie would really do that but Dubois most likely will. Maybe Stanley too after his little celebration for nothing. It's bad enough Foligno ran over Campbell the day before and nothing called. Again though, when Kadri was here he got suspended for doing just that and funny thing is that it was against the Wild and Shannahan was the one who suspended him lol.

 

[Contenderorpretender]

Thats how I see it too. Matthews doesn't need to drop the gloves but he should stick up for himself in that situation

In most instances I would agree Matthews should stand up for himself especially against PLD. But the Leafs were down 2 and should have had a pp.

So I think it was smart of him. Unfortunately the refs were f***ing idiots.

 

[TheBeastCoast]

It is interesting seeing the little brother complex in Winnipeg isn't just the fanbase and actually extends to the team as well.

 

[ECanuck]

I'm sure Biebs will be giving him the gears over that.

Listen, I don't condone violence and gross acts. People get upset when I say some honest things here. BUT if someone is abusing you to that level, feel free to use your teeth or put fingers in eyes.

 

[Polaris1010]

What happened to Matthews was embarrassing.

It was embarrassing to Matthews.

That is why he is not captain of the Maple Leafs.

Matthews has to do pay back.

That is not captain material. That is not leadership material.

This is a man's game NHL hockey.