Post-Game Talk: Leafs lose- due for one of these but Jack man

[ShaneFalco]

For those posters saying we don’t need grit just watch the game last night friggin backlund of all people was taking cheap shots and we gave them no pushback.

We rarely do - even when Simmonds and Clifford are in the lineup
I wonder it's a Keefe thing - I remember him telling Foligno he didn't need to fight. I mean it's like they're scared to take a penalty sometimes

 

[DraftSchmaft]

The irony of this fanbase is that we demand composure and focus from our players in key moments of games, and we lash out when they fail to do so. Yet, this same fanbase can't keep their shit together after losing one single game to a very good team who is playing at a very high level.

ya that makes sense...

I see two debating posters call a truce followed by a post like this. The irony is high for real.....

 

[Menzinger]

It's fair to be concerned about the teams overall physicality level, but the simple truth is that in an alternative reality where Matthews and Nylander were throwing a few cross checks and having Tavares fight a guy last night may make folks feel better about the loss, but it wasn't going to change the final score of the game.

 

[ShaneFalco]

They can't show you playoff success in February. Nor can they show you playoff defeat in February.

How about we give this team, who is 30-11-3 a chance at proving that narrative wrong in may?

just a thought

Prove me wrong and I'll happily eat crow. While some (not specifically you) will still talk about being goalied, unlucky, injured, expected wins etc etc should they bow out early again.

 

[ShaneFalco]

Yet, this same fanbase can't keep their shit together after losing one single game to a very good team who is playing at a very high level.

Boggles the mind how some think one loss is the reason people lose their shit. It's a common theme that when the heavy checking starts, the Leafs fold. Why do you think Muzzin and Rielly call the team out every year for being too easy to play against?

 

[Twine Tickler]

Prove me wrong and I'll happily eat crow. While some (not specifically you) will still talk about being goalied, unlucky, injured, expected wins etc etc should they bow out early again.

Ya, that may very well happen. I am not going to say I am free of doubts. This is the NHL, and we are in the hardest division in hockey. The possibility of an R1 exit is very real.

But I am not looking at a game like last night's and drawing anything more from that then I do a game where we beat the Hurricanes in a gutsy 4-3 OT comeback.

We want our players to manage the highs and lows, I can at least do the same as a fan.

We have a good team. Good teams fail all the time. We have a history of failing, so I understand why people are so guarded. But removing the previous 5 seasons from our memories, and we are elated with where this team is at. Lets give them a shot at proving themselves in this upcoming post season

 

[ShaneFalco]

It's fair to be concerned about the teams overall physicality level, but the simple truth is that in an alternative reality where Matthews and Nylander were throwing a few cross checks and having Tavares fight a guy last night may make folks feel better about the loss, but it wasn't going to change the final score of the game.

It's not that at all - the simple fact is they get shut down too easily - they don't have guys that will go to war and push back. That doesn't mean JT or MM have to drop the gloves at all, but maybe they don't have the right mix of players to have an answer for teams like Montreal last year or CBJ the year before.

 

[egd27]

We win that game 7 times out of 10 if........

Hopefully we don't run into any good goaltending in the playoffs, that seems to be our only kryptonite.

Did they not set a regular season record before, and lose first round? Most fans are in "show me" mode, as in show me what you can do in the playoffs.

That's fair, but they can't "show me" now, so there's little point in getting too bent out of shape about it.

 

[JT AM da real deal]

This is a general statement we both agree on though so we'll call truce here.

If you do enjoy Simmonds, you won't have an issue if we swap him for an even better Simmonds anyways, so you benefit from my idea, there's no way you can lose here.

I'd rather have Ritchie but lets be honest he played like crap and at 2.5M AAV he costs too much .. but a good Marlie growing up and I hope he can lose some weight and come back in playoffs with some meanness .. but it is gonna come down to Willy and Matty as both are very strong guys who can help out a bit .. Mitch he would if he could but he just flat out can't

 

[ShaneFalco]

Lets give them a shot at proving themselves in this upcoming post season

I hope I'm wrong, I really do, but I don't believe in this team, the GM or the coach. People can point to regular season success all they want, and spreadsheets, I see what this team is made of in the playoffs each year, and they are fragile - Keefe agrees.

 

[CantLoseWithMatthews]

Boggles the mind how some think one loss is the reason people lose their shit. It's a common theme that when the heavy checking starts, the Leafs fold. Why do you think Muzzin and Rielly call the team out every year for being too easy to play against?

it's a common theme that when the Leafs lose for any reason, people blame it on the roster construction being fatally flawed. If beating the Leafs was as easy as throwing a couple of hard hits against them, they wouldn't be 4th in the league right now

 

[Menzinger]

It's not that at all - the simple fact is they get shut down too easily - they don't have guys that will go to war and push back. That doesn't mean JT or MM have to drop the gloves at all, but maybe they don't have the right mix of players to have an answer for teams like Montreal last year or CBJ the year before.

But this hasn't really been an issue this season - where the team largely has had no issue scoring or even keeping the puck out of their own net (hence their record).

Fair to point to the recent playoff losses as being an area of concern - though this current roster is arguably the best theyve iced in years too. And again, going back to last night specifically, when your goalie let's in 5 goals it doesn't matter how much bite your teams skaters have, you're not winning that game.

 

[ShaneFalco]

it's a common theme that when the Leafs lose for any reason, people blame it on the roster construction being fatally flawed. If beating the Leafs was as easy as throwing a couple of hard hits against them, they wouldn't be 4th in the league right now

So again, regular season success. The heavy hitting starts closer to the playoffs. Leaf players can admit they're too easy to play against yet posters here will argue otherwise relentlessly. If they go out again this year, does the roster then become fatally flawed? Or are we still great!?

 

[Twine Tickler]

Boggles the mind how some think one loss is the reason people lose their shit. It's a common theme that when the heavy checking starts, the Leafs fold. Why do you think Muzzin and Rielly call the team out every year for being too easy to play against?

Trust me, if they got dominated last night like some people on here are suggest I think I would be a touch more concerned with the lack of compete.

They came to play. They put up 48 shots on goal. 2 goals went in off of our own sticks.

I won't go as far as saying we dominated the game, we did not. We lost our composure and defensive structure at times and it cost us the game. We made more mistakes then they did. But that's going to happen when you run f***ing 7D. Anyone happen to know what our record is when dressing 7D??? I don't know what it is exactly, but I can tell you it's not good.

This was not a game that aligns to the Leafs folding under pressure. The David Ayres game, game 7 against the Habs, and game 5 against CBJ all have very different tones to me.

But maybe that's just me being naive.

My point is, this board was ready to stroke off this entire team when we beat the Canes. "That's a playoff style win". Fast forward 72hrs, and we lose to a very good team, and it's time to make calls and book departing flights for guys.

We gotta do better as a fanbase IMO.

 

[JT AM da real deal]

So again, regular season success. The heavy hitting starts closer to the playoffs. Leaf players can admit they're too easy to play against yet posters here will argue otherwise relentlessly. If they go out again this year, does the roster then become fatally flawed? Or are we still great!?

It is gonna come down to Willy and Matty using their strength and standing up for themselves .. fans do not realize how powerful it will be for team if both those guys stand up for themselves and bring out their inner Satin .. both guys have strength and can handle it .. even if they face off against tougher Dman they can hold on tight .. it will inspire team to play harder and da boys will follow suit .. and even if Matty gets beat up bad it will make him compete even harder for every puck and sure as h*ll Wayner or Ritchie will make somebody pay dearly too

 

[mclaren55]

View attachment 506401

given the fact that we were down a man 5 times in the first 35 mins and playing with 10 forwards the majority of the game I'd say it's pretty fair statement to suggest Calgary didn't dominate us. Yes, you are correct the HDCF were equal, but literally every other statistic was not.

you don't win games with fancy stats. I am well aware of that, so save your breath. The point is, this game was far closer than people want to suggest. There is an emotional response from this fanbase that is suggesting we got emasculated by a far superior team. When in reality, the 2 games we've played the Flames this season we've outshot them a combined 85 to 57, and have an average xGF% of 57.5%

Small sample size either way you look at it. But realistically we have not been owned by an superior team. This is just how sports work some times.

but fill your boots. Guard your heart and protect your feelings from the pending 1st round exit that you prognosticate. As far as I am concerned, anyone who bitches and moans after a game like last night's doesn't deserve to celebrate the 30 wins that came prior to. The boys can have an off night, especially if that off night includes them statistically winning almost every measurable metric outside of GF

There is so much to take-in with this post, from false assumptions to you putting words in my mouth. I never said we were emasculated. I simply stated that if we get outmatched physically like that in the playoffs, we won't be contenders. If you disagree with that, ok. I never bitched or moaned this entire thread, but continue to take things out of context and exaggerate.

Of course they can lose, no one is saying they can't, or that an "off night" can't occur. What should NOT occur is complete disrespect and no push back, which is what happened last night other than Reilly (bless him) and Brodie (bless him as well) which is unacceptable. That's quite literally all I'm saying. It's f***ing embarrassing.

*Fun fact, Tampa outhit their opponents in both of their cup finals the last two years.

 

[ShaneFalco]

We gotta do better as a fanbase IMO.

You're always going to have the "this team is perfect" and the "this team sucks" posters but to expect this fanbase after decades of failure to just be happy with what we have now,to me, is crazy. I was happy 4-5 years ago. Now I'm just hoping this management group stops talking about "developing a killer instinct" and how the guys "care so much" and start demanding results. Basically don't f*** this opportunity up yet again and sit in front of the cameras in the season-ending presser telling us that they need to be better. They believe. But still somehow, too easy to play against

 

[ShaneFalco]

It is gonna come down to Willy and Matty using their strength and standing up for themselves .. fans do not realize how powerful it will be for team if both those guys stand up for themselves and bring out their inner Satin .. both guys have strength and can handle it .. even if they face off against tougher Dman they can hold on tight .. it will inspire team to play harder and da boys will follow suit .. and even if Matty gets beat up bad it will make him compete even harder for every puck and sure as h*ll Wayner or Ritchie will make somebody pay dearly too

Yup these guys are leaders of this team. You see how a fight can ignite a team. All these guys have to do is show some push-back and get in guys' grill. Not laugh it off and look at the refs. Playoff hockey is a war

 

[Hockey 4 Life]

@Hockey 4 Life How many 2nd centers are at that pace in the NHL. Hint not many.

Like I said I think JT is great but he's starting to slow down quite a bit. Also Jt makes 11 mill, no second line center in the NHL gets paid that. I'm just following your logic.

 

[mclaren55]

@Hockey 4 Life How many 2nd centers are at that pace in the NHL. Hint not many.

Just to be devils advocate, but isn't Kadri?

 

[Duffman955]

Sandin was the only one throwing the body yesterday...

 

[Pi]

Some of you really need to take a break from Leafs hockey till the playoffs start. You can't make grand assumptions and prove you were right all along after one loss in 7 games and 30 wins in 44 games.

 

[kevsh]

The good things: Got a lot of shots & chances, and outplayed the Flames most of the night. PK was great outside the one Kylington bomb (not sure if Jack was screened by his own D or all on him, but otherwise the Flames were outshot on the PP by the Leafs PK).

Most of all loved Reilly stepping up after the Kase hit and taking on a guy twice his size. *Ahem* That's what leaders do.

 

[Gabriel426]

Considered that Flames was playing back to back.
Leafs played well except for about 10mins but Flames was out hitting and being more physical than the Leafs.
Also, I never realized the Leafs was at one point out shooting the Flames by a large margin till I looked at the shots. To me which means a lot of those shots were not good scoring chances.
It is another playoffs type game but the Leafs came up short.
Lastly, I don’t think dressing 7 Dmen and playing with 10forwards after Kase’s getting hit help either.

 

[Sypher04]

it's a common theme that when the Leafs lose for any reason, people blame it on the roster construction being fatally flawed. If beating the Leafs was as easy as throwing a couple of hard hits against them, they wouldn't be 4th in the league right now

Exactly right. Same as how people always act like Montreals physicality is the reason we lost to them last year; conveniently ignoring that Montreal played equally as physical, perhaps even more, in games 1-4 vs 6-7, and last I checked, we won 3 of those first 4. Physicality continues to be what people harp on, but rarely the reason we haven’t gotten over the hump