Post-Game Talk: Leafs Lose In Columbus

[Mugzy97]

I don't really get the overreactions.

We knew this team would be good in the regular season (pacing for 111 points... so living up to that). And they're going to live or die based on playoff performance. I don't think a single thing about the regular season means anything whatsoever other than actually making the playoffs. And we'll clearly do that.

I don't care at all who the first round match up is. Our last two years show that being the cinderella-story level underdogs means diddly squat. Montreal looked like shit all regular season then made it to the cup finals.

The playoffs are all that matter this year. And this leafs team will clearly make the playoffs.

It’s classic on this board. Lose a few regular season games or go through a cold streak and it’s time to fire everybody.

 

[Gallagbi]

Toronto outplayed Columbus.

All-round Campbell has been one of the better starters since playoffs, are we that concerned that they've slipped all the way down to 6th in the league?

I think we're pretty concerned with our goaltending over the last 2 months

 

[Mugzy97]

The right thing to do at this point in time is to be patient. This team will work itself out of this funk.

 

[ShaneFalco]

This team is built to have the top 2 lines doing the majority of the scoring and the netminder standing on his, neither is happening at the moment.

 

[Isaac Nootin]

Is the sky falling again?

 

[ACC1224]

Is the sky falling again?

Still

 

[ToneDog]

I watched that game in its entirety after the Leafs surrendered that 4th goal many ex-Leafs to be sure, if Bob isn't on the Panthers can be had, just like when Jack isn't on. Like our Bud's they really aren't a complete team, Tampa, Colorado and St Louis are completely different stories though.

Interesting, you might be right given their road record. They lost at home last night where they rarely lose and I believe their next 4 are also at home but I'm also giving Nashville some credit for battling back from 3-1. Leafs did the same vs Minny in Minny but not sure they would have last night. We'll see in March when we play the Panthers and things heat up.

 

[therealkoho]

Interesting, you might be right given their road record. They lost at home last night where they rarely lose and I believe their next 4 are also at home but I'm also giving Nashville some credit for battling back from 3-1. Leafs did the same vs Minny in Minny but not sure they would have last night. We'll see in March when we play the Panthers and things heat up.

Nashville is still a team to be reckoned with, not like a few years back, but solid bunch of vets who all play hard on the puck. Forsberg can still play to that star level and the D while not what it was, has a great leader in Josi. Excellent positional hockey and really disciplined team. They could go 2 rounds I think but maybe not 3

 

[therealkoho]

Interesting, you might be right given their road record. They lost at home last night where they rarely lose and I believe their next 4 are also at home but I'm also giving Nashville some credit for battling back from 3-1. Leafs did the same vs Minny in Minny but not sure they would have last night. We'll see in March when we play the Panthers and things heat up.

Watch the Sens highlights NHL pkg not SN

the Senators burned them with speed and hustle, Leafs can do the same hopefully, but really need the 2nd line going, Willie needs to get off the schnide and get his head out of his arse, or maybe give Kase the job, until he smartens up

 

[ACC1224]

Watch the Sens highlights NHL pkg not SN

the Senators burned them with speed and hustle, Leafs can do the same hopefully, but really need the 2nd line going, Willie needs to get off the schnide and get his head out of his arse, or maybe give Kase the job, until he smartens up

He's been really disappointing lately.

 

[therealkoho]

He's been really disappointing lately.

He gets into these weird funks and always has, don't want to say he's sulking but I think it has something to do with it. I'm pretty close to being done with him, he has so much god given skill and he wastes so much of it.

 

[ACC1224]

He gets into these weird funks and always has, don't want to say he's sulking but I think it has something to do with it. I'm pretty close to being done with him, he has so much god given skill and he wastes so much of it.

At times it does look like he has a bit of a pout on heading back to the bench.

 

[Fogelhund]

.882 team save percentage, since and including the January 8th game.

 

[therealkoho]

.882 team save percentage, since and including the January 8th game.

A lot of that is clustered into 5 or 6 games 3 of which belong to Mrazek stinkers, that said our D isn't helping and the forwards need to help them in the d zone by coming back hard on their checks. Matty has been watching on more than a few goals as have Will, Kerf and Engvall

 

[AustonMarner]

Dubas designed the financial structure of this team with the notion of the salary cap rising between 3 - 5 million per year annually... every move since the beginning 'dead cap era' has been at best a sideways one as far as improving team goes...

I'd say imho at best this team has about a 10 percent chance of winning the Stanley Cup this season...

 

[Mess]

.882 team save percentage, since and including the January 8th game.

From Dec 1 st of last year and including yesterday the Leafs combined sv% ranks them 31st in the NHL as per TSN report last night post game.

Suggests Dubas might need to be goalie shopping at the trade deadline.

 

[ToneDog]

From Dec 1 st of last year and including yesterday the Leafs combined sv% ranks them 31st in the NHL as per TSN report last night post game.

You get what you pay for. Dubas gambled and lost. Not surprised the way lady luck has been to the Leafs.

 

[Twine Tickler]

Pretty typical Leafs loss. We played a decent game for the most part and make 3 very avoidable mistakes that cause this game to go into OT where we eventually lose.

Jack needs to be way better than what he has been for the last 2 months. It's becoming an issue at this point. He realistically should have 2 of the first 3 goals against at a minimum. Just not good enough. He seems to be unravelling at the first sign of adversity now, where in the past he would be cool as a cucumber. I still believe in Jack's ability, and we need to support him way better then what we have been lately. We can't be gifting these odd man rushes the way we have been lately.

It's so fitting how Lybushkin had the biggest hiccup of the game. He honestly played a really good game aside from that 1 mistake, but that one mistake is likely all anyone will talk about. He was exactly the type of player we needed, and to be honest I think we could use 1 other player exactly like him (Schenn). His mistake was not based on a stupid pinch, or a bad read, but just on a puck that he misplayed. I can live with that, it happens. You need your tendy to bail you out sometimes, and Jack played that about as poorly as you possibly could have.

To me, the biggest mistake of the night was Marner's turnover at the far blue line when we were up 1-0. It just cannot continue to f***ing happen. I understand you live and die by those plays with Mitch, but those plays have to stop. End of a shift, no gap, D are in the middle of a change, and he is trying to force a square peg into a round hole. Just zero awareness. Unacceptable IMO. Eerily similar to the Gallagher goal in game 7 last year. Somehow turning a 3 on 2 for us, into a 2 on 1 the other way. Just gift them life.

 

[Gary Nylund]

Dubas designed the financial structure of this team with the notion of the salary cap rising between 3 - 5 million per year annually... every move since the beginning 'dead cap era' has been at best a sideways one as far as improving team goes...

I'd say imho at best this team has about a 10 percent chance of winning the Stanley Cup this season...

Way too optimistic IMHO. I'd say 3-5 percent is more realistic considering we'll be underdogs already in round 1, possibly in every round after that as well plus at the moment, we're trending downward big time.

 

[Brad C]

MAF and Matt Murray

Personally I do not like MAF.

But he can be a good goalie
I would be happy if they traded for him

Campbell will do as a back up

Goal is arguably the most important position there is and Dubas trys a wing and a pray.

Not going on a Dubas rant.
He makes some good moves
But he makes bad decision that really over shadow the good.¹

 

[DraftSchmaft]

From Dec 1 st of last year and including yesterday the Leafs combined sv% ranks them 31st in the NHL as per TSN report last night post game.

Suggests Dubas might need to be goalie shopping at the trade deadline.

These stats are even on the instagram account I follow now. They don't usually post stats like this, mostly the latest rumors and general day to day news.

Our goaltending situation is officially a thing trending in the entire hockey world. We have entered the Raycroft years. Hopefully temporary but who knows at this point. The sample is pretty significant now and eye test sees a terrible goalie.

 

[therealkoho]

Toronto outplayed Columbus.

All-round Campbell has been one of the better starters since playoffs, are we that concerned that they've slipped all the way down to 6th in the league?

no panic button for me, unless the team totally starts falling apart, they still seem to have there heads on straight, almost all of them anyway!

 

[therealkoho]

Need the following

- Goalie upgrade. Ideally Campbell is 1B and Mrazek is traded for a 1A. Although I still like Campbell just not full time.
Two top 4 D.
Top 6 forward

This team needs MAJOR additions.

so complete rebuild?

 

[therealkoho]

Way too optimistic IMHO. I'd say 3-5 percent is more realistic considering we'll be underdogs already in round 1, possibly in every round after that as well plus at the moment, we're trending downward big time.

the way they're currently playing I'd say almost zero, they need more guys who'll push back, who'll go into corners and win pucks, guys who'll come back and zero out their checks, guys who'll go into the dirty areas.

They have those guys who can do those things but aren't doing enough of it, they need to be hungry for wins.

 

[Gary Nylund]

the way they're currently built I'd say almost zero, they need more guys who'll push back

Sad to say, you're probably right.