Post-Game Talk: Leafs Lose in Game 7. Again.

[Stephen]

The NHL isn't a game of statistical probability or a turn-based role playing game though, as horrible as results have been.

 

[Clark4Ever]

Unlike past seasons, I'm not even upset with the players or the coaching staff. They did everything that could be expected of them, and it should have been enough to knock off the back to back champs.

We got f--ked over by the refs big time in games 6 and 7. That was the difference this time around.

 

[Apex Predator]

Yes the advanced stats, hallowed be thy name, we won on the spreadsheet so this was overall a victory correct? I swear some people on here actually like the statistics more than the actual game and they just found a way to get people to pay attention to their statistics by finding a fanbase as rabid as ours.

What are the stats going to say about 6 first round exits and the absolute failure to get the job done? We should have won? That helps absolutely no one.

At the end of the day advanced stats, regular stats or old fashion stats mean nothing when the playoffs come. They played a great series but still fell short.

 

[Dekes For Days]

I wouldn't give up on the league. I agree that the playoff format is flawed, after finishing 5th best team in the league you should be playing one of the weaker teams to make the playoffs, not the 2 time defending champions in the 1st round. I think that eventually the NHL will go back to the NBA format. Don't give up yet.

The issue is that while the playoff format is beyond stupid, the problems in this league are much deeper. If we just got beat by a better team because of a bad playoff format, that's a lot easier to take. It sucks. I want to see my team go far, and I want to see the best teams play in later rounds even if it's not my team, but at least you got beat legitimately in a fair and equal matchup. Even in past years when we kept getting stonewalled by goaltending, it's frustrating to be beat by an individual on a team and especially frustrating when it keeps happening, but you're at least getting beat by a member of that team. It's something you can at least attempt to address moving forward.

But what do you do with this? I'm not sure how anybody can watch the past 2 games and not conclude that a result was manufactured. And I see no reason to believe that's going to change anytime soon. You can keep building up your team and making it better, but it honestly feels more and more like it doesn't matter how good our team is. We built a team that was better than the B2B champs. But you can't build a team in the cap era that can overcome playing 5v7.

The only real hope is that the NHL going hard into gambling is going to force them to be less influential in results, but we're not off to a good start here. Maybe I should take the money I'd spend on the league and just gamble with it. Some results are so predictable that one could probably make some good money just following the narrative and outcomes that the NHL wants.

This one just hurts more than any other, because there's no way to fix why we lost this one. Win or lose, I just want good hockey, and a fair game, and it's a real struggle trying to get that from this league.

 

[glue]

Incredible…even sheer dumb luck should have lead to at least 1 victory

 

[HamiltonNHL]

Incredible…even sheer dumb luck should have lead to at least 1 victory

most games in hockey, winning is a 1/2 chance.

to go 1/512 is ridiculous

it's mathematical proof of something. cursed ? lack of will ?

We KNOW this team CONSISTENTLY plays DOWN to inferior teams. We even let up on the power play. We are a skilled team that really does lack a desire to win that is key in the playoffs. They do lack a passion. Is it blue and white disease ?

Our only shake up is moving Nylander and I think it will happen.

 

[JKG33]

This has been my point for a long time. We're well past the point of expecting them to win a series because "best Leafs regular season ever!!11!!1!" Or whatever. Even an average team wins at minimum one of those series.

To lose out 6 straight times? That's an anti-winning core

 

[HoweHullOrr]

He also outproduced Tampa‘s top players,

Great, I feel so much better now.

 

[Racer88]

Tampa said we do not care where we finish in the regular season because we will beat anybody in the playoffs. Some teams walk the walk and then you have Dubas' Leafs. You seriously cannot bring this management team back after they doubled and tripled down on this group.

I also don’t see how you bring this management team back put I have a feeling that’s exactly what they are going to do because in my opinion they are deluded into thinking the team is better then it is.
all these great words of praise from all the Tampa coach and players is going to further convince them of that. We have a lot of suffering ahead of us

 

[BTP]

Bring back Nazem Kadri

 

[stealth1]

The issue is that while the playoff format is beyond stupid, the problems in this league are much deeper. If we just got beat by a better team because of a bad playoff format, that's a lot easier to take. It sucks. I want to see my team go far, and I want to see the best teams play in later rounds even if it's not my team, but at least you got beat legitimately in a fair and equal matchup. Even in past years when we kept getting stonewalled by goaltending, it's frustrating to be beat by an individual on a team and especially frustrating when it keeps happening, but you're at least getting beat by a member of that team. It's something you can at least attempt to address moving forward.

But what do you do with this? I'm not sure how anybody can watch the past 2 games and not conclude that a result was manufactured. And I see no reason to believe that's going to change anytime soon. You can keep building up your team and making it better, but it honestly feels more and more like it doesn't matter how good our team is. We built a team that was better than the B2B champs. But you can't build a team in the cap era that can overcome playing 5v7.

The only real hope is that the NHL going hard into gambling is going to force them to be less influential in results, but we're not off to a good start here. Maybe I should take the money I'd spend on the league and just gamble with it. Some results are so predictable that one could probably make some good money just following the narrative and outcomes that the NHL wants.

This one just hurts more than any other, because there's no way to fix why we lost this one. Win or lose, I just want good hockey, and a fair game, and it's a real struggle trying to get that from this league.

I don't buy it being manufactured for Tampa to win. IMO it's the game management of the NHL thats the problem. They call the games to keep them close or get a game 7. I would prefer they call everything all the time. No more keeping PP even.

As far as last night goes, the difference is the Leafs played it like a regular season game and Tampa pushed it to another level. Look at the amount of blocked shots Tampa had in the game.

 

[Stinger8]

It sucks to be a Leaf’s fan. If it isn’t bad reffing, it’s boneheaded plays by depth players like Kerfoot and Simmonds. If it isn’t questionable coaching, it’s plain old bad luck.

This one hurt more than last year cause we really had it in Game 6. Last year I was angrier so it didn’t hurt as much.

But hey, the sun is up, we have the best player in the world and one of the best passers. I’ll be interested to see what kind of changes we make.

McDavid is better than Mathews, its not really that close.

 

[HamiltonNHL]

If we do it next year, the record will be unbeatable.

 

[Mickey Marner]

Record breaking season

 

[Suntouchable13]

This has been my point for a long time. We're well past the point of expecting them to win a series because "best Leafs regular season ever!!11!!1!" Or whatever. Even an average team wins at minimum one of those series.

To lose out 6 straight times? That's an anti-winning core

That's why I don't get people that are married to these guys. They are nothing special. They had a chance to do something legendary, but they failed. They are very ordinary.

 

[HoweHullOrr]

Bad playoff format now, bad refs, there's always some excuse. Sounds like some people's objective is to just win one playoff round versus beat the best teams and win the Cup. Beat the best to be the best.

 

[Racer88]

And Marner could have made two harder plays, either prevents it. Matthews could stay on his feet and be on the defensive side of the puck. Sadly none of that happened and it ends up in our net.

Not a singular mistake caused that goal and the one your blaming basically has to take a penalty (according to you) to prevent it

You just describe it in a nut shell……..they don’t perform when it really matters. They either make poor choices or blow the choices they do make.
they have been doing this since they have been in the League and if they haven’t learned yet then the Leafs need to make some serious choice as far as the core goes. The immediate decision has to be is Shanny and Dubas the ones to continue

 

[Wendel17]

Just a small correction. Gourde scored the only goal (shorthanded; beautiful play by Cirelli) in game 7, not Coleman

Thank you. Just watched it again and it was indeed Gourde on a beautiful setup by Cirelli.

 

[Suntouchable13]

This core is nothing special. They had a chance to do something legendary, but they failed. They are very ordinary, as it turns out.

 

[Dekes For Days]

As far as last night goes, the difference is the Leafs played it like a regular season game and Tampa pushed it to another level.

There was no difference on the ice. Both teams scored 2 goals.

 

[JKG33]

That's why I don't get people that are married to these guys. They are nothing special. They had a chance to do something legendary, but they failed. They are very ordinary.

I agree, I don't intend to sound snarky towards you here but my first reaction was..

Legendary?? Ordinary teams win playoff rounds all the time. Up until this year over 50% of the league would make playoffs. That's the bare minimum for a supposedly good team. Losing in the first round with a team as supposedly good as this one is a failure. Doing it 6 times in a row should call for heads to roll after the 4th time

 

[Vaive50]

It'll keep happening while Betman is in charge. Don't those refs fear for their lives when they screw teams over so blatantly. There are lots of nuts out there and one of them might be so sick of this same old crap.

 

[Racer88]

I don’t even blame the depth players or Campbell for that matter, you get what you pay for and that’s the type of player you get when you have such a flawed model of cap distribution.
We can talk about little tweaks till we are blue in the face but everything comes back to this.

 

[KingsHockey24]

How's everyone feeling?

 

[BrannigansLaw]

How's everyone feeling?

Seriously depressed. Like no hope depressed (when it comes to hockey)