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

[BTP]

Glass half full:

The team seems to have really matured. They did not choke. I cant point to anyone that had a bad series. The stars showed up. They didnt play their worst hockey in the elimination games. This team was GREAT all year. Including in this series.

We got screwed by drawing this Tampa Bay team in the first round. Im shocked that THIS effort wasn't good enough. Goes to show you just how unreal Tampa Bay is. Because truth be told, we play this well against ANY other team in the east and we dummy them in 5 or 6. To me, these are the best 2 teams in the east, and we were right there.

We had a goal taken away, who knows what would have happened in OT had it gone there.

All in all, it f***ing sucks to lose AGAIN - but at least they showed growth. Our division is f***ing ridiculous, that you can get 115 points, have the best season in history, and get rewarded by your opponent be the back to back champs is just.. wow. Very Leafy.

TLDR: We played well, this effort would have beaten any other team in the east. Dont overreact.

 

[Gallagbi]

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

That's the real kicker. Then you have a few obvious 5on3 calls at a similar point I thr game to what they have TB go ignored. I get why you don't make the call, but it makes Game 6 more baffling

 

[Michoulicious]

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

They can, and they will.

 

[stealth1]

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

Last I looked the final score said 2-1. The biggest difference is blocked shots. Tampa had 26, Leafs has 13.

 

[Stephen]

History doesn't matter, you already lived through it.

 

[KingsHockey24]

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

You just gotta look at the positives.

My libido got 10x higher not having to stress about my Kings or Leafs. I guess I also have the advantage of not really having high expectations for the Kings this season compared to ya'll.

 

[Purple Phart]

Be optimistic: Think of how much money this team saved you, by not prolonging the misery, and bowing out early. It's a blessing in disguise !

 

[Apex Predator]

How's everyone feeling?

I’m feeling alright. Im curious to see what the off season plan is. If you didn’t believe this season means nothing till they show they can win in the playoffs then that should be your attitude next season.

 

[AvroArrow]

Last I looked the final score said 2-1. The biggest difference is blocked shots. Tampa had 26, Leafs has 13.

The biggest difference is Tampa was allowed to interfere directly leading to both their goals, where we got the Tavares goal waived off. Nylander interfered with on a breakaway and tripped late in the game with no call either. It's a 2-1 game and those 2 goals ultimately decided the game.

 

[Aashir]

Be optimistic: Think of how much money this team saved you, by not prolonging the misery, and bowing out early. It's a blessing in disguise !

They didnt bow out early

That would’ve been losing before this damn game

This team lost par for the course

 

[Stephen]

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

I think we also forget the lucky bounces that kept us in the game. I think Stamkos had 2x open nets that his inner Leaf fan flubbed on and Kucherov had some point blank opportunities that could have made things ugly in Game 5 and 7.

That said, I'm counting those weak Nylander dekes on 2x breakaways, the Marner missed open net in Game 7 in the 1st, Matthews getting blockered as some critical moments when the big guns just didn't bury.

 

[Gallagbi]

I’m feeling alright. Im curious to see what the off season plan is. If you didn’t believe this season means nothing till they show they can win in the playoffs then that should be your attitude next season.

I don't think anything will change in that attitude. They said as much last night

 

[ULF_55]

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

Yes, expectations were too high.

The team has proven over and over and over and over again they don't have the players to fight through adversity.

Enjoy the regular season and then accept that's it.

 

[TheGreatOne11]

Glass half full:

The team seems to have really matured. They did not choke. I cant point to anyone that had a bad series. The stars showed up. They didnt play their worst hockey in the elimination games. This team was GREAT all year. Including in this series.

We got screwed by drawing this Tampa Bay team in the first round. Im shocked that THIS effort wasn't good enough. Goes to show you just how unreal Tampa Bay is. Because truth be told, we play this well against ANY other team in the east and we dummy them in 5 or 6. To me, these are the best 2 teams in the east, and we were right there.

We had a goal taken away, who knows what would have happened in OT had it gone there.

All in all, it f***ing sucks to lose AGAIN - but at least they showed growth. Our division is f***ing ridiculous, that you can get 115 points, have the best season in history, and get rewarded by your opponent be the back to back champs is just.. wow. Very Leafy.

TLDR: We played well, this effort would have beaten any other team in the east. Dont overreact.

That's all just massive assumptions at this point, Tampa beat us in game 7 without one of their best players, for this to be true Tampa has to go all the way to the cup again, so i guess lets wait and see.

But if they don't win the cup again that just proves we're not good enough and this assumption of being the two best is wrong.

Regardless, it's a tough pill to swallow having 40 million tied up in four forwards who don't score in a game 7. Campbell played great, as did Rielly, the effort was there but great players make great plays and we got 40 million of 0.

 

[Vaive50]

Last I looked the final score said 2-1. The biggest difference is blocked shots. Tampa had 26, Leafs has 13.

No way, the biggest difference was the refs. That first goal of Pauls should have been called back for interference just the same as the JT goal was. But the Game 6 phantom high stick and 2nd fake high stick was the doozy.

 

[Apex Predator]

Yes, expectations were too high.

The team has proven over and over and over and over again they don't have the players to fight through adversity.

Enjoy the regular season and then accept that's it.

The one thing I did like was they did fight through adversity in the past during this series. It just sucked that at the end of the day they couldn’t get it done.

 

[BrannigansLaw]

Can we just agree to permaban every Edmonton asshole from our board that shows up, even to troll like posts? It’s getting ridiculous.

They would have been swept right out of the playoffs playing either Toronto or Tampa. Couldn’t even finish first in the pathetic Pacific division.

 

[dubey]

Can we just agree to permaban every Edmonton asshole from our board that shows up, even to troll like posts? It’s getting ridiculous.

They would have been swept right out of the playoffs playing either Toronto or Tampa. Couldn’t even finish first in the pathetic Pacific division.

Well let's put things into perspective. They live in Edmonton. What else is there to do?

 

[Dekes For Days]

Last I looked the final score said 2-1.

Yes, and yet both teams scored the exact same number of goals. That's the problem.

The biggest difference is blocked shots. Tampa had 26, Leafs has 13.

And despite Tampa blocking double the shots, they still got outshot. That should tell you something.

In fact, Leafs had more shot attempts, more unblocked shot attempts, more shots, more scoring chances, more expected goals, and an equal number of high danger chances and goals in game 7 against the B2B champs. We came to play. That wasn't the issue. The issue was that the refs took over the game, for the 2nd game in a row.

 

[hockeyes]

No way, the biggest difference was the refs. That first goal of Pauls should have been called back for interference just the same as the JT goal was. But the Game 6 phantom high stick and 2nd fake high stick was the doozy.

The refs absolutely 100% sucked and the league is a joke BUT the Leafs had it within reach, they just had to grab it. They didn't.

 

[BTP]

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.

Nonsense. Both teams scored 2 goals. This was as even a series as you could possibly get.

 

[Dangles McGavin]

In the playoffs there seems to be a lot more dying than living. Sample size has not increased to 6 playoffs

Well I can't argue with that.

I'm just saying that this team is very good, and the way they play may not be the "simple plays". I don't want our 60 goal scorer just blindly taking Kerfoot shots.

 

[BrannigansLaw]

You just gotta look at the positives.

My libido got 10x higher not having to stress about my Kings or Leafs. I guess I also have the advantage of not really having high expectations for the Kings this season compared to ya'll.

You also have the advantage of seeing two Cups prior to the Vietnam war. We can’t even get a series win in what has become more than half my life let alone a f***ing Cup.

 

[ULF_55]

Can we just agree to permaban every Edmonton asshole from our board that shows up, even to troll like posts? It’s getting ridiculous.

They would have been swept right out of the playoffs playing either Toronto or Tampa. Couldn’t even finish first in the pathetic Pacific division.

Unfortunately, they didn't get to play the Leafs.

And with much gnashing of teeth here, McDavid and Draisaitl are in the 2nd. round again.

 

[Willchel Marlynder]

We lost because we didn’t separate Marner from Matthews. Next year from camp it’s Marner with Tavares and Matthews can carry a line.

But don't you want to see Matthews shoot for 70 goals and Marner put up 130 points, even if it means a first round exit?!?