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

[Double I]

Ultimately it just comes down to winners win and losers lose... Tampa is the gold standard right now in the NHL and they found a way to get it done just like they did the last 2 years. The Leafs had their chances, game 6 they had to get it done, I dont care about this ref talk, they had an overtime period with the chance to score 1 goal to go through and they couldn't do it, just like last year, again winners win and losers lose.

I'm on the mindset of you gotta make winning a priority over everything, this whole run it back narrative cause you lost to the 2 time defending champions in a coin flip series and they gave it their all... sorry but thats not a winning mentality. It wasn't good enough and putting yourself in a constant winner take all spot every year in round 1 of the playoffs shows they're not good enough. You gotta start finding ways to win consistently and by not going the distance. You don't get blown out when you have the chances to go up 2-0 or 3-1, you find a way to get it done. The Leafs show up in games 2 or 4 and this series doesn't go 7. And that's no disrespect to Tampa either like I said they're the gold standard, but they were beatable, the Leafs in my mind let another opportunity slip through their fingers and from the front office to the coaches to the players it's not good enough and changes need to be made to make it good enough. Upgrade wherever you have the opportunity and come back stronger.

 

[Racer88]

Not going to speak for others but I am not happy. I am also not pissed and mad like last few series bc the boys showed up.
The last few playoffs, I really hated how some here kept coming up with excuses for the big boys underperforming, but that’s really not the case this season.
Now am I proud or happy, far from it bc they didn’t win.

I agree with you on all these points. I’m pissed we lost but not pissed at the players. I agree they gave it all this time. I guess I’m just pissed because we gave it all but just aren’t good enough.
however this disappointment will be a little easier to get over.

 

[Marmoset]

I just watched again. Leafs are as good and maybe even better than the lightning.

No question they controlled the play and chances.

Toronto is as good as a potential dynasty team now.

But the old wounds make it hard to see light at the end of the tunnel. Would it have been better to miss a few early times?

Really not sure what to do. Even Campbell looked good.

I’m guessing they drop. Holl. Kerfoot. Miky.

Keep

Bunting. Matty. Marner
Xxxxxxx. JT. Nylander
Engvall. Kampf. Xxxxxxxx
Spezza. Steeves. Simmonds

Rielly. Brodie
Muzz. Sandin.
Gio. Lilly.

I have no idea what the team needs. They are good enough to win. You can see it.

I would go for trots. TBH.

Regarding "Toronto is as good as a potential dynasty team now", it's worth pointing out that a lot of people, including the media covering the series, have been saying that the current Tampa squad is not as good as the previous two seasons. I agree with that, although it's hard to evaluate until the playoffs are complete. They're still very good and obviously this was a close series which wasn't decided by much.

I would like to see a bigger change to the roster but I don't expect that to happen. Assuming the core remains intact, I agree with moving out Holl. Liljegren can fill his spot just fine. I think the bottom six needs to be improved especially if we assume Mikhayaev isn't back. Simmonds is barely a NHL player at this point and should play sparingly (which is painful to say as I've been a fan throughout his career) and we can't expect Spezza to be able to do it much longer either. Hopefully one or two guys can step up whether it's Steeves as you have it, Robertson, etc.

 

[Gary Nylund]

Right now the team is top heavy and lacks the kind of sandpaper most winners have.

...

You've got a great regular season team, but you need those last pieces to go on a deep run.

You're overthinking this. The Leafs played a great series and they only lost because Vasi was once again, lights out in game 7 as is his MO.

There's nothing wrong with this team whatsoever, except that they don't have a top shelf #1 goalie. That's such a hard problem to solve considering how unpredictable goalies are (even Shesterkin has come back down to earth in the playoffs) but make no mistake, other than that this team is scary good.

 

[Legion34]

Holl should be in Seattle and not protected in the expansion draft, and/or safely in pressbox with Liljegren playing instead.

If Leafs management made better personnel decision, then Holl wouldn't have been dressed so that play in dispute never could have happened, nor the Point OT winner the game earlier, while Holl leaves him all alone in front of the net right where he should have been standing to block him out. The Point goal in OT is where Holl should be clearing out a TB forward not in the offensive zone



Karma can be a biatch and Holl not the Refs should be blamed for both the goals in question here that contributed to Leafs series loss, as he gave them one in game #6 and took one away from Leafs in game #7. IMO

PS. The Refs at times in the series had their issues with consistency but that is another topic with both missed calls and questionable ones, but not on the plays in discussion here.

Except the play in this discussion literally shows the player clearly skating into gio in full stride and spinning him around.

That’s clear interference.

 

[Gary Nylund]

Regarding "Toronto is as good as a potential dynasty team now", it's worth pointing out that a lot of people, including the media covering the series, have been saying that the current Tampa squad is not as good as the previous two seasons. I agree with that, although it's hard to evaluate until the playoffs are complete. They're still very good and obviously this was a close series which wasn't decided by much.

I would like to see a bigger change to the roster but I don't expect that to happen. Assuming the core remains intact, I agree with moving out Holl. Liljegren can fill his spot just fine. I think the bottom six needs to be improved especially if we assume Mikhayaev isn't back. Simmonds is barely a NHL player at this point and should play sparingly (which is painful to say as I've been a fan throughout his career) and we can't expect Spezza to be able to do it much longer either. Hopefully one or two guys can step up whether it's Steeves as you have it, Robertson, etc.

I'm not too worried about the bottom 6. Dubas did amazing last off-season and bottom 6 guys aren't expensive to pick up at the TDL either.

 

[Legion34]

Regarding "Toronto is as good as a potential dynasty team now", it's worth pointing out that a lot of people, including the media covering the series, have been saying that the current Tampa squad is not as good as the previous two seasons. I agree with that, although it's hard to evaluate until the playoffs are complete. They're still very good and obviously this was a close series which wasn't decided by much.

I would like to see a bigger change to the roster but I don't expect that to happen. Assuming the core remains intact, I agree with moving out Holl. Liljegren can fill his spot just fine. I think the bottom six needs to be improved especially if we assume Mikhayaev isn't back. Simmonds is barely a NHL player at this point and should play sparingly (which is painful to say as I've been a fan throughout his career) and we can't expect Spezza to be able to do it much longer either. Hopefully one or two guys can step up whether it's Steeves as you have it, Robertson, etc.

I mean it’s hard to say they aren’t as good right now. Last year they were third in the division just like this year. The year before stamkos was out.

They looked like the leafs controlled the play.
They looked a little tired. Vasi looked human to start. Point is now injured.

We will see how they play the rest of the way. If vasi is back to form it’s good night for the league.

If point is hurt long term who knows

 

[authentic]

I disagree with Dekes saying it should "count as a goal" (wtf?).

But, by the books, was that actually a penalty?

It's full out warfare in front of the net and people without the puck with are crashing into each other and smashing the shit out of each other. Everytime they crash into each other it's supposed to be called as interference?

I think this is the point. It happens literally all the time especially by Tampa in that series, but go ahead and call it suddenly when it’s the Leafs entering a prime scoring position. Tampa literally makes a living off of picks.

 

[keonsbitterness]

Need to get one more bit of ref whining off my chest.........

Some may disagree, but I still hate the Holl penalty. That's a marginal regular season call. Holl slowed down to the point of almost stopping. He's entitled to his ice as well., and I don't see the case that Holl definitively initiated contact. When I hear people like Dreger say that was a clear penalty, GTFO!

Whining completed.

 

[Cynical]

Difference in this series was the Leafs being down 2 men in game 6 on cheap calls, and not getting the same calls in game 7 when they're on the powerplay and had first Nylander tripped (ref staring right at the play), and second Tavares take a high stick to the face on the same powerplay, with no call. It was so close the refs decided it. The team that had the friendly whistle won. Simple as that.

 

[authentic]

So "getting in the way" is interference? Isn't that specifically the defenseman's job? To get in the way and stop opposing players? What, are they supposed to just "move out of the way"?

I feel like I'm watching an entirely different sport. The front of the net is a warzone and everybody is smashing into each other and batling. That's interference each and every time? Then why have I pretty much never seen it called as interference?

The rulebook says that defensemen can't "get in the way" of opposing players? Where?

Yeah wtf, I honestly felt like I was losing my mind here for a minute.

 

[cgc83]

thats why the town got rid of short

 

[authentic]

Difference in this series was the Leafs being down 2 men in game 6 on cheap calls, and not getting the same calls in game 7 when they're on the powerplay and had first Nylander tripped (ref staring right at the play), and second Tavares take a high stick to the face on the same powerplay, with no call. It was so close the refs decided it. The team that had the friendly whistle won. Simple as that.

Yep anyone saying different is a troll or a liar.

 

[authentic]

That was clearly a pick.

From the rulebook, interference is:
- Providing a protective screen and limiting the opportunity for an opposing player to apply pressure to a teammate in possession and control of the puck.
- An attacking player who no longer has possession or control of the puck initiates contact with the defending player in an effort to obstruct their ability to play the puck or an opponent.

You probably have a case that interference is called inconsistently. Welcome to the NHL, where inconsistent happens to be the middle name of every single ref.


I won't even bother with the other Leafs fans who have suddenly forgotten what a goal is and isn't.

So Tampa should’ve had 10 penalties a game? Your level of delusion is astonishing.

 

[authentic]

They had a chance to replicate Game 6 with an easy call on Nylanders trip but decided not to

Yep no chance we were getting a 5 on 3 though for some strange reason. It literally happened right infront of the ref too.

 

[RaFe]

I only wish we'd played Pittsburgh, NYR, Washington or Boston. This divisional shit is painful.

I wish we’d play Coyotes!
Leafs in 6… 7

 

[authentic]

I only want to tell you that make excuses and talking only about the refs do not make your team better.
Focus on the positive aspect of the series and try to eliminate/change the negative ones.
That's my advice.

That shit needs to be called out, officiating like that is a disgrace to the sport.

 

[Tuna99]

Sens fan coming in peace - great team but go out and get the clutch guy who can get you the goals when you need them / pay the steep price to get a TJ Oshei, Justin Williams or Claude Lemieux, it ain’t coming from within.

Trust me, pay the price and go for it. You’ll love to regret it if you don’t

 

[mackinnon29]

Avs fan coming in peace, that was the best 7 game series of the playoffs by far. Also think that was the hardest earned playoff win by Tampa on there B2B cup runs. Where do you guys think the leafs go next? Are they gonna roll again with the same core? Will they bring back Campbell? And how much will the cap cuff them? I know for the Avs it’s coming as soon as next year with the up coming Mack extension and Makar’s contract kicking in. We also have a similar problem with needing a goalie next year if Kuemper doesn’t return.

 

[Marmoset]

I mean it’s hard to say they aren’t as good right now. Last year they were third in the division just like this year. The year before stamkos was out.

They looked like the leafs controlled the play.
They looked a little tired. Vasi looked human to start. Point is now injured.

We will see how they play the rest of the way. If vasi is back to form it’s good night for the league.

If point is hurt long term who knows

I think this is the biggest reason the Lightning didn't look quite as good to me. So much hockey over 2-3 years, especially with Covid and the delayed seasons. They still looked good of course, but I noticed more turnovers and more mistakes in general from them that I'm not used to seeing. That could also be a result of having to deal with the Leafs' pressure; most likely a bit of both.

 

[stealth1]

That shit needs to be called out, officiating like that is a disgrace to the sport.

I agree the officiating was bad. It's been bad across the league. There is no bias against certain teams. This is what you get due to game management. They really need to go back to calling everything. Players will adapt and in the end the game is better for it.

 

[notdoneyet]

Not blaming campbell but you cant win a series with over 3.5 goals against and s sub par save percentage under .900 in the playoffs

Campbell was good at times but inconsistent at other times

 

[Gary Nylund]

Avs fan coming in peace, that was the best 7 game series of the playoffs by far. Also think that was the hardest earned playoff win by Tampa on there B2B cup runs. Where do you guys think the leafs go next? Are they gonna roll again with the same core? Will they bring back Campbell? And how much will the cap cuff them? I know for the Avs it’s coming as soon as next year with the up coming Mack extension and Makar’s contract kicking in. We also have a similar problem with needing a goalie next year if Kuemper doesn’t return.

IMO we played so well that there's no reason to change much.

I'd consider hiring Trotz, not sure if Dubas is so loyal to Keefe that he wouldn't consider this but if not, it's worth thinking about.

We need to get the best goalie we possibly can. Maybe that'll end up being Campbell, who the hell knows.

 

[authentic]

I agree the officiating was bad. It's been bad across the league. There is no bias against certain teams. This is what you get due to game management. They really need to go back to calling everything. Players will adapt and in the end the game is better for it.

The team that committed more infractions had a 5-1 advantage in powerplays in game 6 and a gift wrapped 5 on 3. It’s gross that anyone could defend that in any way. Not only should that 5 on 3 never have happened, we should’ve been the ones on the powerplay after the embellishment by Foote. You literally can’t make this shit up.

 

[BayStBullies]

Not blaming campbell but you cant win a series with over 3.5 goals against and s sub par save percentage under .900 in the playoffs

Campbell was good at times but inconsistent at other times

Toronto scored more than Tampa, so that theory is wrong.