Post-Game Talk: Leafs Lose in OT Again to Devils.

[Twine Tickler]

hard earned point against a very good NJ team. We gave ourselves an opportunity to win in a game even though we were getting outplayed by a wide margin. I knew NJ would bring their best, and in all honesty they looked great. Boring as f*** at times, but great. They gave us absolutely nothing and they knew when to pounce the other way. That team is legit. It was not a flukey win on their end, they played with excellent structure.

I am not sure how NJ went from absolute joke to legitimate wagon in 1 offseason, but that felt like we were playing the TB lightning. Skill up front to make you pay for your mistakes, and complete buy in defensively from all their players.

From our perspective, we certainly didn't have our best showing. Our PP was terrible. we couldn't establish a forecheck, and we once again got burnt by sloppy neutral/defensive zone play. If not for Murr, we would have gotten the outcome we deserved (0 points).

I feel incredibly confident with a Murr/Samsonov tandem TBH. Murr has been great in the preseason + 3 regular season games and same goes for Sammy as well. I still don't think we've even come close to hitting our stride everywhere else though. Something just feels off. But we are 9-5-4 and 2nd in the Atlantic despite all of this. Not the end of the world.

take the point and move on to the next game!

 

[ZEBROA]

Daycare... Poll based coaching. This is some solid gold!

I belive the fanbase would make better decisions than Keefe in more times then not. yeah it is a daycare if u are afraid to hurt the players feeling. oh he didnt get to play last time it was OT. Who cares Tavares(with marner) aint the best we can put out there at OT so dont .

Nylander and Matthews was the answer this game. And if we had a poll thats the players who would start the OT.

I hope you understand that i dont think a poll based coaching would be realistic. But the result would be better a lot of the times. Because Keefe sucks at in game decisions. And i like the dude overall, just not his in game, game.

 

[fahad203]

OV can score from the same spot for ~20 yrs
Stamkos can score from the same spot for ~10 yreas
Kucherov can score and set up from the same spots for ~8 yrs
Matthews is a combination of all these guys and he’s not major threat on the PP

At some point Keefe should be banned from the PP room.

The reason they can do that is because all of those guys had a solid point man

Ovi had Greene and now has Carlson
Kuch and Stammer has Hedman

Nobody is afraid of Reilly. Last time we had a point man with a shot was Dion

Last night the devils had 4 players killing penalty within 5 feet of the net. They gave Reilly all the space in the world to shoot

I'm not so sure I'm ready to annoint the NJD yet. They seem like the make up of a good regular season team. I could be wrong, but they might fold like a cheap suit in the playoffs.

They can be. But that argument can be made for anybody or any upcoming young team

 

[The Podium]

I belive the fanbase would make better decisions than Keefe in more times then not. yeah it is a daycare if u are afraid to hurt the players feeling. oh he didnt get to play last time it was OT. Who cares Tavares(with marner) aint the best we can put out there at OT so dont .

Nylander and Matthews was the answer this game. And if we had a poll thats the players who would start the OT.

I hope you understand that i dont think a poll based coaching would be realistic. But the result would be better a lot of the times. Because Keefe sucks at in game decisions. And i like the dude overall, just not his in game, game.

To be fair, Matthews and Nylander were in the ice to end regulation. I think the intention was to give them some rest to start OT.

Honestly Kampf - Malgin - Lilly might have been the move to gain possession against NJs top unit then switch to Matthews - Nylander

The reason they can do that is because all of those guys had a solid point man

Ovi had Greene and now has Carlson
Kuch and Stammer has Hedman

Nobody is afraid of Reilly. Last time we had a point man with a shot was Dion

Last night the devils had 4 players killing penalty within 5 feet of the net. They gave Reilly all the space in the world to shoot



They can be. But that argument can be made for anybody or any upcoming young team

I think Lilly is the best option to be a point threat even if he isn’t the best PP QB option.

 

[Nineteen67]

Yes, but don't forget Nylander hasn't been stapled to the 2 time Rocket winner during the playoffs and here are their results since 2016-2017 season in the playoffs.

Compare playoffs to regular season, and check out who checks out in the post-season.


View attachment 609505

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G7,<4,-1

 

[Dekes For Days]

Not a great game for us, but I'll take the point against a Devils team firing on all cylinders.

 

[Nineteen67]

The reason they can do that is because all of those guys had a solid point man

Ovi had Greene and now has Carlson
Kuch and Stammer has Hedman

Nobody is afraid of Reilly. Last time we had a point man with a shot was Dion

Last night the devils had 4 players killing penalty within 5 feet of the net. They gave Reilly all the space in the world to shoot



They can be. But that argument can be made for anybody or any upcoming young team

i think it has more to do with the fact those teams make nice crisp passes and work to get the trigger man open just enough to shoot.

 

[fahad203]

hard earned point against a very good NJ team. We gave ourselves an opportunity to win in a game even though we were getting outplayed by a wide margin. I knew NJ would bring their best, and in all honesty they looked great. Boring as f*** at times, but great. They gave us absolutely nothing and they knew when to pounce the other way. That team is legit. It was not a flukey win on their end, they played with excellent structure.

I am not sure how NJ went from absolute joke to legitimate wagon in 1 offseason, but that felt like we were playing the TB lightning. Skill up front to make you pay for your mistakes, and complete buy in defensively from all their players.

From our perspective, we certainly didn't have our best showing. Our PP was terrible. we couldn't establish a forecheck, and we once again got burnt by sloppy neutral/defensive zone play. If not for Murr, we would have gotten the outcome we deserved (0 points).

I feel incredibly confident with a Murr/Samsonov tandem TBH. Murr has been great in the preseason + 3 regular season games and same goes for Sammy as well. I still don't think we've even come close to hitting our stride everywhere else though. Something just feels off. But we are 9-5-4 and 2nd in the Atlantic despite all of this. Not the end of the world.

take the point and move on to the next game!

NJ last year went throughn 7 goalies last year. None of their goalies stayed healthy
They got rid of a lot of dead weights
Added John Marino

Some dude name Jasper Bratt had a come out party last year too. Along with Hughes and Hirschier taking their games to next level

i think it has more to do with the fact those teams make nice crisp passes and work to get the trigger man open just enough to shoot.

You are not going to find 4 players in the league who can make crisper passes than Marner, Tavares, Nylander and Matthews

You won't be able to make those passes if everyone just collapses front of the net. The reason they can colllapse is because they dont' respect the point shot.

Why should they, Reilly has a muffin.

 

[Leafs87]

NJ played great, Toronto played good too.
The team and more specifically this bottom 6 and current D corpse just doesn’t cut it.

 

[LeafEgo]

This game felt a bit depressing to me - the Devils basically play the style of game we want to play, but are younger, better, faster and deeper.

Seeing Hischier and Hughes out there, both signing to 8 year dears at 8 or less, that is pain.

Just a stark reminder of what we all had hoped this rebuild would look like 4 years ago. Instead we signed JT and the big boys got their big (and short term) contracts, and the rest is history.

Either way, heck of a game. Lots of pace, lots of skill. Fun hockey.

Good observation. Sens seem to be on the same plan with their 8 year deals at similar price points. Rumour has it they are looking for a vet defenseman a la Dougie H.

If they turn a corner soon like NJ that would be pain.

 

[The Podium]

NJ last year went throughn 7 goalies last year. None of their goalies stayed healthy
They got rid of a lot of dead weights
Added John Marino

Some dude name Jasper Bratt had a come out party last year too. Along with Hughes and Hirschier taking their games to next level



You are not going to find 4 players in the league who can make crisper passes than Marner, Tavares, Nylander and Matthews

You won't be able to make those passes if everyone just collapses front of the net. The reason they can colllapse is because they dont' respect the point shot.

Why should they, Reilly has a muffin.

The Leafs are in a weird position on the PP, Matthews and Nylander are the best shot threats on the half walls, but both Marner and Reilly high means no risk from the point.

As much as it wouldn’t be a great option for personal success, I think Matthews at the point as a PP QB, and Robertson on the half wall in his spot may spread the threats around a bit. That setup kindve leaves no room for Marner on the top unit, which seems silly. But the Leafs don’t have a good PP QB option on the second unit.

I’d try:

Tavares
Nylander. Robertson
Matthews. Reilly

Bunting
Kerfoot. Malgin
Lilly Marner

 

[JT AM da real deal]

SPEED beats SKILL .. speed beats most times in hockey even physical goonery .. da faster team as Murray said was all over da puck and even with Keefer trying like crazy to slow game down to a pace where we could have a little possession here and there it was too much for our guys to handle

Only reason we got a point was Murray and Willy .. that's it .. without Willy's speed to counteract Devils this was a 6-2 type game .. Murray was outstanding .. best I have seen him since his cup runs ..if we get that tending in playoffs we could win a round or two

Our defense is atrocious .. beyond bad .. bottom 5 in league and maybe worst .. Sandin just can't play against fast teams (like we have seen against Habs and in Marlie playoffs) .. he can't handle da speed of da game .. and his pinch in 1st was ridiculously stupid for a slow guy .. he does not think like a D man .. Holl OMG that 1st goal I saw it coming well ahead of score (watch da video) ,.. his defensive training was/is pure garbage .. he is in proper position in his own end in front of net when his partner in corner on left side yes but then he leaves net front with Devils in possession and glides toward corner and gets himself around dot .. then he realized OMG what da f*ck did I do when he sees easy pass to net front for an easy snipe .. then he goes to bench and Keefer puts his paper in front of his mouth and starts givin er to him and his face is going red .. and guess what he does not even miss a shift .. then Benn decides he is gonna be Bobby Orr and totally screws up next goal .. dude stick to ur knitting u got lucky in 1st 2 games everything went well in da pinches but that is not ur game man .. is someone telling these D to make these stupid moves .. omg coaching may be terrible here .. and Rielly well he just can't play any kind of defense at all and folks are cluing in now when he does not have Brodie bailing him out every shift .. this is one pure garbage defense right now and honestly to get a point with that defense is a miracle of all miracles .. oh well it was all Murray

But OT took da cake for me .. to get lucky and have a chance in OT and then put on JT and Mitch wow man .. those guys are not fast enough to handle Devils speed and they couldn't handle it all night long man .. Keefer did you watch da game .. gut feel .. what .. gut feel .. what ever happened to coaching to win in pro hockey .. go with ur best man .. forget gut feel .. any moron in building last night saw we had 1 guy going hard all night WILLY .. that's all we had .. and he does not start .. what da f*ck .. amateur hour .. sorry blowing off steam still .. boys in room must be pissed with Keefer .. here a tip Keefer .. watch da game and go with ur best that night in OT .. Rielly JT and Mitch all sucked badly .. each of them man .. I just don't get it Keefer

 

[Mess]

While the Leafs have been treading water the past 4 years losing, and spinning their wheels in the sand constantly losing in round #1 and spending valuable assets in picks including high ones and team like NJ has been rebuilding using that time period and same assets to build themselves into a Cup contender.,

This NJ team today reminds me of the Leafs from 2016 after they just drafted Matthews and then were full of high-end skill and young talent and when from last to a playoff spot the very next year.

Part of the key back then was a balanced attack where all 3 of the Amigo's were on separate lines and much like NJ today where they have their 3 top scorers all on different lines and the attack spread out to be able to play a 4 line game.

When a team in a Cup window is stalled, better check the review mirror because those teams that are restocking on high picks are coming fast and NJ seems like one of those teams currently on a 11 game winning streak.

 

[Twine Tickler]

Starting JT and Marner at the beginning of OT was the right call. Put 2 defensively responsible players out to start the OT and then get Matty and Nylander out there for the kill shot after Bratt and Hischier changed. They did a great job defending the 3 on 3 until JT made a costly turnover at the blue line and it cost us the game. C'est la vie. If JT puts a bit more pace on that puck or curls back we get a change and the OT goes in our favor. That's how 3 on 3 works.

The Devils player who jumped into the play to break up JT's outlet was Jack Hughes and it was not exactly a sure thing to win that puck when he made that read. He could have just as easily been burnt on that play and had the puck go back for a clear 2 on 1. It was a 50:50 gamble that he made that paid off. Not to take anything away from the play/read he made, it just wasn't as egregious of a turnover as people are making it out to be. This is the still from when the puck is halfway onto Marner's tape

Not to dissolve JT of any blame, I think he'd be the first person to say that the pass needed to be more direct onto Marner's blade and not leading him or with more pace. But when you look at that still, Jack makes a split second decision that is very high risk high reward and it just paid off. Something you don't typically see in 3 on 3. Not to mention, Marner had no clue where Hughes was on this play because instead of skating into the pass he was skating away from the pass which made the pick off that much more easy. Not Mitch's fault, just a bang bang play that we lost.

But I wouldn't consider starting Mitch and JT in OT a bad call. JT is the best on our team at winning faceoffs, and the 2 forwards on the ice know how to defend should they lose the draw. Which they did very well prior to this turnover. That's hockey

 

[egd27]

My god that is an ugly quote from a Keefe. Lets translate that in "normie" speak... I got no clue what will win us a game so I'm just guessing, I got no strategy, no purpose just gonna go on my Hockey "ESP". It's pretty easy to see what wins you games in OT, get the puck keep the puck and wait for the other teams system to break down.

Last nights game was pretty simple, NJ was sending in two forecheckers to pressure the puck, then they were pressuring the person who would be receiving the outlet pass. A simple quick 10 foot chip pass or a play where you out number the forecheckers would have broke down NJ game plan but what does Keefe do? Nothing, not a damn thing, continues with the same offensive structure. The only thing that won us a point was a fluke goal.

How long do we have to continue to watch one of the most talented team of individuals on a Leafs team in the last 50 years be subjected to an ineffective coach. You could take any person on the HF board and put them behind the bench and this team is so talented, they would win you 40 games.

The solution is pretty simple, you don't have the cap space or assets that are going to improve this team materially, so its not a player move that is going to make this team better. Shuffling the deck chairs with the same coach is not going to get better results. The answer is pretty clear. If Dubas wont fire Keefe, Dubas has to go and the new guy can fire Keefe.

All of this in a nutshell.

Whatever "system" was working before is not anymore. A good coach would do more than hope it "turns itself around"

He can't even make a $48 million power play consistently successful. Time to move on

 

[PromisedLand]

Thanks for that. I knew we were shit, but I didn't think we were 80-20 shit. Wow. Murray stole a point for us no doubt.

My rage is justified

definition of killer instinct full explained by the Devils. they had more scoring chacnes and high danger chances in the 3rd period when they had a 1 goal lead.

 

[The Podium]

While the Leafs have been treading water the past 4 years losing, and spinning their wheels in the sand constantly losing in round #1 and spending valuable assets in picks including high ones and team like NJ has been rebuilding using that time period and same assets to build themselves into a Cup contender.,

This NJ team today reminds me of the Leafs from 2016 after they just drafted Matthews and then were full of high-end skill and young talent and when from last to a playoff spot the very next year.

Part of the key back then was a balanced attack where all 3 of the Amigo's were on separate lines and much like NJ today where they have their 3 top scorers all on different lines and the attack spread out to be able to play a 4 line game.

When a team in a Cup window is stalled, better check the review mirror because those teams that are restocking on high picks are coming fast and NJ seems like one of those teams currently on a 11 game winning streak.

NJ was smart/lucky to sign Hischer and Hughes to long term deals before they broke out. Big gamble that seems to have paid off. However, with Jasper Bratt coming up, he likely signs for 9mill and they lose some of the room for depth.

They’re in a weird position where they only have 10 players signed for next year, it’ll be interesting to see how they navigate the cap moving forward.

 

[Nineteen67]

hard earned point against a very good NJ team. We gave ourselves an opportunity to win in a game even though we were getting outplayed by a wide margin. I knew NJ would bring their best, and in all honesty they looked great. Boring as f*** at times, but great. They gave us absolutely nothing and they knew when to pounce the other way. That team is legit. It was not a flukey win on their end, they played with excellent structure.

I am not sure how NJ went from absolute joke to legitimate wagon in 1 offseason, but that felt like we were playing the TB lightning. Skill up front to make you pay for your mistakes, and complete buy in defensively from all their players.

From our perspective, we certainly didn't have our best showing. Our PP was terrible. we couldn't establish a forecheck, and we once again got burnt by sloppy neutral/defensive zone play. If not for Murr, we would have gotten the outcome we deserved (0 points).

I feel incredibly confident with a Murr/Samsonov tandem TBH. Murr has been great in the preseason + 3 regular season games and same goes for Sammy as well. I still don't think we've even come close to hitting our stride everywhere else though. Something just feels off. But we are 9-5-4 and 2nd in the Atlantic despite all of this. Not the end of the world.

take the point and move on to the next game!

NJ is soft as butter. TB is, at least were, a pack of wolves.

 

[PromisedLand]

Wow. So yeah jersey seems for real.

Trying to be positive but another thing... if you look at the standings... yes Leafs had a bad west trip against a couple shit teams... but they've played 7 of the top 9 teams. Boston, Jersey, Vegas, Kings, Dallas, Carolina, Winnipeg.

Leafs sit 8th overall. Haven't played Islanders yet.

Leafs got at least a point off all of them but Kings and only 1 point in 2 games at Vegas.

They need to beat up on the shitty teams more.

just look a tthe cap structure and allocation and terms for NJ and then compare it to the way f***ing dubas ruined it for the leafs. boils my blood I tell ya

 

[Nineteen67]

NJ last year went throughn 7 goalies last year. None of their goalies stayed healthy
They got rid of a lot of dead weights
Added John Marino

Some dude name Jasper Bratt had a come out party last year too. Along with Hughes and Hirschier taking their games to next level



You are not going to find 4 players in the league who can make crisper passes than Marner, Tavares, Nylander and Matthews

You won't be able to make those passes if everyone just collapses front of the net. The reason they can colllapse is because they dont' respect the point shot.

Why should they, Reilly has a muffin.

the passes have little to no mustard on them, compared to other pp.

the fact that Marner and Rielly are virtually no threat to shoot makes it much easier to defend.

 

[PromisedLand]

I don't deny that Keefe deserves some criticism. But the players deserve just as much, if not more.

Keefe gets outcoached most of the time.

3 playoff series: CBJ, Habs, Bolts he got outcoached all 3 times.

He is a terrible coach IMO. If Leafs didn't have superstars or matthews din't hit 60 goals last season Keefe would look really ordinary.

Keefe is not NHL worthy

 

[Larcos_Unal]

All you guys saying 'Effort was good", you have pretty low standards.

 

[PromisedLand]

Maybe you missed that Marner is only the second player in leafs history to have achieved an 11 game point streak 3 times as of last night.

Matthews and Marner are fine. The coaching strategy is off.
The team play is disconnected.

Agree with everything. Would liek to see Marner not giveaway the puck or make less fancy bs plays and manage the puck better though

 

[Amadeus]

Overtime records and shootout record has been pretty poor since the 3 on 3 was brought in. It's just an automatic loss and I honestly feel we need a different lineup to start these OTs as our big guns just dont cut it.

 

[notDatsyuk]

Sure are an awful lot of people who just accept that we give away the most turnovers in the leauge....

Yeah - we may have the most giveaways, but in giveaways per 60 we're all the way down to second.