Post-Game Talk: Leafs lose the opener 4-3

[JT AM da real deal]

All the Leafs put on so much weight in the offseason they can hardly skate.

Sad day when we watch Habs outskate and out hustle us for pucks .. that is an AHL level team at best and hard to watch .. it hurts a ton when it is da Habs .. a stinker against anyone else sure but not da Habs

 

[ULF_55]

So Matthews was a non-factor but I don't get people calling out Marner. He set up a beauty for the first goal and was buzzing around the net keeping the puck in play all game.
I guess it's just easy to be lazy and make these kinds of comments

I'm not a marner fan at all, but have to agree if Matthews is ineffective his linemates don't cash in.

Nice play on the opening goal.
Not sure how Keefe thought about the first line, but forward ice time was:

Matthews: 19:54
Nylander: 19:00 (SH: 0:13)
marner: 18:28 (SH: 1:40)
Tavares: 17:41

 

[Twine Tickler]

IMO it comes down to during the regular season they rely on their talent to win many games. That only goes so far. I rarely see many nights where they out work the opposition. It's why they fail in the playoffs.

It's not wrong.

The only thing I would add is that the players individually work their bags off at their crafts. They are incredibly dedicated to getting better. I feel like that is abundantly clear to me at least, and something that maybe goes a little under the radar with the fanbase/media as a whole. They are constantly working on their games, and adding tools to their arsenals. That said, when push comes to shove and the games get tighter we have never been able to steer away from the game that got us there. Like you said, we don't win games often by just outworking teams. I am not sure if it's a personnel issue or a tactics issue, or maybe a mix of both. But ultimately we lost that game last night because of 2 attempts at a skill play at the far blue line that resulted in odd man rushes + goals going the other way.

Our skill was beat by will, and that has to change. We need to find a way to grind out those games when we are not bringing our A-game. It was abundantly clear from 10 minutes into that game when we had taken 3 minor penalties and couldn't connect on a pass that we were not going to win that game off of our skill alone. We somehow managed to secure 2 leads in that game and still tried to make low percentage plays and activate the D, instead of putting the puck down low and wearing down the MTL defense that had combined for less games played in the NHL than Gio. 3 of which had a combined ~10 NHL games.

As Keefe mentioned, it's not acceptable. But at the end of the day they all share that blame. Including Sheldon. He needs to realize early on that this game is not the game where we could get cute with the puck. Make the changes to the system, and sit anyone who does not comply. There is really no excuse for playing as aggressive as we did with the leads we had.

It's early season sloppiness that we can expect to change over time, but the alarms need to be appropriately sounded after that game IMO. It needs to be a wakeup call.

 

[Tufted Titmouse]

I'm not a marner fan at all, but have to agree if Matthews is ineffective his linemates don't cash in.

Nice play on the opening goal.
Not sure how Keefe thought about the first line, but forward ice time was:

Matthews: 19:54
Nylander: 19:00 (SH: 0:13)
marner: 18:28 (SH: 1:40)
Tavares: 17:41

Matthews, Marner and Tavares all had very little offensive impact on the game, and the reality is we just won't win many when that's the case.

It's probably the only real knock on them (which they mostly crushed last season). That's why I don't want to overreact to 1 game.

 

[supermann_98]

This matches the eye test - 4th line and Muzzin pairing were just getting clowned on:

View attachment 593449

4th line gets nothing but defensive zone starts so our stars get the gravy offensive starts to help them pad their stats. When the stars play like last night they shouldn't be gifted O-zone starts and 2 minutes on the PP doing absolutely nothing

 

[HoweHullOrr]

The fact this needed to be done in the very first game is disappointing.
Sure people will say it’s only the 1st game, but after 6 1st round losses, a summer of saying “the process”, we’ve learned our lesson, hungry, etc. this team continues to make the same statement. Sure they will get their points but trust us earned, and they aren’t trustworthy. The GM has no contract, questions surround goaltending, depth, salary structure and this is your statement. Keefe “we didn’t deserve to win”.
Again, disappointing.

I wonder if Andersen and Smith will do well this year? My guess is probably yes. I wonder why this might be important?

The book is out on Murray - go high glove.

 

[supermann_98]

Love the Leafs.

Hate this team.

Hates a strong word but I certainly get it. Coddled, rich, young players given anything and everything ... and repay the fans with effort like last night on opening night

 

[IPS]

Except Lyubushkin wasn't even good at what he was supposed to do (clearing the net and board play) outside of hitting people. Although the sample size is a fair bit smaller, Rielly was much better with Holl.

Yet come playoff time Holl sat out while Lyubushkin stayed in. And when a change was made, Lyubushkin went nowhere and Liljegren got kicked out. I don't think management or coaching agrees with your opinion.

 

[Notsince67]

Matthews, Marner and Tavares all had very little offensive impact on the game, and the reality is we just won't win many when that's the case.

It's probably the only real knock on them (which they mostly crushed last season). That's why I don't want to overreact to 1 game.

Lets not notice the beautiful assist by Marner and the crazy good defensive play when he rushed back to prevent a goal. I'm not altogether sure what you consider bad but another point by him would have put him on a 164 point annual pace which you seem to imply is acceptable.

 

[ULF_55]

Hates a strong word but I certainly get it. Coddled, rich, young players given anything and everything ... and repay the fans with effort like last night on opening night

Well, it was in Montreal.

Maybe they didn't think the fans there deserved their "A" game?

 

[Tufted Titmouse]

Lets not notice the beautiful assist by Marner and the crazy good defensive play when he rushed back to prevent a goal. I'm not altogether sure what you consider bad but another point by him would have put him on a 164 point annual pace which you seem to imply is acceptable.

I am one of Marner's biggest fans, you are preaching to the choir.

Reality is that line only generated 2 High Danger chances and was scored on 2 times. We need it to tilt the ice like it did last year.

 

[ULF_55]

Lets not notice the beautiful assist by Marner and the crazy good defensive play when he rushed back to prevent a goal. I'm not altogether sure what you consider bad but another point by him would have put him on a 164 point annual pace which you seem to imply is acceptable.

One has to wonder why marner is stapled to Matthews?

Is this a players call?
Is this fear of (certain) players revolt?

This seems to be an issue, and it happens time after time, with the Montreal series being there in neon lights.

Not every player is held to account.

 

[Tak7]

Do find the reactions to the loss quite comical - we spent all summer saying the only thing that matters is playoff success, but then utterly meltdown at the first failed hurdle.

Everyone is free to react as they want, but if you're going to go full heavy metal after every hiccup, while ignoring the wins/good stretches that will come, you're going to burn yourselves out by January.

 

[SeaOfBlue]

Yet come playoff time Holl sat out while Lyubushkin stayed in. And when a change was made, Lyubushkin went nowhere and Liljegren got kicked out. I don't think management or coaching agrees with your opinion.

Lyubushkin was trusted with a whole 14 minutes a night and still played poorly. They liked him with Rielly even though he was not doing well, and ended up just not playing him much in general. They probably would have been better off just using Liljegren, just like they would have been better off using Spezza over Simmonds from the beginning of the series. They wanted to use physical players, but all of them struggled. Believe it or not, being good at hockey is an important part of being a good hockey player.

Considering they dumped all of their bad physical players in the offseason, including Lyubushkin, hopefully they finally learned that underperforming physical players are not worth keeping just like Tampa did before they started winning their Cups.

Holl is still here playing 20 minutes a night in a top 4 role. Lyubushkin is now on a rebuilding team that hasn't had any success in over a decade.

 

[Notsince67]

I am one of Marner's biggest fans, you are preaching to the choir.

Reality is that line only generated 2 High Danger chances and was scored on 2 times. We need it to tilt the ice like it did last year.

How many HD shots do you expect in 8 minutes...3 instead of 2?
1st goal against was Rielly venturing in too deep and getting knocked down allowing a quick breakout.
Second goal was a Bunting fup.

One has to wonder why marner is stapled to Matthews?

Is this a players call?
Is this fear of (certain) players revolt?

This seems to be an issue, and it happens time after time, with the Montreal series being there in neon lights.

Not every player is held to account.

It can usually be explained by the fact that it is the best line in the league.

 

[IPS]

Lyubushkin was trusted with a whole 14 minutes a night and still played poorly.

Yet he still stayed in the whole series. Hard to wrap your head around this, eh? Where was Holl during this, why couldn't he steal that spot beside Rielly to start the playoffs?

Holl is still here playing 20 minutes a night in a top 4 role. Lyubushkin is now on a rebuilding team that hasn't had any success in over a decade.

Wow being paid is actually a thing, who'oulda thought?


Maybe, just MAYBE - your stat sheet doesn't tell you what actually happens on the ice and that's why they clearly valued having Boosh in the lineup every game against Tampa.

 

[ULF_55]

It can usually be explained by the fact that it is the best line in the league.

When it isn't working it is far from the best line in hockey.

I'd say last night it looked like a line that was looking for an easy game.
"Let's do play X."
"Let's do play Y."
"Okay, let's try play X again."

They were so predictable and when forced accomplished nothing.

Again, it was game one, and Keefe did cut marner's playing time.
And Kerfoot got a shift or two with the two Amigo's.

Yeah, last night the 1st. line wasn't even good.

 

[A1LeafNation]

Is it me or is everyone on crazy pills? It's just one game and we are far away from game 6 and 7.

 

[Racer88]

This team continues to have its chronic Big Game problems.

The Habs are an awful team and this shouldn’t have been a big game. The Leafs should have hammered the Habs

 

[Notsince67]

When it isn't working it is far from the best line in hockey.

I'd say last night it looked like a line that was looking for an easy game.
"Let's do play X."
"Let's do play Y."
"Okay, let's try play X again."

They were so predictable and when forced accomplished nothing.

Again, it was game one, and Keefe did cut marner's playing time.
And Kerfoot got a shift or two with the two Amigo's.

Yeah, last night the 1st. line wasn't even good.

Bigger concern was defense. Muzzin and Holl were a shit show.

 

[ULF_55]

Bigger concern was defense. Muzzin and Holl were a shit show.

That pairing lost the game.

I'd say a couple of Marlies would be an improvement.

Other than Cap, that is an easy fix.

It raise the question about Muzzin being finished, or just not in condition by missing the preseason.

 

[Dreakmur]

It can usually be explained by the fact that it is the best line in the league.

If the goal was to have best line in the league, it would make sense. Unfortunately, our goal is to have the best team, and our team is often better when those two are split up.

 

[Al14]

I'm growing more and more sick and tired of this Leafs core delivering more embarrassment to us as Leafs fan.

I'm very happy that I'm retired, as I don't have to be at work and be subject to the ridicule and taunting I would have received from Habs and Sens fans today!

All of our Leafs core are overpaid IMHO. I believe they under deliver when it comes to working hard on the ice. Hard work, more often than not, will overcome lazy talent. You need to work hard even when you have loads of talent. I think this was the case against the Habs last night, and is also responsible for the 1st round exits.

I will remain a Leafs fan for the rest of my life. however, at 67 years of age, I'm now accepting that I will likely NOT see our Leafs win another Stanley Cup. I was a mere 12 years old when they last won it in 1967!

I think it is time for Shanahan, Dubas, and Keefe to be fired. It's obviously NOT working!!!

 

[ULF_55]

I'm growing more and more sick and tired of this Leafs core delivering more embarrassment to us as Leafs fan.

I'm very happy that I'm retired, as I don't have to be at work and be subject to the ridicule and taunting I would have received from Habs and Sens fans today!

All of our Leafs core are overpaid IMHO. I believe they under deliver when it comes to working hard on the ice. Hard work, more often than not, will overcome lazy talent. You need to work hard even when you have loads of talent. I think this was the case against the Habs last night, and is also responsible for the 1st round exits.

I will remain a Leafs fan for the rest of my life. however, at 67 years of age, I'm now accepting that I will likely NOT see our Leafs win another Stanley Cup. I was a mere 12 years old when they last won it in 1967!

I think it is time for Shanahan, Dubas, and Keefe to be fired. It's obviously NOT working!!!

You should change your handle ... AI14_55.

Now we are twenty million - and 13 Cups


I really should join your employment category but just haven't been given enough motivation yet.

 

[Notsince67]

If the goal was to have best line in the league, it would make sense. Unfortunately, our goal is to have the best team, and our team is often better when those two are split up.

What would splitting them up have done last night?