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

[Anthrax442]

"Over excited with the puck."

I was listening to Carlo and Frankie Corrado on TSN radio this morning and the most interesting line I heard was a reference to Babcock telling Matthews he over stickhandled moving up the ice instead of shoveling it forward at speed.

Hate Babcock, or hate Babcock, but I thought there was something interesting there with that comment about the way the Leafs skill guys can overskill a play but not actually make an efficient play or correct play. There's a lot of razzle dazzle, but are they taking the puck to a high danger area, are they putting those pucks into the right areas, are they moving around the full 200 feet of the ice at an appropriate pace.

And those extra passes instead of shooting.

 

[1specter]

Those innate fundamentals, instincts, work habits and details are just baked in at this point. They'll look like this one night and like a million bucks on many other nights.

Yep. No killer instinct, as usual.

 

[All Mod Cons]

… Zeke literally is flag barrier for saying our defense is top in the league. Again I hate naming people but it’s literally been said multiple times throughout the summer and that group of people who continually say it refer to advanced stats as their reasoning as to why they believe it to be true.

He's a flag carrier for whoever is currently on the Leafs. Once they leave, they turn into shitty players. He's been that way for years. Not the only one mind you.

 

[Lightsol]

They are who I think should be there.

Holl over valuates his ability and Muzzin is either done or unhealthy trying to stay in the game.

Muzzin NEEDS a fast partner at this point in his career to make up for the fact that he's basically Ken Daneyko at this point. And yet, Keefe is still putting him with Holl...

GET THEM AWAY FROM EACH OTHER. EACH ONE MAKES THE OTHER WORSE.

 

[Sammy Kat]

They will still win a ton of games and many will get their hopes way up.

This game tells me to expect the same as last year,win in regular season but not when it counts.

If you come out in the first game not pumped and wanting to destroy not only a hated rival but expected bottom 3 team then you still are a bunch of non motivated heartless not real contenders.

 

[mikeyz]

They had 115 points last year after a mediocre start and lost no one of significance.
They absolutely do

And lost in the 1st round for the 6th year in a row

 

[francis246]

We know it’s just one game but we can’t be pissing away easy points like that. We also really need Murray to be able to catch a f***in puck.

Exactly, every point matters. The Leafs should be aiming for the division title this year. Get out of the Atlantic for playoffs.

 

[fahad203]

I wouldn't say there's a goalie out there this past year that would have been a legit upgrade that's worth the cost though.

I have no problem running with a tandem .. I like Samsonov but I never though Murray was it.

Hold that thought until you see both play 10-15 games. Everyone looks good in pre-season playing against AHLers and Ottawa for most part
That D was a gong show, if they dont' get their act together, a 37 year old Ovi will light them up

 

[supermann_98]

When Jesse Pinkman showed the live odds (+350) on Montreal winning the game when it was 1-0 Leafs after the 1st I thought "i'd throw $20 on that after watching the unorganized sloppy mess" ... unfortunately I don't have the app or I'd have an extra $70 to fill up half a tank of gas

 

[leafan11]

Every year I ask this question… why is Kerfoot on this team ? He can’t play center he was 33% on the draw, he’s soft as butter. I don’t care how many even strength points he had last year, he literally does nothing well.

 

[Gallagbi]

Surely you're not suggesting Holl had a good game? They were both equally slow and inept.

The team obviously will be better but it's still disconcerting that these type of games against inferior competition continues to happen. A gawdawful team showing passion and heart against us and frankly we looked listless and lackadaisacal throughout the lineup.

He wasnt good IMO, but the hate didnt match his play and hes down the list of issues behind his partner (well behind) and the top line

 

[Stephen]

Why is Holl being flamed? Muzzin was directly responsible for two goals. We didn't deserve this one at all. Were never ready to play to be honest.

Muzzin was easily the biggest culprit on the game losing goal, like Brett Lebda bad. But Holl was also running around like a fire drill on that play and coughing up pucks everywhere all night. At his best, Holl should really limit the amount he tries to make plays, but just defend areas with length, seal a wall and get that hard out. Get the hard out over making a play to Muzzin too. That guy is broken.

 

[IrishInOntario]

Aaaaaaaahhhhhhhh my eyes!!!

This management team's obsession with doing the same thing and expecting a different result is somewhere between negligent and criminal.

All the makings of another first round exit. You can already see it. All the same exact problems, with a defense core a year older and slower and Tavares another year removed from his prime.

Buckle up boys!

 

[William Hylander]

When will we ever be hard to play against? Cause its been 6 years where we try and finesse to wins and choke.

 

[shaner8989]

Complete embarassment

Why is Holl and Muzzin on the ice in the last minute of a tied game?
Why is Holl still on the team?

Engvall is osme kind of trash
Kerfoot.. wtf is he still with us

Mathews was horrible

Murray sucks

Dubas and Keefe gonna feel serious heat.. and real soon

 

[Byron Bitz]

Exactly, every point matters. The Leafs should be aiming for the division title this year. Get out of the Atlantic for playoffs.

Exactly, winner of the Atlantic will get to play a team like Ottawa, New Jersey or Pittsburg

 

[ToneDog]

JT with 2 primary assists is a good sign.

 

[CanHeDoIt99]

… Zeke literally is flag barrier for saying our defense is top in the league. Again I hate naming people but it’s literally been said multiple times throughout the summer and that group of people who continually say it refer to advanced stats as their reasoning as to why they believe it to be true.

The Leafs didnt play like this last year LOL. They dominated tonight but gave up too many odd mans off of bad reads/jumps from D and forwards then shoveling the puck into the middle without support behind for when it gets blocked.

They deserve to he criticized for their play tonight but the sky isn't falling - they're a good defensive team and will likely get back to being it in the future.

Dont think holl and muzzin should play together. Both individually are fine, but their foot speed when paired together kills them IMO.

 

[Optimist]

The $33 million trio were invisible tonight. I don't get it.

 

[DarkKnight]

Aston-Reese, Auber-Kubel and Jarnkrok not much but warm body impressions for me.

 

[TIGERCOOL]

I didn't think any "contender" could look worse than Tampa last night. I stand corrected. Lazy, sloppy, slow, and stupid.

 

[Al14]

On another note Tavares does look to be skating faster and a lot better this season IMO.

His CAP hit is still too much for what he brings now.

 

[Anthrax442]

Campbell is sucking too

 

[Stephen]

Every year I ask this question… why is Kerfoot on this team ? He can’t play center he was 33% on the draw, he’s soft as butter. I don’t care how many even strength points he had last year, he literally does nothing well.

Kerfoot looks like a really excellent practice player who can do everything well with highly proficient skill, with zip at a high pace. And he's heads up and intelligent most of the time, adds a bit of feistiness. It just doesn't translate into particularly impactful plays.

 

[Leafs87]

The team looked decent at points, some obvious stand outs in a bad way, but the game seems to have improved in some regards. The alarming part is this is the first leafs team in years that looks slow. I don’t want to read much into this since it’s only game 1 though