Post-Game Talk: Leafs lose to Minnesota and end January with a whimper

[Stephen]

As soon as the Wild scored first, you knew it was over. This team loses interest quickly when they have to work.
How do you starve a Maple Leaf.....hide his pay cheque under his work boots.

It was a combined losing effort from Rielly's trash coverage, Woll asleep at the wheel and the rest of the team led by Captain Matthews dead on arrival. Only signs of life offensively were Robertson buzzing, McMann looking okay on the big line and Willie Nylander. Everything else is just rotten.

 

[PromisedLand]

18 wheeler warming up?

 

[Stephen]

Rielly really wants that green jacket.

Looks like Rielly needs a conditioning stint. Moving so sluggishly out there and looks gassed on physical one on one contact. He's 225 pounds of NHL defenseman, but I don't know if he needs to be over 205 cause he can't push a guy out of the slot, rub out a player on the end wall or win any kind of physical battle.

 

[Ports]

The end to that game was literally this core in the past 7+ years. High pressure moment, low scoring game, playoff style game. Marner and Matthews making substandard plays and cant step up enough in that moment.

No way anyone will convince me this year is different - 1st round knockout upcoming

It’s called choking. Sad but true.

 

[wingman75]

As soon as the Wild scored first, you knew it was over. This team loses interest quickly when they have to work.
How do you starve a Maple Leaf.....hide his pay cheque under his work boots.

I don't find the team doesn't work hard. I just think they working hard at doing nothing.

They don't go to the hard areas until it is too late. To me that is a conscious decision. That about says it all doesn't it?

In the NFL they call that a "Business Decision".

 

[hamzarocks]

Leafs in 6....

Years will rebuild and move on from this core

 

[Stephen]

Content to play on the margins. Guys out front, no shots coming. Uninspired and disjointed.

Marner was pretty gutless on a lot of the rushes today. Full speed into the zone, voluntary stop up after burners and curls back to the blueline, soft play to nowhere, then back down to the defensive zone again.

 

[ToneDog]

Looks like Rielly needs a conditioning stint. Moving so sluggishly out there and looks gassed on physical one on one contact. He's 225 pounds of NHL defenseman, but I don't know if he needs to be over 205 cause he can't push a guy out of the slot, rub out a player on the end wall or win any kind of physical battle.

Matty probably gave him 100s of free McPapi burger coupons.

 

[MSZ]

 

[PromisedLand]

can we just FIRE Shanahan already. What an epic LOSER this jackass has been

 

[Jimmy Firecracker]

This is the most checked out I’ve been in years. Team is average despite where they are in the standings (Florida probably leapfrogged us tonight so we aren't even 1st in the Atlantic anymore). Haven’t missed this many games in a season since I don't know when. Even the ones I do watch it’s on in the background while I do something else, especially nights like tonight where we get scored on first. This team struggles to score like they’re constipated, not much faith they'll be able to mount a comeback.

 

[thewave]

Looks like Rielly needs a conditioning stint. Moving so sluggishly out there and looks gassed on physical one on one contact. He's 225 pounds of NHL defenseman, but I don't know if he needs to be over 205 cause he can't push a guy out of the slot, rub out a player on the end wall or win any kind of physical battle.

He is by far the weakest 225lbs D I have seen. He is slow. 100% need conditioning. They should approach him about it publicly to get the alarms going off. He is the head of the country club.

Rielly needs an attitude adjustment.

 

[likecheese]

Looks like Rielly needs a conditioning stint. Moving so sluggishly out there and looks gassed on physical one on one contact. He's 225 pounds of NHL defenseman, but I don't know if he needs to be over 205 cause he can't push a guy out of the slot, rub out a player on the end wall or win any kind of physical battle.

Did he gain weight so that he could try to play a more physical style, how do lose all that speed at age 30, he's bottoming out worse than Brodie did at a much younger age.

 

[PavelDatsyuk13DET]

View attachment 969352

As a wings fan, you can have him back. He'll be waiting at the airport for you.

 

[Stephen]

This is the most checked out I’ve been in years.

Are you available to play on the first line and PP1?

 

[kevsh]

Dropping into a WC spot, even only temporarily, isn't out of the question.

They've been mediocre on the road this year and 12 of their next 14 are away from home.

Meanwhile Boston, a very good home team, is about to start a home stretch and if the Sens can out together a little run ... We may go into the Bettman Cup break with the division title a distant memory.

 

[ToneDog]

Lost 1st place just when schedule getting tougher. No big deal Willie?

 

[Cleetus]

This is the most checked out I’ve been in years. Team is average despite where they are in the standings (Florida probably leapfrogs us tonight anyway). Haven’t missed this many games in years. Even the ones I do watch it’s on in the background while I do something else, especially nights like tonight where we get scored on first and this team struggles to score like they’re constipated.

yea the Panthers have passed us lol

 

[Nineteen67]

Dropping into a WC spot, even only temporarily, isn't out of the question.

They've been mediocre on the road this year and 12 of their next 14 are away from home.

Meanwhile Boston, a very good home team, is about to start a home stretch and if the Sens can out together a little run ... We may go into the Bettman Cup break with the division title a distant memory.

Dropping into a WC spot has always been a possibility

 

[Stephen]

He is by far the weakest 225lbs D I have seen. He is slow. 100% need conditioning. They should approach him about it publicly to get the alarms going off. He is the head of the country club.

Rielly needs an attitude adjustment.

He’s the longest tenured player with the worst quality control over his own play, looks mentally out of every play and completely out of shape, physically unable to compete.

 

[Aashir]

Exactly the record I predicted at the beginning of the month, which sets them up nicely to make the playoffs.

this team was always going to make the playoffs lol, that shouldn't be the standard

once they get there, they are going to be 7 and done yet again, maybe less.

The team hasn't been good enough in the RS, i don't even want to know how bad they'll be in the playoffs

 

[wingman75]

He is by far the weakest 225lbs D I have seen. He is slow. 100% need conditioning. They should approach him about it publicly to get the alarms going off. He is the head of the country club.

Rielly needs an attitude adjustment.

For sure it is a confidence thing.

I think the new daddy thing has to be passed by now. So, what is it then? The Leafs do play a different style in their own zone. The D are positioned differently than they were under Keefe (lower, closer to the net). Have to wonder if he is still thinking too much about where he is supposed to be rather than just playing?

It's clearly a mental thing based on what I see. And no guarantee he works out of it this season.

 

[ToneDog]

yea the Panthers have passed us lol

Not even nostronumbnuts saw this coming.

 

[centipede2233]

The best thing that could happen is they miss the playoffs to make it glaringly obvious, shanahan and marner need to not be here any longer.

 

[wingman75]

this team was always going to make the playoffs lol, that shouldn't be the standard

once they get there, they are going to be 7 and done yet again, maybe less.

The team hasn't been good enough in the RS, i don't even want to know how bad they'll be in the playoffs

What if they don't? Hoooboy what an offseason that would be. I'd almost welcome it over another first round loss as maybe someone will get their head out of their asses and make some significant changes.

Don't get me wrong, I'll be livid and spewing nonsense on here, but... could it be for the best? A bit of a wakeup call for the arrogant core?