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

[MSZ]

4-0 Oilers on Saturday

Klingberg Brown Kapanen and Hyman with the goals. Pikard with the shutout.

You forgot to add McJesus assisting on all 4 goals.

 

[Stephen]

In that case we should probably deal Matthews ASAP. This team is dominant when he's out.
Like 110 point pace.

The problem with Matthews is the team takes on a lot of his low intensity attributes as a group. When he’s not skating well and scoring he looks so disinterested and casual out there and that affects the whole rest of the team’s energy levels. It’s not so much we are better without him, it’s that he doesn’t bring a reliable standard of engagement and he’s not a reliable leader who can spearhead. Or hold guys accountable. Because no one in the organization can hold Matthews accountable. Or his little buddy Marner.

 

[therealkoho]

Agree. It's nasty to look at Dion, I mean Jake, I mean Morgan out there. There is no jokes in all honesty. They guy needs a talking to.



It's bad whatever it is, its really bad. Physical as well. He looks really out of shape.

I think he's lacking in confidence, he hesitates now so often with the puck on his stick that, of course it creates a mistake and the inevitable loss of possession. Once he does that he doesnt seem to be able to recover from it.Even coming out of the zone, he can't seem to connect with a pass, although to be fair all of them are often a foot or three off target.

Just embarrassing for guys who demand millions of dollars to slake their bloated egos.

They're going to lose Marner almost for sure, likely either Chicago or SanJose. If I were Marner Caleefornee is the place I'd wanna be. He and Macklin will be great together.

 

[wingman75]

They play post season style of hockey.
Montreal neutered Matthews and marner in the playoffs.
There doesn't appear to be a cheat mode for Matthews, like there is for McDavid.

They couldn't be more different eh?
In fact, look at the Oileres core in McDavid and Drai... they go ballistic in the playoffs. Talk about taking it to the next level!

 

[ULF_55]

Nothing on Youtube yet. But I did catch a bit of Matthews saying he thought they were okay, but need to do a better job getting inside when attacking. Said they had some chances that just didn't go in. Same old drivel. So, pretty sure they feel good about their game. Couple posts, couple chances, you know, nothing to worry about.

Yeah, tight checking teams cause a problem for them.

 

[Kiwi]

OK guys, I'm no brain surgeon but I'm wondering how a team that has zero secondary scoring and gets punted every playoffs because there scoring disappears is supposed to be better equipped to score come playoff time when there struggling to score in the regular season

What's the saying, "lions lead by donkeys"
Instead it's "donkeys lead by morons" with this crew

 

[wingman75]

Yeah, tight checking teams cause a problem for them.

Yeah, the book is out and there have been multiple revisions!

 

[Stephen]

They play post season style of hockey.
Montreal neutered Matthews and marner in the playoffs.
There doesn't appear to be a cheat mode for Matthews, like there is for McDavid.

Matthews is usually bullied out of any playoff series he’s in. He doesn’t protect himself, doesn’t engage in the rough stuff, doesn’t compete hard enough and doesn’t understand the laws of the jungle. He always looks intimidated, he’s targeted and he can’t play his high skill goal scorer game.

 

[All Mod Cons]

Can we trade Marner? Not that I completely want him to go, but this mix of players has shown time and again that it can't get it done consistently. When they're on, our stars look like world beaters. The problem is far too often for whatever reason they're not on all together at the same time and often in games like tonight, almost none of them look like our best players out there with the exception of Nylander who looked moderately dangerous at times.

This is especially true in the playoffs and after seeing so many years of this core together with the same results, you have to change it up. You can't sign Marner to a huge deal and then hope Matthews, Marner and Nylander suddenly click all together in the playoffs when they've shown for so many years that they can't. Trade Marner for the best package you can find or if they refuse to do that then maybe its almost better to let him walk for nothing than to hand him a big contract.

As great a player as he is, with the money you save from not signing him hopefully you can sign some good players to take his place and just change up the chemistry and mix of this team which as much as we wanted them to succeed and have them bring home the cup and be the heros of this city, it hasn't worked out for all these years. The Leafs need major changes or else we'll forever be a 1st or 2nd round and out team.

This post feels like it's from 2019

 

[ACC1224]

Tavares back will be a big help. Really missing the Captain.

 

[The Hanging Jowl]

I said a few months ago I was OK with boring defensive style hockey as long as the team was winning. I am not OK with it if the team is losing. These games are not entertaining. If we're going to see losses, I'd rather see run and gun losses. Why continue with four $11M+ forwards just to see one goal per game?

 

[Ianturnedbull]

I was there my Dude.

There was some dumb/sleepy plays early in the game and that was the difference.

McCabe had the worst game I've ever seen him play.

Toronto didn't play badly, but bad in a few moments that MIN capitalized on. MIN is a tough team to get down early on. They just grind all night.

Clearly they miss Tavares and Knies. There's just no net presence with this group.

Anyway, it's not that dire. You dudes need to chill out. How are you going to beat a team like MIN with Holmberg, Minton, and Kampf as your centers?

 

[Leafs98]

This is starting to feel like the Ron Wilson years when it felt like weeks before the team would win again

 

[likecheese]

Yeah, tight checking teams cause a problem for them.

They still do need a second excuse for the pp.

 

[Fogelhund]

Yes, but will he sign for league minimum? I'm thinking he gets more than that and if so how much? We hardly have any cap room.

He won’t be signing for more than his 50% retained salary would have been.

 

[Stephen]

I was there my Dude.

There was some dumb/sleepy plays early in the game and that was the difference.

McCabe had the worst game I've ever seen him play.

Toronto didn't play badly, but bad in a few moments that MIN capitalized on. MIN is a tough team to get down early on. They just grind all night.

Clearly they miss Tavares and Knies. There's just no net presence with this group.

Anyway, it's not that dire. You dudes need to chill out. How are you going to beat a team like MIN with Holmberg, Minton, and Kampf as your centers?

Nylander brought what he was supposed to, but if Matthews and Marner can’t bring a presence because they miss Tavares and Knies, I think it might be that dire. Those guys are the point of failure in every playoffs series.

 

[LeafSteel]

Can we please split Marner and Matthews?

Pretty please????

Sick of watching these guys. So one dimensional when they are put together.

 

[Stephen]

Can we please split Marner and Matthews?

Pretty please????

Sick of watching these guys. So one dimensional when they are put together.

No. They like being lazy together.

 

[Mr_Fun]

Tavares back will be a big help. Really missing the Captain.

If we still look weak offensively when he and Knies return, then I'll start to get concerned. The issue still remains though that we have no depth (or at least what's being trotted out right now as our depth).

 

[Ports]

Yeah weird, it's like he has a beef with them. It wasn't like he was mistreated here, the fans treated him fairly considering he cost them a 1st for zero return.

Yeah weird, it's like he has a beef with them. It wasn't like he was mistreated here, the fans treated him fairly considering he cost them a 1st for zero return.

Different Foligno. This is Marcus his brother Nick was a Leaf and plays for Chicago.

 

[johnnyonthspot]

All part of the illusion.
Do not look into his eyes.

It is creepy but thanks for the tip

 

[Ports]

Matthews is usually bullied out of any playoff series he’s in. He doesn’t protect himself, doesn’t engage in the rough stuff, doesn’t compete hard enough and doesn’t understand the laws of the jungle. He always looks intimidated, he’s targeted and he can’t play his high skill goal scorer game.

And add Marner to that. But Dubus told Shanny that the league outlawed intimidation and their soft core could get it done.

 

[TopCheeseShotta]

If we still look weak offensively when he and Knies return, then I'll start to get concerned. The issue still remains though that we have no depth (or at least what's being trotted out right now as our depth).

It is insane how bad the secondary scoring has been. But when the going gets tough, your leaders need to lead - and our leaders in Matthews and Marner whimper and fold, unlike any star forwards i've ever seen.

Marner you kinda expect that from. He's a tiny playmaker and perimeter guy. He requires an Alpha to play with. One of the Tkachuks, for reference. But when our alpha is the new captain?? Woof. I've never seen such a big man wither in every single one of the big moments like "Big Papi".

 

[Leafshater67]

I don’t even care anymore. No matter what happens, they’ll just maintain status quo. Marner comes back for 13m and they never fill the depth they need to amount to anything. Same story over and over.

I’d love to see Marner gone but his NMC means he likely has to walk. They need a 2C badly and have minimal secondary scoring. They may get past the first round but this roster will never win.

 

[leafsfan5]

This has been a bad team for 2 months now