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

[Divine]

This has been a bad team for 2 months now

Basically since Stolarz got injured and Woll had to become the starter.

Just like the rest of the league - the best teams in the league are the teams with the hottest goaltenders. Does Washington lead the East if not for Thompson putting up .923 this season?

 

[sunstersun]

Basically since Stolarz got injured and Woll had to become the starter.

Just like the rest of the league - the best teams in the league are the teams with the hottest goaltenders. Does Washington lead the East if not for Thompson putting up .923 this season?

It's not even close to Stolarz and if it is we have bigger problems.

WE SUCK AT SCORING GOALS??????

 

[Hallonbroder]

It’s funny. It must be something in their contracts saying that Auston and Rich have to play together, or?

What else is funny is that as soon as one player shows any sign of offensive ability, he gets taken off Nylanders line and put with the “first line”. Must be kinda frustrating for 88.

Although, if any one of them was actually worth their cap hit, they would be fine with scrubs. Nylanders on his first year on that deal, and scoring at a high pace, so he getfs off a bit more easily

 

[Gabriel426]

Thanks to all those who replied and also from reading posts, seems like the team was structured and boring plus the big guys beside Willie went MIA. Which means the team is in playoffs form, lol.

 

[Leafs87]

Pretty deep in injuries but simply inexcusable the lack of effort they have been putting through

 

[Divine]

It's not even close to Stolarz and if it is we have bigger problems.

WE SUCK AT SCORING GOALS??????

We sucked at scoring goals when we were winning low scoring games early on in the season also.

If Woll shuts out both Ottawa and Minnesota, who both generated less chances than us, we wouldn't be complaining about the offence as much. Ideally you win every game 5-0 but we're outplaying other teams and losing because we have the second best goalie every game.

Ottawa generated nothing except for one chance where they had a 4 on 2 because of a broken stick and we couldn't get a save. Third period it's all Leafs, chance after chance and then the puck is batted into the air, Woll is looking at the colour of his skates while the puck goes over his head and in the net on the other side.

Against Minnesota - second shot on goal goes in. They get 1 PP, takes them 5 seconds to get a slow roller on the net that goes through Woll, 2-0. Game over.

Sure the offence can help out the goaltending, but the goaltending can also help out the offence. Ideally you have both clicking at the same time, but in a long season there's going to be long stretches where you have one or the other. Right now we have neither.

It's also compounded by the fact that Woll nearly always lets in an early (generally weak) demoralizing goal right at the start of the game which allows the other team to play trap hockey with the lead for the rest of the game. The team doesn't want to go all offence because they can't risk another weak shot on Woll going in, and the team can't play full defence because they're losing the game. It puts them in a position where they just kind of hope for a bounce or two without risking getting caught.

 

[sunstersun]

We sucked at scoring goals when we were winning low scoring games early on in the season also.

If Woll shuts out both Ottawa and Minnesota, who both generated less chances than us, we wouldn't be complaining about the offence as much. Ideally you win every game 5-0 but we're outplaying other teams and losing because we have the second best goalie every game.

Ottawa generated nothing except for one chance where they had a 4 on 2 because of a broken stick and we couldn't get a save. Third period it's all Leafs, chance after chance and then the puck is batted into the air, Woll is looking at the colour of his skates while the puck goes over his head and in the net on the other side.

Against Minnesota - second shot on goal goes in. They get 1 PP, takes them 5 seconds to get a slow roller on the net that goes through Woll, 2-0. Game over.

Sure the offence can help out the goaltending, but the goaltending can also help out the offence. Ideally you have both clicking at the same time, but in a long season there's going to be long stretches where you have one or the other. Right now we have neither.

It's also compounded by the fact that Woll nearly always lets in an early (generally weak) demoralizing goal right at the start of the game which allows the other team to play trap hockey with the lead for the rest of the game. The team doesn't want to go all offence because they can't risk another weak shot on Woll going in, and the team can't play full defence because they're losing the game. It puts them in a position where they just kind of hope for a bounce or two without risking getting caught.

Some true points but a team with this level of talent should win with only 2 goals against.

 

[Divine]

Some true points but a team with this level of talent should win with only 2 goals against.

Yeah, they should. They also need games where the goalie is at least on par with the other teams goalie, and they haven't been getting much of that lately.

They're also missing 3/6 of their top 6 to start the season. When the second line was most effective it was Pacioretty - Tavares - Nylander.

Ideally with Tavares, Pacioretty, Knies and Stolarz back they should be scoring more and allowing less.

 

[ChurchOfMatthews]

Berube has turned out to be as bad as Keefe. Gutless

Worse...

 

[BallardEra]

Relinquished the division lead as well.

Sens can also move to within 4 points of the Leafs with a win tonight.

 

[BallardEra]

Last season:

62 points after 51 games. (WC1 spot)


This season:

62 points after 51 games. (2nd in division)

 

[TMLBlueandWhite]

The Leafs are never gonna break their regular season points record playing like this.

What an incredibly disappointing effort from a team that's playing soft. A pillow fight has more aggression than this game did. Zero desperation from a group of players showing zero chops.

Someone needs to tell Marner he's allowed to skate below the circles.

A perimeter performance by a primadonna performer tonight. I'm sure if you asked him he'd tell you how great he played though. They just needed the guys earning league minimum to score a few goals.

It's only a team effort when they win.

Everyone's playing like they're entitled to their ice time. Maybe significantly shaving some top player's minutes can re-ignite their passion for winning. Because right now they're just going through the motions waiting for summer when they can spend all their hard earned money without worrying about something so piddly as winning a hockey game.

No need for the other team to beat you when you can just beat yourself.

 

[notDatsyuk]

First goal - both Domi and Rielly had the puck and lost it, and Holmberg got caught puck-watching.

Second goal - nice tip by Matthews.

I'm not sure if Marner's new trick of not making a drop pass on the PP but just leaving the puck sitting there is an improvement or not.

Willy going to the net finally pays off - good pass by Holmberg, only Draisaitl has more ES goals.

Great pass to OEL.

Love Tanev's game.

Three awful giveaways on the 6on5 for EN chances. Mitch with one that Willy stopped. Matty with another that he saved himself. Holmberg with the third, that Willy almost got.

I think everyone who has ever watched a game knows that Mitch will try to pass to Matty, regardless of who might be open.

Burn the tape and move on.

 

[arthurcason]

I am not sure 10 million plus paid players need to dictate or comment on who's cheering in the lower bowl. If I have to pay season tickets and then have to motivate said paid players to perform, there's obviously a problem.

 

[arthurcason]

and why is Berube giving Morgan Rielly front-line power-play time?? what has he done all year to deserve this?

 

[13pacheco31]

3 goals in their last 3 games. They should really put some money in their offense... oh wait

 

[verdi]

Like I said - incoming three game losing streak to offset the three game winning streak to offset the three game losing streak to offset the three game winning streak (Started in December of 2024).

 

[CabanaBoy5]

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?

Do you know why McCabe had his worst game? Twofold…he’s playing with perhaps the worst defenceman on the team, and he’s playing on his off wing. He can’t compensate for the level of stink that Rielly is. He’s not that talented of a defenceman.

 

[Evilhomer]

Last season:

62 points after 51 games. (WC1 spot)


This season:

62 points after 51 games. (2nd in division)

Like I said, this season likely presents the Leafs with their best opportunity to advance to the Cup final.

 

[CabanaBoy5]

We sucked at scoring goals when we were winning low scoring games early on in the season also.

If Woll shuts out both Ottawa and Minnesota, who both generated less chances than us, we wouldn't be complaining about the offence as much. Ideally you win every game 5-0 but we're outplaying other teams and losing because we have the second best goalie every game.

Ottawa generated nothing except for one chance where they had a 4 on 2 because of a broken stick and we couldn't get a save. Third period it's all Leafs, chance after chance and then the puck is batted into the air, Woll is looking at the colour of his skates while the puck goes over his head and in the net on the other side.

Against Minnesota - second shot on goal goes in. They get 1 PP, takes them 5 seconds to get a slow roller on the net that goes through Woll, 2-0. Game over.

Sure the offence can help out the goaltending, but the goaltending can also help out the offence. Ideally you have both clicking at the same time, but in a long season there's going to be long stretches where you have one or the other. Right now we have neither.

It's also compounded by the fact that Woll nearly always lets in an early (generally weak) demoralizing goal right at the start of the game which allows the other team to play trap hockey with the lead for the rest of the game. The team doesn't want to go all offence because they can't risk another weak shot on Woll going in, and the team can't play full defence because they're losing the game. It puts them in a position where they just kind of hope for a bounce or two without risking getting caught.

I’ve said the same thing about Woll. He has the penchant to let in really poor goals. Those are usually point shots or him losing the puck in close. Stolarz wasn’t letting in those goals and the offence was scoring just enough to win games. I hope Stolarz comes back and is still the goalie he was cause there’s no guarantee he will be. If he is, then this team has a chance to win a series or two.

 

[BallardEra]

Like I said, this season likely presents the Leafs with their best opportunity to advance to the Cup final.

Only problem is that 8 other teams are probably saying the exact same thing.

 

[CabanaBoy5]

Yeah, they should. They also need games where the goalie is at least on par with the other teams goalie, and they haven't been getting much of that lately.

They're also missing 3/6 of their top 6 to start the season. When the second line was most effective it was Pacioretty - Tavares - Nylander.

Ideally with Tavares, Pacioretty, Knies and Stolarz back they should be scoring more and allowing less.

I agree, this team cannot go into the playoffs with Holmgren and Kampf as your 2nd and 3rd line centres. We better pray we’re fully healthy for the playoffs because M &M can and will be shutdown during playoff hockey.

 

[13pacheco31]

Do you know why McCabe had his worst game? Twofold…he’s playing with perhaps the worst defenceman on the team, and he’s playing on his off wing. He can’t compensate for the level of stink that Rielly is. He’s not that talented of a defenceman.

He's also not a top pairing guy, he's a good second pair D

 

[Nineteen67]

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.

That was a clip from 5 yrs ago.

 

[Nineteen67]

Last season:

62 points after 51 games. (WC1 spot)


This season:

62 points after 51 games. (2nd in division)

I wondered how close in points they were to last season.