Post-Game Talk: Leafs Lose To Ottawa 3-0

[arso40]

I had to bail after the 2nd, and it reads like I missed nothing. Ok, from what I saw of the game...

*We played like everyone was on a double dose of Valium.
*With Stolarz and Woll we may just have the best tandem in net we've seen in 25 years. If, and I'm beginning to think it can, continue, we're rarely going to be that far out of a game.
*Of course Matthews is missed, but we've won 4 of 5 so far with him out of the line-up. When he's back in at least Domi will be facing lesser competition. A third line centered by Domi will produce more than one centered by Holmberg. Though I'd certainly entertain a trade to upgrade the position.
*I really enjoy Berube barking at his top players after poor efforts.
*I don't like the type of effort they offered tonight, but once every 10 games or so...it's a long season...so I can live with it. Washington better be a better effort.

To their credit, Ottawa really came out and played a strong, fast game. They played well, full stop. Combined with our poor play, the game obviously fell to the Sens.

Finally, we're 5-3-2 during our last 10 games, or .600 P%, after a season opening stint that saw us gain 8 points in our first 7 games. The first 10 or so saw our PP% as low as it's ever been, and now we can't score anytime else. According to Statmuse we have the 3rd worst PP/PK differential in the league. We're a team learning to play a new style of game, and we're doing it without our best player for almost 30% of the games we've played. I'm not ready to toss in the towel and call this a bust.

At his top players or Nylander cause it looks like more of the same as the other coach guess nobody wants to end up like babs

 

[TMLBlueandWhite]

Who else was hoping to see another slap shot at the empty net?

That would have been the only part of the game worth watching. Unfortunately this isn't the first time the Leafs played horrible against a team they should've beaten. I'm sure it won't be the last either.

The look on the crowds face said it all: "I can't believe I just refinanced the house to watch these losers lose so badly".

Shutout by the lowly Ottawa Senaturds. Out worked, out shot, out played and out scored. It was a smelly goal to start the game.

Followed by smelly goal after smelly goal.

After that third stinker Ottawa looked like they were just taking shots at the net. Not worried too much about shot quality. I guess they figured Stolarz was such a sieve a beach ball could have gotten past him tonight.

The fact a guy with only one eye scored leads me to believe they were right.

 

[Rude Dog]

Always being forced to dump it in or get screamed at the bench gets old really quick. Especially when a former tough guy is telling some of the top offensive players in the world how to generate offense.

Played for coaches like that. Be responsible but there are times where a coach needs to let guys use their skill to create. Leafs forwards aren’t built to retrieve and battle for pucks in deep.

 

[CapspaceKiller]

Hopefully this game smartens people up who say this team would be better without Matthews.

What life would be like without Auston Matthews. No scoring chances, way less possession time, poor work in the neutral zone, depending on the goaltender way too much.

This team looked like it lacked skill last night.

 

[Jojalu]

Hopefully this game smartens people up who say this team would be better without Matthews.

What life would be like without Auston Matthews. No scoring chances, way less possession time, poor work in the neutral zone, depending on the goaltender way too much.

This team looked like it lacked skill last night.

It's not like Matthews hasn't scored the most 5v5 goals in the league since he entered.

The fact they have only scored 1 goal at 5v5 since he has been out is concerning.

On the other side, they managed to go 3-1 without him so far and I think everyone would have taken that if asked beforehand.

 

[thewave]

Always being forced to dump it in or get screamed at the bench gets old really quick. Especially when a former tough guy is telling some of the top offensive players in the world how to generate offense.

Played for coaches like that. Be responsible but there are times where a coach needs to let guys use their skill to create. Leafs forwards aren’t built to retrieve and battle for pucks in deep.

Thats a Leafy issue. They always set out to build a certain way and then go off track and create some hybrid team that never really gels to the point of being a contender.

They dont know how to build a sound team programe like say the red wings with Lidstrom or Yzerman. Red Wings hockey was distinct efficient and effective but most importantly successful.

That is what I hoped Shanny Lou and Babcock were doing here and they threw them under the bus for a weasel GM and p***ycat coach in Keefe.

 

[Niagara Bill]

Always being forced to dump it in or get screamed at the bench gets old really quick. Especially when a former tough guy is telling some of the top offensive players in the world how to generate offense.

Played for coaches like that. Be responsible but there are times where a coach needs to let guys use their skill to create. Leafs forwards aren’t built to retrieve and battle for pucks in deep.

These guys have tuned out other coaches...this type of game is team chemistry not being strong.
Who tried to light the fire? The coach cannot do that.

 

[The Hanging Jowl]

Sometimes it's a dud. Meh.

 

[leafs in five]

pretty ugly

 

[CabanaBoy5]

The entire team stunk, and we get no bottom six scoring on nights that Nylander decides to take off, but someone please tell me why Holmberg is on this team? Add just what does Reaves add to this team?

 

[Nineteen67]

Teams that use their speed make the Leafs look like they’re not trying.

 

[Nineteen67]

Always being forced to dump it in or get screamed at the bench gets old really quick. Especially when a former tough guy is telling some of the top offensive players in the world how to generate offense.

Played for coaches like that. Be responsible but there are times where a coach needs to let guys use their skill to create. Leafs forwards aren’t built to retrieve and battle for pucks in deep.

True, but they’re not built to do anything in particular. Since the beginning of modern hockey the last man back should never dipsy-doodle.

Also, we really lack skill on the backend and it’s sad to see. Too old, too slow, too one-dimensional.

I really wish we could hit on a solid D prospect and start building up the blue line talent. I don’t really want to see a bunch of McCabe/Tanev/Benoit type defenders back there.

They never tried. Once they drafted Matthews they thought they were done.

 

[LeafGrief]

Dreadful. Bad games happen, but the problem with the Leafs will always be that you can see the bad games coming from a mile away.

 

[Suntouchable13]

Nobody can score if the top guys don't. And the top guys won't score every game. Nothing has changed. Same thing for the past few years. I know the record is fine, but the team is flawed. It's frustrating that management thinks it's ok to do things the same way for years.

 

[rumman]

The replays had to put this DEI hires screeching voice

She’s annoying, no doubt about it……..

 

[1specter]

The number of passengers who bring nothing offensively is concerning. Could see this getting ugly pretty soon if some moves aren't made.

 

[rumman]

I feel sorry for anyone who had to pay good money for that effort, I’d rather eat tripe than spend money on that shit………

 

[colchar]

I somewhat agree with the first one that was a bad dump-in that hit McMann's skate, but how was he the cause of he other? McCabe missed the net, Willy went after it and never touched it, and McCabe missed the clearing dump. At that point Willy was the farthest from the puck.

I didn't see the game, I was merely correcting the other poster's horrendous abuse of the English language when he said Willy was the result of two goals.

 

[Gary Nylund]

I feel sorry for anyone who had to pay good money for that effort, I’d rather eat tripe than spend money on that shit………

Yup. That game was a perfect example of why I will never buy Leaf tickets again. The prices are ridiculous to begin with, and when you factor in the chances of a stinker like that happening ... I just refuse to be ripped off like that. If they started a policy of issuing refunds after games like that it would be different but as it is, fuggedaboudit.

 

[tmlfan98]

I feel sorry for anyone who had to pay good money for that effort, I’d rather eat tripe than spend money on that shit………

You don't like trippa?

 

[Ports]

Always being forced to dump it in or get screamed at the bench gets old really quick. Especially when a former tough guy is telling some of the top offensive players in the world how to generate offense.

Played for coaches like that. Be responsible but there are times where a coach needs to let guys use their skill to create. Leafs forwards aren’t built to retrieve and battle for pucks in deep.

We saw that problem on Ottawa’s first goal. Two Leafs standing by the left boards at the Ottawa blue line and instead of getting it in deep, Nylander tries to make a pass to two guys in traffic and the puck gets picked off with a three on two the other way for a goal against in the first minute. That’s what happens to the Leafs in the playoffs. Opportunistic counter attacking teams just wait for the Leafs to make high risk plays that end up going the other way. They’ve shown they can beat other good teams by playing a lower event, ow risk game by getting pucks in deep. They just need to continue to do it and add players who are better at it and can score from the greasy areas.

 

[Nineteen67]

They went into the 4 game stretch hoping to get 5 or 6 points, and they did. The remaining games this month are tough, on paper, so can they get 7 or 8 points out of 12 available?
December’s schedule is tougher with 15 games and 2 Friday/Saturday B2B.

 

[Fogelhund]

The question is, how do we rebound? Do we go and win 2, 3 4 games now? That would be an encouraging sign on progress for this team. Every team loses games, and puts up a stinker now and then. While I'm not a believer in this team yet, and think that it isn't a serious contender, a strong rebound, and some good wins would show something different.

We need to find some 5v5 and depth production here. It isn't as if these guys haven't performed offensively in the past, but to me it appears as they are so focused on Berube's new systems, that the offensive side has been forgotten for now.

 

[Nineteen67]

There was hitting in this game so Marner disappeared

Marner wasn’t great last night but I think it has more to do with the speed Ottawa was utilizing than the hitting. Certainly, if you’re being asked to give him a raise you’ll make a note of last nights name game.

 

[Gary Nylund]

They went into the 4 game stretch hoping to get 5 or 6 points, and they did. The remaining games this month are tough, on paper, so can they get 7 or 8 points out of 12 available?
December’s schedule is tougher with 15 games and 2 Friday/Saturday B2B.

With a soft schedule like that, I would think they'd be hoping for 7 or 8 points.