Post-Game Talk: Leafs snatch victory from the jaws of defeat, 2-1 OT win

[darrylsittler27]

Eddie was good his first two years here, steady but not spectacular. Cujo had the better ability to steal you games.

Belfour was better .

 

[Gabriel426]

I really think AM should play with Robbie and Max for a game. It will make him skate and lead the line more instead of waiting for MM or Willie to do their stuff and pass him the puck.

 

[ACC1224]

Belfour was better .

Easily better.

 

[MSZ]

Have they looked good in any game since Matthews returned?

They looked good in one period against Nashville. That was it.

 

[MSZ]

Belfour was better .

In the regular season? Yep.

Joseph won 6 playoff rounds during his time here, Belfour like Samsonov has won just one here.

 

[ShameOnYouZidlicky]

The Holmberg goal might be my favourite of the season so far. The effort from Dewar, the absurdity of the way the goal was scored based on how the game was going, Holmberg's celebration.

Holmberg gets a lot of flack for playing too high in the lineup but I find him endearing so it was nice to see him score a big goal.

 

[mikeyz]

Possession Passion Elite:

Devils 1
Leafs 0

It doesn't matter:

Leafs 2
Devils 1


Why would you worry about MM, AM, WN, and JT not scoring?

I am worried about them not scoring in the playoffs. Not the regular season.

 

[BertCorbeau]

On the goal against ... this happens with an inexperience defenseman, puck watching and ignoring the dangerous player.

View attachment 943576

While true Tavares has a brutal turnover at the blue line and left everyone flat footed in transition.

More on JT thanks Myers who wasn’t expecting the turnover

 

[Ianturnedbull]

I am worried about them not scoring in the playoffs. Not the regular season.

Don't worry. Do they have a good goalie for the playoffs? A good defense? They might be alright.

 

[Racer88]

Berube seems to be biting his tongue a bit, but each interview seems to be having similar frustrations with this team as Keefe. After the Washington game Berube indicated players were going backwards with the puck too much and have been getting into old habits for a few games, instead of playing North. When a reporter asked if he liked the way Marner scored vs Pitts (the rebound goal while screening the goalie), Berube smiled and said "I like greasy goals". He continurd by saying the coaches have been telling the 2 in front of the net at all times. He also said they've been preaching to the players that fancy goals dont happen in playoffs and that they need to be able to score greasy goals.

Even Tanev seems to not be pleased with the efforts of the forwards, both Berube and Tanev talked about the lack of forechecking and taking the body after todays game. Tanev, whose obviously to the point in his interviews, has indicated in past postgame interviews that the team wasnt playing the coaches way (hard forechecking, north hockey etc).

This is obviously all primarily directed to Matthews, Nylander, Marner and Tavares. I dont think Tavares is the problem, hes always in front of the net and I believe led the leage in slot shots last year.

Yes we are winning, but its interesting to see that Berube seems to be having a bit of a challenge getting the "core" to buy into a playoff style, much the same as Keefe did.

Big shocker, a leafs coach having trouble getting this core to buy into playoff style hockey.

 

[Zybalto]

He's only really been great since last year. He was a career -6.7 GSAx before that. It's been a pretty small sample, and we've all seen how goaltending can flip in an instant. That said, he was spectacular last night, single-handedly winning us a game we were dominated in, and he has been a big boost to us this season so far. Hopefully he can keep it up and do it in the playoffs.

Just looking at his last 3 years with the Ducks:

Ducks team D+goaltending rankings over those years:

Shots Against: 32nd in the league
Scoring Chances Against: 32nd in the league
High Danger Chances Against: 32nd in the league
xGA/60: 32nd in the league
Goals Against: 28th in the league
Team save%: 20th in the league


Ducks Goalies with 15+ starts:
1. Stolarz: .912
2. Gibson: .902
3. Dostal: .902
4. Miller: .882

The Ducks had, by far, the worst D in the league and Stolarz put up a very respectable numbers over that stretch. I think teams that bad break advanced stats in a way lol. For sure looked like he was breaking out IMO.

 

[ULF_55]

While true Tavares has a brutal turnover at the blue line and left everyone flat footed in transition.

More on JT thanks Myers who wasn’t expecting the turnover

Yep, horrible play by Tavares, but even a tiny bit of awareness has the RD looking for his responsibility.

 

[weems]

Just looking at his last 3 years with the Ducks:

Ducks team D+goaltending rankings over those years:

Shots Against: 32nd in the league
Scoring Chances Against: 32nd in the league
High Danger Chances Against: 32nd in the league
xGA/60: 32nd in the league
Goals Against: 28th in the league
Team save%: 20th in the league


Ducks Goalies with 15+ starts:
1. Stolarz: .912
2. Gibson: .902
3. Dostal: .902
4. Miller: .882

The Ducks had, by far, the worst D in the league and Stolarz put up a very respectable numbers over that stretch. I think teams that bad break advanced stats in a way lol. For sure looked like he was breaking out IMO.

I dont look at goalie stats that much but this stood out to me.

Last season our average shot distance against...

2023

Ilya Samsonov 35.63
Joseph Woll 35.36
Martin Jones 34.38

2024

Anthony Stolarz 38.19
Joseph Woll 39.42

So if I'm reading this correctly, our average shot against this season is 3-4 feet further away from the net?

 

[Maple Leaf]

stolaars stole the game

 

[ULF_55]

I dont look at goalie stats that much but this stood out to me.

Last season our average shot distance against...

2023

Ilya Samsonov 35.63
Joseph Woll 35.36
Martin Jones 34.38

2024

Anthony Stolarz 38.19
Joseph Woll 39.42

So if I'm reading this correctly, our average shot against this season is 3-4 feet further away from the net?

Opposition think they're closer because they're taller?

 

[CabanaBoy5]

Belfour was better .

Belfour:

2002-03	Toronto Maple Leafs	NHL	62	2	24	3738	141	4	7	2.26	37	20	5	1675	0.922	7	0	4
2003-04	Toronto Maple Leafs	NHL	59	2	16	3444	122	2	10	2.13	34	19	6	1361	0.918	13	0	8
2005-06	Toronto Maple Leafs	NHL	49	1	12	2897	159	2	0	3.29	22	22	4	1317	0.892

Cujo:

1998-99	Toronto Maple Leafs	NHL	67	5	6	4001	171	4	3	2.56	35	24	7	1732	0.910	17	0	2
1999-00	Toronto Maple Leafs	NHL	63	1	14	3801	158	4	4	2.49	36	20	7	1696	0.915	12	0	10
2000-01	Toronto Maple Leafs	NHL	68	1	8	4100	163	5	6	2.39	33	27	8	1744	0.915	11	0	4
2001-02	Toronto Maple Leafs	NHL	51	1	10	3065	114	4	4	2.23	29	17	5	1096	0.906

Both great goalies, but Cujo had the ability to steal games. "Better" by which metric?

Belfour's average GA was 2.56, SV% .911 over 3 years
Cujo's average GA was 2.42, SV% .912 over 4 years

Cujo was the "better" goalie stats-wise and with the ability to steal a game.

 

[notbias]

Berube seems to be biting his tongue a bit, but each interview seems to be having similar frustrations with this team as Keefe. After the Washington game Berube indicated players were going backwards with the puck too much and have been getting into old habits for a few games, instead of playing North. When a reporter asked if he liked the way Marner scored vs Pitts (the rebound goal while screening the goalie), Berube smiled and said "I like greasy goals". He continurd by saying the coaches have been telling the 2 in front of the net at all times. He also said they've been preaching to the players that fancy goals dont happen in playoffs and that they need to be able to score greasy goals.

Even Tanev seems to not be pleased with the efforts of the forwards, both Berube and Tanev talked about the lack of forechecking and taking the body after todays game. Tanev, whose obviously to the point in his interviews, has indicated in past postgame interviews that the team wasnt playing the coaches way (hard forechecking, north hockey etc).

This is obviously all primarily directed to Matthews, Nylander, Marner and Tavares. I dont think Tavares is the problem, hes always in front of the net and I believe led the leage in slot shots last year.

Yes we are winning, but its interesting to see that Berube seems to be having a bit of a challenge getting the "core" to buy into a playoff style, much the same as Keefe did.

Our bottom 6 have been non-existent, the stars have carried this team.

Why do you think it is directed at the only players scoring?

 

[seventieslord]

Belfour:

2002-03	Toronto Maple Leafs	NHL	62	2	24	3738	141	4	7	2.26	37	20	5	1675	0.922	7	0	4
2003-04	Toronto Maple Leafs	NHL	59	2	16	3444	122	2	10	2.13	34	19	6	1361	0.918	13	0	8
2005-06	Toronto Maple Leafs	NHL	49	1	12	2897	159	2	0	3.29	22	22	4	1317	0.892

Cujo:

1998-99	Toronto Maple Leafs	NHL	67	5	6	4001	171	4	3	2.56	35	24	7	1732	0.910	17	0	2
1999-00	Toronto Maple Leafs	NHL	63	1	14	3801	158	4	4	2.49	36	20	7	1696	0.915	12	0	10
2000-01	Toronto Maple Leafs	NHL	68	1	8	4100	163	5	6	2.39	33	27	8	1744	0.915	11	0	4
2001-02	Toronto Maple Leafs	NHL	51	1	10	3065	114	4	4	2.23	29	17	5	1096	0.906

Both great goalies, but Cujo had the ability to steal games. "Better" by which metric?

Belfour's average GA was 2.56, SV% .911 over 3 years
Cujo's average GA was 2.42, SV% .912 over 4 years

Cujo was the "better" goalie stats-wise and with the ability to steal a game.

I generally agree with the sentiment that Cujo deserves a higher place in Leafs lore simply by being there 4 seasons (which is more than three) and winning six playoff series for the Leafs, as opposed to just one.

But if we are comparing the regular season stats of these two goalies, it seems a little unfair to include Belfour's age 40 season in the "new NHL" as it was obviously very predictable that this season would drag his averages down.

In terms of regular season stats, Belfour has the edge in his two seasons, being 15 and 8 points over the league average save percentage. Cujo was 3, 11, and 12 over, and two points under in one season.

That said, I think the Leafs were a much more mature defensive team in the Belfour years than the Cujo years, to the extent that it makes up for any slight statistical edge Belfour appears to have.

I helped make the THN list of the top-50 Leafs of all-time, and I had Cujo up at 36th, and Belfour off the list. Goalies who made it: Broda 8th, Bower 14th, Lumley 26th, Cujo 36th, Potvin 38th.

 

[Antropovsky]

Our bottom 6 have been non-existent, the stars have carried this team.

Why do you think it is directed at the only players scoring?

Carried? Leafs have 4 forwards in the top 12 highest cap hits in the league, but don't have anyone in the top 50 in 5v5 points per 60.

Goaltending and PK have probably carried this team - in that order. Tanev has been a godsend.

 

[Hellcat]

Who needs Viagra when you have Matthews

Matty needs to punch his stick guy in the mouth, he got a batch that shoots about an inch outside up/down left/right every time.

 

[notbias]

Carried? Leafs have 4 forwards in the top 12 highest cap hits in the league, but don't have anyone in the top 50 in 5v5 points per 60.

Goaltending and PK have probably carried this team - in that order. Tanev has been a godsend.

Boring.

You stopped parroting the "Domi is better than Marner because of 5v5 points per 60" this year I see.

Also, based on this criteria, Protas is better than McDavid/MacKinnon/Kaprizov/etc.

 

[Hellcat]

Carried? Leafs have 4 forwards in the top 12 highest cap hits in the league, but don't have anyone in the top 50 in 5v5 points per 60.

Goaltending and PK have probably carried this team - in that order. Tanev has been a godsend.

Why do you frame EVERYTHING with a purposefully limited filter that shades EVERYTHING in a negative light?

Nylander is 6th in the league in goals, 3 goals behind 1st, Marner is 7th in points 8 points behind 1st. For goalies that have played 10 or more games, Stolrz is #1 at .928, Woll is 5th at .919. Leafs are 5th for GA/GP, PK is 5th. FOW% 5th. Who cares what their 5 v 5 points are? They are one of the elite teams this year.

 

[BertCorbeau]

Yep, horrible play by Tavares, but even a tiny bit of awareness has the RD looking for his responsibility.

Good example of one mistake compounding another

 

[ACC1224]

Belfour:

2002-03	Toronto Maple Leafs	NHL	62	2	24	3738	141	4	7	2.26	37	20	5	1675	0.922	7	0	4
2003-04	Toronto Maple Leafs	NHL	59	2	16	3444	122	2	10	2.13	34	19	6	1361	0.918	13	0	8
2005-06	Toronto Maple Leafs	NHL	49	1	12	2897	159	2	0	3.29	22	22	4	1317	0.892

Cujo:

1998-99	Toronto Maple Leafs	NHL	67	5	6	4001	171	4	3	2.56	35	24	7	1732	0.910	17	0	2
1999-00	Toronto Maple Leafs	NHL	63	1	14	3801	158	4	4	2.49	36	20	7	1696	0.915	12	0	10
2000-01	Toronto Maple Leafs	NHL	68	1	8	4100	163	5	6	2.39	33	27	8	1744	0.915	11	0	4
2001-02	Toronto Maple Leafs	NHL	51	1	10	3065	114	4	4	2.23	29	17	5	1096	0.906

Both great goalies, but Cujo had the ability to steal games. "Better" by which metric?

Belfour's average GA was 2.56, SV% .911 over 3 years
Cujo's average GA was 2.42, SV% .912 over 4 years

Cujo was the "better" goalie stats-wise and with the ability to steal a game.

As someone who sat in the stands and watched both I’d take Belfour all day.
He’s the best Goalie I’ve seen play here.
He made the game look so easy.

 

[Dekes For Days]

Just looking at his last 3 years with the Ducks:
Ducks team D+goaltending rankings over those years:
Shots Against: 32nd in the league
Scoring Chances Against: 32nd in the league
High Danger Chances Against: 32nd in the league
xGA/60: 32nd in the league
Goals Against: 28th in the league
Team save%: 20th in the league
Ducks Goalies with 15+ starts:
1. Stolarz: .912
2. Gibson: .902
3. Dostal: .902
4. Miller: .882
The Ducks had, by far, the worst D in the league and Stolarz put up a very respectable numbers over that stretch. I think teams that bad break advanced stats in a way lol. For sure looked like he was breaking out IMO.

He was the best goalie on the Ducks, but that's not saying much. Anaheim was trash defensively, but SV% is more about the distribution of shot qualities, not overall quality. They also did not even face the same quality. Miller faced 2.61 xGA/60, Stolarz faced 2.90 xGA/60, Gibson faced 3.03 xGA/60, and Dostal faced 3.57 xGA/60. The fact that he wasn't complete garbage on the Ducks would potentially give some hope, but he didn't really break out at all until last year.