Post-Game Talk: Leafs strike lightning win 2-1 OT

[Blowfish]

Thank you Campbell and Hedman for the win.

 

[hoglund]

People need to go back and watch some of Tampa's games during their two cup runs where they got absolutely owned in terms of play but still found ways to win. A good example is game 2 vs Montreal. (Not saying the Leafs were owned tonight; thought Tampa was only slightly the better team.)

Just find a way to win. That's all.

The 1st period Tampa Bay did own the Leafs, but it was reverse in the 2nd and the 3rd was evenly played.

 

[ottomaddox]

Last night The Toronto Maple Leafs saved my life.

 

[ponder]

We really didn't get lucky. The Leafs carried the bulk of play from period 2 onward, outshot, and out-chanced the Lightning.

I thought we played well, and can be proud of any win over the Lightning. However, in terms of absolutely prime scoring chances, ones where you’re like “how the f*** did that stay out?!???”, it was about 2:1 Lightning IMO. I’d say they had 6ish chances like that, while we had 3ish. They hit more posts than us, had more moments like that crazy rush where Campbell somehow made the first save, and then Joseph had a wide, WIDE open net but shot it into Campbell’s pad when he was down and out, etc.

 

[VanW27]

I thought we played well, and can be proud of any win over the Lightning. In terms of absolutely prime scoring chances, ones where you’re like “how the f*** did that stay out?!???”, it was about 2:1 Lightning IMO. Like I’d say they had 6ish chances like that, while we had 3ish. They hit more posts than us, had more moments like that crazy rush where Campbell somehow made the first save, and then Joseph had a wide, WIDE open net but shot it into Campbell’s pad when he was down and out, etc.

Yeah, I would say the game was fairly even overall, shots, scoring chances, etc.

But the really dangerous chances, the HDSC, the odd man rushes, back door plays, point blank shots, and the "how did that stay out" plays heavily favored the lightning.

Seems to be a common issue for us, we do a good job overall but we manage give up a handful of insanely high quality chances against almost every game. We can outshoot, out chance, out High Danger Chance a team on the stat sheet but not all chances, even HDSCs are created equal, and man do we give up some high quality ones.

 

[Nineteen67]

In this 5 game set they've already got one more point than I expected and a chance to add another 1 or 2 on Saturday.

 

[Confucius]

So is Sergachev going to be suspended? Better be.

 

[Advanced stats]

Also, take a look at Bunting the moment Tavares scored.

That is a fan, not a player.

That's the biggest thing I remember too.

A man taking a flying leap from 20 feet away to celebrate on a goal he barely even had a play on is a fan first, player 2nd. We're lucky to have him.

I'm curious how much he could have gotten as a Ufa if he didn't sign in Toronto for peanuts.

 

[CapspaceKiller]

Campbell is a f***ing legitimate star goalie, its been a long time since this team had one of those. He's playing at an Eddie Belfour level this season.

 

[PromisedLand]

I am still so f***ing PUMPED after last night's game. As @Coachcorner would put it -> Hard so very HARD right now!



I wish I could inject the crowd excitement for every Campbell save, JT and Willy goal right into my veins LOL

 

[PromisedLand]

6-4-1, leafs are starting to climb up the division. Great performance by Campbell and the big 4 on the two goals.

Beating Boston would be nice. Haven't played those assholes in a while now

hate boston with passion. really hope we mop the floor with them

 

[robertmac43]

Keep it rolling Saturday for Keefe's first matchup with Boston!

 

[ToneDog]

Campbell is a f***ing legitimate star goalie, its been a long time since this team had one of those. He's playing at an Eddie Belfour level this season.

Shhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh. If he keeps this up he won't be affordable and Mrazek will be left to carry the mail.

 

[KapG]

Sandin is so fun to watch. It’s a shame Reilly is stapled to PP1. I have a feeling we’d be far more dangerous with Sandin out there.

Also really loving nylander.

 

[ToneDog]

So is Sergachev going to be suspended? Better be.

Betting no. Maybe a fine if the league reviews it.

 

[hoglund]

So is Sergachev going to be suspended? Better be.

He'll probably get a fine, if a Leaf player did that it'd be 2 or 3 games suspension.

 

[JT AM da real deal]

Soup Soup Soup Soup and more Soup .. wow thanks Soup for da 2 points .. another very solid defensive effort without Holl which should have been expected .. and 2 thumbs up to JT baby .. clutch .. da captain saves our bacon

 

[WillyC]

Soup, JT, Mitch, Auston and Willy Styles... these are the guys.

 

[Fogelhund]

 

[DraftSchmaft]

We really didn't get lucky. The Leafs carried the bulk of play from period 2 onward, outshot, and out-chanced the Lightning.

Another big reason not acting like goons after the Sergachev hit was important. When the hit happened we were still a clear step behind Tampa. If we gave into Sergachevs hit and became unraveled I don't think we end up finding our game and eventually winning it. Not only does Sergachev land a head shot but he greasy rats his team to a win. If we were up 2-0 or something Ritchie would have received the green light to take one of his dumb penalties if you know what I mean.

 

[Twine Tickler]

Honestly I was really happy with the way the boys played even when they were down a goal. That is a very very good team in TB.

The first period they were just way too pedestrian. It really felt like they didn't feel like they deserved to be on the same sheet as the Lightning. But they came out in that second and first half of the 3rd, and were clearly the better team for 30 straight minutes. I think they said on the broadcast that they held TB to 2 shots for over 20 mins in that stretch. Which was so impressive to me. In that time, they were not cheating. The ice was still very hard to come by, but they were determined to not go down 2-0. They had plenty of chances to even it up, and in all honesty should have. Vasy was just outstanding. The final 10 mins of the game, the D was understandably needing to be more active. The boys started to cheat offensively, and you can see just how good TB is at exploiting teams playing outside of their structure. They should have iced that game 2-3 times in that final 10 mins. But Jack, my god. You f***ing angel. This guy is heaven sent I'm telling you. This guy battles as hard as any goalie I've ever seen, he's got the talent, the focus, the drive to be the best and he loves being a Leaf. Seriously, name 1 thing not to like about Jack?

He stole us that pt in the end. But I was saying to my uncle, both teams deserved a pt in that game IMO. It was a championship level chess match at times, and I am just so happy we came out on top for a change. Huge huge character building win IMO.

Positives:
-Soup (obviously)
-Simmer, all over the puck for a while now. Looks great
-Lilly and Sandin. Jesus, these kids will be our 2nd pairing in no time. They are just so so so good. Nothing makes me happier than seeing these 2 getting a more permanent role. Long overdue IMO
-Brodie was bailing out Muzz all f***in game


Negatives:
-top 2 lines were just a bit too passive for 59 mins of that game. I know they came out when it mattered the most, but they didn't dictate any time 5v5. Not going to shit on them too hard, that was 1 hell of a TB team who knows how to clog up the ice.
-Muzzin, Absolutely terrible last night. It's not just his footspeed right now, but his decision making is f***ing horrendous. He is jumping into the play way too much in neutral ice. For reasons unknown. We need him to get back to form quick
-Dermott. This one may be a bit unfair because he largely played a good game. But he has this habit of losing focus in critical moments, and more often than not it costs us. The Point B-Way at the end is completely on Derms. I don't know why he went in to pinch when he saw Mo creeping in. He let one of the best players in the game slip behind him, and was 20 feet behind him by the time he received the puck. Those are the details that cost us games against good teams like this. Luckily soup bailed him out.

all n all, absolutely on top of the world after that win TBH.

They stayed in the fight and never backed down against the biggest dog in the yard.

 

[PromisedLand]

I mean it's a game against the back to back Cup champs .. even with some lost depth that's a tough matchup .. Going to need some good goaltending and good effort but I wouldn't expect Tampa to fold easily.

Nice to see they won. After a slow start (albeit) without Matthews, they are starting to find some rhythm.

I have ZERO sympathy for the cheaters. Only thing I will give them is they bet the scabs. watching scabs fan flounder around with swagger is something I have had enough for a lifetime

 

[Leaf Rocket]

also, if i dont hear some lily backtracking by bryan the overdrive crew, they are all getting brown paper bags with surprises in them.

I feel like they will be like that parent or relative, who "motivates" you by you know demoralizing you and then say...see we knew it all along that's why we said it.

 

[AvroArrow]

Campbell is a f***ing legitimate star goalie, its been a long time since this team had one of those. He's playing at an Eddie Belfour level this season.

Just don't say that on the mains, he's still apparently not even an average starter according to most of them there. Dubas needs to extend him.

 

[Mess]

The NHL should investigate whether Hedman was betting on the Leafs tonight. Wow. Gifted one with that lob ball attempt at clearing the puck then an OT penalty.

Hockey is a game of inches sometimes.

If Norris trophy Dman Hedman simply lobs a moon ball out of the zone with less than a minute left its likely game over, however he muffs that clearing play and its in the back of TB net and were heading to OT.

Sometimes it takes a little puck luck to be good, because that was a very unlikely give-away normally, as he wasn't even under pressure.