Post-Game Talk: Leafs sweep California

[Rants Mulliniks]

You're fairly new here. It's the same posters who tell everyone how elite the Leafs are, 16 is the best player in the world, Dubas can do no wrong, even in losses we won the expected goal contest. Lose in the first round in embarrassing fashion, those posters disappear, and then start the whole thing over again. Maybe wait until regular season success translates into the playoffs before going on about how elite this team is.

You're comparing teaching kids to a hockey team that hasn't won a thing in decades? And the Leafs "bring it" always?! And you say the the post you're quoting is asinine logic?! Pass out those participation badges!

You kind of doubled down on asinine the moment you started talking about results that precede anyone on the team having been here.

 

[Seath The Scaleless]

Those first games back after a west coast trip are always brutal. The boys are due for a little bit of a letdown. Good test regardless.

I think they're also due for some goals at home. Just 15 goals in the last 7 home games. 2 of them EN and another 2 in OT

Hopefully the road magic carries over

 

[Dekes For Days]

Som folks here may want to ask Tampa fans how much they enjoyed their Presidents Trophy after getting knocked out in the 1st round after Columbus.

We're not looking back on the regular season of a year in which we were swept in one of the most embarrassing series losses in the modern era. We're enjoying the President's trophy-type run we are currently having in this current season, before any playoff results have been determined. I'm sure Tampa fans enjoyed that season quite a bit while it was happening, and I'm sure there are many that still hold fond memories. Being endlessly pessimistic about future things that have yet to happen adds absolutely nothing to a conversation about a win in a post-game thread.

 

[ShaneFalco]

You kind of doubled down on asinine the moment you started talking about results that precede anyone on the team having been here.

Riiiiggghhtttt
It's called perspective. Maybe a team that hasn't won a thing should get some playoff results before the title "elite" is used. Maybe they can even show up in big games. Some people take it wayyyyyyyyy too far with the telling everyone how good we are, and constantly make excuses when we lose. They're never wrong

 

[zeke]

Colorado is definitely a measuring stick imo.

The only team that might have better talent overall (though their goalie situation might change that), and they're hot, and MacKinnon is back.

bigtime test.

 

[Gary Nylund]

So your logic is don't take the regular season seriously? That's gonna fix their post season failures really? The leafs have been horribly inconsistent in the regular season. At times looking elite, at times being mediocre. So becoming a team that can get through mental hurdles and performing better in those do or die games starts with resiliency in the regular season. The point is they haven't proven themselves to be an elite team in years past. Inconsistent goaltending, inconsistent defensive schemes, forwards not buying in defensively. Those are flaws that have showed up at the worst time in the postseason. They need to demonstrate they can fix this shit and that starts in the regular season, not just magically in the post season.

What are you talking about? All I'm saying is that winning games in November doesn't mean that we can expect to win big games in the spring.

We're 6th overall in the standings which is right around where we've finished for a number of years now and and the last 4 seasons have ended the same way - playoff series goes to a deciding game, we don't show up to play and get suffer a humiliating defeat to end our season. Maybe this season will be different and maybe it won't, there's only one way to find out and that's to play the games. Maybe we'll run into another hot goaltender again, apparently that's been our problem the last few years and there's no guarantee it won't happen again.

Well, when you done chastising everyone perhaps some serious commentary might understand we haven’t won anything, nor will you remember the big victory Nov 28th come May 15th. It’s pure comedy to not compute this team is judged in playoff success, period. Does that mean we don’t watch? Come on. Does that mean we can’t comment on what we see now? Please. Frankly only an idiot is all in on the group at the moment. I’m asterisk encouraged, and that’s fine.

Well said!

So the season doesn't matter, but the games do?

I never said the season doesn't matter. Do try to read my posts a bit more carefully before responding. Thanks in advance.

 

[Gary Nylund]

I don't see Colordo as a measuring stick, and besides, most teams coming off a lengthy road trip tend to lay an egg on home ice. I'm not worried about this game, they could win 3-0 or get shelled 7-1, and in the Grand scheme of things, means f*** all when it comes to measuring this team going forward.

Yeah it's obviously an interesting match-up but in the end, it's just one game out of 82 so no matter what happens, reading too much into it isn't smart.

Right now this is a decent team (no shocker, the leafs tend to do well in the reg season), the real test comes in the post season, do they fold like a cheap tent again or do they finally grow up and go on a run? No doubt the skill is there, jury is still out on the emotional maturity level of this squad when it matters most.

Exactly!

I think they are scoring goals from everyone and every where, collectively they are playing hard and doing all the little things which lead to very few odd man rushes for the opposing teams, goalies making timely saves.
The team is playing honest hockey where they are not trying to out score their troubles or only show up for 10mins per game and win it with talents.
Lastly, if what I have been reading is true, ie: the team opted to practice instead of having day offs, thats a great sign that the team wants to win and understand that they need to put in the work for Wins.

Good post. Agree with all this and there are definitely a lot of positive things to point to so far this season.

 

[Teeder Keon]

Love Anne I really do, remember when she tried to buy the Leafs?

She's a huge Leafs fan, from a Leafs family and I appreciate that she's no different than most of us other members of LeafsNation. I actually love the fact that she stayed here and didn't turn her back on our country once she achieved stardom. I'm pretty sure there's a CBC doc on her kicking around on Gem or YouTube.

Awesome !
She’s a Beaut ……in every way
I’ll look for that …
I think we should play that after every game ? Before ? Like Kate Smith !!!

If we could get a better quality clip ..
Cheers Brotha
Go Leafs Go

 

[Notsince67]

I laugh at those that say "the regular season is meaningless, call me when the playoffs start"......yet post 50 times a day on here every day during the regular season.

Comedy.

It's actually sad.

 

[kb]

Colorado is definitely a measuring stick imo.

The only team that might have better talent overall (though their goalie situation might change that), and they're hot, and MacKinnon is back.

bigtime test.

EVen worse, this is probably the worst timing for the Leafs to be facing the Avs. The first game back from the Cali trip is often a stinker. But at least they have a couple of days to recover.

 

[stickty111]

I laugh at those that say "the regular season is meaningless, call me when the playoffs start"......yet post 50 times a day on here every day during the regular season.

Comedy.

showing up after every win to tell other people that they shouldn't celebrate because it's not the playoffs yet is getting pretty tiresome. If your stance is that none of these games have any meaning, people are completely in the right to wonder why you feel the need to participate

This is what I don't get. The people saying "stop praising them too much, it's the regular season". Yet whenever this team struggles a bit during the season, some of these people start criticizing them. If the regular season doesn't matter and they shouldn't be praised for it, why do they criticized when they struggle?

 

[zeke]

The first game back from the Cali trip is often a stinker. But at least they have a couple of days to recover.

tbh i never really buy this excuse.

 

[kb]

This is what I don't get. The people saying "stop praising them too much, it's the regular season". Yet whenever this team struggles a bit during the season, some of these people start criticizing them. If the regular season doesn't matter and they shouldn't be praised for it, why do they criticized when they struggle?

Well said.

Because he's outed himself as not a Leaf fan. And some people crave any sort of attention.....

 

[Rants Mulliniks]

Riiiiggghhtttt
It's called perspective. Maybe a team that hasn't won a thing should get some playoff results before the title "elite" is used. Maybe they can even show up in big games. Some people take it wayyyyyyyyy too far with the telling everyone how good we are, and constantly make excuses when we lose. They're never wrong

What you call "perspective " I call "has no bearing on current or future results".

I mean, I'm all ears while you explain the relevance of stuff from back when most the players were in elementary school or even before they were born.

 

[Zybalto]

Riiiiggghhtttt
It's called perspective. Maybe a team that hasn't won a thing should get some playoff results before the title "elite" is used. Maybe they can even show up in big games. Some people take it wayyyyyyyyy too far with the telling everyone how good we are, and constantly make excuses when we lose. They're never wrong

Toronto outshoots their opposition 175-132 in elimination games the last two years (despite being the most injured team over that stretch).

Opposition Goaltending: .943%
Leafs Goaltending: .879%

Showing up would mean outworking, outshooting and outplaying right?

Or do you just mean our goalies when you say "they"?....cause then you would be correct.

 

[kb]

tbh i never really buy this excuse.

It's just been the reality of how things went in the past. Usually after flaming out on the road, too.

I agree with that.....no excuse.

 

[ShaneFalco]

Toronto outshoots their opposition 175-132 in elimination games the last two years (despite being the most injured team over that stretch).

Opposition Goaltending: .943%
Leafs Goaltending: .879%

Showing up would mean outworking, outshooting and outplaying right?

Or do you just mean our goalies when you say "they"?....cause then you would be correct.

Right what was I thinking. They play their best in elimination and big games. The stats are all that matters.

 

[ShaneFalco]

What you call "perspective " I call "has no bearing on current or future results".

I mean, I'm all ears while you explain the relevance of stuff from back when most the players were in elementary school or even before they were born.

Not sure what to tell you if you think chest thumping and calling this team "great", "elite" with their history, even over the last 4 or 5 years isn't somehow comical. It's why rival teams fans always say Leaf fans are planning the parade after a few wins.

 

[Zybalto]

Right what was I thinking. They play their best in elimination and big games. The stats are all that matters.

Yeah!, not like that epic team Tampa right!

Leafs 5 elimination games over the last 2 years:

Toronto outshoots their opposition 175-132
Tavares(only played 2 games/5)/Marner/Nylander/Matthews total points: 16
The entire rest of the teams total points: 12
Goaltending: .879%

Looking at Tampa's 5 elimination games they played this year on route to the cup:

Tampa outshoots their opposition 134-125
Stamkos/Kucherov/Point/Hedman total points: 9
The entire rest of the teams total points: 18
Goaltending: .958% (4 shutouts)

Man, why did the Leafs fail and Tampa didn't??? I know! it was the star players who made the difference!

Goaltending had nothing to do with it! You're so right! Stats are meaningless when you have stupid narratives to peddle yet again while trolling in a PGT after the Leafs set a franchise record! Leafs are obviously your "team" right as you join the celebration for setting history right? You wouldnt be invested in a losing mentality as the team destroys your narratives would you?

 

[Dekes For Days]

Toronto outshoots their opposition 175-132 in elimination games the last two years (despite being the most injured team over that stretch).

Opposition Goaltending: .943%
Leafs Goaltending: .879%

Showing up would mean outworking, outshooting and outplaying right?

Or do you just mean our goalies when you say "they"?....cause then you would be correct.

Yeah!, not like that epic team Tampa right!

Leafs 5 elimination games over the last 2 years:

Toronto outshoots their opposition 175-132
Tavares(only played 2 games/5)/Marner/Nylander/Matthews total points: 16
The entire rest of the teams total points: 12
Goaltending: .879%

Looking at Tampa's 5 elimination games they played this year on route to the cup:

Tampa outshoots their opposition 134-125
Stamkos/Kucherov/Point/Hedman total points: 9
The entire rest of the teams total points: 18
Goaltending: .958% (4 shutouts)

Man, why did the Leafs fail and Tampa didn't??? I know! it was the star players who made the difference!

Goaltending had nothing to do with it! You're so right! Stats are meaningless when you have stupid narratives to peddle yet again while trolling in a PGT after the Leafs set a franchise record! Leafs are obviously your "team" right as you join the celebration for setting history right? You wouldnt be invested in a losing mentality as the team destroys your narratives would you?

 

[Gary Nylund]

This is what I don't get. The people saying "stop praising them too much, it's the regular season". Yet whenever this team struggles a bit during the season, some of these people start criticizing them. If the regular season doesn't matter and they shouldn't be praised for it, why do they criticized when they struggle?

People on both sides tend to overreact IMO. I try to stay consistent and not get too high when things are going well and not get too down when they're not. When the doomsters were saying fire Dubas and break up the team after PIT beat us 7-1 or whatever it was, I went on record to say that for me nothing has changed and I still believe we will easily cruise into the playoffs. I took a lot of crap at that point from people saying we were a bubble team at best and so on but I have to say I'm feeling pretty darned vindicated right about now.

This team has been stacked for years and any team can have a bad stretch so I was amused at all the overreactions when we started poorly, and I'm just as amused by all the people acting as if we've won something already, we haven't.

What you call "perspective " I call "has no bearing on current or future results".

I mean, I'm all ears while you explain the relevance of stuff from back when most the players were in elementary school or even before they were born.

People going on about the last 50 years blah blah blah are obviously not worth listening to. They mostly reside on the main boards though so it's easy enough to avoid them.

Toronto outshoots their opposition 175-132 in elimination games the last two years (despite being the most injured team over that stretch).

Opposition Goaltending: .943%
Leafs Goaltending: .879%

Showing up would mean outworking, outshooting and outplaying right?

Or do you just mean our goalies when you say "they"?....cause then you would be correct.

Toronto has been outscored 18-6 in the last four elimination games and 11-2 in the last three. I watched all those games and if you also did, then I think you know that there was more to those losses than poor goaltending, a lot more.

Counting shots on net is shallow at best and if again, if you watched those games you should know that in some cases, they don't even come close to painting an accurate picture.

 

[RoyalCitySlicker]

Not sure what to tell you if you think chest thumping and calling this team "great", "elite" with their history, even over the last 4 or 5 years isn't somehow comical. It's why rival teams fans always say Leaf fans are planning the parade after a few wins.

There's always more people talking about how Leafs fans are planning the parade than there are Leaf fans planning any sort of parade.

 

[ShaneFalco]

Yeah!, not like that epic team Tampa right!

Leafs 5 elimination games over the last 2 years:

Toronto outshoots their opposition 175-132
Tavares(only played 2 games/5)/Marner/Nylander/Matthews total points: 16
The entire rest of the teams total points: 12
Goaltending: .879%

Looking at Tampa's 5 elimination games they played this year on route to the cup:

Tampa outshoots their opposition 134-125
Stamkos/Kucherov/Point/Hedman total points: 9
The entire rest of the teams total points: 18
Goaltending: .958% (4 shutouts)

Man, why did the Leafs fail and Tampa didn't??? I know! it was the star players who made the difference!

Goaltending had nothing to do with it! You're so right! Stats are meaningless when you have stupid narratives to peddle yet again while trolling in a PGT after the Leafs set a franchise record! Leafs are obviously your "team" right as you join the celebration for setting history right? You wouldnt be invested in a losing mentality as the team destroys your narratives would you?

The only losing mentality is with the team itself and those who choose to make constant excuses about injuries, expected goals, we were unlucky etc etc.
Wow they're really showing me in Nov how wrong I am for not believing they can win big games. I wonder how long the cherrleading will last if they go out again in the first round? Or does the success they had in Nov override that?

 

[ShaneFalco]

There's always more people talking about how Leafs fans are planning the parade than there are Leaf fans planning any sort of parade.

There's always the expected parade

 

[Zybalto]

Toronto has been outscored 18-6 in the last four elimination games and 11-2 in the last three. I watched all those games and if you also did, then I think you know that there was more to those losses than poor goaltending, a lot more.

Counting shots on net is shallow at best and if again, if you watched those games you should know that in some cases, they don't even come close to painting an accurate picture.

?

Toronto has been outscored 10-6 (with an EN goal) in their last 3 with two games going to OT. They have been the clearly better team in a majority of the games the elimination games played and if you could isolate just one stat, that it would be save%......and if you want to try and dig deeper, it becomes clutch save metrics.

Hell, you put Vasi or Price on the Leafs last year and they probably win the cup (or close to it) Getting clutch goaltending in the playoffs (like EVERY team that wins even a round) is literally the only thing the team really needs now.