Post-Game Talk: Leafs Tame The Wild 3-1

[ACC1224]

What happened to Kerfoot? As soon as Marner fed him the pass we started walking towards the gate.

 

[Brown Dog]

and no one did anything. I’m pretty discouraged by that. Soft.

Kerfoot gave him a dirty look...

 

[ACC1224]

Was hard to follow but were a few different wingers used with Tavares last night? Didn't seem like Kase lasted long there.

Surprised there hasn't been more discussion on Nylander lately. He looked pretty disinterested last night.

 

[Oscar Peterson]

Was hard to follow but were a few different wingers used with Tavares last night? Didn't seem like Kase lasted long there.

Surprised there hasn't been more discussion on Nylander lately. He looked pretty disinterested last night.

After Mikheyev left the game, Spezza and Simmons were sometimes rotated on to that line in place of Kase.
And definitely, Nylander's gotta be a lot better. No clue what's going on with him lately.

 

[ACC1224]

After Mikheyev left the game, Spezza and Simmons were sometimes rotated on to that line in place of Kase.
And definitely, Nylander's gotta be a lot better. No clue what's going on with him lately.

Thanks. Took a while to figure out who was missing, initially I thought Kase was hurt again.

 

[kb]

Thanks. Took a while to figure out who was missing, initially I thought Kase was hurt again.

Mikheyev was shitty last night.

I'll show myself out.

 

[therealkoho]

and no one did anything. I’m pretty discouraged by that. Soft.

Yeah for sure but it was suspension time if they took it too far and no use getting a game misconduct and having to sit.

 

[therealkoho]

Was hard to follow but were a few different wingers used with Tavares last night? Didn't seem like Kase lasted long there.

Surprised there hasn't been more discussion on Nylander lately. He looked pretty disinterested last night.

Don't get me started!

 

[SprDaVE]

I forgot to mention but Dermott has been really good in the last couple games.

 

[Mugzy97]

I forgot to mention but Dermott has been really good in the last couple games.

Also noticed Keefe had Dermott and Liljegren out there in the last minute in a 2-1 game. Seemed like a bold move but must be giving them an opportunity after a solid game

 

[Mess]

It's interesting how the Leafs can just not have it in a game vs Montreal and just never get in the right head space but against Minnesota they seemed completely dialed in to the man because it's a more hyped opponent. Just keep the switch flipped on.

My theory is that Leafs play to the level of their opposition/competition.

When they're better then weaker teams they take them for granted, and lose games they should easily win by getting outplayed, and against stronger competition they compete harder knowing they have to or they will lose.

 

[Discoverer]

Mrazek was good but not great, big fat rebounds all night, a team like Boston, Pittsburgh or Tampa would eat that up. If he can grow some velcro I'll feel a little better about him.

Mrazek's rebound issues were definitely ugly last night, but I'm curious why you think three teams that are worse than Minnesota offensively would have buried those chances.

 

[Twine Tickler]

Thought that was one of our better games all year. Not because we dominated, far from it. But we stayed in the fight against a very good Minnesota Wild team. I thought the Wild were outstanding defensively, especially through the middle of the ice. They maintained their gaps the entire sheet of the ice and pretty well gave our boys nothing.

The boys stayed patient, and pulled off a very impressive win.

As good as Minnesota played in their own half of the ice I actually liked how we responded to that stinginess. The play through the middle of the ice was exponentially better from where it's been the last couple months. There was no room for these guys to skate, and they opted to put pucks deep more than they normally do. When they did turn over the puck, they had full commitment to the back check. They weren't making sloppy changes, and most importantly they simplified the game.

That Minnesota team can score goals, and we did a really good job of limiting their chances for the most part. When we needed some big saves from Petr, he delivered. To me this is how we need to learn to play consistently. Limit the mistakes against, and put our star power against our opponents. We should win that battle most nights against most teams. I felt like it took a bit of adjusting for the forwards to recognize they were not going to gain the blue line with ease, and once they did the entries improved immensely.

Overall, this was probably the most encouraging win I've seen since Christmas. We can play a 200 foot game, it's just gotten away from us a bit.

also, I know I am not saying anything new or shocking. But we are so lucky to have Auston Matthews on our team. This guy is easily the best Maple Leaf of all time IMO. I've never seen someone with a bitter stick and ability to hunt pucks with ease. His goals last night illustrate so perfectly how dynamic of a player he really is. He can beat you any way he wants. I genuinely feel grateful to get to watch this guy in blue and white every game. Elite elite player

 

[hotpaws]

Much better defensive game last , limited the odd man rushes and cleared most of the rebounds , Mathews was a beast and Mzarek while better was still just okay .

 

[Zybalto]

My theory is that Leafs play to the level of their opposition.

When they're better then weaker teams they take them for granted, and lose games they should easily win by getting outplayed, and against stronger competition they compete harder knowing they have to or they will lose.

The Leafs are actually a very stable team in this regard and tend to beat up on weaker teams and have a tougher time with other great teams.

Not gonna do all the math I just did a couple of months ago but the Leafs are actually one of the more stable teams in the league for this. There are a few teams where this seems to be a problem though. I mean, the Flames and Pens got destroyed by the Nucks and Devils last night. Is that a sign of a greater issue with playing down to teams?.....or do good teams lose to lesser teams often, just not that often.

I mean, in just a brief example:

5 of the top ten for points% gained against the Leafs this season are:

Lightning
Canes
Rangers
Pens
Flames

(All teams in the top 10 in hockey)

5 of the bottom ten for points% gained against the Leafs this season are:

Devils
Kraken
Sabres
Wings
Flyers

(All teams in the bottom 10 in hockey)

Looking deeper and the Leafs tend to badly outplay lesser teams more than top teams as well (no surprise)

Just a theory with no real basis to believe it is all.

 

[kb]

I forgot to mention but Dermott has been really good in the last couple games.

He slowed the game down. That's all he had to do. Make the proper read and outlet pass. He has the ability, it's been the toolbox holding him back.

 

[JT AM da real deal]

Twine Tickler bang on man .. bang on .. OMG Matty showed me a new level of leadership last night .. would have been d*mn easy to shake his head after losing his man in front of net for Wild to take lead .. but h*ll no .. he decided right then and there off faceoff to show everyone why he needs to be teams new captain before playoffs start .. he said d*mn all of you guys and put team on his back and went through Wild and unleashed da beast to tie game .. and from then on he dominated everyone else on ice like he was their daddy .. his 200 foot game is moving to another level .. his offensive play is outstanding .. and like I said last night he took over team leadership

That said team played best game I have seen as season long .. I know most of you guys are not defensive fans so you will disagree and that's fine .. I am a defender til da end and that was BY FAR best defensive game I have seen from our D all year long .. big big big shout outs to Lily and Dermy OMG boys so well done .. now I know I have been on and off da bandwagon with Dermy but as I keep telling you guys it is da hardest thing to trade a young defender with NHL skills .. he might just break out and keep playing all star defense like last night and all of us will eat crow .. I am back to keeping him again after what I saw last night .. and Lily OMG what a game baby .. starting to bring some offense to table which is what will happen as Keefer trusts him with more ice .. he night have biggest upside right now in top 4 .. he can skate, he can hit, he can make plays too and he has enough speed to deal with his mistakes .. Sandin does not and although he has way more offensive upside .. it likely turns out Lily is da better overall defender .. although I you know I hate trading your defenders but to get Jakob I would part with Sandin, Mik and our 2023 1st rounder and last night late I sent my text on this matter

Last matter again to many of you .. see how much better our defense looks past 2 games without Holl .. I truly hope you guys can look past da stats .. including you too Dubie .. I know it is hard for you to sit your man .. but please please please stop your ego .. keep letting Keefer do da right thing .. even if team has 1 bad game don't switch him back in .. way way way too many defensive errors and brain dead plays which decide games against us as you stop da grind for 3 periods straight .. Holl unfortunately just does not have NHL skills but he can help out as a 7th man if needed

 

[Teeder Keon]

Kinda hoping JT got the empty netter. That would have gotten him going moving forward. Dude has t scored in a month. Not good for $11 mil.

Cup
Cups
More cups
That’s all that matters , if he can help bring in a cup(s) , I couldn’t care less if he didn’t score another goal , as far as the 11 mil ? Couldn’t care less if he helps bring in another cup
GFLG

 

[Burnie97]

Something I like even after getting pretty frustrated with the last 5 game stretch.

They went 2-2-1. Against Pitts, St Louis, Montreal, Columbus ( back to back) and Minnesota.

If you told me at the start they'd go 2-2-1... I would of said not bad considering who they played and the back to back. I just wouldn't of thought they'd lose and win to the teams the way they did.

Looking at March coming up they actually could go on a really huge run here. End of March to end of the season there is much stiffer competition. They could really rack up the points in March though.

 

[Twine Tickler]

would have been d*mn easy to shake his head after losing his man in front of net for Wild to take lead .. but h*ll no .. he decided right then and there off faceoff to show everyone why he needs to be teams new captain before playoffs start

I thought his reaction to the goal was also very indicative of how high of a standard Auston has for himself.

He was almost still more upset at him losing his guy 27 seconds prior that he hardly even celebrated his goal. When the leader of the team has that perfectionist mindset, it's a ripple effect down the lineup.

I don't think they will change captaincy in the middle of the season, but I would be open to the idea of it this offseason or next. Nothing against JT, he's been the ultimate pro since coming to the team. But it's very clearly Auston's team at this point. I think JT is aware of that as well. I think they could both benefit from Auston getting the "C". Less pressure for JT, and Auston gets the validation he deserves. Plus it would be immensely hard for Auston to walk away from Toronto when he has that "C" on his sweater come the summer of 2024. Say what you will, but being the captain of an original 6 franchise means something still. You can see what it meant to Dion when they gave him his salute this year, and you can see what it means to everyone before and after him. I think logically the summer of 2023 Auston gets delivered an 8 extension and the captaincy all in one. That is my hope and dream at least. He needs to be a career Leaf

 

[HamiltonNHL]

My theory is that Leafs play to the level of their opposition.

Definitely true

 

[Stephen]

My theory is that Leafs play to the level of their opposition.

When they're better then weaker teams they take them for granted, and lose games they should easily win by getting outplayed, and against stronger competition they compete harder knowing they have to or they will lose.

I think we see that plenty. When the weaker team rolls over like New Jersey, it’s a party. If they don’t, they don’t really keep playing. I suppose this is normal to think if you’re down 5-0 to Montreal, why bother for the 2 points when you have a back to back kind of thing.

But to steel up for the big games I think they could have more of a Pavlovian response to winning. Just have the taste for winning and let that be the overriding purpose of every night. You see some of those ruthless competitors in the history of the game they seem to be junkies to win. And they steamroll weaker teams.

Still, last night was a near flawless effort so a lot of credit needs to be given to the group.

 

[JT AM da real deal]

I thought his reaction to the goal was also very indicative of how high of a standard Auston has for himself.

He was almost still more upset at him losing his guy 27 seconds prior that he hardly even celebrated his goal. When the leader of the team has that perfectionist mindset, it's a ripple effect down the lineup.

I don't think they will change captaincy in the middle of the season, but I would be open to the idea of it this offseason or next. Nothing against JT, he's been the ultimate pro since coming to the team. But it's very clearly Auston's team at this point. I think JT is aware of that as well. I think they could both benefit from Auston getting the "C". Less pressure for JT, and Auston gets the validation he deserves. Plus it would be immensely hard for Auston to walk away from Toronto when he has that "C" on his sweater come the summer of 2024. Say what you will, but being the captain of an original 6 franchise means something still. You can see what it meant to Dion when they gave him his salute this year, and you can see what it means to everyone before and after him. I think logically the summer of 2023 Auston gets delivered an 8 extension and the captaincy all in one. That is my hope and dream at least. He needs to be a career Leaf

I don't think Shanny will do it but you never know .. he always did things even as a young boy that you said to yourself wow that is surprising .. anywho I have sent Brian a text of what I think Shanny should do .. JT can wear da C jersey if we win da Cup and raise da Cup 1st .. but Matty is now da team leader and if we do anything in playoffs it will be on his back

 

[banks]

The good: Liljegren, Mrazek, 34, W, the upcoming schedule

The bad: people who are trying so hard to find something to complain about.

 

[DraftSchmaft]

Did you just say Simmonds is better than Kerfoot lol?

No. I said we got a glimpse of what that kind of look can do for that line. Different styles of play. "Better", which has nothing to do with Simmonds, can mean the new winger is better than Kerfoot yes, but doesn't have to be. When I use the word better I mean fit-wise.