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

[Mess]

I image a bunch of Leaf fans found this game boring and uneventful for the most part, outside of Auston Matthews heroics.

However this game was played more like a playoff style game, where chances are limited, and goal scoring is down, and teams battle it out defensively for a tight well earned victory where "defense wins".

There are more good takeaways from this game to apply towards playoff success systems, then beating up and stats padding against NJ 6-4 and 7-1 that resulted in nothing but bad habits and more run and gun then solid 2-way play.

We saw the Leafs in this one really committed to detail and attention to defensive awareness, and strong compete level with and without the puck. This was a teaching moment result for the team with some real solid takeaways that will serve them well down the road if duplicated.

 

[Guy Boucher]

Someone should have went after Zuccarello.

 

[Warden of the North]

Excellent game against a very good team. I put far more weight into this win then I do for the loss against the Habs

 

[Twine Tickler]

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

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

BINGO

This was a get right game on so many levels. Like I said in a previous post, we have not defended this well in a game since our California swing in late November.

There was an attention to detail in this game that has been absent for months. We limited the unforced errors and didn't give up many freebies. Something we were doing with consistency at that start of the year but lost during the multiple shutdowns and breaks. We need more of this style of hockey. We can win this brand of play.

Contrary to popular belief, I really don't think the defensive woes we have faced as of late have been solely on the Defensive group alone. It's been the poor decision making in neutral ice by our forwards which lead to turnovers and odd man rushes the other way, and just an overall lack of cohesion from the Defense to forwards in the offensive zone. I.e. when the Defense would pinch, there was little to no forward support. Or not blowing the zone when there was a 50:50 puck to be won on the walls in our own end.

I thought there was a clear focus yesterday to defend our half of the ice as a whole 18 man unit. Very cohesive group last night. There really should be nothing to complain about. This was a step in the right direction IMO

 

[Nylanderthal]

let’s focus on this for a second, good teams lose to bad teams all the time, have dips, get tired, etc. etc. so tired of doomsday talk after 2-4 game losing streaks or losing games we “should have won” - nothing is guaranteed

That was my point entirely. It’s not that we made ground on either team per say, it’s that even the best teams lose games they “should win” and this league is unpredictable at times.

 

[Gabriel426]

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.

I think in general, the Leafs are doing fine and like you, I don’t see them play down to their competition.
Like all teams, Leafs will drop games they should have won due to a variety of reasons.

 

[HamiltonNHL]

 

[Enniskillen]

Leafs need another physical Dman like Babushka. Smash hard and break the cycles.

 

[Fonzieleaf]

Timothy Liljergen had such a good game tonight, he was doing everything whether it was good pinches to keep it in the zone or solid checks to disrupt the wild when we were in the defensive zone

What a stud

You mean Timoth Linegren

 

[Twine Tickler]

I will also note there was a play early on in the game that may seem insignificant but it was a breath of fresh air. To me at least.

Ilya Lyubushkin playing physical in front of the net, tying up a very strong Joel Erikson-Ek and neutralizing the attempt from distance. I think the shot ended up hitting Erikson-Ek or Ilya on the way from the point.

May seem like a little and insignificant play, but we've been getting hosed on that very play all year long. 1v1 battles in front of our own net.

Aside from the unfortunate bobble of the puck in CBJ, I've been very happy with Lyubushkin. He looks great with Sandin IMO. He knows his limits, and he stays within it. On his tape, off his tape. Moves decently well for a big guy as well.

Great pickup

 

[Shooter2x]

Russian Bear last night is a prime example why you don't fall in love with your depth players. This guy came from a lottery team yet seems to fit in nicely on a contender in need of his traits. There's many players across the league who fit better on this team in depth roles than some of the ones we have right now. As long as they're not named Matthews Marner Nylander or Rielly (and maybe even extend to Kampf for that defensive game), I'm open to anything that makes sense (especially if it's Mik/Engvall, they're not playoff types).

^Oh no how could I forget my boy Bunting as an untouchable

 

[keonsbitterness]

I'm giving AM a partial pass on the Wild goal. On the replay you could see he was guarding against a pass and the Wild player making a move to the net. That's a tough assignment, and it took an excellent pass for that to be a goal.

Scratch that -- I'll give him a total pass because of how well he played.

 

[therealkoho]

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.

Those are who the Leafs may see in the playoffs, all three teams have feasted on Leaf mistakes over the last 10 years, no telling if that magically stops, but keep giving the opponents opportunity on a silver platter and bad stuff will happen. It's Leaf luck.

As far as Minny goes they got to most of those rebounds and fortune by the "grace of a higher power" they weren't able to capitalize!

 

[Confucius]

What a dick move, was that Zuccarello who tripped kerfoot?

 

[The Podium]

I image a bunch of Leaf fans found this game boring and uneventful for the most part, outside of Auston Matthews heroics.

However this game was played more like a playoff style game, where chances are limited, and goal scoring is down, and teams battle it out defensively for a tight well earned victory where "defense wins".

There are more good takeaways from this game to apply towards playoff success systems, then beating up and stats padding against NJ 6-4 and 7-1 that resulted in nothing but bad habits and more run and gun then solid 2-way play.

We saw the Leafs in this one really committed to detail and attention to defensive awareness, and strong compete level with and without the puck. This was a teaching moment result for the team with some real solid takeaways that will serve them well down the road if duplicated.

I don’t normally agree with you Mess, but this was spot on. However, I think most Leaf fans were happy with the game despite it being boring.

 

[ACC1224]

What a dick move, was that Zuccarello who tripped kerfoot?

Just a player who doesn't like to lose. Harmless enough play that I'm sure if a Leaf had done would likely be celebrated for their passionate, hate to lose attitude.

 

[therealkoho]

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

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

LeaFlanders are ever vigilant

 

[therealkoho]

What a dick move, was that Zuccarello who tripped kerfoot?

yes it was the little dung head

 

[Atomos2]

Lots of love for some deserving players but man, I gotta bring up Marner again. The primary assist king, kid just gives gifts and kills penalties with the best of em.

Honest question, is this one of the best 1st lines we've ever had?

One of them for sure.

Roberts - Sundin - Mogilny was a crazy one too.

Wonder how people would compare them?

 

[Confucius]

Just a player who doesn't like to lose. Harmless enough play that I'm sure if a Leaf had done would likely be celebrated for their passionate, hate to lose attitude.

Yeah sure, refusing to shake an opponents hand after elimination is similar but still wouldn't be as much a pitiful display of sportsmanship.

 

[ACC1224]

Yeah sure, refusing to shake an opponents hand after elimination is similar but still wouldn't be as much a pitiful display of sportsmanship.

ok?

 

[Confucius]

ok?

glad you agree

 

[ACC1224]

glad you agree

Not sure what I'm agreeing to. Your reply was a little confusing.
All good, nothing play already forgotten.

 

[NastyKnies]

The f*** was that trip on Kerfoot by Zuccarello .. what a sore loser.

His stick is too big.

 

[mikeyz]

Thank God Dubas didn't give Campbell an extension