Post-Game Talk: Leafs win 3-1 for the last game of 2024

[LEAFANFORLIFE23]

Great game.

Happy New Years everyone. Thank you for all the discussions

As always, this is the year (2025) and you know it

Great result, but great game? that was AWFUL to watch but then again morning games are almost never good.

 

[nsleaf]

3 Islanders go after Patches 3 on 1 because they think he might have dove and Mitch just glides around like nothing is happening

Wrong pariah, that was Nylander.

 

[Obo]

Leaving the goalie pulled makes sense if you believe that losing the faceoff means you're going to lose the game anyway.

Plus if the goalie is in then you're a man down, making it less likely that you gain control of the puck, which you absolutely have to do to even have a chance.

Not saying I'd do it, but it does make some sense.

 

[CabanaBoy5]

Can't complain that the depth players win one for us for a change.

Decent game, still a bit dicey in our end and need to shoot the puck wwwwaaaaayyyy more.

Next.

Especially on the PP. Rielly was alone in the slot and passed it into the corner. They aren’t decisive enough and need to shoot more. Too passive with the perimeter passing. We can’t go into the playoffs with these guys and get only 1 goal. again and expect to win.

 

[rojac]

Trying to figure out why any one is talking about Jen Botterill not doing this game. Does she ever do Leafs regional games? Heck, does she do anything other than HNIC games?

 

[DarkKnight]

Man Dewar needs a goal...

 

[Doublerum1975]

Trying to figure out why any one is talking about Jen Botterill not doing this game. Does she ever do Leafs regional games? Heck, does she do anything other than HNIC games?

This was her Christmas present to everyone staying away lol

 

[Dreakmur]

Man Dewar needs a goal...

If he needs a goal to be happy, he’s selfish.

 

[notDatsyuk]

That was 88 gliding in, Marner wears 16

True - Marner didn't appear until much later.

 

[PROUD PAPA]

Wanted more from Marner and Nylander, this could've been an easy game with a workhorse performance from them.

Willy and his brain dead d-zone turnovers were driving me crazy. Almost prefer his cherry picking blowing the zone action, but not by much.

Anyway I’m sure pleased with both the 2 points and Woll finishing the game strong. That was looking a little sketchy.

 

[TMLeafer]

Not having Matthews and missing stolarz, pretty impressive that the leafs sit atop the division still.

 

[Leafs98]

Salvaged the month of december without Knies and Matthews up to speed. Lookin' fwd to a new year with a healthy line up..one can hope..

 

[notDatsyuk]

Stupid Willy should have shot instead of passing to JT for the EN goal. Doesn't he know that goals are worth more?

But seriously, whether he thought of it or not, it's better to have JT score on them.

Mitch was bad. Willy almost as much except for the two assists.

That was either a huge molar or a bridge that Tanev lost. And what kind of a wussy player misses three whole shifts for just one tooth?

Bad game good result - take the points and run. Happy New Year all.

 

[notDatsyuk]

Another game where Willy seemed to have two men on him every time he touched the puck. I'd like to see what teams do if he plays with Matty.

 

[notDatsyuk]

Knies looking good for really the first time since the concussion. 5 shots led the team (and with Willy's 4 they had more than half the shots by forwards).

 

[barilko05]

What the hell is wrong with Rielly? On that last PP, he had two maybe even three clear shots to the net, and deferred, to a player in a worse position, everytime. He has a decent wrister...not great but good enough that he did score 20 goals one year. Now he won't even try to get the puck on net. He shouldn't be out on the man advantage...1st or 2nd unit. We might as well play 4 on 4. He really has become that useless.

 

[therealkoho]

Axed

Hopefully it didn't leave to deep of a gash

That was 88 gliding in, Marner wears 16

Cmon man, the narrative! Never forget the narrative.

This was her Christmas present to everyone staying away lol

Hopefully it becomes a habit for her

 

[Stephen]

I didn’t watch it because I couldn’t invest an overcast day off on 3 hours on the New York Islanders. But I salute the Leafs for showing up and grinding out a win against arguably the chores-iest team to play against. Pure muck it up.

 

[Stephen]

What the hell is wrong with Rielly? On that last PP, he had two maybe even three clear shots to the net, and deferred, to a player in a worse position, everytime. He has a decent wrister...not great but good enough that he did score 20 goals one year. Now he won't even try to get the puck on net. He shouldn't be out on the man advantage...1st or 2nd unit. We might as well play 4 on 4. He really has become that useless.

I can visualize what you’re describing and the best I can say is there are stretches in a season where you just don’t want the puck on Rielly’s stick under any circumstances, whether that’s a shin pad busting wrister or having to shovel the puck to some poor teammate on the PP.

 

[notDatsyuk]

What the hell is wrong with Rielly? On that last PP, he had two maybe even three clear shots to the net, and deferred, to a player in a worse position, everytime. He has a decent wrister...not great but good enough that he did score 20 goals one year. Now he won't even try to get the puck on net. He shouldn't be out on the man advantage...1st or 2nd unit. We might as well play 4 on 4. He really has become that useless.

And yet only Knies with 5 had more shots on goal.

 

[therealkoho]

About the game

Nylander must be hitting a little too much vodka on the holidays, his head has been really cloudy. Those soft little backhand into the middle of the ice are close to becoming a habit. I'm sure that's what Berube was in his ear about.

4th line, really solid game, outskated the opposition, tied them up down low and generally made life miserable for the Islanders. A+ effort for the boys.

Kampf looked legit today, made some plays but had a bit of a rough day in the circle. All things considered I'd rather see Kadri in that slot.

JT, Mitch and Patches didn't dominate, didn't have a great afternoon, the did put the bow on the game though. I'll give them a pass, because after all they've carried the team along with the goaltenders since the start of the season.

Joe brought his lunch pail and did what he's supposed to do.

Put it in the rearview and on to the next!

GLG

 

[TopCheeseShotta]

Good win to ensure we finished with that typical 9-6 Record for this team In December.

In the last 5 December's they're 27-15-6, so this is Par for the course.

Now for 2025 and Jan and Feb to keep the momentum up and stay atop the division.

Happy New Year, yall.. Peace!!

 

[Jimmy Firecracker]

I see from the highlights Patches was doing his best Gary Roberts 2002 impression, a controversial hit from behind and pissing off the Islanders en masse.

Glad we won, even if it sounds like we played only so-so. End this shitty month on a win at least and still tied for first in the division. Hopefully the Leafs can turn things around in January.

 

[garce]

Man Dewar needs a goal...

Plays well, I notice him every single game, gets great chances and just never scores. Gotta believe a few are going to start going in.

 

[Jojalu]

Stupid Willy should have shot instead of passing to JT for the EN goal. Doesn't he know that goals are worth more?

But seriously, whether he thought of it or not, it's better to have JT score on them.

Mitch was bad. Willy almost as much except for the two assists.

That was either a huge molar or a bridge that Tanev lost. And what kind of a wussy player misses three whole shifts for just one tooth?

Bad game good result - take the points and run. Happy New Year all.

Tanev is such a beast.