Post-Game Talk: Leafs win 3-1!

[zeke]

My heart could use many more of these comfortable victories. Even at 2-1, there was no sense of panic. No reason to panic.

Even then, if Freddy doesn't stop 4 out of their ~5 quality scoring chances, then the game is totally different. And if he lets in even one softy on top of that? We lose and leafs nation is freaking out.

Having solid goaltending that stops most of the good chances and doesn't let in softies is too huge.

We don't need spectacular goaltending like the jets have. Just solid goaltending. So good on Freddy for bouncing back like that.

 

[Gary Nylund]

If the majority thinks they would be any happier now if the leafs had won a couple series against bad teams or if their goalies had stolen a series or two than they are after they lost tight series to elite teams or teams whose goalies stole series for them, then im glad to be in the minority.

Sometimes I have to remind myself that Toronto worships undertalented plucky teams like the early 90s leafs cuz of a couple unlikely playoffs runs, while forgetting that it was the young skilled soft team that they beat in the early rounds that was the team set up for a decade+ of elite dynasty hockey, not those leafs.

LMAO. I'd be happier had we beaten Boston at least once when we had the chance instead of folding when it came to crunch time. It's funny how you were making post after post going into those series telling everyone that we have every chance to win, that we were right there with them as a quality team but now all you do is make excuses.

 

[NinjaKick]

we'll get far if we can play like that more consistently

 

[Kelly]

Strange how the GDT, Dubas and Keefe threads are suspiciously quite.

Guess the trolls went back under the bridge

It's hilarious seeing the difference in post game talk when the Leafs lose in comparison to when the Leafs win. This place is basically a ghost town when the put up a good effort.

Interpretation of statistics is can always be debated...

"Plus minus is a useless stat."

Sure, but what they mean cannot.

Lebda -3 in a 9-3 win -- he was out for all 3 goals against -- that isn't debatable.

 

[zeke]

Let’s hope they can protect a proven player like Holl, rather than relying on the hope that Liljegren can actually play in the NHL.

I think there's a decent chance Lilly becomes a more reliable NHLer than Sandin or Lehtonen tbh.

 

[zeke]

Funny how a few years ago we were comparing ourselves to Chicago expecting multiple cups and expecting it to start happening soon and now were comparing ourselves to a team that as you say, took over a decade to make it out of the 2nd round. Well not funny, it's sad actually.

Definitely sad that we had a GM that completely wasted having the best crop of elite ELC talent in hockey by blowing all his capspace on crap.

 

[zeke]

LMAO. I'd be happier had we beaten Boston at least once when we had the chance instead of folding when it came to crunch time. It's funny how you were making post after post going into those series telling everyone that we have every chance to win, that we were right there with them as a quality team but now all you do is make excuses.

Yes. Going into those series you and everyone else said the leafs were huge underdogs. I said they weren't.

And each series went to the 3rd period of game 7.

I was right.

 

[Wafflewhipper]

I have no complaints the way this is building 4 games in. The only disappointment is losing Dell. Keefe said Tavares has more jump in his step. Hyman looks stronger and quicker. He’s a handful all over the ice. Kerfoot looks most improved. It’s not a little bit for Kerfoot.

 

[Gary Nylund]

Definitely sad that we had a GM that completely wasted having the best crop of elite ELC talent in hockey by blowing all his capspace on crap.

This seems to be some sort of red herring, a lame attempt to distract from the fact that our team has been more than capable of winning in the playoffs, yet keeps losing in the playoffs.

Yes. Going into those series you and everyone else said the leafs were huge underdogs. I said they weren't.

And each series went to the 3rd period of game 7.

I was right.

I never said any such thing, I was in complete agreement with you that we should be more than competitive and so were the bookmakers. If all you're going to do is make up lies about things I never said, just don't bother responding to my posts. Or if your memory is that faulty then go look at the archives and see for yourself what my assessment of our chances has been entering the playoffs the last 3 years and just how wrong this bolded nonsense is. Thanks in advance!

 

[X66]

Oilers going to come out crazy the next two games, Leafs better be prepared.

Oilers have played like dog-shit so far, but McDavid's coming home and their season literally rides on this weekend.

 

[JT AM da real deal]

I think there's a decent chance Lilly becomes a more reliable NHLer than Sandin or Lehtonen tbh.

With young kids no one knows ... it could happen or not ... after 3-5 years playing in league things get a little clearer ... until then it is purely guess work with D men

 

[BAM]

I do too.



And we got blown out losing the 3rd period 4-0. Like I said, when push came to shove Boston completely crushed us.

One game 7 we lost by 3 goals, the other we lost by 4 goals. You really have to spin hard to argue we didn't get blown out.



We were underdogs against Boston but not massive underdogs, that's just wrong.

Who cares about Ovechkin? Funny how a few years ago we were comparing ourselves to Chicago expecting multiple cups and expecting it to start happening soon and now were comparing ourselves to a team that as you say, took over a decade to make it out of the 2nd round. Well not funny, it's sad actually.

I've played plenty of sports and I've never made so many excuses for losing the way some people here do. You lose, you lose, period. You accept that you failed and you do your best to do better next time. And you make damn sure that you're as "engaged" as can possibly be when you get your next shot at success (I'm looking at you Mitch "money" Marner).

This is hilarious. So where was Boston's "push comes to shove" in game 5 when the series was tied 2-2 and they were at home (Tavares 1st season)?

No matter how many times you say it, taking a top 3-5 team in the NHL to 7 games in the first round as the underdog and holding a lead in that game 7 after 2 periods does not constitute being blown out. A sweep is getting blown out, even a quick 5 game series sure.

By all means start a poll if you wanna see how your view stacks up.

 

[zeke]

This seems to be some sort of red herring, a lame attempt to distract from the fact that our team has been more than capable of winning in the playoffs, yet keeps losing in the playoffs.

Losing tight series to elite teams doesn't bother me much tbh. For me, those are good performances not bad ones.

And it's not a red herring. Chicago won with their elite players on ELCs because they spent their capspace on other elite players, not on filler.

I never said any such thing, I was in complete agreement with you that we should be more than competitive and so were the bookmakers. If all you're going to do is make up lies about thing I never said, just don't bother responding to my posts. Or if your memory is that faulty then go look at the archives and see for yourself what my assessment of our chances has been entering the playoffs the last 3 years and just how wrong this bolded nonsense is. Thanks in advance!

Mm hmm.

Well, I was laughed at by the "majority" for suggesting the leafs could be competitive in any of those series, so good on you if you were in the minority.

 

[JT AM da real deal]

Oilers going to come out crazy the next two games, Leafs better be prepared.

Oilers have played like dog-shit so far, but McDavid's coming home and their season literally rides on this weekend.

Hate to break your bubble but like i said Oilers will be in a dog fight with sens for last place ... no defense and weak tending ... spells no playoffs ... also only a matter of time before McJesus wants out of there

 

[JT AM da real deal]

Very solid game by our Leafs ... well deserved all round win ... 2nd game this year where we won game and scoreboard ... another beast of a game by Matty ... and Freddy did his thing in games where team is strong ... like 11 and 7 seems to work for us ... nice work by Spezz on faceoffs too ... good to have 2 easy home games up against Oilers to help pad our lead atop division too

 

[Gary Nylund]

This is hilarious. So where was Boston's "push comes to shove" in game 5 when the series was tied 2-2 and they were at home (Tavares 1st season)?

No matter how many times you say it, taking a top 3-5 team in the NHL to 7 games in the first round as the underdog and holding a lead in that game 7 after 2 periods does not constitute being blown out. A sweep is getting blown out, even a quick 5 game series sure.

By all means start a poll if you wanna see how your view stacks up.

There's a world of difference between game 5 and game 7. One is a must win game that decides the series, the other ... isn't.

I never vote in polls and I don't need a poll to tell me what I already know.

Losing tight series to elite teams doesn't bother me much tbh. For me, those are good performances not bad ones.

And it's not a red herring. Chicago won with their elite players on ELCs because they spent their capspace on other elite players, not on filler.

Mm hmm.

Well, I was laughed at by the "majority" for suggesting the leafs could be competitive in any of those series, so good on you if you were in the minority.

I didn't count the number of people on either side or anything but there were plenty who agreed with us. Maybe we were in the minority but if so, it wasn't a small minority. Either way, there's no reason for you to assume anything about what I thought so hopefully you'll refrain from doing so in the future.

I agree with you that losing in 7 is more encouraging than losing in 4-5 or whatever but still, the way we lost game 7 in both cases was ... discouraging and losing to CLB was a huge failure. Hopefully this is the year we break through, the way the divisions are set up couldn't be any better for us and if we fail again it will be harder then ever to make excuses.

 

[Community]

Oilers going to come out crazy the next two games, Leafs better be prepared.

Oilers have played like dog-shit so far, but McDavid's coming home and their season literally rides on this weekend.

No it doesn't.

They could lose b2b to us then win the next 4 and be right back in a playoff spot. It is too early to say a teams season rides on their next 2 games.

Having said that, 4 or their next 6 games are against us and it will be hard to get 6 out of 8 points against them no matter how bad their defense and goaltending have been... It is tough to beat a team twice when you play them twice in a row which makes it interesting to see how this entire season (filled with tons of b2bs) will play out.

*by b2b I mean playing the same team twice, not b2b days.

 

[ottomaddox]

Kerfoot looks a lot better. I have been a big critic of his in the past (not because I loved Kadri), but he's had a good start to the season.

 

[Nineteen67]

I think there's a decent chance Lilly becomes a more reliable NHLer than Sandin or Lehtonen tbh.

I haven’t seen enough of Liljegren or Lehtonen to make that decision.
Better to have them , than be looking for them. This is literally the first time in a long that the Leafs have had 10 D with NHL experience.That’s been an Achilles

 

[Gary Nylund]

Kerfoot looks a lot better. I have been a big critic of his in the past (not because I loved Kadri), but he's had a good start to the season.

I was indifferent on the subject of Kerfoot last season but so far this season, I'm liking his play a lot.

 

[mclaren55]

Kerfoot looks a lot better. I have been a big critic of his in the past (not because I loved Kadri), but he's had a good start to the season.

Certainly looks much faster out there, that's for sure.

 

[meefer]

I think there's a decent chance Lilly becomes a more reliable NHLer than Sandin or Lehtonen tbh.

A displeasing number of Leaf fans seem to think Lily's development has been substandard. I don't know why.

 

[BertCorbeau]

Be interesting to see if the Leafs can string some consistent efforts going forward under Keefe. The last two games by all accounts have been fairly consistent, full 60 efforts (with some warts).

The next two games against Edmonton would be a great way to put a divisional opponent in a hole early (only 1 win in 4 games) which putting the Leafs ahead of the pack.

Special teams are a big factor so far. The Leafs solid PK and the PP (despite the interesting mix up of units) has been a game-breaking factor that they need it to be.

They still need to generate more 5 on 5 offence but given how they've played the last couple of games, the goals will come.

 

[Cor]

Thoughts after a glorious sleep;

- That was a game Freddy needed. He made the difficult saves when tested. The second period goal was deflating, but very strong otherwise. Now 10-0-2 lifetime against the Jets lol.

- Brodie continues to impressive. Dude just knows how to break up plays defensively.

- Jimmy Vesey might be the value signing of the off-season. He looks incredibly comfortable with Tavares and Nylander. That line dominated last night.

- Another strong night for the top line. Some of us perhaps jumped the gun in terms of wanting Thornton moved off there.

- Muzzin-Holl continue to be strong. Justin Holl is at a 71% xGF at even Strength so far lol. Muzzin at 60%. Which are insane numbers given they start in the offensive zone less than 10% of the time.

- Glad Kerfoot is off to a strong start. His base cf% and xGF% are below 50%, but he's started in the offensive zone just 1% of his shifts, and that Hyman-Kerfoot-Mikheyev line starts in the defensive zone faceoffs the most by far. I have really really enjoyed this third line, and while everyone is jumping at Hyman getting back into the top 6, this third line has shown it's value already through the first 4 games, by playing those defensive zone starts very well, allowing the top 6 more offensive zone starts.

- The Leafs Penalty Kill has looked dynamite to start the year. Adding Bogosian, Brodie, Vesey, to the mix, as well as Matthews playing some minutes, is paying off so far. Hopefully it continues.

 

[francis246]

Well no, that line was sucking real bad last year when they were together to start, though it likely had to with all 3 of them having major injuries.

he literally met with Babcock about this topic.