Post-Game Talk: Leafs win 4-1

[BertCorbeau]

^ I've been pretty confident in Gio's ability to be that anchor the blue line needs during this time. And it's paying off.. He's been one of Dubas' best acquisitions and is making near league min after willingly taking less to play here. He needs more appreciation.

 

[Smif]

probably not going to be a popular opinion but I'd like to call it the "Liljegren effect"

I've definitely noticed the Liljegren effect. Anyone he plays with looks better. He's most likely the ideal partner for Rielly when he comes back.

 

[Superstar]

Total domination, feels great!

 

[meefer]

For all the crap he's taken, Keefe has done something I didn't think he'd be able to do; he's got the boys locked into playing a sound defensive game.

Holmberg is proving himself. If he can stick around and offer 12 min a night, that would be crazy good.

 

[BayStBullies]

Marner and Willy are on fire. Good to see some life in Matthews. Holl and Kallgren had good games, despite their hate. I hate to say it, but I don't miss Rielly giving opponents free zone entries and space.

 

[Gary Nylund]

^ I've been pretty confident in Gio's ability to be that anchor the blue line needs during this time. And it's paying off.. He's been one of Dubas' best acquisitions and is making near league min after willingly taking less to play here. He needs more appreciation.

Yeah he's really great, can't give him too much appreciation IMO. I sometimes wonder, the Leafs played well in game 7 last playoffs for the first time in a very long time. They still lost, but they didn't just collapse the way the way they did in the previous 4 years. So it it just a coincidence that this was the first playoffs with Giordano?

 

[The Masters]

great win for the boysss

 

[leafsfan5]

Marner and Willy are on fire. Good to see some life in Matthews. Holl and Kallgren had good games, despite their hate. I hate to say it, but I don't miss Rielly giving opponents free zone entries and space.

I love Mo, he's a great leader, but you can see how much more difficult it is for opponents to get past the blueline right now. There were multiple times this game where the pens were stalled in the neutral zone and had no momentum

May be a coincidence with him out, might not be. But it's an area he really struggles with

 

[Gary Nylund]

For all the crap he's taken, Keefe has done something I didn't think he'd be able to do; he's got the boys locked into playing a sound defensive game.

Holmberg is proving himself. If he can stick around and offer 12 min a night, that would be crazy good.

Was he drafted under the Dubas regime? I think we're just getting to the point where some of the guys drafted with Dubas at the helm can start contributing and if this 6th round pick turns out to be a player, that would be sweet!

 

[Marshy]

I have a mancrush on Liljegren and to a lesser extent, Holmberg. Also I've had some good tequila.

 

[LeafSteel]

Oooooh yeah Brother !!!

 

[IPS]

I wasn't really worried when Rielly went down. I figured the blueline would be fine - better defensively actually.

And that is exactly what's happening.

He's always been a mess defensively, it's not a shocker.

 

[Jojalu]

I love Mo, he's a great leader, but you can see how much more difficult it is for opponents to get past the blueline right now. There were multiple times this game where the pens were stalled in the neutral zone and had no momentum

May be a coincidence with him out, might not be. But it's an area he really struggles with

The Leafs have started to keep 4 back since all the injuries and it is difficult for anyone to gaon the zone.

When Reilly and Brodie come back there should be no excuse notto continue with this plan.

I would love to win 2-1 in a Game 7 instead of losing 2-1

 

[BertCorbeau]

Yeah he's really great, can't give him too much appreciation IMO. I sometimes wonder, the Leafs played well in game 7 last playoffs for the first time in a very long time. They still lost, but they didn't just collapse the way the way they did in the previous 4 years. So it it just a coincidence that this was the first playoffs with Giordano?

Definitely some influence there.

Was he drafted under the Dubas regime? I think we're just getting to the point where some of the guys drafted with Dubas at the helm can start contributing and if this 6th round pick turns out to be a player, that would be sweet!

He was! In 2018 .. same draft as Sandin. Also fun to note that Hollowell and Kral were also late round picks that have debuted this year.

Throw in Durzi and 5 of 9 players drafted by Dubas in his first draft in 2018 have made their NHL debut.

 

[Teeder Keon]

The bottom 6 mostly played real well tonight.
Still not crazy for 47 and 15
Especially 62
But
ZAR , Kampf, Holmberg played great both sides
Need to exchange those 3 and we will be a real force

 

[stickty111]

Another impressive win and this one might be the best. Team defence was good again with a couple rough moments in the start. Sandin and Lilly have stepped up their games as you want. Our big guys have found another gear with Marner leading the charge. Matthews still isn't where you like but a 3 point night, and still playing responsible.
Hollowell really struggled early but settled in afterwards. Keefe limited his ice time which is the right call after giving a regular shift in his first 2 for the most part
Kallgren was good. Still not comforting but made some good saves. Rebound control is iffy but he's a 3rd stringer and he's played like it IMO.

 

[Cleetus]

The bottom 6 mostly played played real well tonight.
Still not crazy for 47 and 15
Especially 62
But
ZAR , Kampf, Holmberg plated great both sides
Need to exchange those 3 and we will be a real force

need some more out of 47, anything would be nice lol

 

[Al14]

Marner and Willy are on fire. Good to see some life in Matthews. Holl and Kallgren had good games, despite their hate. I hate to say it, but I don't miss Rielly giving opponents free zone entries and space.

Exactly, some Rielly fan boys need to realize soon that he is NOT a true number 1 D-man. Good number 2, and great number 3!

 

[leafsfan5]

The Leafs have started to keep 4 back since all the injuries and it is difficult for anyone to gaon the zone.

When Reilly and Brodie come back there should be no excuse notto continue with this plan.

I would love to win 2-1 in a Game 7 instead of losing 2-1

Yeah I really hope we continue with the defensive-first style. It's the adjustment Tampa made after they lost to CBJ in 2019

This way is conducive to playoff success. Having elite talent on top of it makes you extremely difficult to beat

 

[Maple Leaf]

Once Matt ews gets his mojo back o ooo oi

 

[Mr_Fun]

The 'Combined Goalie Discussion Thread' has been really quiet lately. Definitely not as messy as it was not that long ago.

You could say that about a lot of players, the coach, the management; f-it, even the fans.

 

[Jacquestrapless]

Keefe has Holmberg playing C and taking D-zone faceoffs. Kerfoot ice-time plummeting. Just trade Kerfoot and plug in Robertson

 

[meefer]

Was he drafted under the Dubas regime? I think we're just getting to the point where some of the guys drafted with Dubas at the helm can start contributing and if this 6th round pick turns out to be a player, that would be sweet!

Ya, he was drafted in '18. We're getting close to those fellas being able to contribute, and we can certainly use them. The lack of graduating talent from the Burke, Nonis, and Hunter years has been a stumbling block for this team.

 

[CantLoseWithMatthews]

Yeah I really hope we continue with the defensive-first style. It's the adjustment Tampa made after they lost to CBJ in 2019

This way is conducive to playoff success. Having elite talent on top of it makes you extremely difficult to beat

Especially if the Leafs can add another high impact forward with Muzzin's salary. They're already a matchup nightmare with Matthews and Marner on separate lines. If guys like Knies, Holmberg, Malgin, and Robertson can contribute depth scoring while they bolster the top 6, things start to look pretty good

 

[stickty111]

Really great game. The only guy who didn't look good was Hollowell. Holmberg is a keeper and might make Kerfoot expendable by the TDL.

I thought Hollowell struggled in the first but was fine afterwards. He's handled himself pretty well in a tough situation. I've seen enough to be a depth option. Not everyday yet but can give you mins.