Post-Game Talk: Leafs win 4-2!

[57 Years No Cup]

That might not be the team identity anymore but there are at least 3 players looking for the pretty play instead of a goal.

Yup. Looks like no buy in from those 3 at all. Trade Marner.

 

[weems]

For a "defensive defencemen", Tanev is very poised with the puck and makes tons of smart little outlet passes.

Sure the contract isn't great but this guy was a impact acquisition.

 

[BayStBullies]

Overcame 10 penalties in 2 games, this is good practice for the bias ahead. The team didn't cave like the Sheldon days.

"Back-up" goalie had a great game last night, deserved a better outcome.

"Third-string" goalie had a great game tonight.

Goalie situation is so much better than last year.

Go Leafs Go!!!

Playing with an actual defensive system and purpose also helps.

 

[djdev]

honestly I would swap domi with marner and see how that works

doesn't mess the bottom six up and it has a chance of sparking both lines at once. Can't hurt to try

matthews played the best most complete hockey hes ever played when he was with domi last year. marner and matthews always try to get too cute(esp marner)

 

[BayStBullies]

The captain iced the puck trying to score

2 goal lead, it's not a horrible play.

 

[stats1]

Hildeby very emotional gotta love this kid. He’s going to be really good. Leafs have a lot of depth in net once Woll gets back

 

[Confucius]

I'll take the win - all thanks to our fourth line and Hildeby's solid first game.

Matthews, Marner, and Willy need to figure it out soon.

PP still sucks, but PK looked good. Need to take less penalties though.

The figure 8 club isn’t worried they are onside with the fans who deem playoffs are the only thing that matters. Sort of like preseason I guess.

 

[Action Jackson]

matthews played the best most complete hockey hes ever played when he was with domi last year. marner and matthews always try to get too cute(esp marner)

Matthews playing very responsibly so far, his defensive efforts even better than offensive. Berube is rubbing off on them (these 2 games.. we'll see)

 

[Jimmy Firecracker]

https://x.com/i/web/status/1844555502602121670

Top Line Bad.

 

[GoonieFace]

Change takes time to accept. Don't worry, you'll get there.

Pretty much everything you say doesn’t materialize, so for the love of god….

 

[TMLeafer]

Nice win. This version of the 4th line looks great. Lorentz is quickly becoming one of my favourites. Hildy was solid in his debut.

 

[djdev]

Matthews playing very responsibly so far, his defensive efforts even better than offensive. Berube is rubbing off on them (these 2 games.. we'll see)

i havent had anything to complain about with matthews so far, marner is killing that line imo atm.

 

[BertCorbeau]

For a "defensive defencemen", Tanev is very poised with the puck and makes tons of smart little outlet passes.

Sure the contract isn't great but this guy was a impact acquisition.

Really liked his game

Actually quite impressed with the team defense as a whole to start the season. Typically you see more barn burners and stuff like that. But the Leafs have done well to play a quiet poised game and stay in control. The third periods in these two games have been nice.

I wonder if Berube is working on that part of the ice right now as a focus. Seems like the core guys are trying to listen to Berube about the o-zone but are also kind of lost at the same time.

Anyway back to back on the road to start the season .. more to like the complain about IMO

 

[All Mod Cons]

You've gotta be really happy with the job Bradley did this summer. OEL, Tanev, Stolarz, Lorentz, Paccioretty - wowie wowie.

 

[Roo]

Good game by the boys. Congrats to Hildeby on his first win. Our guns aren’t firing, but you know they will get going soon. The secondary scoring is key for this team.

Shout out to Holberg, I thought he was solid this game. Winning lots of battles, solid on the pk.. he seems much stronger this year. Hopefully he can become that solid 3c we need.

Long overdue breakup for that top PP unit IMO. I wonder if it’s worth swapping Nylander and Robertson. Nylander and JT just don’t jive. Never have, IMO.

 

[Jmo89]

matthews played the best most complete hockey hes ever played when he was with domi last year. marner and matthews always try to get too cute(esp marner)

Yeah I really hope Berube isn't stubborn like the past two coaches and will try something new sooner.

It's only two games into the season so I can understand a few more games with these lines but if things dont start clicking for the top 6 I hope they try something new.

Honestly I think Marner would be better away from Matthews. I think part of the reason he's so pass-first is because he's so used to passing to Matthews. I could see him become more confident with his shot if he plays a season without him.

 

[Confucius]

plz put domi and matthews back together.

Well Domi certainly didn’t do much of anything

 

[LaPlante94]

I think with how Berube likes to play 4 lines and doesn't really play forwards over 20 minutes a game it's probably best to split the big 3 onto their own lines. Swap Domi and Marner and maybe Robertson and Nylander and run this:

Domi-Matthews-Knies
Robertson-Tavares-Marner
Patches-Holmberg-Nylander

Use that as the top 9. You could possibly even swap Patches and Robertson tbh. Patches might be a better fit with Tavares and then the 3rd line is a faster line.

 

[Clark4Ever]

I like the way Berube has the team playing and distributes ice time. That style of play should translate well in the playoffs.

The big three are struggling right now to find their rhythm but they will figure it out and start contributing soon enough.

I think the coaching staff also needs to consider reconfiguring the power play units.

Hildeby had an excellent debut. The goaltending has been a huge positive so far.

 

[djdev]

Yeah I really hope Berube isn't stubborn like the past two coaches and will try something new sooner.

It's only two games into the season so I can understand a few more games with these lines but if things dont start clicking for the top 6 I hope they try something new.

Honestly I think Marner would be better away from Matthews. I think part of the reason he's so pass-first is because he's so used to passing to Matthews. I could see him become more confident with his shot if he plays a season without him.

tbh i just like the way matthews plays when he cant rely on marner on that line, he seems to take charge alot more and tends to play more physical too.

 

[Antropovsky]

I hope you're right.

The difference is clear with 34 and 16 getting mins on the PK

I notice Matthews has been "pesty" these first 2 games as well

Marner ... more contact as well tonight. he's been very aggressive as the guy on the top of the umbrella. Looks like berube is using marner's speed to cause problems

First time I’ve seen Marner in a board battle on the PK. Helping the D hold the puck killed a lot of Jersey’s minutes. Usually, he’s just standing in the open, waiting for a loose puck. No more free meals, not with Berube. I bet Keefe was shocked and disappointed.

 

[djdev]

I think with how Berube likes to play 4 lines and doesn't really play forwards over 20 minutes a game it's probably best to split the big 3 onto their own lines. Swap Domi and Marner and maybe Robertson and Nylander and run this:

Domi-Matthews-Knies
Robertson-Tavares-Marner
Patches-Holmberg-Nylander

Use that as the top 9. You could possibly even swap Patches and Robertson tbh. Patches might be a better fit with Tavares and then the 3rd line is a faster line.

i personally think JT needs to be on the 3rd line with mcmann and maybe patches

 

[NastyKnies]

OEL is playing elite.

 

[HomelessPepper]

For a "defensive defencemen", Tanev is very poised with the puck and makes tons of smart little outlet passes.

Sure the contract isn't great but this guy was a impact acquisition.

This is what I've been adamant we've been missing for years: puck moving dmen.

It's also why I'm not stoked on keeping McCabe. He's very good at the various defensive responsibilities, but SUCKS at moving the puck. This is why Tanev is elite, and a guy like McCabe isn't.

 

[Jojalu]

You've gotta be really happy with the job Bradley did this summer. OEL, Tanev, Stolarz, Lorentz, Paccioretty - wowie wowie.

OEL has been excellent.