Post-Game Talk: Leafs win 5-2

[DraftSchmaft]

I was at this game. Just got home.

Tavares is an absolute beast. Not even close to cooked. You have to see this guy live to see how hard he competes.

 

[Apotheosis]

Liljegren is a step above Sandin currently. Love his game so far.

 

[Ciao]

I mean we got Bunting for 2 years 750K when he put up similar numbers to Mikheyev.

Galchenyuk put up similar numbers as Mikheyev, and ended up in Arizona for league min.

Not like he has the career to demand 4M+, he's still near a league min guy.

Teams usually don't want to sign a career high 23 point guy for a ton instead of playing their prospects. I don't think teams will be lining up to sign him... but who knows.

One team will pay more than the others.

Mikheyev will be receptive to that, and the highest bidder is unlikely to be the Leafs.

 

[Divine]

One team will pay more than the others.

Mikheyev will be receptive to that, and the highest bidder is unlikely to be the Leafs.

What do you think his value is?

 

[Gabriel426]

So I guess Dubas assembled a team that can beat the best team in the division, lol.

Didn’t watch the game as I was working. Just saw the
Box score, it is strange that Leafs can score 5 against the best team in the division with about 20 shots while scoring 2 goals 50 shots against one of the worse teams in the league.

 

[2 Slick]

Didn’t watch the game as I was working. Just saw the
Box score, it is strange that Leafs can score 5 against the best team in the division with about 20 shots while scoring 2 goals 50 shots against one of the worse teams in the league.

It also shows you what happens when the refs actually gives the Leafs a few powerplay opportunities. Go look at every other game, teams getting 5 to 6 powerplays on a regular basis, Leafs are lucky to get 1 to 2 most games. Lol

 

[IPS]

Holl is so press box bound when Muzz gets back. Doubly so if Sandin is ready come PO time as well. I mean who else is gonna sit? Bush? Lil? Gio? You'd have 2 b insane to consider anyone else.

I guarantee the Muzzin-Holl pairing gets reunited and Liljegren gets scratched. And yes, it will be insanely infuriating.

 

[bax]

I guarantee the Muzzin-Holl pairing gets reunited and Liljegren gets scratched. And yes, it will be insanely infuriating.

I sincerely hope not.

 

[IPS]

I sincerely hope not.

Same, but I'll be damned if management/coaching hasn't shown unconditional commitment to always having Holl in the top 4.

 

[slozo]

Great win. Glad I was wrong and they put up a good show for us fans.

Mrazek was solid, not exceptional, but solid, which is really all we need from him. Really good that he wasn't called upon too much.

But really, that game was the Mitch Marner show. New look lines didn't really do much. PP and PK are still top notch.

Nylander with a rough game. Fourth line is a disaster.

I was at the game, Mrázek was very good. Just my opinion, but he wasn’t swimming as much, swallowed pucks in many key moments , and made several A+ saves at key moments on the top offensive team in the league. He was excellent.

 

[slozo]

I was at this game. Just got home.

Tavares is an absolute beast. Not even close to cooked. You have to see this guy live to see how hard he competes.

Agreed
Was at the game myself as well, he was impressive, and that redirect from Marner a puck shot what looked like a foot off the ice was an incredible goal. He hustled hard and didn’t look slow at all IRL

 

[IPS]

So ya, guess who got a penalty from this?

 

[Gabriel426]

It also shows you what happens when the refs actually gives the Leafs a few powerplay opportunities. Go look at every other game, teams getting 5 to 6 powerplays on a regular basis, Leafs are lucky to get 1 to 2 most games. Lol

I think Leafs scoring two SH goals a few nights ago gave the refs the idea that Game MGT for the Leafs means giving them PK time, lol.

 

[Scion]

I think we're seeing Liljegren pass Holl on the depth chart now, before our eyes.

Holl just played 5 minutes more than Liljigren which clearly demonstrates that Keefe trusts him more. That probably won't hold true in a year, but as it stands today I think Liljigren is the Leafs #7/8 when the team is at full health. I know people have their own perceptions, but I can't fault any coach for going with experience with so much on the line. As good as Lilijgren is he still makes too many mistakes that won't fly in the playoffs, I also think he needs to get stronger in the off-season because he still gets bodied too frequently.

 

[stickty111]

Going to post this here too.

I think Keefe is a good coach overall but today that was an awful coaching display. 4th line out multiple times against the 2nd line? Probably the worst coached in his tenure. Keefe is usually fine with matchups so not sure what this was about.
Also don't know if he would, but playing Abruzzese against Boston would be something I applaud.

 

[stickty111]

I was at this game. Just got home.

Tavares is an absolute beast. Not even close to cooked. You have to see this guy live to see how hard he competes.

Compete is never a question for him. His bad games are usually because of execution. Absolutely still love the guy. He doesn't talk a lot but his leadership is through his effort. When he gets upset though, teams better be careful

 

[riffle]

Going to post this here too.

I think Keefe is a good coach overall but today that was an awful coaching display. 4th line out multiple times against the 2nd line? Probably the worst coached in his tenure. Keefe is usually fine with matchups so not sure what this was about.
Also don't know if he would, but playing Abruzzese against Boston would be something I applaud.

You know that's coming. If ever there was a Leafs thing to do that is it. Starting the rookie back home in Boston for his first NHL game. I think they'll not only play him but start him. It's just what the Leafs do.

I wonder what number he'll wear? He was 16 at Harvard. Wonder if he's a Marner fan? Nope. He grew up a Rangers fan, so that isn't why 16. Maybe, a Sean Avery fan? Ha ha.

Just read this about him. Fired me up. Everyone talking about Knies, but Abruzzese is no slouch.

Maple Leafs' Nick Abruzzese: Small in Stature, Huge in Brain & Skill - The Hockey Writers Maple Leafs Prospects Latest News, Analysis & More

Toronto Maple Leafs prospect Nick Abruzzese was just named ECAC Rookie of the Year. What makes this youngster so specially as a player?

thehockeywriters.com

 

[Zero1]

Man please let these Leafs show up in the playoffs.

 

[Seath The Scaleless]

Side note: If we played like that vs MTL, I am not sure they would get 20 shots against us, let alone beat us.

Well, Montreal didn't get to 20 shots on Saturday. We definitely played well enough to win that game but just couldn't bury many chances (and Allen was very good)

 

[Enga Olly]

Gio might be my most favourite deadline acquisition in a long time. Exactly what was needed. Creates a steady pair with Lily (awesome mentorship for him too). Has some grittiness, battles in front, and can move the puck.

Really hope they can bring him back next year.

I had that so very wrong. Was against acquiring him and was snarky saying we should trade a 4th rounder with Seattle at 50% retention. I was wrong - good thing I'm not the GM

And it's been said many times already but just loving this Lyubushkin pick up. What a great addition, really brings something we have lacked for years.

 

[Superstar]

So ya, guess who got a penalty from this?

Don't have to guess, refs will tell you...

 

[Srsly]

Solid game. I’m starting to wonder if Tavares would be a 40 goal player with Marner after his play with Matthew’s out and his production on the power play with Mitch. Shame we can’t clone Marner as his chemistry with Matthews is pretty impressive as well.

 

[hotpaws]

Agreed
Was at the game myself as well, he was impressive, and that redirect from Marner a puck shot what looked like a foot off the ice was an incredible goal. He hustled hard and didn’t look slow at all IRL

you must have had a bad angle , the puck was on the ice on the redirect goal , tremendous play by Marner

 

[meefer]

Going to post this here too.

I think Keefe is a good coach overall but today that was an awful coaching display. 4th line out multiple times against the 2nd line? Probably the worst coached in his tenure. Keefe is usually fine with matchups so not sure what this was about.
Also don't know if he would, but playing Abruzzese against Boston would be something I applaud.

If I remember correctly, changes were made on the fly by the Leafs and Florida matched, jumped on the 4th and an icing or two was the result with Spezza's line caught by the icings. Could be wrong, though. Regardless, I did appreciate Keefe's final words in his presser:

"That is what we want from our players. They are out there. They see it. They are seeing seams, angles, and things that we are not quite seeing from the bench or we might see a little differently. Those guys need to take charge. They have played a long time and have seen a lot of those scenarios.
That is what happened. Good on them. Great to see them get rewarded."

He placed the win squarely on the shoulders of the players, as he should, praising their efforts and appreciative of their success. Hopefully, as they should, the players know this goes both ways.

 

[ACC1224]

They were noticeably caved in their own zone once or twice but just seem to lack any kind of force. Spezza and Simmonds are really slowing down and showing their age. Think Spezz could use some load management. Though Spezz is also 10 points away from 1000 points so let's just get him across the line.

He won’t get to 1000 this year.