Post-Game Talk: Leafs win 5-2

[meefer]

Those were not taps in. First one he took the Marner rebound and stick handled around Knight and the second was a nice deflection. Both from dirty areas that many Leafs refuse to go to. No other Leaf battled harder than JT last night. Good sign going forward.

“No other Leaf battled harder than JT last night.”

You are correct, sir.

 

[hotpaws]

Those were not taps in. First one he took the Marner rebound and stick handled around Knight and the second was a nice deflection. Both from dirty areas that many Leafs refuse to go to. No other Leaf battled harder than JT last night. Good sign going forward.

yup the first one he took a rebound and flipped it home , 2nd one was all Marner , Johnny just put his stick on the ice and mitch banked the puck in off it

JT plants himself around the crease every game , i don't know what anyone saw any different in his play last night ,and as i've said the more he slows down the more he starts to play like Hyman

 

[Mugzy97]

This is true but I hope it returns

Don’t we all!

 

[ToneDog]

yup the first one he took a rebound and flipped it home , 2nd one was all Marner , Johnny just put his stick on the ice and mitch banked the puck in off it

JT plants himself around the crease every game , i don't know what anyone saw any different in his play last night ,and as i've said the more he slows down the more he starts to play like Hyman

JT is not flashy. Most of his goals are going to come from around the dirty areas. It is why he works so well with Marner. I saw more intensity than normal from JT battling for pucks and Gudas. He played playoff hockey last night and went head to head against one of the most physical dmen in the league. I see that as positives but he needs to keep it going.

 

[saltming]

Exactly this. Even last night, even though he got two goals from just sitting in front of the net, he didn't really do much else if you watch him closely...he wasn't impactful for majority of the game, missed passes, missed shots, losing the puck due being slow, getting checked, or just losing control of it. It's fustrating to see Nylander being picked on but no criticism to the player thats been the worst on that line all year.

I don't know. He beat gudas down in the corners all night. By the third gudas was way more docile.
In a 7 game series, that's huge

 

[hotpaws]

JT is not flashy. Most of his goals are going to come from around the dirty areas. It is why he works so well with Marner. I saw more intensity than normal from JT battling for pucks and Gudas. He played playoff hockey last night and went head to head against one of the most physical dmen in the league. I see that as positives but he needs to keep it going.

everyone works well with Marner because he creates large amounts of Grade A scoring chances for his line mates

i've never questioned JT's effort , he usually gives what he has but what he has right now is the game of a complimentary winger

i have no idea why they won't just throw him on AM's wing and run the 2nd line with Kerfoot between Willie and Bunting , it really can't be any worse than what we've been getting from the 2nd line

 

[bax]

Maybe Bob is struggling…….I sure I hope so.

I hope he’s struggling too and I hope it continues. The Leafs can absolutely beat him. The only thing they need to do is show up which as we all know is the big question in the post season.

 

[Dreakmur]

That game is why I get annoyed when they don’t play hard. The can when they want to.

 

[ToneDog]

Exactly this. Even last night, even though he got two goals from just sitting in front of the net, he didn't really do much else if you watch him closely...he wasn't impactful for majority of the game, missed passes, missed shots, losing the puck due being slow, getting checked, or just losing control of it. It's fustrating to see Nylander being picked on but no criticism to the player thats been the worst on that line all year.

Two posters who attended the game thought otherwise. Willie gets picked on for lack of effort because he can be great and proved it in the playoffs and the first half of the season. Don't think any other player's effort has been questioned..

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

 

[Gabriel426]

The Panthers had their back up goalie in net not their 10 million dollar star goalie…….so there’s that

I would not call Allan a starting goalie in the NHL

 

[Ciao]

JT's line did very little 5 on 5 , no improvement without Willie . JT played no different last night than he has , he just scored a couple tap ins created by Mitch on the pp .

Those were not taps in. First one he took the Marner rebound and stick handled around Knight and the second was a nice deflection. Both from dirty areas that many Leafs refuse to go to. No other Leaf battled harder than JT last night. Good sign going forward.

I thought the Tavares line looked good at even strength. Mikheyev really dug in along the boards, and so did Tavares. He was a beast. I didn't notice any giveaways or defensive lapses either. If there were any, I just didn't see them.

I did notice Nylander's giveaway on the Matthew's line that lead to a goal after the PK though.

I completely agree with @ToneDog Tavares' first goal was anything but a tap-in. His second goal was a very highly skilled play too. It's not like he bounced them in off his arse!

 

[hotpaws]

I thought the Tavares line looked good at even strength. Mikheyev really dug in along the boards, and so did Tavares. He was a beast. I didn't notice any giveaways or defensive lapses either. If there were any, I just didn't see them.

I did notice Nylander's giveaway on the Matthew's line that lead to a goal after the PK though.

I completely agree with @ToneDog Tavares' first goal was anything but a tap-in. His second goal was a very highly skilled play too. It's not like he bounced them in off his arse!

Mathews never should have passed the puck to Willie who was by the crease surrounded by Panthers

and how embarrassing is it for our 11m dollar captain that people feel the need the pimp routine goal mouths goals

 

[fahad203]

@fahad203 how’d we do

We won. Played well

 

[WillyC]

The beautiful thing about last night’s game… the Leafs can be so much better still.

The folks who go on and on about another first round exit is inevitable, because, you know, TB, BOS, FLA and CAR… I say buckle up folks, the Toronto Maple Leafs are legitimate contenders and if I was one of those other 4 teams… Matthews, Marner and the Leafs are the last team I would want to face in round one.

 

[Confucius]

I got to admit Mathews goal will always be a memory, afterall it went from our end and was at least 25 feet high over Panthers players sticks reaching straight up to the roof. Maybe they were saluting Matty.

 

[Martin Skoula]

I like Florida's team but we would be the laughing stock of the NHL with that blue line. Even with Ekblad there. Hell, people still poke fun at ours.

Now add Barkov's raise, Huberdeau's raise, Weegar's raise, Marchment's raise etc. That defense is about to be Weegar-Ekblad and AHLers unless they gut their forward depth.

 

[Ciao]

Mathews never should have passed the puck to Willie who was by the crease surrounded by Panthers

and how embarrassing is it for our 11m dollar captain that people feel the need the pimp routine goal mouths goals

I agree with you on the Panthers' goal.

It's a matter of opinion, but I didn't think Tavares' first goal was at all routine. The second one -- well, okay, maybe -- but those do get missed all the time. You need a bit of skill to do that.

 

[hotpaws]

I agree with you on the Panthers' goal.

It's a matter of opinion, but I didn't think Tavares' first goal was at all routine. The second one -- well, okay, maybe -- but those do get missed all the time. You need a bit of skill to do that.

i'm not saying they were completely unskilled but hardly exceptional , those were pretty much typical Hyman type goals

the problem i have with JT isn't i don't think he's working hard or he's useless but that people take any routine play he makes and pimp the shit out of it like it was something exceptional

also i've never liked the guy . i've watched him since minor hockey , always had the great hands , worked great around the net but his main priority has always been padding his stats above everything else including winning , case in point was last night when we're up by 2 , they had the goalie pulled and Johnny ices the puck trying to pad his stats . people can brush it off but if you ever played or been around the game from the grass roots you'd know you don't do that , it was a selfish play and it doesn't sit well with your teammates

 

[francis246]

Those were not taps in. First one he took the Marner rebound and stick handled around Knight and the second was a nice deflection. Both from dirty areas that many Leafs refuse to go to. No other Leaf battled harder than JT last night. Good sign going forward.

Those deflections were extremely skilled.

 

[ToneDog]

i'm not saying they were completely unskilled but hardly exceptional , those were pretty much typical Hyman type goals

the problem i have with JT isn't i don't think he's working hard or he's useless but that people take any routine play he makes and pimp the shit out of it like it was something exceptional

also i've never liked the guy . i've watched him since minor hockey , always had the great hands , worked great around the net but his main priority has always been padding his stats above everything else including winning , case in point was last night when we're up by 2 , they had the goalie pulled and Johnny ices the puck trying to pad his stats . people can brush it off but if you ever played or been around the game from the grass roots you'd know you don't do that , it was a selfish play and it doesn't sit well with your teammates

Nobody is pimping the shit out of his play. Many are concerned about his decline but it is clear from your posts that you have a huge hate-on for the guy, and pretty much say so above. You are not off base in some of your criticism but your hate is at another level and might be tainting your opinions of him IMO. Up two with an empty net and you have a shot at the hat trick. Come on, how many players in today's game with all the analytics saying shoot it, don't take a shot at the empty net ?? Seriously if it was Matty or Mitch, would you be trashing them as you do JT ??

 

[Havoc]

yup the first one he took a rebound and flipped it home , 2nd one was all Marner , Johnny just put his stick on the ice and mitch banked the puck in off it

JT plants himself around the crease every game , i don't know what anyone saw any different in his play last night ,and as i've said the more he slows down the more he starts to play like Hyman

lol put down the xbox controller.

The first goal, he makes a nice pass to Matthews, then goes on the hunt. Skates through the front of the net while taking a hack to his head along the way, then it takes skill to grab that rebound and put it home backhand over the pad.

Your bias is ridiculous as seen through your opinion of the second goal. That re-direct requires a lot of talent yet you're acting like it was nothing. Mitch did not bank the puck off him. That re-direct takes as much talent as the pass. It was 1-2 punch kind of goal.

 

[hotpaws]

Nobody is pimping the shit out of his play. Many are concerned about his decline but it is clear from your posts that you have a huge hate-on for the guy, and pretty much say so above. You are not off base in some of your criticism but your hate is at another level and might be tainting your opinions of him IMO. Up two with an empty net and you have a shot at the hat trick. Come on, how many players in today's game with all the analytics saying shoot it, don't take a shot at the empty net ?? Seriously if it was Matty or Mitch, would you be trashing them as you do JT ??

I'd say the same thing regardless of who it was and if Willie did that he'd be getting crucified , i understand younger players chasing stats to up there next pay check but f*** me JT is in his 30's and on his last big deal , he should be above that

and their's nothing to be concerned about JT declining , every player declines , it's how the team deals with the players decline that's the concern and what's concerning to me is there in denial , what they should be doing is playing to his strengths which is he's still good down low and on the boards and that's why i keep saying they should move him to AM wing where he'd be most effective

 

[Leaffan1991]

“No other Leaf battled harder than JT last night.”

You are correct, sir.

He honestly just can't play with Willy, that really seems to be his kryptonite

 

[hotpaws]

lol put down the xbox controller.

The first goal, he makes a nice pass to Matthews, then goes on the hunt. Skates through the front of the net while taking a hack to his head along the way, then it takes skill to grab that rebound and put it home backhand over the pad.

Your bias is ridiculous as seen through your opinion of the second goal. That re-direct requires a lot of talent yet you're acting like it was nothing. Mitch did not bank the puck off him. That re-direct takes as much talent as the pass. It was 1-2 punch kind of goal.

my bias is showing ? lol , more like peoples desperation to show JT has a pulse is showing

 

[Ashdown2]

you can really tell when poster watch and dont watch the game.

my bias is showing ? lol , more like peoples desperation to show JT has a pulse is showing

well yeah its pure bias .......
your always complaining about JT no matter what happens. He sould score 6 goals and you would complain about something. did you actually watch the game ? well if you did you would clearly acknowledge that JT was the second best forward on the ice. it has nothing to do with goals and points but every other aspect of the game. hockey is not always about points.
why do we complain about nylander ? not because he has points but he fails are pretty much everything else. when was the last time we said ,"nylander was a top 2/3 player on the ice tonight ?" in november ?

now we have devolved the tavares discussion to having no skill deflecting a puck and icing the puck on an empty net up by 2 goals not 1 but 2 , for a guy that is winning facoffs at a ludicrous 62% on the year