Post-Game Talk: Leafs win 5-3 against the Stars

[Puckstuff]

Knies Matthews Nylander
Pats Tavares Marner
McMann Domi Robertson

Although I want Domi with Matthews this is the most logical lines since we don’t have an established 3c to replace Domi, especially with Minten sent down.

 

[CabanaBoy5]

Great games by Woll and Robertson. Poor games by Matthews, Tavares, and Tanev. Nice to see the third line contributing. Goaltending really is masking a lot of this team’s deficiencies. Not confident in Hildeby on Friday which means we will have score a lot.

 

[Leafs98]

Just got back. Dominance in big D continues. Fantastic second period , particularly their zone exits. Good enough rest of the way. Awesome pk, not so great 6 on 5.

WHat a slug getting to and from. The north dallas highway shutdown due to police activity. But glad i saw them again !

 

[Aashir Mallik]

I didn't love the 2nd goal that Woll gave up would like him to have that one.

But he bounced back after that and was VERY strong from that point on including a SPECTACULAR 2 on 1 save.

See? all I ever wanted was goaltending that didn't piss away points like Samsonov, Campbell, Mrazek, Sparks and Hutchinson all did.

Now the Leafs are 1st in the Atlantic, why? because they are FINALLY getting NHL caliber goaltending which they haven't gotten in YEARS

i do agree that woll was shaky on the 2nd goal and was solid but that last comment seems a bit of a stretch

we've gotten nhl goaltending in years past alot, 2022-23 and the first three years of andersen being great examples.

people aren't going to like it but this season is very very reminiscent of the 2022-2023 keefe's leafs. That team had one superstar (Marner) leading the way offensively, with nylander providing great support behind with tavares too. Matthews was very injury prone that year too and was on pace for the exact same points through his 22 games as he is right now. We were also incredibly stingy defensively and samsonov was spectacular that season, with murray and woll evening each other out to give us an above average goaltending tandem

what I'd say the real reason for us being first is how shit the atlantic is now here is where that team sits in the past years in the atlantic 32 games in and if we keep this point pace up. Note i am taking those leafs out and replacing this iteration in:

brackets are the end of the season finish of a .656
2023-2024: 2nd (3rd)
2022-2023: 2nd (2nd)
2021-2022: 3rd (3rd)
2019-2020: 2nd (3rd)

this pace would never have us being first and for the most part we wouldn't even be sniffing first. The team has been great no doubt, but we can't just say being first is all us when the division has literally fallen apart around us.

 

[Cap'n Flavour]

Missed high stick on Knies

Then Benoit gets a penalty where Blackwell subtly pinned Benoit's arm when it was around him to draw the holding call.

I think the refs let them play more after that

Pacioretty's hit was borderline boarding and definitely a high stick and Timmins cross-checked Marchment in the back so hard he had to leave the game. I think the refs and bounces went in the Leafs' favour tonight.

Tanev and Timmins were terrible (ok not that bad but the alliteration is necessary); please get a real 2nd pair RHD for Christmas and give Matthews a break until he's actual healthy.

I thought Matthews played well

...short of his usual standard?

 

[TMLeafer]

3rd line is buzzing

Willy scored twice but I didn't love the top line today. Need more intensity.

Reaves puck control/plays have actually been half decent since he's been back.

Rielly was noticeable for the wrong reasons again, and Timmins too.

 

[Voodoo Child]

The Seattle kraken have a good crew of announcers too. John Forslund, the former Carolina Hurricanes play by play man left for the kraken to call regular season games for them.

John Forslund - Wikipedia

en.m.wikipedia.org

I miss Bob cole/Harry neale/dick Irvin/ don cherry on hnic. And joe Bowen and Jim Ralph on tsn/Sportsnet. Chris cuthbert is decent though, but I miss the voice, old school charm, classic professionalism, enthusiasm and description of Bob cole, and the witty banter, clever analysis and hockey stories of Harry Neale. As a duo, they were charming and unstoppable.

Yeah I remember being impressed with the Seattle feed as well.

And yes, OG HNIC and early TSN was based as f***. I still watch highlights on YT with Joe doing the PBP and his voice is iconic but he's starting to show his age a little. Bob Cole, RIP there, always had a good story for the context of the game.

Then you had Coach's Corner with Ron and Don at 1st intermission, and I get some people dislike Don, I'm not one of them but some are, but he was never dull and he had convictions...I liked Ron and still like Ron, but I will never approve of how he handled all of that. I've been all over the world, I've met people from Africa who knew who Don Cherry was.

And now we have what we have - quality traded for convenience.

 

[Superstar]

Are Matthews and Marner drunk this game? Holy, moly, falling all over the place...this is probably the pair's worst game of the season.

 

[sunstersun]

Our best player, as everyone expected.

 

[LeafsNet]

And all the roads we have to walk are winding
And all the lights that lead us there are blinding
There are many things that I would
Like to say to you
But I don't know how


Because maybe
You're gonna be the one that saves me
And after all
You're my wonderWOLL

 

[Rude Dog]

I don’t care what the majority think. Robertson can be a productive NHL player put in the right situation. The kid wants it so bad it’s crippling. Once he can relax and just play he will easily be a consistent 15-20 goal player in this league. But you can see he is playing like his career depends on the next shift which it kinda does

 

[Seath The Scaleless]

Once again a shout out to the Stars' PBP crew, Razor and Bogorad, IMO the two best in the business. I always look forward to watching the Stars' feed when they play them. Memes and banter, non-sequiturs and stories that they keep at an appropriate length, and Razor's wordplay is stellar. They're homers for their team as expected, but not under the table and on their knees homers and give proper respect to the opposing team.

They're probably my favourite PBP team. I was huge fan of the legend Dave Strader (RIP) who set the bar really high for their broadcast, but Bogorad has done a phenomenal job for 7+ years now.

And Razor knows every damn word in the dictionary. I always learn a new word or two whenever I tune in lol

 

[Torontonian]

Sluggish start, Woll was once again solid. Team certainly knows how to shut it down in the 3rd when winning. Believe they are 16-0 when leading after 2 now.

 

[ULF_55]

They're probably my favourite PBP team. I was huge fan of the legend Dave Strader (RIP) who set the bar really high for their broadcast, but Bogorad has done a phenomenal job for 7+ years now.

And Razor knows every damn word in the dictionary. I always learn a new word or two whenever I tune in lol

Too bad NHL highlights use scoring teams crew.
I enjoy listening to the Homer's when their team is scored on. Especially when their teams is losing.

 

[crump]

Beat one of the best home teams. Woll had quite a game. 3rd line is so hot right now. Need them to keep it up because looks like everyone else is in recovery mode still. Nylander with a couple of nice goals though. That saucer from Matthews was perfect.
Thought McCabe had a good game too.

Can’t complain too much. Road game rope a dope win.

 

[ULF_55]

Beat one of the best home teams. Woll had quite a game. 3rd line is so hot right now. Need them to keep it up because looks like everyone else is in recovery mode still. Nylander with a couple of nice goals though. That saucer from Matthews was perfect.
Thought McCabe had a good game too.

Can’t complain too much. Road game rope a dope win.

Watching other games really show how talented Nylander is. Canuck's Pettersson looks so pedestrian in comparison.

 

[Seath The Scaleless]

Too bad NHL highlights use scoring teams crew.
I enjoy listening to the Homer's when their team is scored on. Especially when their teams is losing.

The NHL highlights on YouTube will always show the home broadcast, regardless of the goal and end result

 

[Squiffy]

"Toronto Maple Leafs score more goals than Dallas Stars, win game".

That's my take on this one. I thought we were mostly garbage but hey, 2 points and get out of Dodge, almost literally. Credit to Woll going Fuhr and not giving up the next one. Not used to winning games we shouldn't, odd thing.