Post-Game Talk: Leafs win 5-3

[ACC1224]

Yup, and it was noticeable all night. Felt like that entire top line played with an edge last night and it seemed to trickle down the lineup. Matthews is usually a dog on the forecheck regardless of being physical. He's just so unbelievably good with his stick that he really doesn't need to engage in those physical battles all the time, but my god was he a force yesterday.

You gotta wonder if there is a Bunting effect on his play. I know him and Bunting are really close, but that trio just seems to be rubbing off on one another like I've never seen before. It seems as though Mitch and Auston are getting increasingly more tenacious as Bunting is getting increasingly more skilled and confident.

I can't remember ever watching a Leafs line dominate the way they have been able to dominate these past couple weeks. They are all over the puck. Feels like they are good for 2-3 goals a game every game.

Loved the urgency to Auston's and Mitch's game yesterday. That game had some bite and energy and they rose to the occasion. Something that has not always been the case for either one of them, Mitch especially.

Have to agree, they have been fantastic. It appears that they are ramping up to find a playoff mode, lets hope it continues.
IMO, I am not worried at all that they will be dominant this year in the playoffs.

 

[Mess]

Up 3-1 after 1.. Leafs let Washington back into the game 3-3 before closing it out in the last 5 minutes.

Big win for the Leafs.

 

[Magic Man]

JT gets thrown down by Wilson
Same shift he nailed Lyub
Rielly gets nailed
No response whatsoever

Simmonds definitely should have tried to fight Wilson off the draw to end the game. Wilson and Hathaway were throwing their weight around all game. It would have been satisfying to see him have to defend himself for playing that way against our star players.

I thought the Leafs group had their moments physically as well. But, Simmonds could have done more here. The game was over and they were both lined up together. Neither coach shyed away, the players did. Simmer has to make himself more of a deterrent.

 

[ShaneFalco]

Simmonds definitely should have tried to fight Wilson off the draw to end the game. Wilson and Hathaway were throwing their weight around all game. It would have been satisfying to see him have to defend himself for playing that way against our star players.

I thought the Leafs group had their moments physically as well. But, Simmonds could have done more here. The game was over and they were both lined up together. Neither coach shyed away, the players did. Simmer has to make himself more of a deterrent.

When you see you captain getting smoked, get in their face at the very least. I've never seen a Leaf team look away so much and be so passive. It's all about being harder to play against as some players mention every year. Part of being a team.

 

[ACC1224]

Simmonds definitely should have tried to fight Wilson off the draw to end the game. Wilson and Hathaway were throwing their weight around all game. It would have been satisfying to see him have to defend himself for playing that way against our star players.

I thought the Leafs group had their moments physically as well. But, Simmonds could have done more here. The game was over and they were both lined up together. Neither coach shyed away, the players did. Simmer has to make himself more of a deterrent.

I saw it more that Simmonds was put out there so nothing stupid would happen and Wilson for the same reason plus to try and get his hat trick. Simmonds had already answered for the team a few minutes prior and the game was in the bag. Not a time to fight, IMO and certainly no one would want to risk an instigator call there .

 

[Morbo]

JT gets thrown down by Wilson
Same shift he nailed Lyub
Rielly gets nailed
No response whatsoever

the response was turning up the speed and skill and leaving the leadfooted Caps with 0 points.

let me ask you something. do you think that if somebody hit or fought Wilson it's going to make one iota of difference next time the two teams meet?

think carefully about your answer.

 

[JT AM da real deal]

Simmonds definitely should have tried to fight Wilson off the draw to end the game. Wilson and Hathaway were throwing their weight around all game. It would have been satisfying to see him have to defend himself for playing that way against our star players.

I thought the Leafs group had their moments physically as well. But, Simmonds could have done more here. The game was over and they were both lined up together. Neither coach shyed away, the players did. Simmer has to make himself more of a deterrent.

There was no need .. game was over .. and Wilson does not want to get knocked out again .. bad for his reputation .. Wayner would not have cared just his personality

 

[Magic Man]

I saw it more that Simmonds was put out there so nothing stupid would happen and Wilson for the same reason plus to try and get his hat trick. Simmonds had already answered for the team a few minutes prior and the game was in the bag. Not a time to fight, IMO and certainly no one would want to risk an instigator call there .

Does it really matter if Simmonds gets a one game suspension? The game is over, penalties don't matter. More time for Nick Rob or you sub in Clifford for a game and don't lose the muscle.

He did go after Oshie and wrestled around with Van Reimsdyk. Which was him doing the ole if you go after our stars, we'll go after yours and I thought it was a good response. But, given the visciousness of the hits and the way he just kind of stumbled into a scrum where JT was already engaged and he just threw him to the ice. I would have liked to have seen him answer for that stuff personally if there was an opportunity and there was.

 

[ShaneFalco]

the response was turning up the speed and skill and leaving the leadfooted Caps with 0 points.

let me ask you something. do you think that if somebody hit or fought Wilson it's going to make one iota of difference next time the two teams meet?

think carefully about your answer.

Please! Show some push-back is all I ask. Someone hacks away at your captain - do you think other teams would just skate away and think "we'll get em on the scoreboard"
Think carefully about your answer

 

[cupcrazyman]

JT reads HF Boards criticism & makes the proper adjustments to his game.

 

[ACC1224]

Does it really matter if Simmonds gets a one game suspension? The game is over, penalties don't matter. More time for Nick Rob or you sub in Clifford for a game and don't lose the muscle.

He did go after Oshie and wrestled around with Van Reimsdyk. Which was him doing the ole if you go after our stars, we'll go after yours and I thought it was a good response. But, given the visciousness of the hits and the way he just kind of stumbled into a scrum where JT was already and engaged and he just threw him to the ice. I would have liked to have seen him answer for that stuff personally if there was an opportunity and there was.

It certainly would have been nice had someone stepped up when Tavares was tossed aside but there was no one on the ice at the time.
In a tight game I don't think Keefe wanted the 4th line out against the Caps top line so the chance didn't really present itself until that last faceoff. As I said earlier, IMO that wasn't the time, it really wouldn't have served any purpose. Now if that was Game 1 of a Playoff series I probably think different.

I've always believed the team is too soft and has contributed to game/series losses but I thought that it didn't really affect their play as much last night.
IMO, there are Teams you answer to and Teams you counter it with your own game. Washington isn't the Team you want to answer, you just play into their hands and likely don't win the battle.

 

[ShaneFalco]

Everyone is fine with that?!

 

[stickty111]

Main stream media won't like this by MJ.

 

[crump]

I 'm glad they pulled that win off, staved off a comeback story for the Caps. But holy hell, Mrazek had horse shoes up his butt.

 

[Tarmore]

Everyone is fine with that?!

I can't speak for everyone but YES

The whole clip is 7 seconds long, JT gets thrown down in the first 3 seconds of the clip.

Not sure how fast you expect Nylander to get in there. News flash you should never expect Nylander to drop the gloves and beat someone up..... ever.

 

[Le Cobra]

Have to agree, they have been fantastic. It appears that they are ramping up to find a playoff mode, lets hope it continues.
IMO, I am not worried at all that they will be dominant this year in the playoffs.

Leafs = Superman

Playoffs = Kryptonite

We literally need Scotty Bowman, Gretzky in his prime, McDavid, Scott Stevens, and Martin Brodeur to make it past the first round

 

[ShaneFalco]

I can't speak for everyone but YES

The whole clip is 7 seconds long, JT gets thrown down in the first 3 seconds of the clip.

Not sure how fast you expect Nylander to get in there. News flash you should never expect Nylander to drop the gloves and beat someone up..... ever.

Noone is talking about Nylander fighting.....maybe showing that he gives a f*** about his captain may help though. But with all the success this team has had....

 

[Le Cobra]

Please! Show some push-back is all I ask. Someone hacks away at your captain - do you think other teams would just skate away and think "we'll get em on the scoreboard"
Think carefully about your answer

whatever physicality we saw in this game will be amplified by 100 in the postseason. Leafs are notoriously bad for being a pushover

I agree with the above

 

[ULF_55]

I 'm glad they pulled that win off, staved off a comeback story for the Caps. But holy hell, Mrazek had horse shoes up his butt.

Shhhh, Campbell has been looking for it for over 2 months.

 

[Le Cobra]

I 'm glad they pulled that win off, staved off a comeback story for the Caps. But holy hell, Mrazek had horse shoes up his butt.

credit where credit is due. Mrazek has been outplaying Campbell lately

 

[ULF_55]

Everyone is fine with that?!

Who is asking?

 

[ACC1224]

Leafs = Superman

Playoffs = Kryptonite

We literally need Scotty Bowman, Gretzky in his prime, McDavid, Scott Stevens, and Martin Brodeur to make it past the first round

I've seen it happen many times. I have no doubt I'll see it again.
A Brodeur would certainly help though.

 

[Gary Nylund]

Leafs = Superman

Playoffs = Kryptonite

We literally need Scotty Bowman, Gretzky in his prime, McDavid, Scott Stevens, and Martin Brodeur to make it past the first round

I think this is an exaggeration. If we had those other guys, we could probably get by without McDavid.

 

[Twine Tickler]

I know some may be upset with the Robertson usage, and I completely get it. I am 100% in favor of giving him more of a look at his point. He has looked really good in the 2 games he has played IMO.

I actually thought he looked really good yesterday even though he only played like 5 mins. He was flying out there.

Just to play devils advocate for a second, I think we need to remind ourselves that Nick was brought up on somewhat of an emergency basis. He didn't necessarily earn this callup, and he is still only 9 games back from a very serious injury. I definitely think he should have been on PP2, but other than that I think I can understand the lack of usage.

Nick will be a very good player for us in due time, I think they just want to make sure he was getting the right matchups. This entire post game thread is littered with comments suggesting we showed no push back to the caps physicality. I think if I'm Sheldon watching this game from the bench it's very clearly a physical game, and I think I can understand him wanting to shelter Nick a bit from that when possible. Because again, he was not supposed to be in the lineup these last 2 games. Injuries and illness are the only reason he is on the team right now.

That all said, he's look 10x better than I was expecting TBH. He was really good in the reduced capacity on Saturday and I saw a lot of really promising things from his game yesterday that I found even more encouraging. That was an intense game, and he didn't back down in his limited TOI. He was causing TO's, getting in on the forecheck, and like I said earlier he was flying.

We have 6 straight games coming up against non playoff teams. I hope they give him a real look in those games. Even if it just means 4L w/ PP2, just give him a couple extra touches of the puck.

I was against the call-up at first, only because I really didn't like the idea of him playing 4L. But if he continues to play the way he has been I think this will be a great learning experience in the long run. Even if his time up with the Leafs is in a reduced capacity. I just think if we need to call his number in the playoffs he will be that much more ready to shoulder that responsibility.

 

[Ciao]

Matthews had five hits, no shots on goal and one goal-line save. That works for me. He's a complete player -- a real beast last night.

He's giving the Leafs what they need to win.

Tavares looked pretty good too.