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Post-Game Talk: Leafs win 5-4 OT

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stickty111 said:

I like the passion. I want a coach sticking up for his players
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Keefe is maaaaaaaaaad. Funny how two calls that f***ed us last playoffs, Kampf’s ghost high-stick to put us on the PK in the first place in G6, and Holl’s interference penalty in G7 were both missed tonight.

Wes reffed G7 and tonight so he’s as terrible as ever.
 
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ViewsFromThe6ix said:
Look at the hit totals from the past couple playoff series. I'm certain you'd be surprised at what you see.
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Last year they.were far more physically engaged down the stretch. It seemed to change when they picked up Lybushkin and they were more engaged and complete. This year they don't seem interested. Maybe trying to save it for the playoffs...in a perfect world.

I am not expecting them to make hitting their forte, but they need the bottom six at least to bring some weight more often (some new faces would be welcome, Incan think of a few).

I get that Keefe doesn't want them to take themselves out of the play with a hit, but they need to take what they can when it's available. They don't need to plaster a guy and stick around for two seconds just bounce and move, take them off the puck with the odd square hit sometimes.

These hits compound in a series.
 
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Leafsfan74 said:
Last year they.were far more physically engaged down the stretch. It seemed to change when they picked up Lybushkin and they were more engaged and complete. This year they don't seem interested. Maybe trying to save it for the playoffs...in a perfect world.

I am not expecting them to make hitting their forte, but they need the bottom six at least to bring some weight more often (some new faces would be welcome, Incan think of a few).

I get that Keefe doesn't want them to take themselves out of the play with a hit, but they need to take what they can when it's available. They don't need to plaster a guy and stick around for two seconds just bounce and move, take them off the puck with the odd square hit sometimes.

These hits compound in a series.
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It’s not the hits, it’s the physical effort taken to lean and push against another person. Get inside body position and make them exert extra effort to push through you. Pin them against the boards and make them exert extra effort to break free. That adds up just as much as flying elbows.
 
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Leafsfan74 said:
The first game back aside, it has to be repeated that teams that play physical against the Leafs always gives them trouble. 36-11 in hits and another 1 goal game. I won't be convinced that being constsntly hit won't wear a team down in a series. Far worse when the physical team is getting the PP opportunities

Maybe they will get lucky and draw the Devils in the playoffs. I don't want to overstate the importance but some physical presence couldn't hurt.

I also understand Keefes frustrations. The league can't have it both ways.
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We've easily dispatched a bunch of physical teams this year. We are outhit in pretty much every game, and yet we have the 3rd best record in the league.

Even today, the refs and Samsonov made this a lot closer than anything the Blues did physically.

Also fun fact, in the playoffs since Matthews/Marner showed up, we have laid out 3 more hits per game in games we lose vs. games we win. In the 6 series elimination losses we've had, we have outhit the other team in all except one of them.

There is also no real correlation between the number of hits laid out and the teams that win the Cup. Tampa's first win and WSH were the only two teams in the top 5 in hits. Both of PIT's wins were near the bottom. Most of the time, the winners are somewhere near the middle of the pack in terms of hits laid out. The Leafs, for their part, are often in that 6-8 range in hits/60. Only our series against MTL, when we were all over them for most of the series and didn't have many opportunities to hit them, were we at the very bottom or anywhere close to it.

So I wouldn't obsess or worry about hits or physicality with this team. It is not the reason we are losing in the playoffs. We have done well keeping teams out of our slot and winning board battles under Keefe, both in the regular season and in the playoffs. We have also shown more intensity and consistent effort, which needs to come from everyone. Our goaltending needs to be better and we need to convert more of our scoring chances... and it is no coincidence that goaltending (and reffing to an extent, which has also been a problem in the playoffs for us) is the main reason why this game was even close.

Just to conclude with a shoutout to Sandin who has the most hits on our team while also dominating possession, which is a rare combination and hopefully calms some of the concerns about his shorter stature.
 
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Dekes For Days said:
M
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Leafsfan74 said:
Last year they.were far more physically engaged down the stretch. It seemed to change when they picked up Lybushkin and they were more engaged and complete. This year they don't seem interested. Maybe trying to save it for the playoffs...in a perfect world.

I am not expecting them to make hitting their forte, but they need the bottom six at least to bring some weight more often (some new faces would be welcome, Incan think of a few).

I get that Keefe doesn't want them to take themselves out of the play with a hit, but they need to take what they can when it's available. They don't need to plaster a guy and stick around for two seconds just bounce and move, take them off the puck with the odd square hit sometimes.

These hits compound in a series.
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Perfectly said …..
 
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5th in the league shots on goal average against, 2nd GA/GP.
Boston's ridiculously good start is largely due to their league leading 2.18 GA/GP. Their GF/GP sitting 2nd OV isn't bad either ;-) Neither, imo, is sustainable at the rate they've opened the year.
We are seriously good. Given our injury bug, we've not yet seen the best of what this team can be.
My only concern is how we respond to the wear and tear of playing against a heavier team come the playoffs. But, I'd be cautious about tinkering with the roster because of the buy in the players have offered Keefe and his staff. Whomever our additions might be, I'm hoping that they are players who don't cheat when on the ice.
 
PromisedLand said:
everytime I hear the word "hips" i immediately start dreaming about Shakira 😍
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1672201773655.jpeg

Oops ! My bad !
Wrong “ IPS”
GLG
 
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Yes Samsonov was rubbish again tonight, but my guess if he works at it in practice with gt coach, he's likely to turn it around. No reason to panic or want to bury him. As long as Murray doesn't go into a funk at the same time, we'll be all right.
 
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Not to hark on the reffing as I truly just want a straight, honest game called, regardless of who is the culprit. Coupled with last years series, which was akin to theft as far as I am concerned: my faith in the NHL is depreciating.

In particularly at a juncture in which big money and the risk of conflicts of interest are entering the sport via betting sites they need to be consistent and build trust.

If one is familiar with the NBA scandal of the indicted ref Tim Donaghy for his actions, There is a solid documentary titled: "Untold: Operation Flagrant Foul". Some suggested the league implicity, encouraged the increase of certain calls and pushed directives designed to increase playoff series lengths.

If these methods ever occur in the NHL it is no longer a sport but choreography on ice.
 
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Enga Olly said:
Yes Samsonov was rubbish again tonight, but my guess if he works at it in practice with gt coach, he's likely to turn it around. No reason to panic or want to bury him. As long as Murray doesn't go into a funk at the same time, we'll be all right.
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Save it for the playoffs...
 
O'Reilly goal, Holl might as well been sitting on Samsonov's lap.
I'm sure he would have backed in even further if O'Reilly hadn't shot the puck.

Tying goal Samsonov too low, but no way could he see the shot.
 
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