Isaac Nootin
Registered User
- Sep 28, 2017
- 7,891
- 12,409
Post-Game Talk: Leafs win 5-4
- Thread starter 6ix
- Start date
-
Xenforo Cloud will be upgrading us to version 2.3.5 on March 3rd at 12 AM GMT. This version has increased stability and fixes several bugs. We expect downtime for the duration of the update. The admin team will continue to work on existing issues, templates and upgrade all necessary available addons to minimize impact of this new version. Click Here for Updates
I believe salary is a huge part. They are tight against it and have guys on ELC coming up. Plus Barzal will need a new contract soon, same with Wahlstrom
keonsbitterness
Registered User
No doubt having few regulars hurt. But that will be the norm in covid world and hockey world in general
When we were winning we won against teams that didn't have their best players including Detroit, Tampa, Las Vegas and few others
I have no problem of winning or losing. It's the fashion they do it in. Even in the games we win, we give up so many odd chances it's not even funny
The game we won against Buffalo was a gong show. Game we played against LA was a legit concern for our D
There have been a few wins they have played poor for sure.
They also played a great game against NYR and Pitt and lost.
Racer88
Registered User
- Sep 29, 2020
- 13,185
- 13,339
I can agree with this 100%. It sure shows how good Matthews is when he is clicking. No matter who the line mates are he can put the puck in the net.
kevsh
Registered User
- Nov 28, 2018
- 3,897
- 5,527
The worrisome part to me is the same trends we've seen for the past few years - particularly giving up big leads to bad teams - persist.
I said earlier this season this team plays the same up 5-1 or down 5-1 and that's the infuriating part, especially if you're Campbell or Mrazek. You can see almost see it coming: A d-man pinches or carries the puck on a rush when the Leafs are up by 3+ goals, or a forward tries a long east-west pass behind him on an odd-man break, as the two most common bad calls.
Instead of locking the game down, not changing up but just cut out the high risk plays, they seem intent on padding their stats by turning a 5-1 game into 7-1. And inevitably, the losing team, aggressive now because they have nothing to lose, takes advantage, strips the puck/intercepts the pass, a quick transition and the poor Leafs goalie, who up that point was having a solid night, is facing a parade of 2-on-1s and breakaways.
You don't ever, ever, hang your goalie out to dry like that. Eventually, they'll do like Freddie did and basically allow every Leafs turnover to turn into a freebie, and who can blame them? Until this team matures enough to realize that, I don't care where they are in the standings, how good their bottom 6 looks, how many goals Auston wins the Rocket by, they're destined for another quick playoff exit.
Tldr; New year, same team. Don't get fooled again.
I said earlier this season this team plays the same up 5-1 or down 5-1 and that's the infuriating part, especially if you're Campbell or Mrazek. You can see almost see it coming: A d-man pinches or carries the puck on a rush when the Leafs are up by 3+ goals, or a forward tries a long east-west pass behind him on an odd-man break, as the two most common bad calls.
Instead of locking the game down, not changing up but just cut out the high risk plays, they seem intent on padding their stats by turning a 5-1 game into 7-1. And inevitably, the losing team, aggressive now because they have nothing to lose, takes advantage, strips the puck/intercepts the pass, a quick transition and the poor Leafs goalie, who up that point was having a solid night, is facing a parade of 2-on-1s and breakaways.
You don't ever, ever, hang your goalie out to dry like that. Eventually, they'll do like Freddie did and basically allow every Leafs turnover to turn into a freebie, and who can blame them? Until this team matures enough to realize that, I don't care where they are in the standings, how good their bottom 6 looks, how many goals Auston wins the Rocket by, they're destined for another quick playoff exit.
Tldr; New year, same team. Don't get fooled again.
This run against better teams has revealed that the Leafs are pretty much the same team they've always been: great at tearing apart weaker teams, but easily fall apart against teams with quality zone control. So they're like a top 10 team, but not a top 5 team. It was pretty sad seeing Campbell looking rather mortal against elite playmakers and goalscorers.
Still, it's early and maybe they will adjust. Maybe they will add someone who will make all the difference. Who knows? Sometimes the best thing you can do to a team is convince them they're the underdogs, and when a team is already very good somehow becomes the underdogs...
Still, it's early and maybe they will adjust. Maybe they will add someone who will make all the difference. Who knows? Sometimes the best thing you can do to a team is convince them they're the underdogs, and when a team is already very good somehow becomes the underdogs...
notDatsyuk
Registered User
- Jul 20, 2018
- 12,000
- 10,169
I don't think they are as badly up against the cap as some people say.
They have $2.5M space right now, which will grow to about $10M by the trade deadline, and they will have Clutterbuck, Chara, Greene, and Hickey coming off at the end of the year, for another $6.3M.
But even, or especially if they are tight, Mayfield at $1.5 is a bargain, and not likely who they dump.
I suggested this on the Isles board, and everyone who responded said either a flat 'no', or that it would take alot more than just a first.
They did agree that he'd be a perfect fit here.
I have a similar sentiment but completely different rationalization on why it happens.
For me it's not that they play too aggressive with big leads, it's that they just bring their entire compete level down several notches. We've heard opponents say it, Ovi and Doughty are a couple high profile ones, and even Muzzin on a few occasions. The Leafs want to take the easy way out, any time they get comfortable they just put it in cruise control and expect teams to roll over for them.
Up 3-1 on the Habs, they don't show up for the first 10 minutes of game 5 or game 6 and need to dig out of a hole, Canes have a Zamboni driver in the net - 'no need to try all we have to do is exist to win this', big lead on the Sens or Blackhawks - 'it's over lets talk about where we're going for dinner/drinks tonight'. And the thing is once you bring your level down it's hard to get it back, it's not as easy as seeing the game getting close and flicking a switch to right the ship. Now your opponent is full of energy, has momentum and you are completely out of sync.
When you go 15 wins in 17 games fans start thinking it can last 82 games. It's good, it shows what changes need to be made to go deep into the playoffs.
