Post-Game Talk: Leafs win 5-4

[Judas Tavares]

We've looked pretty terrible the last couple weeks, no doubt about it. Feels like it's more than just missing a few injured guys too but time will tell I guess. No need to panic, not sure anyone expected to just roll through the entire schedule winning almost every game so no big surprise that we're now in a period where we don't look sharp. And LOL at anyone who doesn't think Marner being about doesn't hurt the team, sure his contract sucks but he's a very good hockey player.

We all want a playoff run and as I've been saying for about 4 years now, this team will be judged mostly on how they play in the playoffs so no need to get too high when we're on a roll, or get too low when we're playing poorly. The playoffs are a new season, we'll see what happens then.

Oh believe me, some here do. I think a lot of things we could see coming. Pre-California trip, this team was playing well but was snakebitten. You knew the goals were coming. And then they did in California and against Colorado. And even in this little 5-game skid (in which they've still rattled off 5 points), the team has scored 19 goals. On the defensive side, in the month of November they allowed 20 goals in 14 games and Campbell was sporting a .945 sv%. Sorry, very, very unsustainable. You knew the goals against were coming. And here they are.

And I get it, the way they are going in aren't good. But let's be honest, with this fanbase, no goal against is good, so no matter how they came, there would be an uproar. After a nice stretch and now some normalization, you are seeing a mix of the freakout crew (who cannot handle a prolonged stretch or streak of any imperfection. Like one bad shift sets them off). The "I told you so" crew (the ones who hate management and the way the team is built, had to bite their tongue during the good stretch, but are now vocal during a slide). And the "bah humbug I won't let anyone see me get hurt again" crew (The ones who won't care until they win a round because if they get caught being excited and it ends up for nothing, then they just look like a silly Leaf fan who never learns). Honestly I think there should be university psych course on our fanbase.

Clean up the turnovers and some decision making and move on.

 

[TheProspector]

I am old enough to remember when Alex was the better Nylander. Hahahahabah. I told you so, bitches! Never made any sense. What William did in the SHL was generational.

 

[Mess]

I am told we are vastly improved defensive team

In the last 6 games Leafs have given up 3 or more goals against, and in the last 4 that has been 4 goals against or more including giving up 3 goals lead.

At the beginning of the season I worried for our Leafs if Rielly or Muzzin would go down for any length of time Leafs could be a bubble playoff team because of their defense, but the loss of their bottom pairing Sandin and Dermott has already sent Leafs into a defensive tailspin.

Ever since the Winnipeg game it seem Leafs overall game has taken a turn.

 

[zeke]

At the beginning of the season I worried for our Leafs if Rielly or Muzzin would go down for any length of time Leafs could be a bubble playoff team because of their defense,

No, you said they were a bubble team, full stop, no caveats.

 

[Morbo]

I am told we are vastly improved defensive team

I think this is a little unfair. they're in a skid right now but they were fine during the 15 of 17 streak.

however, if they don't right the ship fairly quickly it's going to start to look like they simply had hot goaltending for a while, as can happen.

I do think they are a legit top 10ish defensive team. but Jack being crazy hot might have made them look better than that for a while. we'll see.

 

[ToneDog]

In the last 6 games Leafs have given up 3 or more goals against, and in the last 4 that has been 4 goals against or more including giving up 3 goals lead.

At the beginning of the season I worried for our Leafs if Rielly or Muzzin would go down for any length of time Leafs could be a bubble playoff team because of their defense, but the loss of their bottom pairing Sandin and Dermott has already sent Leafs into a defensive tailspin.

Ever since the Winnipeg game it seem Leafs overall game has taken a turn.

Two playoff intense games versus Minny and Winnipeg. Coincidence ??

 

[DarkKnight]

I think this is a little unfair. they're in a skid right now but they were fine during the 15 of 17 streak.

however, if they don't right the ship fairly quickly it's going to start to look like they simply had hot goaltending for a while, as can happen.

I do think they are a legit top 10ish defensive team. but Jack being crazy hot might have made them look better than that for a while. we'll see.

I always think of the goalie as our most important D man. I also never apologize for elite goaltending, that’s what you have to have to win a cup.

 

[Gallagbi]

Two playoff intense games versus Minny and Winnipeg. Coincidence ??

Was it any more intense than say the TB and Boston victories in November? Or are we just backing into an odd narrative to fit losing, even though we've been a solid defensive team come playoffs

 

[Enga Olly]

We'll be fine, right now we're not. It's a good thing to be able to still grab 2 points when we're clearly slumping.

I think the Leafs have shown themselves to be top-6 defensively, when things are pumping on all cylinders. Currently that's not the case but it will change in the next couple of weeks

 

[BTP]

I’m glad we have Edmonton next. We always find a way to play tight defence against them. Get back to it on this road trip

 

[Ziggdiezan]

Was it any more intense than say the TB and Boston victories in November? Or are we just backing into an odd narrative to fit losing, even though we've been a solid defensive team come playoffs

I feel like the last 2 playoff series for the Leafs were so bizzare in how they played out tactically it is hard to look at those stats too much. Both series were the leafs dominating puck possession against a team fine to sit back, clog the neutral zone, collapse to the net defensively while in D-zone and then try to hit the leafs with a quick counter/off the rush. I hope leafs face a different kind of opponent this year to get a barometer of how they player against a team who considers themselves more evenly matched

 

[ULF_55]

I always think of the goalie as our most important D man. I also never apologize for elite goaltending, that’s what you have to have to win a cup.

Lightning last two Cup clinching games:

1-0 over Montreal
2-0 over Dallas

I don't think they have to make any excuses for elite goaltending.

Obviously, missing Sandin and marner is affecting their game.
Yesterday, other than the gift game winning goal, the 3rd. line looked vulnerable and unstructured.
IMO, moving Kase to the 1st. line didn't seem to be an improvement in overall team play.
marner's minutes being distributed to Steeves and Clifford? Yeah, I think that might be an issue.

With marner on LTIR they do have 8 million in Cap Space.

 

[ToneDog]

Was it any more intense than say the TB and Boston victories in November? Or are we just backing into an odd narrative to fit losing, even though we've been a solid defensive team come playoffs

The Minny and Jets games were much more intense than any games this season. The Bruins game was also intense and very enjoyable. The Tampa games were not as intense IMO. They might be tired from the western road trip followed by the intense Minny/Jets road trip which could explain why they have been giving up about 4 GPG the last week.

 

[Mess]

Two playoff intense games versus Minny and Winnipeg. Coincidence ??

Jekyll and Hyde

Leafs last couple of weeks is looking a lot different then when they were at the top of their game and playing real solid in both ends of the ice.

How big a factor was Jack Campbell in masking the difference when he was red hot?

 

[ULF_55]

I’m glad we have Edmonton next. We always find a way to play tight defence against them. Get back to it on this road trip

I'd rather the Oilers were on a winning streak, than a losing streak.

Both type of streaks end, and I'd suggest odds are it will come to an end soon.

 

[Bellefour20]

I really have to say that ad for Yellowstone playing over the score/clock during Nylander's goal was really distracting. That area of the screen is where the eyes are conditioned to look for info about the game going on and instead its an ad. A new low for advertising during the broadcast. SN should be ashamed.

 

[Duffman955]

The gremlins came out of their caves even after a win lmfao

Goaltending has been horrid recently and defense has lost some attention to detail.

Let's get back to dominating every team at both ends of the ice

 

[therealkoho]

Comment on Sportsnet.com "De-activated" what a bunch of maroons

"It has to be said, the 1st intermission of the early game, was beyond despicable, jeebuzz it's hockey fer cripes sake. I don't tune in to be politically corrected. just say what the refereeing was, it was poor and led to needless dirty play and violence. They could actually just tell the truth about Pionk, he 's not some 4 star goody goody with only the best intentions, it wasn't that long ago that he tried slew-footing Marner on an empty net goal, sportsmanship, good clean fun kind of guy, only the best intentions, never been accused of dirty play what a crock, and just tell Kelly Hrudey to STFU, there is nobody who who has ever annoyed me more on HNiC than this guy, with his "O gee, it happened to me too" schtick!

/rant

 

[djdev]

look, i didn't like the way we won, but upon further reflection i think its to be expected to have this kind of down period after that run of dominant games. we are still collecting points while not playing very well which is important and what good teams do. this is the hardest part of our schedule by far, with multiple trips out west and a ton of travel in general so im sure they havent been able to practice and rest as much as they typically would be able to.
i will say this though, the last time justin holl was scratched for a stretch of games we went on a run. when sandin and dermott are back i hope we can do the same thing. i swear he's on the ice making bad decisions for like 80% of our goals against, hes just not an NHL lvl defenseman this season and hes costing us games.

 

[AvroArrow]

I am old enough to remember when Alex was the better Nylander. Hahahahabah. I told you so, bitches! Never made any sense. What William did in the SHL was generational.

Yeah those takes were always ridiculous, it was Middlestat/Reinhart >>> Marner as well according to some HF posters from south of the border

 

[zeke]

Yeah those takes were always ridiculous, it was Middlestat/Reinhart >>> Marner as well according to some HF posters from south of the border

According to many posters from right here in the TDot, too.

 

[Gallagbi]

The Minny and Jets games were much more intense than any games this season. The Bruins game was also intense and very enjoyable. The Tampa games were not as intense IMO. They might be tired from the western road trip followed by the intense Minny/Jets road trip which could explain why they have been giving up about 4 GPG the last week.

We beat Tampa 2-1 when they were rested earlier in the year. Competitive game, playoff-esque.

The idea that tough games have opened up defensive lapses is questionable at best and doesn't align with recent playoffs either.

 

[Gallagbi]

How big a factor was Jack Campbell in masking the difference when he was red hot?

Not much if you actually watched the games. Campbell was good but there has been a noticeable shift in our play especially over the past week or two.

 

[leaffaninvancouver]

Every team will have its bumps over the regular season. I’d like to see them tighten up a bit, but they still are a very good team.

 

[Torontonian]

Holl plays too high in the lineup and gets far too much ice time for me. Couple of softies from Raz tonight, but he needs time to find his groove, hasn't played much in 6 weeks.