Post-Game Talk: Leafs Win 6-4 | Is There Anything Better Than Losing To Toronto 6 Games In A Row?

DarkKnight

Professional Amateur
Jan 17, 2017
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Speed and filling the space. When the Leafs are rushed and can’t make a pass or get a shot on net they have no answer. Overall Boston is a little quicker than Toronto and they can take away the ice and prevented them dumping and chasing.

Last night there were a couple Marner dump ins (very intelligent dump ins, by the way) and he was actually able to get to the puck at the same time or ahead of the D man. I don’t expect to see that very often.
They clog up the middle of the ice, they aren't fast at all imo.

My point stands, Leafs aren't slow, they just stop skating at time. The entire top line can skate, plus Domi, Nylander, McMann, Robertson, Lorentz. In the backend, Reilly, OEL, great skaters. McCabe good. Tanev is fine and Benoit is as well for that matter. Timmins has nice top end. So I balk at this narrative, it's simply we stop skating, not that we can't. I'm fine with the team speed, a non issue imo.

I liked him last year, but he is pretty much useless at this point. Would much rather have Robertson in the lineup
Ditto.
 
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Nineteen67

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Dec 12, 2017
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They clog up the middle of the ice, they aren't fast at all imo.

My point stands, Leafs aren't slow, they just stop skating at time. The entire top line can skate, plus Domi, Nylander, McMann, Robertson, Lorentz. In the backend, Reilly, OEL, great skaters. McCabe good. Tanev is fine and Benoit is as well for that matter. Timmins has nice top end. So I balk at this narrative, it's simply we stop skating, not that we can't. I'm fine with the team speed, a non issue imo.


Ditto.
They sure lose a lot of races.
 

JT AM da real deal

Registered User
Oct 4, 2018
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Skill in early season pre-XMAS games can be very deceiving .. skill wins in a super slow game like last night .. but skill as we all know doesn't win sh*t in playoffs when games are 10% faster than post XMAS pro games .. da only chance this season is we move into playoffs with Tanev-OEL on 1 pair and McCabe-Benoit on 2nd pair and da big guy comes back from his knee issues and helps us out on 3rd pair with an amazing effort from our G's .. and even then maybe a round 1 win against Tampa can be done .. but no way this D and G survive Cats forecheck .. but it is best D and G we have had with this inept core 4 forward group
 

Nineteen67

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The Leafs on a whole are not a fast team. If guys like Marner keep being engaged like he did last night, dump and chase, fighting for pucks etc, they can cover up for some of that. This is the way Berube wants them to play and I think the makeup of this team is how they are suited to play
I know that’s what Berube wants and last night they had space to play that way. Marner had a couple that stood out to me. He used his brain and skill to effectively dump the puck and win a battle, but the problem is when there’s no space and it’s difficult to pass, dump and win a race.
The coach will have to figure that out.

Other than Columbus they’ve played as well expected and have a chance to get 6 wins in October.
 

VanW27

Registered User
Jun 9, 2003
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One of my main concerns last year was how much worse we got defensively from the forward group, and this year we're even worse.

The first line is good but then the entire 2nd line is poor defensively, the 3rd line is poor (bad defensive C with inexperienced wingers) and with Reaves the 4th line is awful defensively. The 13th forward is also bad defensively.

It should be no surprise to anyone we can't defend a lead or kill a penalty, who are you putting out there?
 

Hellcat

Registered User
Jul 13, 2022
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Did we get a tax receipt for that game cause we sure were in the charity mood of giving... can we once just once, just win a game that is clearly in the bag, without creating a bunch of drama? Just put the game away, play boring within a tight defensive system, for the last 30 minutes would have been perfect.
 

MSZ

Car guy
Oct 5, 2014
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Scarborough
One of my main concerns last year was how much worse we got defensively from the forward group, and this year we're even worse.

The first line is good but then the entire 2nd line is poor defensively, the 3rd line is poor (bad defensive C with inexperienced wingers) and with Reaves the 4th line is awful defensively. The 13th forward is also bad defensively.

It should be no surprise to anyone we can't defend a lead or kill a penalty, who are you putting out there?
As much as I hate yan cock, they really need him back to play in the middle six. At least he can backcheck.
 

Evilhomer

Registered User
Oct 10, 2019
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Did we get a tax receipt for that game cause we sure were in the charity mood of giving... can we once just once, just win a game that is clearly in the bag, without creating a bunch of drama? Just put the game away, play boring within a tight defensive system, for the last 30 minutes would have been perfect.
Did you see the Tampa and LA games from...one week ago?
 

rumman

Registered User
Sep 10, 2008
16,329
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5v5 they continued to dominate, but they took 5 straight penalties and the PK was not great.

OEL's penalty was borderline ridiculous, Nylander's was questionable and Win scored on the 6-5.

Then they scored the 4th with the goalie pulled.

All 5v5 play they were excellent. Anytime it was not 5v5, they were awful
👍 thanks for the recap…….

Winnipeg is not very good and the Leafs were able to out skate them most of the night. When the Leafs have room to move unchecked, they’re very successful.
👍 thanks for the recap…….
 

Minty Cowboy

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Jul 14, 2009
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That was the most Sheldon keefe game since Sheldon keefe coached this team

Matthews shot is concerning, not only is he not finishing, but he’s either missing the net completely or straight into the chest

Nylander fire, Marner good, patches elite, stolarz rocky, woll on Seattle

Winnipeg lost its cup

Said the exact same thing last night. He either misses by a foot or two high and wide. Or straight into the logo
 
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LeafSteel

GO LEAFS GO!!!
Mar 5, 2014
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Correct response would have been "you're right, I'm wrong, I will try to do better from here on in"
1730235881080.png

C’mon, I don’t regularly agree with that specific poster, but that was a hilarious and deliberately entertaining pivot.

Props when and where it’s due. It’s what makes these boards bearable at times.

Thanks for the chuckle @Hellcat . I needed it. :thumbu:
 
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Clark4Ever

What we do in hockey echoes in eternity...
Oct 10, 2010
11,805
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T.O.
I was one of the skeptics, but that second line looked fantastic. Hopefully they can build on that performance.
 

AcerComputer

Registered User
Aug 4, 2014
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I think the "best team in the league" stuff is a tad bit overblown. Has anyone looked at Winnipeg's schedule to start the season? It wasn't exactly a murderer's row. It's the same team that got embarrassed by Colorado in the first round last season.
Regardless, WPG was 8-0 and was the best or "top team" in the league if you prefer. It's very Leafy of us to win this game. And equally Leafy to lose to some bottom feeder, and break some streak.

I hated Timmins as much as everyone else but what has he been doing wrong this season that people are still complaining? He's been fine in his role and hasn't been making the same dumb mistakes over and over again like last year. Are people this upset over Liljegren sitting who isn't anything special?
Timmins is worse this year. I thought he was pretty decent last year, and hoped he would get more reps so we can give him a proper chance. Despite being high on him, I can't help but feel disappointed. Hopefully this is all smoke by Tre to showcase Timmins for a trade and get Lilly back in.
 

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