Post-Game Talk: LEAFS WIN HOME OPENER!

[LeafGrief]

Great seeing all the winning memes again. Leafs looked pretty good last night.

 

[NewEraGM]

How exactly are these players going to prevent teams from running Matthews? If they want to run Matthews, they will run Matthews with or without these players on the team. Trouba had no issue running MacKinnon with Landeskog on the ice, was more than willing to fight Landeskog after the hit, and continues to run people to this day? Where is the prevention? You think Trouba thinks twice about doing it again?

Also, half of those guys are not even tough? Toews is softer than most of our defensemen and hasn't been in a fight in his entire NHL career. Kadri mostly fights when he has to answer for something he has done or he sticks up for himself. Martinez has barely fought and when he did stand up for a teammate one time, he promptly got his ass handed to him and gave further momentum to the other team. Tuch hasn't been in a fight in over 4 years. NAK and ZAR are tougher than most guys on that list. Heck even Holl has been in more fights recently than most of these guys.

Then you have guys like Reaves and Maroon who hasn't fought anyone besides a fellow goon for like 3 years. If we wanted those kinds of guys, we would have kept Simmonds on the roster... Except anyone who watches the games knows that Simmonds is not good anymore and does not serve any real purpose. People had no issues running our guys with Simmonds in the lineup, and it will be no different with him out of the lineup. Anyone important on the other team is not going to fight Simmonds because they are not stupid and selfish. They know that Simmonds is a great fighter and that they are far more important out of the penalty box than Simmonds.

If you don't like it, then hit them back. Hathaway went after Matthews, and Muzzin hit him back harder. Even Matthews laid out some solid hits. We are not a team that gets pushed over physically, and it won't be any different this year.

So this is the problem. It’s not about fights. As I mentionned, fights are less and less frequent but being mean and nasty is still a huge part of the game.

Leafs have no one that is mean and nasty. I think when other teams look at the leafs lineup, they think:
- extremely talented
- very dangerous up front
- but I’m not going to get hit tonight or it won’t be a physically taxing or imposing game tonight.

I just think having a guy in front of the net clearing, whacking and hacking is something that pays off in the playoffs. And sure, you can make the point that those plays are not really allowed anymore, but the fact is that they don’t get called…so other teams will do it, and leafs.

No one on the leafs line up scares anyone from a physicality standpoint. And again, I’m not even talking fights, just being annoying and tough to play against

 

[Nineteen67]

The way Nylander is playing it’d be nice to be able to give Robertson a shot with the 2nd line.

 

[Shooter2x]

Engvall needs to pick it up, Kerfoot is carrying him 5v5 since line 3 has had to be a bit more strategic opposed to running it up quickly in a straight line like last season.

Hot take: Dubas would choose Malgin over Engvall if Malgin continues to do nothing to remove himself from the lineup. Keefe so far has chosen Jarnkrok ZAR kampf marner kerfoot as the main pkers.

 

[Nineteen67]

Seeing Matthews play with some aggression is a beautiful thing, let’s hope that continues more than once in a while.
Holl is absolutely brutal but give him credit for the shot blocks.
PP1 needs to play the full two minutes. Not enough skill on the team for two units.

Strange opening night. Other than the intros you would have thought it was just a normal week night game. Another cheesy scarf to add to the pile as well.

I noticed that. Slafkovsky got a louder ovation n Montreal than Matthews got last night.

Engvall needs to pick it up, Kerfoot is carrying him 5v5 since line 3 has had to be a bit more strategic opposed to running it up quickly in a straight line like last season.

Hot take: Dubas would choose Malgin over Engvall if Malgin continues to do nothing to remove himself from the lineup. Keefe so far has chosen Jarnkrok ZAR kampf marner kerfoot as the main pkers.

He skates so well until the puck is on his stick and it’s like feet and hands are each controlled by a different brain.

 

[Tufted Titmouse]

I'm 1-0 in GDT's

Thought we played a really good game.

• Tavares looks refreshed. Got some footspeed back.
• The defence looks real slow.
• Nice to see Muzz throw a good hit. We all were calling him toast but last night he seemed a bit more limber.
• Good PK for Holl.
• Samsanov did what we needed him to do - he didn't lose us the game.

Gotta LOVE this

 

[Puckstuff]

Malgin scored in his first game and hit the post in this one. Are we still good?

What would you consider success from the 2nd line?

0.8 goals per game as a line? 1 goal per game, 1.2 goals per game? How do we measure their success? I'll give it time but if we have no way to measure it we can't come to a conclusion if they are succeeding or not. So I'm actually asking you, how many GPG 5 on 5 should this line be scoring?

For context, Bunting-Matthews-Marner scored 91 even strength goals in 224 combined games 5 on 5 which is 1.22 goals per game as a line 5 on 5 and this is not including the P.P.

Kerfoot-Tavares-Nylander scored 51 even strength goals in 242 games last season…. Which is 0.63 goals per game as a line. Half as much as line one last year and they're facing secondary match ups.

Now yes, Matthews-Marner is the better duo and should be expected to score more… but Bunting-Matthews-Marner get all the hardest match ups and score twice as much 5 on 5 as the 2nd line last year. Tavares-Nylander should be feasting on secondary match ups but there not. Tavares scored on the p.p yesterday, great. But 5 on 5 they are not generating enough opportunities. It's to early to look at the numbers, so I'm only paying attention to high danger scoring opportunities a game 5 on 5.

For me, considering there talents, anything less then 1.0 goals per game would signal for me it doesn't work. So I'll check how it is after 10 games but based on the amount of scoring chances they generate 5 on 5 I'm not sold yet.

 

[mapleleafs34]

Engvall needs to pick it up, Kerfoot is carrying him 5v5 since line 3 has had to be a bit more strategic opposed to running it up quickly in a straight line like last season.

Hot take: Dubas would choose Malgin over Engvall if Malgin continues to do nothing to remove himself from the lineup. Keefe so far has chosen Jarnkrok ZAR kampf marner kerfoot as the main pkers.

Engvall & Holl should be traded at some point.

Bunting-Matthews-Marner
Robertson-Tavares-Nylander
Jarnkrok-Kerfoot-Malgin
ZAR-Kampf-NAK

Rielly-Brodie
Muzzin-Lily
Gio-Sandin

 

[fahad203]

Decent win…….kinda ugly but I will take it

That's exactly what my thought was day after my prom night

 

[saffronleaf]

fell asleep before the third period because jet lag :/

but fun win. matthews and nylander look good.

 

[fancy lad]

i only caught the third yesterday but i took away a couple of points. I do think that Tavares is playing with a jump in his step so far this year. seems to have some new found intensity.

Awesome to see Matthews throw his body around. If he could do that regularly this year that would be fantastic. He clearly has the build to be a tougher player.

Overall i thought they looked more composed last night including Justin Holl. Obviously not a norris candidate by any means, but at least he was better.

And YAY to a goalie who performs under some pressure in the third and keeps the puck out when the game is on the line. The writing was on the wall with those late penalties, but thanks Samsonov holding down the fort.

 

[crump]

One more weak goal away from wide spread panic last night, but Samsonov was solid after that 2nd goal. I liked his post game interview, you could tell it was an emotional game for him playing against his former team and OV. A few nerves in your first game is normal. Onward.

Leafs overall are still sloppy but better than in the Montreal game. Passes being picked off, coughing up pucks, getting caught up ice. This will all get smoothed out.

 

[saffronleaf]

lmao at The Rock and the Lets Go Leafs chant

 

[robertmac43]

Nylander and JT look like an absolute force!

 

[Puckstuff]

Engvall & Holl should be traded at some point.

Bunting-Matthews-Marner
Robertson-Tavares-Nylander
Jarnkrok-Kerfoot-Malgin
ZAR-Kampf-NAK

Rielly-Brodie
Muzzin-Lily
Gio-Sandin

This would be my lines

Bunting-Matthews-Marner
Robertson-Kerfoot-Nylander
Jarnkrok-Tavares-Malgin.
Engvall-Kampf-Kubel/Reese.

I'm fine with taking the chance of getting Kubel or Reese through waivers to get Robertson up and Malgin on the 3rd line. I like them but if one of them is picked up it's not really that big of a deal with Holmberg, McMaan, Robertson, Anderson and so much other depth. Would love to keep them but it's not the end of the world if one is claimed and honestly I doubt they will be claimed.

 

[Tufted Titmouse]

Engvall & Holl should be traded at some point.

Bunting-Matthews-Marner
Robertson-Tavares-Nylander
Jarnkrok-Kerfoot-Malgin
ZAR-Kampf-NAK

Rielly-Brodie
Muzzin-Lily
Gio-Sandin

Playoff lines:

Bunts - AM - MM
Robertson - Tavares - Nylander
Knies - Kerfoot - Jarnkrok
ZAR - Kampf - NAK

Rielly - Brodie
Muzzin - Soucy/Orlov
Gio - Lilly

 

[Stigma]

Having not seen an update on him, I really hope that this is a good thing not a last wish type of thing.

My heart sank reading this. I didn’t think of this angle at all. f***

 

[Lauro]

Only 166 posts opposed to 650 in yesterday's thread ... I guess we won?

What? Only a 1 goal win? Fire everyone!!!!!

 

[Nineteen67]

Are their legs gone or are they not in shape?

 

[stealth1]

Props to Samsonov who was excellent after a rough start. Also, Holl was much better than last night.

Good Leafs win. I feel it was apparent the refs were trying to help the Caps on those last 2 penalties.

That's what game management is. The goal is to keep the games close. The majority of the time the team losing will be chances to tie the game or get back into the game. It has nothing to do with the Leafs.

 

[LeafSteel]

Leafs are going to need to find a way to be tougher. Scrolling through this lineup and there is no one who can fight or be tough. People are taking runs at Matthews already….who will stand up for him? I honestly don’t know if the leafs will have a fight this year …

And I know fighting in the game has changed but even someone to be nasty. Like I cant see it…might not matter in the season but I think come playoffs it will

Look at last few years:
- Tampa has Maroon, Perry, Cernak
- Coloroda has Toews, Manson, Landeskog, Kadri last year
- Montreal year before had Weber, Chiarot, Edmundson
- Vegas the year before Martinez, Tuch, Reeves, McNabb

Leafs don’t have anyone like any of these players

Mason Marchment scored 2 last night including a beautiful rush from his own end, blowing past the defence before burying it….

…… but we’ve got The Amazing Malgini who I’m sure will step in for any ruff/tuff stuff.

 

[ER89]

Seeing Matthews play with some aggression is a beautiful thing, let’s hope that continues more than once in a while.
Holl is absolutely brutal but give him credit for the shot blocks.
PP1 needs to play the full two minutes. Not enough skill on the team for two units.

Strange opening night. Other than the intros you would have thought it was just a normal week night game. Another cheesy scarf to add to the pile as well.

It seemed as if the crowd was significantly louder on tv. Was that the case?

fell asleep before the third period because jet lag :/

but fun win. matthews and nylander look good.

Haha my guy the jet lag def impacted you. Matty was bleh and compared to his lofty standards downright poor.

 

[namttebih]

now thats a spicy take!

Jonas?

 

[therealkoho]

They trying to load manage already?

Matthews: 17:39
Nylander: 16:00
Tavares: 14:58

I wouldn't say that, it could be because he wants to see what the bottom 6 is capable of and has increased their ice time, maybe?

speaking of which "the hyphenates" were solid on the forecheck, they really get on the defence quick and always initiate contact. I really like the bottom 6, the "Double K's were giving the Caps all sorts of headaches and both had solid games on both sides of the puck.

He's been pretty bleh the first couple of games. Hopefully the scent of goal scoring gets him back on track.

it seemed he perked up quite a bit after he buried that Cap in front of their bench

 

[JT AM da real deal]

Well done boys .. i got to my seats after 5 beer so we were rocking it most of 1st .. omg steak at Hot Stove gents go for it .. i missed that steak .. thanks bud for taking me home as i had a few more in stands .. team was better team last night top to bottom .. ice was tilted with us most of night except when ref decided to give Caps an advantage .. good to see Mitch come up a dominant game and Willy helped him out too .. those 2 guys tilted da ice .. sure caps are a slow older team so easier to outskate them but I saw some good fight from Mitch and Willy last night .. good to see .. was kinda expecting more from Rielly and Sammy but from my seats they looked like da weak links last night .. our bottom 4D made a couple pinches but for most part decided to play D which made them look better .. but I think they will cause us more problems against faster teams like Habs .. Rielly needs to play in offensive end as he is too weak to handle da net front .. just not his game and he is easily thrown around .. Sammy did not impress me .. that 2nd goal was house league tending but he won so i have to give him some credit .. overall team did enough to win and got 2 points .. excited for Saturday night at scotia