Post-Game Talk: Leafs win! Pot 10. Entertainment 10 x 10

[ToneDog]

is she okay?

According to the OPP, only minor injuries were reported. LOL.

 

[aingefan]

Craziest part is as soon as Bunting got a step ahead, I was sure a drop pass to Marner was coming.... confirmed when Marner slowed down and dropped in behind haha.

M&M love that guy, and seem to have really taken him under their wing.
He’s become about 150% more confident with the puck, which I don’t think even the most optimistic pro-Bunting advocate could have predicted.
It’s a pretty amazing development.

 

[aingefan]

Outscoring their problems. We have heard this exact same story for years.

I kinda like that they didn’t fold, see Boston.
Kinda positive?

 

[MSZ]

I kinda like that they didn’t fold, see Boston.
Kinda positive?

Well a win is a win is a win.

Found some fun facts at nhl.com:

 

[666]

Yup, it's just one game but it's scary. Much more scary is the long term trend - we have the worst goaltending in the league and our D ranks 18th in expected goals against since Dec 1. At least that's what they said on the broadcast during the MIN game, don't think it's gotten any better since then.

Advanced stats to asses players are basically useless IMHO but for assessing teams if the sample size is big enough is another story. We were able outscore our horrific defence last night but this is not how you win in the playoffs.

Sure, but you're just doing the same thing by selecting your sample size starting at Dec 1 and then someone else will select the entire season as their sample size and call this a bit of a slump.

I would recommend considering looking at xGF as the game level "flow" of the game and going beyond that is going to have many issues.

We just need to stop trying to measure something that can't be measured.

 

[Gary Nylund]

I enjoyed the game. Let Campbell have his slump now. Just in time to get hot for the playoffs

That's the dream. Anything's possible, including Dubas giving up on Campbell and trading for a goalie.

I kinda like that they didn’t fold, see Boston.
Kinda positive?

That's fair, and positive. Hard to focus on that though when the entire game was a joke. We gave 4 quick goals in the 3rd period to go from 7-2 to 7-6, and did that against Detroit of all teams like WTF is that? I just want to forget about this one and move on but it's worrisome how often I've been saying that lately.

It's such a weird season. on one hand, were within striking distance of 1st in the East so hard to complain right? But then on the other hand, our defence has been MIA for almost 3 months now which puts a massive damper on hopes of playoff success so WTF is this team anyway?

 

[aingefan]

I doubt it. We’ve pretty much seen how Dubas operates. He cares more about the players than wins. I have very little doubt he’s willing to bet the farm on Campbell unfortunately. Saw on HNIC that Friedman was saying Dubas is willing to turn his back on 5M in cap space just so that if Muzzin feels like returning they’ll have that spot for him which is a damn joke.

That, or he has integrity.

 

[Teeder Keon]

That, or he has integrity.

I’ll take integrity and professionalism every time

 

[Warden of the North]

I'm going to choose to look at this as two great periods and one train wreck.

Better now then in April/May.

 

[Gary Nylund]

Sure, but you're just doing the same thing by selecting your sample size starting at Dec 1 and then someone else will select the entire season as their sample size and call this a bit of a slump.

I would recommend considering looking at xGF as the game level "flow" of the game and going beyond that is going to have many issues.

We just need to stop trying to measure something that can't be measured.

I think you have to be a very big optimist to call 3 months a bit of a slump. But it's true that before that, if you look at the time since Keefe took over, I'm pretty sure our XGA were really good so is there any reason we can't get back to that level? It reminds me of our PP, we were awesome at the beginning of last season, then we were complete garbage until the end of the season and now we're awesome again. But yeah numbers, I don't need numbers to tell me what's going on. I watch every game and I saw our D started sucking a long time ago.

It seems completely impossible to predict what this team will do. Maybe we'll go out in 4 straight games in the spring, or maybe we got to the finals. I honestly have no idea WTF is going on any more.

Matthews is awesome though, there's zero doubt about that. It's amazing that we have Matthews, and a bunch of talent around him and still haven't won a single playoff round. Just amazing.

 

[Teeder Keon]

We won right ?
We got 2 points right ?
We are on verge of possibly taking over the panthers , even as everybody says they have been incredible , right ?
We are on the verge of having the best season ever , right ?
We have stars all over , right ?
A possible Hart and Rocket winner , right ?
Possible cup , right ?
Hmmmm
Unbelievable!

 

[aingefan]

What a weird game for Liljegren as well. Had a 58 CF% and had over 75% of the scoring chances for 5 on 5 when he was on the ice, but the actual goals for percentage was 37% and was -2.

Actually thought he was pretty good with Rielly.

Yup, the sum of his game was great. Maybe coulda tried to stand up Raymond a few feet sooner, but he was flying in.
The slot /rebound goal was bang bang.
Pretty good game overall.

 

[666]

I think you have to be a very big optimist to call 3 months a bit of a slump. But it's true that before that, if you look at the time since Keefe took over, I'm pretty sure our XGA were really good so is there any reason we can't get back to that level? It reminds me of our PP, we were awesome at the beginning of last season, then we were complete garbage until the end of the season and now we're awesome again. But yeah numbers, I don't need numbers to tell me what's going on. I watch every game and I saw our D started sucking a long time ago.

It seems completely impossible to predict what this team will do. Maybe we'll go out in 4 straight games in the spring, or maybe we got to the finals. I honestly have no idea WTF is going on any more.

Matthews is awesome though, there's zero doubt about that. It's amazing that we have Matthews, and a bunch of talent around him and still haven't won a single playoff round. Just amazing.

You and I are old enough to know that we're watching something very special with Marner and Matthews playing themselves into the HOF and I think it's worth my time even if we aren't good enough for the cup.

 

[aingefan]

That's the dream. Anything's possible, including Dubas giving up on Campbell and trading for a goalie.



That's fair, and positive. Hard to focus on that though when the entire game was a joke. We gave 4 quick goals in the 3rd period to go from 7-2 to 7-6, and did that against Detroit of all teams like WTF is that? I just want to forget about this one and move on but it's worrisome how often I've been saying that lately.

It's such a weird season. on one hand, were within striking distance of 1st in the East so hard to complain right? But then on the other hand, our defence has been MIA for almost 3 months now which puts a massive damper on hopes of playoff success so WTF is this team anyway?

It’s true. Some bizarro stuff going on, slumps/streaks/weird wins/bad losses….and still….right near the top.
It’s fun and encouraging.

 

[ShaneFalco]

We won right ?
We got 2 points right ?
We are on verge of possibly taking over the panthers , even as everybody says they have been incredible , right ?
We are on the verge of having the best season ever , right ?
We have stars all over , right ?
A possible Hart and Rocket winner , right ?
Possible cup , right ?
Hmmmm
Unbelievable!

You had me until possible cup.

 

[budzz]

Yeah not sure what's going on with Jack, but he deserves a chance to dig out of it. Last nights game was just a free-for-all mess, but we've seen plenty of those where we lost, so take the 2 points and run.

Not sure about the "jack is tired" thing though. Remember we had about 2 weeks off due to cancellations at Christmas. Seems he was better when he was busier?

 

[ShaneFalco]

I'd give Mrazek a few games to see if he can get on a roll - if not a move has to be made

 

[Gary Nylund]

You and I are old enough to know that we're watching something very special with Marner and Matthews playing themselves into the HOF and I think it's worth my time even if we aren't good enough for the cup.

I'm a diehard Leaf fan so they're always worth my time. That's why I've watched every game I can every year, even those decades when there was no hope of anything good happening.

It’s true. Some bizarro stuff going on, slumps/streaks/weird wins/bad losses….and still….right near the top.
It’s fun and encouraging.

Bizarro is right. I feel like I should stop even trying to guess what's going on and just sit back and see what happens.

You had me until possible cup.

Anything's possible.

Yeah not sure what's going on with Jack, but he deserves a chance to dig out of it. Last nights game was just a free-for-all mess, but we've seen plenty of those where we lost, so take the 2 points and run.

Not sure about the "jack is tired" thing though. Remember we had about 2 weeks off due to cancellations at Christmas. Seems he was better when he was busier?

Yeah who knows, maybe that's the answer. Goalies are voodoo so who the hell knows?

 

[Zybalto]

I think we need to rally around our goalies at the moment as they are better than they are showing for sure, especially Campbell.

The team in front of them is certainly one of the greatest Leafs teams ever assembled so let's try to give the goalies the confidence to play well in front of them.

I also want to note that, with the month almost over now, here are how the possible matchups for us in the first round have been faring in net in February:

Team save% in February:

Toronto:
Campbell: .894
Mrazek: .880

Florida:
Borbrovsky: .877
Knight: .882
Johansson: .815

Tampa:
Vasy: .914
Elliot: .842


Vasy the only guy solidish but It's not like any of these guys has been lighting the world on fire.

I guess it really is a Leafs centered world though when all the talk is about us and Florida looks in even worse shape though.

 

[Gallagbi]

I think we need to rally around our goalies at the moment

What does this mean and how is it accomplished? Feels like the team is heavily limiting opportunities against and the fans have been fine towards them with their limited opportunities

 

[egd27]

I agree he has. I think he's better suited to be a 4C. I feel we need more depth up front to be a contender. Didn't mean to take a shot a Kampf, he's played really well this season. I just see him on a championship team as a 4C.

On a night where the offence puts up a 10 spot but the team still almost blows it you are concerned about the "depth up front" ?

 

[TakeTheBody]

On a night where the offence puts up a 10 spot but the team still almost blows it you are concerned about the "depth up front" ?

Slightly out of context, but yes. My original post stated the Leafs need a 3C, a defenseman and a goalie at the deadline. The guy quoted my post defending Kampf. I'm not sure you're aware of of this but " the depth up front " is supposed to play defense too. If you think goals against is only on the defenseman and the goalies. then yeah, laugh. We are MILES apart.

 

[Willchel Marlynder]

Wow what a game to miss huh? Sounds like an absolute crazy time. Marner really hit em with the 4 like Auston Matthews, my goodness.

 

[Zonk]

In recent years, coaches have started to pull their goalie (i.e. playing with an empty net), earlier and earlier in the third period. The stats seem to indicate that it is a wise move.

Does last night support the case for pulling your goalie during the national anthems?

 

[MSZ]