Post-Game Talk: Leafs win.

[JT AM da real deal]

WOW we beat da worst team in NHL in OT. And we got massively out skated by them in 1st period. But team fought back in 2nd and 3rd. Showed some fight especially Matty. Why is Holl even dressing? And sit down Muzzy if he is injured to rest him up. Dermy played his best game of year finally. Only guy on that defense who made zero mistakes last night.

Thank god we got Soup and Willy. Soup made 3 10 bellers in 3rd period otherwise that was an L. and thank god one of our big 4 can fly. Luv that breakaway speed combined with da deke skill to win game in OT Willy.

 

[Twine Tickler]

WOW we beat da worst team in NHL in OT. And we got massively out skated by them in 1st period. But team fought back in 2nd and 3rd. Showed some fight especially Matty. Why is Holl even dressing? And sit down Muzzy if he is injured to rest him up. Dermy played his best game of year finally. Only guy on that defense who made zero mistakes last night.

Thank god we got Soup and Willy. Soup made 3 10 bellers in 3rd period otherwise that was an L. and thank god one of our big 4 can fly. Luv that breakaway speed combined with da deke skill to win game in OT Willy.

AT this point we can't really pick and choose who and how we win games. I think the biggest thing this team is battling right now is themselves. They are gripping the sticks way too tight, I can't count how many passes I saw explode off of blades yesterday. Clearly a demoralized group. I know it wasn't pretty, but a win is a win, and we really needed that 2 pts.

I don't think we have room to be critical of wins at this point. We are far from perfect right now, so to have that as an expectation is a bit lofty. Lets get back to playing OK before we get to playing at a peak level.

IMO take the 2, and use it as motivation to keep getting better

 

[Twine Tickler]

WOW we beat da worst team in NHL in OT. And we got massively out skated by them in 1st period. But team fought back in 2nd and 3rd. Showed some fight especially Matty. Why is Holl even dressing? And sit down Muzzy if he is injured to rest him up. Dermy played his best game of year finally. Only guy on that defense who made zero mistakes last night.

Thank god we got Soup and Willy. Soup made 3 10 bellers in 3rd period otherwise that was an L. and thank god one of our big 4 can fly. Luv that breakaway speed combined with da deke skill to win game in OT Willy.

AT this point we can't really pick and choose who and how we win games. I think the biggest thing this team is battling right now is themselves. They are gripping the sticks way too tight, I can't count how many passes I saw explode off of blades yesterday. Clearly a demoralized group. I know it wasn't pretty, but a win is a win, and we really needed that 2 pts.

I don't think we have room to be critical of wins at this point. We are far from perfect right now, so to have that as an expectation is a bit lofty. Lets get back to playing OK before we get to playing at a peak level.

IMO take the 2, and use it as motivation to keep getting better

 

[Leafslet]

Wtf were our stars (excluding Nylander) doing during the summer? They all look slower and weaker.

guess after all that money the drive isn’t quite what it used to be.

 

[Stephen]

WOW we beat da worst team in NHL in OT. And we got massively out skated by them in 1st period. But team fought back in 2nd and 3rd. Showed some fight especially Matty. Why is Holl even dressing? And sit down Muzzy if he is injured to rest him up. Dermy played his best game of year finally. Only guy on that defense who made zero mistakes last night.

Thank god we got Soup and Willy. Soup made 3 10 bellers in 3rd period otherwise that was an L. and thank god one of our big 4 can fly. Luv that breakaway speed combined with da deke skill to win game in OT Willy.

Think of the game as a building block. Ugly as hell, but it’s got to be the first step in a positive direction. Otherwise if they don’t build on it it will just be a random win in a long season between two teams in the basement. Up to the Leafs.

 

[Nineteen67]

carolina? Who was the other?

Pittsburgh.

 

[ULF_55]

Maybe marner and Matthews should work on their backhands.

Maybe Holl and Muzzin should have remedial classes with Barb.

 

[Nineteen67]

That has nothing to do with my point. They played much better after getting down 2 early, IMO. I did not comment on how close they were to winning. But thank you.

They didn’t play well in aspect of that game, at any point. They generated little offense and their play and effort without the puck was dismal.
If they play slow and careless like they did last night, Detroit will bury them.

 

[Gary Nylund]

AT this point we can't really pick and choose who and how we win games. I think the biggest thing this team is battling right now is themselves. They are gripping the sticks way too tight, I can't count how many passes I saw explode off of blades yesterday. Clearly a demoralized group. I know it wasn't pretty, but a win is a win, and we really needed that 2 pts.

I don't think we have room to be critical of wins at this point. We are far from perfect right now, so to have that as an expectation is a bit lofty. Lets get back to playing OK before we get to playing at a peak level.

IMO take the 2, and use it as motivation to keep getting better

Very well said!

 

[al secord]

Without Campbell we don't win that game.

Give a team an empty net, you're asking for trouble.

 

[ToneDog]

WOW we beat da worst team in NHL in OT. And we got massively out skated by them in 1st period. But team fought back in 2nd and 3rd. Showed some fight especially Matty. Why is Holl even dressing? And sit down Muzzy if he is injured to rest him up. Dermy played his best game of year finally. Only guy on that defense who made zero mistakes last night.

Thank god we got Soup and Willy. Soup made 3 10 bellers in 3rd period otherwise that was an L. and thank god one of our big 4 can fly. Luv that breakaway speed combined with da deke skill to win game in OT Willy.

#1 goalie making $1.65m and we are still in cap hell. I had my doubts but Soupy has been our MVP. Should have signed him this summer as a reward for last year, now he will command $4m minimum so another body will have to be thrown overboard. This is not the way to build a SC team but Gary has to have it his way.

 

[RoyalCitySlicker]

They didn’t play well in aspect of that game, at any point. They generated little offense and their play and effort without the puck was dismal.
If they play slow and careless like they did last night, Detroit will bury them.

All I said was that after getting down 2-0 early, they played better. Which they did.

But continue to go off on a bunch of stuff I didn't say...I don't care. You clearly have some stuff you need to get off your chest.

 

[Dangles McGavin]

Maybe marner and Matthews should work on their backhands.

Maybe Holl and Muzzin should have remedial classes with Barb.

Holl looks like he ate at KFC all offseason. The guy looks exhausted the moment he steps on the ice. Fumbling the puck everywhere. No vision.

Maybe last year's "success" went to his head and he didn't do what he needed to in the offseason?

 

[The Podium]

#1 goalie making $1.65m and we are still in cap hell. I had my doubts but Soupy has been our MVP. Should have signed him this summer as a reward for last year, now he will command $4m minimum so another body will have to be thrown overboard. This is not the way to build a SC team but Gary has to have it his way.

I don’t think you know what cap hell is…

 

[Nineteen67]

All I said was that after getting down 2-0 early, they played better. Which they did.

But continue to go off on a bunch of stuff I didn't say...I don't care. You clearly have some stuff you need to get off your chest.

I’m not sure if you watched the game or just the puck, but they didn’t play better at all.
They scored a goal in the 2nd and fluke in the 3rd making the results much better the effort deserved. It was almost identical to Pittsburgh and most teams in the league would have put that game away and left no doubt.

 

[The Podium]

I’m not sure if you watched the game or just the puck, but they didn’t play better at all.
They scored a goal in the 2nd and fluke in the 3rd making the results much better the effort deserved. It was almost identical to Pittsburgh and most teams in the league would have put that game away and left no doubt.

That’s certainly not true. The first was awful, the 2nd was better but that 3rd period was great outside of 1 minute after they tied it up and Chicago pushed a bit.

They were getting pucks to the net, guys battling in front of the goalie, cycling well and actually completing passes for the first time all season. The shot attempts were double in Toronto’s favour.

A couple defensive lapses that needed a Soupy bailout but that 3rd period was some of the best effort they’ve shown in years.

 

[IPS]

Holl looks like he ate at KFC all offseason. The guy looks exhausted the moment he steps on the ice. Fumbling the puck everywhere. No vision.

Maybe last year's "success" went to his head and he didn't do what he needed to in the offseason?

What's funny is that Holl actually slimmed down significantly in the offseason. Went down from 205 to 194.

For some reason his skating/mobility never improved from it, and he definitely looks weaker in corners now too. And like you said, he looks fatigued halfway through the game.

 

[DutchHockeyGuy]

A little bit of love for David Kämpf. He does what so many ex-Leafs do agains us, score against his old team. A very important goal as well. And he was over 70 percent on face-offs, often against Jonathan Toews. Good game by him.

In general, I saw some positive signs with the Leafs in this game. But they really should do something about those turnovers. Also, Matthews looks like a player who missed the pre-season. I am sure his goalscoring abilities will be on show very soon again.

 

[JT AM da real deal]

A little bit of love for David Kämpf. He does what so many ex-Leafs do agains us, score against his old team. A very important goal as well. And he was over 70 percent on face-offs, often against Jonathan Toews. Good game by him.

In general, I saw some positive signs with the Leafs in this game. But they really should do something about those turnovers. Also, Matthews looks like a player who missed the pre-season. I am sure his goalscoring abilities will be on show very soon again.

Yes of all the pickups he and Bunting have helped .. but they are still 4th liners playing up in our lineup due to CAP

 

[RoyalCitySlicker]

I’m not sure if you watched the game or just the puck, but they didn’t play better at all.
They scored a goal in the 2nd and fluke in the 3rd making the results much better the effort deserved. It was almost identical to Pittsburgh and most teams in the league would have put that game away and left no doubt.

OK.

 

[meefer]

Bunting, Kase, Ritchie, Kamph, Sandin, Amadio, am I missing anyone? 6 newcomers, not being guided well by the core. Hard to win.
Mikheyev and Mrazak out. Loss of depth, and credible goalie. Hard to win.
Matthews wrist surgery, making his season debut late, adjusting and shooting, but not scoring. Hard to win.
Marner, tight as a drum, in only his second long term slump, has been as consistent the last three years as one could want, but those playoffs and now this. Hard to win.
Tavares, with a shooting percentage lower than his career average, let alone his Leaf average. Hard to win.
Muzz, Holl and to an extent, Brodie, off to weaker starts than expected. Hard to win.
Willy, Spezza, Campbell, leading by effort and success, is not enough. Rielly being Mo, too.

But, you’d have to imagine these realities continuing throughout the season to believe this team is as bad as some portray. Matthews will score, Marner, too. The newcomers will adjust and fit in better. The D, as we saw last year, is not as weak as it has shown to this point. Though, I would like to see Liljegren given more opportunity. Mrazak is an upgrade on Hutch.

I don’t know what this team’s ceiling is, but I believe we’ve seen the floor. I expect them to slowly jell and offer better results. I find some of the outrage comical, some of the comments disgusting. If supposed fans believe this team to be the corpse they describe, then find another team. If you believe they won’t/can’t offer better, go. Why torture yourselves?

They’ve had a crappy start to the season, but the season is young. I have no idea how good they can be, but I firmly believe they can be better than what we’ve witnessed. Changes will be made, but later rather than sooner, as they usually are. There’s absolutely no reason for this fan base, at this time, to believe all is lost and consistently moan and groan and scream to the hockey gods. Lighten up, try to enjoy, after all the regular season means sfa, it’s all about the playoffs.

 

[DutchHockeyGuy]

Yes of all the pickups he and Bunting have helped .. but they are still 4th liners playing up in our lineup due to CAP

That is a fair remark. For the record, his ice time is up only a tat compared to his career average. 28 seconds or so.

I like Buntings' hustle and he is making life hard for the opposition in front of the net, but he has everything to prove when it comes to playing on a top line and clearly does not yet have much chemistry with his current line mates.

In my opinion defensive speed and turnovers are much bigger worries then the play of Kämpf and Bunting. Kyper and Bourne had a guy on earlier this week (Michael Kelly?) who mentioned every metric for the Leafs is good and he believes the Leafs will recover from this hesitant start to the season, but he predicted losses for the Leafs in the play-offs for the last five years because of turnovers and he sees the same thing happening now.

 

[hobarth]

Well it's time to plan the parade, 5 years and 8 games into the 6th year of the rebuild and TO was able to come back from a 2 goal deficit against the worst team in the NHL, something to celebrate!

 

[The Podium]

Yes of all the pickups he and Bunting have helped .. but they are still 4th liners playing up in our lineup due to CAP

2021-22 TOI/GP
Bunting: 15:07
Kampf: 14:17

2020-2021 TOI/GP
Bunting: 16:42
Kampf: 14:40

Their minutes are both actually down from last season in different organizations. They are not playing higher in our lineup due to CAP.

Its not uncommon for teams to have a low cost role player or 2 up in their top 6.

Kampf is playing a shutdown role on the 3rd line and has been fantastic, so not sure why you are criticizing him.

 

[Twine Tickler]

I don’t know what this team’s ceiling is, but I believe we’ve seen the floor.

I think this is a great way to put it.

By no means was last night a masterpiece, but it was a much needed step in the right direction. If nothing else, the fact that they came back from going into the first intermission down 2 buzz is encouraging. Regardless of opponent.

I have my doubts as them being a contender for sure. But this is about the worst stretch of hockey I expect to see from this group all year. If I am wrong on that, we may be in for a tough year lol