Post-Game Talk: Mother's Day No Show: Leafs Lose 2-0

[notDatsyuk]

That might be a decent swap but unless he can do something with Matthews not much will change. 13 million is simply to much for a guy who can’t put the puck in the net in the playoffs

Matthews is an issue now and may be going forward but that's not really the point.

The claim was that you can't win with 4 players making that much, and I said it depends on the 4. I used Marner/Rantanen as an example just because it had been discussed, and it seems like Rantanen might be an improvement.

If you think the problem is Matthews, would changing him for McDavid made it work?

If you think the problem is Nylander, would changing him for Rantanen make it work?

If you think the problem is Tavares, would changing him for Draisaitl make it work?

 

[Eddo22]

It was a dumb hit but compared to some of the dirty stuff that the Panthers do, its failrly demure.







Not a single minute in PIM called on the Panthers for any of these three plays.

That's only 3 of the headshots. Also, add in Stolarz and Holmberg who both took headshots and no penalties were called. There may have been more that I missed.

 

[notDatsyuk]

He said today the Kulikov elbow to the head was worse than Domis hit.

Thanks - that seems to refute the idea that Berube won't say anything.

 

[seventieslord]

At least he won a cup and he was outstanding during the cup run.

Matthews isn't even close to that.

Yup. Despite being the prototypical, or stereotypical mercurial, enigmatic, one-dimensional Russian scoring forward, Kovalev actually has excellent playoff scoring stats.

 

[Jmo89]

Game 4 was disappointing and a reminder of how pathetic the teams core can look. I still think they have a shot. Whoever wins game 5 wins the series imo.

Woll is settled in and likely has another strong performance. Nylander probably has his worst game out of his system. Those two are likely enough to win a close game. I don't have much hope for Matthews - injured or not.

My original prediction was Florida in 6, so I hope I am wrong. They've shown alot of good during these playoffs but need to stop being cowards and get back to what works.

 

[leafs in five]

all our first period penalties were earned imo but they had to call one the other way before or during the Knies penalty, the interference on Matthews on the ozone before or the hook when he cleared it on the Knies penalty kill. Game never really got started for us but if they're getting out shot by 15 after 2 with 25 more blocks and it's 0-0 and Benoit has wrecked Reinhart like he did then maybe instead of a no show it's the new look Leafs who are different and can win ugly and collapse low and clear their crease, Brad Treliving is doing a great job, I kind of even believe it

 

[leafs in five]

I really would have expected to get at least one shot on goal between a Knies breakaway and a Nylander chance in alone

 

[LaPlante94]

McMann needs to find his scoring touch. I'm liking that he's starting to play bigger but he needs to score I'd take Jarnkrok out and put Robertson in or even Kampf. Ever since Florida took out Samskovich or whatever his name is and that other guy to get their big physical 4th line back they have killed us the last 2 games. They've been laying a beating on Tanev and just being a force below the goal line and around the net.

 

[seventieslord]

I'm going to agree; Maurice isn't a good coach. People seem to forget he was OUR head coach for a couple of years... And we missed the playoffs every year while watching him attempting to relive his one surprise Cup run with Bates Battaglia...

HIs playoff record would be terrible if it weren't for the two Cup runs with Florida. As it is, he's 500 in the playoffs.

Between the lockout and Matthews those were the two best teams we ever had. Yes I'm including the playoff year. I'm not saying Maurice definitely had a ton to do with it, but those were the two best efforts the team had over 11 seasons.

And again, not sure how much credit Maurice deserves for it, but we did have a lot of players on those two rosters that were very quickly out of the NHL despite not aging out, it was just that they weren't good enough and perhaps never were to begin with. Maybe Maurice deserves blame for playing them in the first place, or maybe credit for almost getting to the playoffs while relying on them, I don't know. Point is those were decent teams.

 

[ashs]

No. They are the killer predators, Leafs are the turtling beta victims.

Forearm smash our #1 goalie into literal oblivion and no team response? Check. Try to decapitate Marner last night with elbow to the head and no team response? Check. Ad infinitum...

They respond but we are called for everything. The panthers can do no wrong and they will co tinue to play that way.

 

[seventieslord]

took out Samskovich or whatever his name is

taking a look at your avatar I'd say you missed out on a great opportunity to call him Samsquamsh...

 

[Hellcat]

That's only 3 of the headshots. Also, add in Stolarz and Holmberg who both took headshots and no penalties were called. There may have been more that I missed.

Right, I forgot about those two.

I get that Hockey needs some dirty but messing with a person brain is downright evil. Face wash, cross check to the back, sure but you dont f with a persons brain.

 

[Mr_Fun]

I wonder if Matthews get injections that numb his hand or wrist or something

Made me think of Tim Conway in this sketch.

 

[LaPlante94]

taking a look at your avatar I'd say you missed out on a great opportunity to call him Samsquamsh...

You're right. I'm ashamed of myself

 

[Racer88]

Matthews is an issue now and may be going forward but that's not really the point.

The claim was that you can't win with 4 players making that much, and I said it depends on the 4. I used Marner/Rantanen as an example just because it had been discussed, and it seems like Rantanen might be an improvement.

If you think the problem is Matthews, would changing him for McDavid made it work?

If you think the problem is Nylander, would changing him for Rantanen make it work?

If you think the problem is Tavares, would changing him for Draisaitl make it work?

In my opinion changing it to 2 high end forwards, one stud Dman and a Vézina goalie might make it work.
Who that might be is up to the GM. I do not think it works on 4 essentially soft forwards no matter who they might be

 

[notDatsyuk]

In my opinion changing it to 2 high end forwards, one stud Dman and a Vézina goalie might make it work.
Who that might be is up to the GM. I do not think it works on 4 essentially soft forwards no matter who they might be

I completely agree.

But the original post didn’t specify 'soft forwards'.

 

[Lightsol]

Do you seriously think that if we had Rantanen instead of Marner that we would be playing him on the 4th line?

You totally missed what I was trying to say. Right now we have David Kampf at first line center, except he's wearing a jersey with the number 34 and the name Matthews on it. Would Rantanen make a difference if he also had to carry a first line center who has apparently forgotten most of how to play offense, again?

 

[notDatsyuk]

You totally missed what I was trying to say. Right now we have David Kampf at first line center, except he's wearing a jersey with the number 34 and the name Matthews on it. Would Rantanen make a difference if he also had to carry a first line center who has apparently forgotten most of how to play offense, again?

Yes, I missed that. Good one. Maybe a bit too subtle.

Would Rantanen carrying "a first line center who has apparently forgotten most of how to play offense" over Marner in the same situation make a difference? Considering that he's a better player and much more if a goal scorer, I would say yes, and probably even moreso than if Matthews were healthy.

 

[rumman]

Made me think of Tim Conway in this sketch.

Poor Harvey, having a hard time keeping it together in this skit, imagine getting paid to do shit like that…….

 

[ToneDog]

Many may not like Kyper when they disagree with his opinions, but they nailed it yesterday.

Real Kyper and Bourne

Nick Kypreos and Justin Bourne talk all things Maple Leafs and NHL! Airing live on Sportsnet 590 The FAN weekdays from 4-6 PM ET.

www.sportsnet.ca

Futa also nailed it saying the series turned when the Panthers cranked up their physicality in game #3. This after being down 2-0 and 3-1. Now we wait to see if these are the same losers or not.

Dubas tried everything. Tre has now has given them the best goaltending and defense. If they lose to the Panthers, it is on the common denominator.

 

[Tak7]

Yes, I missed that. Good one. Maybe a bit too subtle.

Would Rantanen carrying "a first line center who has apparently forgotten most of how to play offense" over Marner in the same situation make a difference? Considering that he's a better player and much more if a goal scorer, I would say yes, and probably even moreso than if Matthews were healthy.

He absolutely would.

At the very least, a Rantanen would drag Matthews along with him into the dirty areas and perfectly compliment the sort of game Knies is currently playing.

At the moment, Marner's cute perimeter game isn't doing anything to get Matthews going.

I just don't expect either of them to be capable of having a statement game anymore. I don't think either of them have it in them.

 

[leafs in five]

I think Matthews has spent plenty of time in the dirty areas in this series, he just can't shoot

 

[Tak7]

I think Matthews has spent plenty of time in the dirty areas in this series, he just can't shoot

Disagree completely here - he just hasn't gone to the hard areas. Other than that weird wrap-around attempt thing he did in front of the net in game 1, I can't recall a single time he's actually been right in front of Bob, occupying the sorts of areas that Tavares seems to occupy every shift.

 

[leafs in five]

Disagree completely here - he just hasn't gone to the hard areas. Other than that weird wrap-around attempt thing he did in front of the net in game 1, I can't recall a single time he's actually been right in front of Bob, occupying the sorts of areas that Tavares seems to occupy every shift.

it's tough in the corners, in our zone and theirs, and it feels like he's spent half the series in those areas. but fair enough on the slot chances. the glove save shot in game 4 felt like a look he could have taken into the crease

 

[Gallagbi]

Hey, no one's saying those guys are a bunch of choir boys, but if we're going to call that out, it's hard to turn a blind eye to the things our guys do.

I get where you're going with it, but the Domi hit (incredibly?) is within the lines they've set

If they suspended Bennet were likely looking at Domi and maybe even OEL getting a game, but it's not worth anything more than a penalty when you miss that and then opt not to suspend the multiple other egregious missed calls and non suspensions.

The video above, 3x Bennet concussions, the missed elbows, etc he'll just give Tkachuk a 2 min minor + misconduct at the end of Game 1 for the antics and you're likely setting decent boundaries