Post-Game Talk: No Cup for Winnipeg this Year | 4-1 Leafs Win

[Dekes For Days]

Goons on your team make everyone feel safer and more confident to in a hostile physical environment.

Goons don't prevent anything. Winnipeg still made attempts to injure, and our players can and did handle themselves all on their own. Our response in this game had nothing to do with Simmonds/Clifford being on the bench.

 

[Mess]

I don’t know how you could have watched last nights game and think that was the same team we’ve seen all year. Must have been a coincidence

Wonder what some of the impressions were when Dubas re-signed both of these players?
Seems to be a bit of a mixed message being offered.

First we watch Leafs lose to bottom feeders Montreal and Arizona in a pair of uninspired losses.

So fans yell "Play the kids" ... Enter Nicky Bobby and he saves the day.

But Matthews and other stars are still abused physically with zero push back.

So fans yell "Who let the Dogs out" and Leafs insert a pair of Pit Bulls in Simmonds and Clifford.

Leaf's team plays their most complete and physical game and dominate start to finish and coach and GM finally get it right.

So some Leaf fans yell " Free Denis Malgin" ..

Just goes to show you can't please all the people all the time.

 

[saltming]

I don’t know how you could have watched last nights game and think that was the same team we’ve seen all year. Must have been a coincidence

Wonder what some of the impressions were when Dubas re-signed both of these players?
Seems to be a bit of a mixed message being offered.

I think it's equally plausible that the whole team say how bad it looked and the Dallas game was a wake up call for them as Simmons and Clifford in the line up.

Personally I think having those guys in the lineup helped but I think they team as a whole also said enough is enough.

 

[Ianturnedbull]

I came here to say that 12 pages of posts after a win isn't bad, an improvement over the last time for sure so maybe fans are starting to get back to normal but then, I see this post at the end, sigh.

Cheer up buddy. If you can't understand how people can be fans of this team, then what the hell are you still doing here? If this place brings you down, then go away FFS. Get a life, be happy.

Anyhow, I enjoyed the game last night. That's two entertaining, solid wins in a row, looking forward to the next one. GLG!!

You missed the boat.

 

[egd27]

There's absolutely nothing to suggest that the players who actually fought and played physical did so because Simmonds and Clifford were sitting on the bench.

Of course there is...........the mere fact it happened can suggest that.

 

[Pebble live]

The funny thing is, the opposite argument is entirely built on "trust me bro" with zero evidence. There's absolutely nothing to suggest that the players who actually fought and played physical did so because Simmonds and Clifford were sitting on the bench.

Unfortunately, because some posters were scared in their own beer league games decades ago unless they had a face-puncher on the team, they think they can project and apply that to professional hockey players who have time and time again shown that they can handle their battles all on their own, just like they did in this game.

We have literal evidence in front of us. The leafs looked very muted and neutered in the previous games to last night. You have AM commenting before the game about how significant of an impact they'll make knowing they'll have your back if you need it. Then you had Mo jump into a scrap. The team looked more confident and balanced last night. Simmonds and Clifford had a net front presence we did not have to this point in the season....Theres plenty of evidence to suggest they had a very positive impact.

These types of players bring a contagious energy with them. It's pretty obvious that was the case last night.

 

[Tarmore]

Typical Leaf fan.

There is no typical Leafs Fan

 

[ULF_55]

Sandin getting his legs.

Not bad only took 3-4 games and he's starting to round back into shape.

He was off a long time, since umm, let's see ... Winnipeg?

 

[Duffman955]

We played our most physical and complete game of the season yesterday. Huge team effort. Night and day difference of how physical the guys play when Simmonds/Clifford are in the lineup. If only we had a better version of Clifford on the roster.

Tavares and Nylander are the best Forwards so far this season, and it continued last night.

Robertson looks like he's reading the game much better.

Defense was solid all-round.
Holl gets too much hate for no reason. He's a decent #4/5 Dman, no question.
Sandin getting better every game. I wish he had more footspeed.

Samsonov was excellent.

Jarnkork and ZAR absolutely suck. The trio of them and NAK brought in to be the new bottom 6 has been an complete disgrace. Definitely need a healthy Engvall back and an acquisition to beef up the bottom 6. I don't see any Marlies really knocking on the door for these spots

 

[colchar]

Goons don't prevent anything. Winnipeg still made attempts to injure, and our players can and did handle themselves all on their own. Our response in this game had nothing to do with Simmonds/Clifford being on the bench.

And you're basing this on your vast NHL experience are you?

 

[saltming]

Leafs player hits last game ..

Matthews 2 hits & Leafs 4th line Simmonds (3) -- Kampf (2) -- Clifford (2) = 9 hits ..

Rest of Leafs 8 forwards 4 = hits total.

4th line combines for the GWG.

Who had the only fighting major in the Leafs? Which tough guy was that?

 

[Jozay]

When players say those guys being in the lineup helps, I'll take their word.

Its on Dubas to get more talented players that bring that aspect to the team, which he has failed to do every year he's been in charge. For now, we have to settle with Simmonds.

 

[All Mod Cons]

Who had the only fighting major in the Leafs? Which tough guy was that?

Rielly had his first wrestling match of the season in the first game Simmonds and Clifford played this season.

 

[Dekes For Days]

Of course there is...........the mere fact it happened can suggest that.

We have literal evidence in front of us.

What happened/what we have evidence of was a bunch of our players that people incorrectly label as soft responding to a dirty team that we had previous bad blood with after they attempted to injure our players multiple times. What we have absolutely zero evidence of/nothing to suggest is that being a result of Simmonds/Clifford doing nothing on the bench. That's nothing but a fan fantasy built to support a narrative. It's not unusual for wildly different situations in the Dallas/Winnipeg games to result in different responses.

Simmonds himself had a decent game, and likely earned another one, but that's because of his hockey play, not because of magical fantasies about him causing other people to do things by his mere existence.

 

[All Mod Cons]

When players say those guys being in the lineup helps, I'll take their word.

Its on Dubas to get more talented players that bring that aspect to the team, which he has failed to do every year he's been in charge. For now, we have to settle with Simmonds.

Agreed. Matthews literally said it. We've got guys who just refuse to believe it.

 

[notbias]

Where did Matthews say they were good hockey players? He said they have their backs and bring energy and intensity.

I am just saying if his thoughts are they are a waste of roster spots he won't say that... pretty straight forward he will compliment them.

I just Clifford is done, Simmonds can still play, and he showed it last night.

 

[ShaneFalco]

When players say those guys being in the lineup helps, I'll take their word.

Its on Dubas to get more talented players that bring that aspect to the team, which he has failed to do every year he's been in charge. For now, we have to settle with Simmonds.

Swing and a miss with Foligno, and Ritchie

 

[AvroArrow]

We played our most physical and complete game of the season yesterday. Huge team effort. Night and day difference of how physical the guys play when Simmonds/Clifford are in the lineup. If only we had a better version of Clifford on the roster.

Tavares and Nylander are the best Forwards so far this season, and it continued last night.

Robertson looks like he's reading the game much better.

Defense was solid all-round.
Holl gets too much hate for no reason. He's a decent #4/5 Dman, no question.
Sandin getting better every game. I wish he had more footspeed.

Samsonov was excellent.

Jarnkork and ZAR absolutely suck. The trio of them and NAK brought in to be the new bottom 6 has been an complete disgrace. Definitely need a healthy Engvall back and an acquisition to beef up the bottom 6. I don't see any Marlies really knocking on the door for these spots

This looks exactly like the start we had last year. Matthews and Marner looked a little slow and rusty to start, JT and Nylander carried early until the 2 superstars took off.

 

[saltming]

Rielly had his first wrestling match of the season in the first game Simmonds and Clifford played this season.

I thought they played so our stars wouldn't have to fight?
Rielly has come to standup for players before Clifford and Simmons were on this team.
Like I've said this whole time, having those guys in the lineup is helpful but I don't think that's they are the sole reason we pushed back lastnight. Just as likely the team decided to stand up and give it back. That could have been from the coach. Lots of posts over Babcock and keefes tenure speculating that the team management decided that the power play would be the Leafs enforcer, so why not a switch in coaching philosophy as the reason they gave it back AND why they dressed Simmons and Clifford?

 

[justashadowof]

Other than the puck handling out of the crease, I've seen nothing negative in Samsonov's game to date. And we all know that no NHL team has given up on a goalie solely on his puck handling in the trapezoid.

 

[fancy lad]

Goons don't prevent anything. Winnipeg still made attempts to injure, and our players can and did handle themselves all on their own. Our response in this game had nothing to do with Simmonds/Clifford being on the bench.

I beg to differ. just being on the team has an influence wether theyre out on the ice or on the bench. They play with tenacity and are physically aggressive every shift.

FOR SURE that has a positive impact on the team even when they’re not on the ice.

 

[All Mod Cons]

I thought they played so our stars wouldn't have to fight?
Rielly has come to standup for players before Clifford and Simmons were on this team.
Like I've said this whole time, having those guys in the lineup is helpful but I don't think that's they are the sole reason we pushed back lastnight. Just as likely the team decided to stand up and give it back. That could have been from the coach. Lots of posts over Babcock and keefes tenure speculating that the team management decided that the power play would be the Leafs enforcer, so why not a switch in coaching philosophy as the reason they gave it back AND why they dressed Simmons and Clifford?

What? No. Who in the hell ever said that?

I want our star players to fight. Not every game. But when someone is taking liberties with them. I want them to be like Crosby, Ovechkin, Malkin, Kucherov, MacKinnon etc. I want them, every once in a while to f*** someone unsuspecting up.

With Simmonds and Clifford in the lineup you can see our little balls grow. Guys start to think they're tougher than they are and they talk about how having them in, allows them to that.

Just like what Auston said less then 24 hours ago.

 

[Stephen]

Goons don't prevent anything. Winnipeg still made attempts to injure, and our players can and did handle themselves all on their own. Our response in this game had nothing to do with Simmonds/Clifford being on the bench.

Goons aren’t a preventative tool. They just allow your players to respond to the physical challenge by everything standing up for each other more knowing someone will have their back when things get rough. Which goes towards team cohesion instead of being run out of the building.

 

[WillyC]

I like having Wayne on the team… he keeps the other team on notice.

Even when Knies cracks the lineup… the Leafs aren’t going to want him fighting anyone.

 

[All Mod Cons]

Goons aren’t a preventative tool. They just allow your players to respond to the physical challenge by everything standing up for each other more knowing someone will have their back when things get rough. Which goes towards team cohesion instead of being run out of the building.

There are fans that just won't listen, so don't waste your time.

We've spent years telling them that they won't prevent things and that they need to also be able to play somewhat. All you get in response is "let's trade Matthews for Polak".

It's a waste of time.