Pre-Game Talk: Ottawa @ Toronto - Game 2 - Tuesday 7:30

[SprDaVE]

 

[Stephen]

Not gonna lie, I’m looking forward to the Brady sucks chants in his own building lmao

I'm hoping McCabe catches him in open ice.

 

[Suntouchable13]

Probably a closer game on the scoreboard but I expect the Leafs to win once again.

 

[1specter]

Ugh. Holmberg is literally the worst fit for that line, it's basically Alex Kerfoot redux, not a fan.

 

[Dayjobdave]

Based on Sportsnet's feedback, we must be feeling pretty intimidated after last night's beatdown

Looking forward to Tuesday.

 

[GrizzLeaf]

Based on Sportsnet's feedback, we must be feeling pretty intimidated after last night's beatdown

Looking forward to Tuesday.

I'm ok with that narrative. I really hope the Sens players and coach believe it as well.

Change nothing Ottawa. Play the exact same way. The advance stats say you won. The refs just robbed you. Ignore that you lost 3-2 at 5v5. Nothing to see here.

I have no idea what they can do to win. Definitely take less penalties. Change goalie?

All I know is that the Leafs just have to stick to what they did last night. It's the same game plan since February. Stick to what gives you success.

 

[Suntouchable13]

Stolarz the only one not on the ice this morning? Hope just a rest day.

 

[leafsfan5]

say sike or I'm going to kill myself

 

[AuraSphere]

say sike or I'm going to kill myself

Confirmed just a rest day

 

[Atrusai]

say sike or I'm going to kill myself

He seemed fine post-game, either just resting him or being cautious. Worst case I feel confident that Woll can outplay Ullmark right now

 

[leafsfan5]

Confirmed just a rest day

I stay alive

 

[Jimmy Firecracker]

Rielly-Carlo ranked out pretty bad on the Game Score in Game 1. Hopefully it’s just a one off because they’ve been strong together since Carlo settled in shortly after the TDL.

Don’t want to see breakdowns like on Ottawa’s first goal or Mo hand the Sens another breakaway again.

 

[Evilhomer]

Raw hit numbers are notoriously unreliable.
There’s no possible way they doubled us in hits in the game to anyone who watched.
Also there’s no possible way we only had like 10 hits in the 2nd and 3rd periods.
None.

It's also a completely irrelevant stat and has no predictive value for winning.

 

[Jmo89]

I'm ok with that narrative. I really hope the Sens players and coach believe it as well.

Change nothing Ottawa. Play the exact same way. The advance stats say you won. The refs just robbed you. Ignore that you lost 3-2 at 5v5. Nothing to see here.

I have no idea what they can do to win. Definitely take less penalties. Change goalie?

All I know is that the Leafs just have to stick to what they did last night. It's the same game plan since February. Stick to what gives you success.

The best part is the media and Sens fans are acting like the Leafs played their A game and won against an unlucky Sens team. Let's be honest, the Leafs have room to be much better and still stomped them 6-2.

The second line especially was very average to bad 5v5, and no it wasn't because the big bad Sens shut them down. I also thought Carlo, Rielly, and Benoit were all pretty average as well. Stolarz looked nervous in the first but settled in the second and third. And although he takes alot of flak (I personally think he's fine as a bottom 6 player) Domi was downright bad while Robertson and McMann failed to find any flow.

Ullmark will be better. The Leafs won't get as many calls going forward, and Brady will probably be more effective but imo the Leafs have alot more room to improve than Ottawa does which bodes well for the team that just won 6-2.

I expect a few 3-2 and 4-2 wins for Toronto.

 

[Skullz]

Hope we play better 5 v 5 tomorrow. Expect them to be more disciplined than in game 1.

I would like to see McMann on the 2nd line. Would really solidify the top six. But I do prefer Holmberg to Domi.

Go leafs go.

 

[willmma]

I fail to see how one is a 2 minute roughing and the other is a 5 game suspension.

 

[hoglund]

I heard that Stolarz was absent from practice today, did he get injured?

 

[BallardEra]

 

[notbias]

I fail to see how one is a 2 minute roughing and the other is a 5 game suspension.

To be fair, I think Kleven punched him... Grieg should be getting a suspension, but won't,

 

[Fogelhund]

I'm not concerned with the teams 5v5 play. Ottawa did have more offensive zone possession, but for the most part they were kept to the outside, for relatively low danger shots, and then we also blocked 18 shots. That's kind of how they've played down the stretch... possession isn't critical, but clutter the middle of the ice, don't let them behind you, limit their dangerous chances, shoot from the outside all you want.

We've got the talent, to score on the opportunities we get... it's a bit of rope a dope hockey.

 

[The Shadow]

More of what we got last night please.

Top 6 went off.

Bottom 6 opened the scoring.

PP and PK were clicking all night.

Stolarz was rock solid after that 1st goal.

Only thing I want to see engage more in is hitting.

They were out hit 56-30
.

Breakaway aside I thought Tkachuk was real quiet last night keep that going

Hitting needs to be something that is controlled. No need to hit just to hit Someone when making a smart play is a better option.

Tanev is the master at this. Doesn’t have many hits but he uses his body position perfectly

 

[tuckerintensity]

I can't imagine that we'll get as many calls next game. Not that they didn't earn their calls, you just know that's how it works. Even last night, there was a period of time where Ottawa knew they weren't getting the next call and then Willie got called for that soft one, but we handled all that well. This is all just to say, I hope we clean some things up five on five, and by that I mean mostly settle in and take control a bit more.

Flip side is, we didn't really have to. We got those two big goals early and then capitalized on the power play, we didn't have to play any different game than we did.

 

[tuckerintensity]

Ugh. Holmberg is literally the worst fit for that line, it's basically Alex Kerfoot redux, not a fan.

Domi wasn't it on that line last night. They keep wanting to push him into a top six role, but it doesn't work with the guys we already have up there.

 

[Donnie740]

Raw hit numbers are notoriously unreliable.
There’s no possible way they doubled us in hits in the game to anyone who watched.
Also there’s no possible way we only had like 10 hits in the 2nd and 3rd periods.
None.

Maybe they were counting it as a hit for Ottawa when Adam Gaudette used his face to hit Domi’s fist?

 

[LEAFANFORLIFE23]

Rielly-Carlo ranked out pretty bad on the Game Score in Game 1. Hopefully it’s just a one off because they’ve been strong together since Carlo settled in shortly after the TDL.

Don’t want to see breakdowns like on Ottawa’s first goal or Mo hand the Sens another breakaway again.

Ottawa's 1st goal happened because Stolarz was to casual with the puck instead of just covering it up that's one thing I want to see cleaned up the rebound control.