Post-Game Talk: Rangers 6 Leafs 3

[supermann_98]

Maybe we should let the guy we're paying 3.8 million share some of the load.

Would be nice if the guy making $11m shares some of the scoring load as well, instead of just doing cardio out there

 

[The Hanging Jowl]

Fell asleep on the couch just before the first period. Woke up during the 1st intermission just in time to be treated to...that.

 

[wingman75]

Looks like a message to Dubas more than it is to the team. Gave him a 4th line "energy" winger who refuses to throw a hit for facks sakes

Maybe, but I think he would tell Dubas that to his face.. Keefe doesn't strike me as a guy to hold back his true thoughts. This was for the players imo... becausae he talked a lot about them hoping for the game to go their way and not making the game go their way. That speaks to effort and will more than anything else. Doesn't hurt for Dubas to hear it of course.

 

[geo25]

Another blown lead, 4th time on this road trip. Our defensive coverage has been awful, too many lost battles and got man handled on the forecheck tonight.

Lilly and Sandin are not ready for big assignments like tonight, still need to be sheltered. Dermott and Biega were no good either. Its becoming more and more obvious with the struggles with Muzzin we need to add a defenseman to bolster our D, it's not good enough.

Perhaps it is our coaching that isn't good enough? When Gerard Gallant was available I was HOPING we could snag him...a savvy coach & excellent former player would have forged a team with more 'character'. I firmly believe Keefe is out of his league...We will NEVER win with him at the helm. Dubas should have interviewed the best candidates at the time instead of appointing his buddy....

 

[BrannigansLaw]

Everything except the 3rd line sucked last night.

The defensive coverage was horrific and the goaltending was subpar at best. 1st line was playoffs bad last night.

It would be nice to get back to being that team that doesn't blow multi-goal leads every game and expect to win.

 

[Mess]

I'm not debating whether Matthews kicked it, I'm asking if the rangers stick hit it before it cross the line.

I'm not sure that matters in the outcome or else you could still kick a puck illegally into the net as long as you bounced off an opponent including the goalie equipment or and opponent or even a teammate, before it crossed the line. The league is trying to avoid the kicking motion with the skate for player safety so it should be clear cut and dry that any motion that propels it towards the net should be disqualified after it occurs. IMO

I think the review and disallowed call came from upstairs review both, and the reason for that belief is Keefe called the Ref over to the bench and wanted clarification on the call..

Had it been made on the ice, Keefe likely would have challenged it because of its importance and it being Matthews streak on the line, however if the Ref conveyed the call came from the off ice officials and the league, there would be reason Keefe would challenge it at that point as they already ruled on the play. IMO

 

[ShaneFalco]

So Bunkis says that 65's agent tweeted "Show me the money" last night and subsequently deleted the tweet. 65 will be the next to be thrown overboard because of you know who. Hopefully 35 is not another.

65 will want a raise and I'm not sure he's worth it. Actually I jus looked at his cap hit and I was wrong - I thought he was over $2 mill but he's at 1.65. 2 or 2.5 I'd be ok with

 

[ULF_55]

Forwards don't look to be covering anyone in the d-zone, maybe they're only paid to score?
Big boys with a bunch of minus performances.

Engvall - Kampf - Mikheyev, 13 shots on net.

 

[geo25]

Astonishing how short-sighted some fans are, give the knee-jerk reactions a rest. We just went 3-2-1 on a 6 game road trip where we played 4 top-10 teams in the league (after playing hardly any hockey for a month, mind you) and people act like the sky is falling?

We're currently on pace for 113 points. We're going to string together another 4 game win streak and everything will be sunshine and rainbows again. The reality is, none of this matters until the playoffs - sure, the blown leads are suboptimal, and there've been some unfortunate defensive breakdowns, but people saying we're doomed because of the last five games are out to lunch.

This is a 'preview' of what to expect come playoffs. The competition know it...we folded like a cheap tent the last 2 years & will do so again with this weak, fragile, physically scared team...

 

[Bluelines]

View attachment 499938

Indeed.

Love it when the coach throws the players under the bus to deflect blame from him.

1) Players are clearly gassed, their effort level in the first 30 minutes of a game is way below the 2nd half of the game. First 30 they push the pace, they make the other team chase the game, then the Leafs give up and chase the game for the last 30 minutes. Could this be the Covid effect? reduced lung capacity?

2) A team with a good game plan and a well managed game plan, Keefe this is on you, should never give up a 4-1 lead and a 3-1 lead. That has happened 3 times (4 times?) in the last 5 games? You can't push the players to play at break neck speed all game and expect for their effort to be the same all game. It simply wont work. Once you get a lead, teach them how to shut the other team down, teach them how to play a boring puck possession game that is ugly to watch, not fun to play but effective to defend. (Guy Boucher would be great for this). if that screen capture is legit, the fact they had no purpose, YOU SET THE PURPOSE, YOU CONTROL THE ICE TIME. You decide through game management what the purpose is. Shaming the players in public is a bush league move. Don't do it, never do it. Deal with it in the locker room. Approaching the game in the same way every minute of the game is a CHL coaching strategy. I have a belief that Keefe is not a legit NHL coach, throwing the players under the bus and not managing the game based on the conditions of the game, is not proving me wrong.

3) Campbell is simply horrible on this road trip, maybe he is tired, maybe he has hit that mid season wall, maybe give your $3.9 millon back up goalie a few games in a row to give Soupy a chance to refresh his batteries.

The desire for Keefe and Dubas to play one way and only one way, every minute of every game is their blind spot, it's not how a NHL team wins the Cup.

 

[Michael HOMERUNing]

You should notice that literally all of the criticism in that regard was directed towards the forwards, and specifically called out our "toughest" line. Even when he was criticizing the defensive coverage, a lot of it was directed towards the forwards without letting the young guys off the hook entirely.

You should also notice that he stopped using 'soft' and started using 'purposeless' a lot more as the presser went on. I think he knows that everyone is going to hop back on the "let's get a Foligno" train again when that is not what he wants. In fact, I am sure he wants to dump a guy like Clifford for a guy who can actually take a decent shift (even if he is small and not super tough) at his earliest possible convenience.

Although there was practically nothing suggesting that he thinks the solution for today's woes, which have not really been a major issue this season (and he also mentions as much), will come externally.

Our toughest line was our best line last night. So if he called them out that would have been pretty dumb. No I’m not talking about the 4th line

 

[zeke]

Getting a little annoying now.

Keefe was exaggerating but I'm glad he called them put harshly. Not good enough right now.

 

[Enniskillen]

Glimpse of what awaits them in the playoffs? Outhit and bullied as usual? Physicality will cost them again in the first round. They just don’t have it. Or maybe Keefe tells them to play soft and suck it up?

 

[Bluelines]

It wasn’t a goal. Right call was made under review

That kicking motion is sometimes a tough call, I've seen more egregious kicking motions called a goal and I've seen less kicking motions called no goal. I was thinking based on what I've seen called a goal in the past it was a goal but based on what I saw there was a slight kicking motion, if I was a ref I would have called it no go but again its a judgement call not everyone will see it the same way.

 

[Bluelines]

Glimpse of what awaits them in the playoffs? Outhit and bullied as usual? Physicality will cost them again in the first round. They just don’t have it. Or maybe Keefe tells them to play soft and suck it up?

What was Clifford out there for? I thought he was a tough guy? Marner laid out more harder hits than Cliffy. That is a problem.

 

[Mess]

3) Campbell is simply horrible on this road trip, maybe he is tired, maybe he has hit that mid season wall, maybe give your $3.9 millon back up goalie a few games in a row to give Soupy a chance to refresh his batteries.

This part is definitely a strong possibility.

Campbell in his career had never started more than 28 games in a full season and yesterday he played game #29 of 37 Leafs games. We're already in uncharted territory and not even at mid season. The difference between a true #1 starting goalie is durability and ability to play 65+ games fairly consistently. Campbell has been great this year for the most part, but potential burnout certainly a valid reason for his recent decline.

I don't think Keefe believes Mzarek gives him the same opportunity to win, so he rides Campbell into the ground. However as you have pointed out Campbell's GAA and sv% on this trip is showing signs of decline and likely due to workload and wear and tear from usage and not just QofC alone, because the later is not something that is fixable to control the level of competition.

Going to be interesting if Leafs management recognizes this and we see Mrazek on Saturday vs the NYI or if the march Campbell out there trying to salvage this road trip and end on high note.

 

[Bluelines]

I'm not sure that matters in the outcome or else you could still kick a puck illegally into the net as long as you bounced off an opponent including the goalie equipment or and opponent or even a teammate, before it crossed the line. The league is trying to avoid the kicking motion with the skate for player safety so it should be clear cut and dry that any motion that propels it towards the net should be disqualified after it occurs. IMO

I think the review and disallowed call came from upstairs review both, and the reason for that belief is Keefe called the Ref over to the bench and wanted clarification on the call..

Had it been made on the ice, Keefe likely would have challenged it because of its importance and it being Matthews streak on the line, however if the Ref conveyed the call came from the off ice officials and the league, there would be reason Keefe would challenge it at that point as they already ruled on the play. IMO

If you kick the puck and it hits an opponent and goes in, its considered a goal.

 

[Twine Tickler]

We beat ourselves last night. Easy plays on most of the goals against. NYR got on our defense quick, and they really did look scared going back on pucks. We never matched that intensity unfortunately.

It is upsetting that we seem to always crumble in games like this. I think Campbell was a bit off as well, but certainly not the reason we lost. We have just been so lucky to expect big time saves in key moments. Which wasn't the case, except for the one before the go ahead NYR goal.

Keefe said it best, it was a purposeless performance by all.

we are not protecting leads, because we are not protecting the puck. It's really that simple. NYR didn't even play that well TBH. They competed hard, and had a couple fortunate bounces find their way into the back of the cage. But almost all of those goals came off of structural breakdowns in our own end or unforced turnovers. It just can't continue to happen.

High and hard is never a bad play in a hostile environment like yesterday. Take the crowd out of the game, and kill any momentum. I just don't understand some of the plays we were trying to make yesterday while protecting a 2 goal lead.

 

[EGL22]

So many Leaf fans upset at what is happening these last few games surprises me.
Rangers did what all teams do and know,never give up and add pressure and these guys will show little heart and a comeback is there for the taking.

Many including myself said enjoy the first 40 as they should be a top team but wait and see the 2nd 40 as nothing appears to be different so they will probably slowly fall back into being the let downs we have seen before.

You have all seen what Dubas's style teams have done since he took over and this is right about on pace for being wash,rinse,repeat.

Start great with open pond hockey,then teams tighten up after New Year and they start to lose some games,then the stretch run begins and every team except Leafs shows more heart and drive and grit and that they give a crap and finally playoffs where every other team is primed and loaded to playing hard and Leafs are not interested any more because now it is too much like hard work.

Considering the team cap situation and the 'vision' unless Dubas gets sacked don't expect anything to change in what is left of our Matthews years.

 

[Bluelines]

This part is definitely a strong possibility.

Campbell in his career had never started more than 28 games in a full season and yesterday he played game #29 of 37 Leafs games. We're already in uncharted territory and not even at mid season.

I don't think Keefe believes Mzarek gives him the same opportunity to win, so he rides Campbell into the ground. However as you have pointed out Campbell's GAA and sv% on this trip is showing signs of decline and likely due to workload and wear and tear from usage and not just QofC alone, because the later is not something that is fixable to control the level of competition.

Going to be interesting if Leafs management recognizes this and we see Mrazek on Saturday vs the NYI or if the march Campbell out there trying to salvage this road trip and end on high note.

If anything give Campbell a mental break, I've never seen a hockey players as tough on himself as Campbell, the guy gets in his own head. He needs to disconnect for a few games and just be an observer.

Are we playing $3.9 mil of our Cap for a guy to play 15-20 game per year on a team with Cap issues? Mrzek needs to be in the 35 to 40 games per year. I don't think he's better than Campbell but he better than the last 4 games Campbell played.

 

[Dekes For Days]

he rides Campbell into the ground.

Campbell has not been "run into the ground". He's played 7 games in the last 41 days.

 

[Mess]

If anything give Campbell a mental break, I've never seen a hockey players as tough on himself as Campbell, the guy gets in his own head. He needs to disconnect for a few games and just be an observer.

Are we playing $3.9 mil of our Cap for a guy to play 15-20 game per year on a team with Cap issues? Mrazek needs to be in the 35 to 40 games per year. I don't think he's better than Campbell but he better than the last 4 games Campbell played.

Mrazek 2-2 record with .882 sv% and 3.59 GAA would not get any coaching thinking I need this guy in net to win.

Joseph Woll has a 3-1 record in his 4 games and .911 sv% and 2.76 GAA. He was actually quite steady and dependable in relief of Campbell as a rookie no less.

Are we sure Mrazek is our best goalie option behind Campbell?

 

[JT AM da real deal]

Just remember folks this is a regular season game on road with a kiddie corp defense .. the only thing of value which I warned you guys beforehand was 2 rooks on 2nd pair is a recipe for disaster even in a regular season game when nothing at stake and no one is going b*lls to da wall .. it was ok to try .. experimentation is good .. but answer was clear .. Sandin does not have foot speed to move around in his own end never mind da blow byes ... and Lily could not cover up all his defensive positioning errors again never expect a rook to do that .. it is sending a boy to do a mans job .. it will be three times worse in playoffs when things amp up and speed of game increases and Sandin will be badly exposed much like last year ..

If Dubie does not get us a top 4 dman for playoff run then quite frankly he deserves to be fired asap .. if we are really serious about a playoff run then we need a Bogo type on 3rd pair too .. this defense as it existed last night will be a 1st round exit yet again

 

[aingefan]

Just watched the Lili goals against. The first, the turnover was not good. But, that goal doesn’t happen if either 15/91 pick up Fix who cruised toward the crease. Poor recognition and support.
The second, one, Lili blows a tire on the face off but he’s lined up in his off side, along the boards. Pretty bang bang, but no one from the dot over even thinks about Kreider. Again, poor recognition and support.

 

[Dekes For Days]

Are we sure Mrazek is our best goalie option behind Campbell?

Yes, we are. Some of us don't draw conclusions from 4 games out of a goalie's 308 game career.