Post-Game Talk: Rangers 6 Leafs 3

[fahad203]

Like I said several times, this roster is not good enough to come out of the first round. Its very soft. Simmonds not doing Simmonds things. He potted a few so he thinks he's a goal scorer. Matthews didn't even try last night. I am watching that guy. If the opposition is big and strong and throws their weight around, Matthews pulls the disappearing act. I know, I know, he is a generational superstar. But he is not insulated. Bunting is a shit disturber but hardly someone that will "protect" our superstar. Marner is a buck fifty.

If you have Engvall, Holl, Ritchie, and a few others on your team, you are not going anywhere. No matter what, the Leafs are going to have to play one of Boston, Pittsburg, Florida, Tampa just to get out of the first round. Its not likely Boston at this stage. This roster cannot compete in a playoff series against Tampa, Florida or Pittsburg.

Dubas handcuffed this team.

Keefe is not a good coach. Anyone on these boards could step behind the bench and have the same record with all these so called superstars.

And this is not reactionary. Check my posts. I have been saying this for awhile now. I got lambasted. "we are 17 and 1." Bullshit. I tried to explain the record was against weaker teams or teams that had less than half a roster because of injuries and covid. No one was willing to count for all the games PPD'd. Now you are getting a glimpse at how flawed this team really is.

Prediction
1st round knockout four straight games.

Marner needs to go. Trade him for a stud D man and go from there. What a waste of 11 million bucks. Dubas will not outsmart any of these grizzled agents. They toyed with him.

Marner and Matthews will disappear when the going gets tough and its going to get real tough this year in the playoffs. Thankfully we have a big enough lead to hold off Detroit. But with all the games PPD'd rescheduled, the road to the playoffs is not set in stone. Boston and Pittsburg will be bumping us into a wildcard spot within a month.

Cambpell was playing out of his mind, hid a lot of defensive problems
If I am not mistaken we also played a lot of games at home where we could dictated the match ups

Now it's the 2nd half of the season, teams are going to gear up and take games more seriously
Last night was a clear indicator we are not physically ready

Simmonds I thought was turning a page earlier in the year. He seemed to have really regressed and always a step behind
He makes a good play here and there but mostly very unnoticable. For a player like him that's not a good thing

Ritchie we all know has been a total flop

Even with a full healthy line up, the D simply isn't good enough and hasn't been good enough for a while. It only takes 1 or 2 players to throw this team off physically. Last game it was Reaves and Kreider, last year it was Josh Anderson and Chariot the year before it was Dubois and Foligno. We don't have a physical response. Sure Simmonds can fight but nobody is going to fight him in playoffs

 

[ShaneFalco]

 

[Mess]

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

Sorry, nobody called for a cleanup in Isle 5 on a message board, perhaps focus your energy on the real mess which is the current on ice product, the 3-1 and 4-1 lead collapses and escalating goals against and mounting losses.

Leafs own play and performance should keep you more than busy putting out those real fires.

 

[ShaneFalco]

I like both Clifford and Simmond but neither look like they should be in the lineup right now. And guys are still getting abused without a response. Is this a Keefe thing?

 

[ShaneFalco]

 

[TMLAM34]

We got manhandled last night by the Rangers.

 

[AvroArrow]

I didn't like Campbells game. He should've had the second goal by Reaves easily, that's a bad goal. The game winning goal was off a complete fluke deflection so I don't blame him much for that but he wasn't great. Our D didn't really help him either. Sandin and Lily looked like what they are, a young D pairing. Hopefully they learn from this game. Officiating was brutal at the end. I don't know how that was a kicking motion, the league needs to get their shit straight. Half the time they call that a deflect and half the time its a kick, nobody knows what a kicking motion even is. It's a stupid rule to begin with, you can't kick the puck but if you're gonna make that rule at least call it consistently. Also a complete bullshit icing call on the 5th goal lol Bunting was clearly winning that race to the puck, that was just horrible officiating near the end. We probably should have won but we did not do enough to 100% deservedly win IMO. Lots of mistakes and the rangers capitalized. Despite the bullshit icing call, Kreider was left wide the hell open in front of Soup, inexcusable defence. Shesterkin was phenomenal as well, the guy is the real deal, made some huge stops. It could've been a 3 goal game if not for his play.

Overall, too many sloppy plays and lazy mistakes cost us the game. We should have won, but just too careless on D and not enough finish. Rangers finished their chances and Shesterkin stood on his head. Learn from it, especially Sandin/Lily and on to the next one. Also JT was pretty bad this game, he needs to step up.

 

[Bluelines]

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?

Cap will dictate what players get played. If we consider the cap what options are there?

 

[killer1980]

Dubas' philosophy has never ever been on stopping the other guy. It has always been outscoring them. Clearly, these pretty boys fit into that philosophy. Every coach the Leafs have had in the last few years has tried to get them to play defense. Neither the player nor it seems the GM buy into that. Campbell was terrific earlier and I believe that it is possible, as has been mentioned here, that he could be getting worn out. The players clearly worship Matthews and feed him the puck. Sorta reminds of the basketball team that loves to see their top guy slam dunk. Unfortunately, in hockey you only score 3, 4 or 5 goals per game not over 100. Hockey is a team sport and this is not a team. It never has been under Dubas and Keefe. It is a bunch of individuals, highly skilled I'll grant you, but it seems the ultimate prize, winning, takes a back seat. Few of the players seem to be upset when they lose. I am so tired of the foolish grins we see after a missed opportunity. Where is the anger? Where is the heart and determination to win?

Oh ya, and then there's Kadri.

 

[ShaneFalco]

I didn't like Campbells game. He should've had the second goal by Reaves easily, that's a bad goal

Reaves had something like one goal in his last 100 games and gets 2 against us

 

[steam whistle]

Sheldon's game strategy similar like Babcock, never change. Bruce Cassady did better than him.

 

[egd27]

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.

Does appear to be a recurring theme.

 

[AvroArrow]

Yeah that was a bullshit f***ing play. He took a full swing at Bunting on what would have been an empty net tap in, then another swing at him while he was down. That should've been 5 but refs gonna ref

 

[Dekes For Days]

Sorry, nobody called for a cleanup in Isle 5 on a message board, perhaps focus your energy on the real mess which is the current on ice product, the 3-1 and 4-1 lead collapses and escalating goals against and mounting losses.

A cleanup is necessary when people are spilling false narratives all over the floor. Your claim was incorrect. Campbell has not been "run into the ground". He has played 7 games in the last 41 days. If there is any issue, it's this team not playing enough.

Our on-ice product is not a mess. We are an excellent team, and all teams go through slumps and blow leads from time to time. Over the past month, we've experienced a league and team shutdown where we couldn't even practice, our entire team getting Covid (or injured - last night missing our entire shutdown pairing), our goalie going ice cold, our games getting postponed left and right to the point where we're barely playing, etc. and we've still managed a 4-2-1 record, so I think your claims are quite exaggerated.

For all the "mess" you claim our on-ice product to be, we're #1 in xGF%.
For all the "lead collapses", I believe we went into 2022 undefeated when leading after 2 periods.
For all the "escalating goals against", we're still the 5th best team in goals against.
For all the "mounting losses", we have a 24-10-3 record, which puts us on a franchise-best 113 point pace.

Also, it's "aisle", not "Isle". Though I think we all understand why you're used to writing "Isle".

 

[Bluelines]

Hey we dont need no stinking 4 minutes PP, our guys always have their teammates backs and rushed in and defended their teammate .. video below

 

[AvroArrow]

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.

Oh god that reminds me, there was one goal where Marner was scared to use the body (again) along the boards and the Rangers chipped it down low and scored. Can't remember which goal lol but my immediate reaction was, yup this shit again.

 

[kerk]

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.

Jack Han wrote a newsletter analyzing Liljegren's goals (for/against) last night and highlighted Liljegren... catching Kreider's elbow to his face on the second goal against lol. Not as much blowing a tire as getting knocked in the nose and getting stunned by it.

 

[TheBeastCoast]

Dear god can we please get rid of Clifford already? We have to change something about this 4th line like right now. Bring up Anderson or Steeves. Or both of them I don't care.

 

[Niagara Bill]

The guys whose physicality is their M.O. and are not afraid to play like you are describing are also the ones who can fight and defend themselves when challenged. In this league, you throw one hard fair bodycheck, someone wants to fight you. Show me one player who regularly does any of the things you listed and is not handy with his fists.

If you ever played any contact sport where your calling card is physicality, you know you will get challenged to fight now and then.

You are 100% correct. Let Marner throw 1 open ice hard hit and see if his play is not changed through intimidation by the other team. He needs a body guard.
On the other side if someone hits Nylander a good open ice hit, if we do not respond physically or tough, the game is over...especially in a playoff series

 

[Niagara Bill]

Keefe needs to grow a pair or be fired. There are times when aggression is needed. Why is Clifford dressed? He must be Dubas spy in the room.

 

[AvroArrow]

dubas has to go, after another 1st round exit he will, shanny should be gone too. what a failure not 1 round one lol

A competitive game 7 loss to either Tampa/Florida would still be more difficult/impressive than a 1st round win against a shit team from the West. I think they've done a good job with the team, it's just that we're here at the same time as prime (maybe dynasty) Tampa and what was an elite team in Boston. This Tampa team is on another level, best team of the last 15-20 years IMO. Only team i think that could challenge them is maybe the 2010-13 Hawks. We'll have to make a roster better than that if we want to be successful in the Atlantic. During most years this team would be more than good enough to be a legit contender but we undoubtedly have the most difficult path in the playoffs.

I am hoping Tampa takes the division so we get a match up against Florida instead. That potential series is like 50/50. If we match up with a team not named Tampa and lose in the 1st, I agree Dubas/Shanny should be gone. If it's a competitive loss to Tampa, I give them 1 more year.

 

[Bluelines]

A cleanup is necessary when people are spilling false narratives all over the floor. Your claim was incorrect. Campbell has not been "run into the ground". He has played 7 games in the last 41 days. If there is any issue, it's this team not playing enough.

It's not always a games played thing, we don't know how his health is post Covid, I know people who had Covid, were somewhat healthy and months later after recovery they are still struggling with lung capacity and other health issues.

Jack is known for being exceptionally hard on him self, maybe he needs a mental break, he's playing in Toronto (meat grinder of a city for athletes) on a team with high expectations, he's playing for his next contract, Veznia discussions are floating around him. Maybe he's not in the best head space?

I think it's fair to say he was, before this road trip, frequently making highlight saves most goalie wouldn't, now he is letting in goals many goalies would stop. There is something wrong with Jack, it might be the team in front of him or it may be Jack but something is not right. I wont pretend to know what the problem is. I don't see any harm in letting him rest. .. Mrzak has had a rough season but if Keefes thought is to let $3.9 mil sit on the bench and ride Campbell into the ground, not sure that is a vote of confidence for the rest of the team. The message you are sending is: Guys you cant win without Campbell and Mrzek is garbage. Is that a good way to manage a Cup contender?

 

[Gary Nylund]

A competitive game 7 loss to either Tampa/Florida would still be more difficult/impressive than a 1st round win against a shit team from the West. I think they've done a good job with the team, it's just that we're here at the same time as prime (maybe dynasty) Tampa and what was an elite team in Boston. This Tampa team is on another level, best team of the last 15-20 years IMO. Only team i think that could challenge them is maybe the 2010-13 Hawks. We'll have to make a roster better than that if we want to be successful in the Atlantic. During most years this team would be more than good enough to be a legit contender but we undoubtedly have the most difficult path in the playoffs.

I am hoping Tampa takes the division so we get a match up against Florida instead. That potential series is like 50/50. If we match up with a team not named Tampa and lose in the 1st, I agree Dubas/Shanny should be gone. If it's a competitive loss to Tampa, I give them 1 more year.

Competitive is the operative word here - if we play another series where we're right in it until game 7 and then we just give it away like we don't even care, I am going to lose my mind.

 

[Apex Predator]

I don’t know if this has been talked about but some talk about Keefes comments last night. I’m good with it. We are passed the point we need to baby these players. If his comments hurt the players feelings there are bigger issues at play.

the recent struggle has sucked and is giving me bad playoff vibes. We will see how long this slide continues but hopefully not for too longer.

 

[Bluelines]

Keefe needs to grow a pair or be fired. There are times when aggression is needed. Why is Clifford dressed? He must be Dubas spy in the room.

To skate around and look like Matthews? I've mistaken him a few times for Matty they look like each other on the ice.