Post-Game Talk: Rangers 6 Leafs 3

[Superstar]

Why is this team still going back to their own zone and losing the puck instead of chipping it out, or playing cute puck possession when the prudent and wise play is to move the puck forward and into the offensive zone? Did they already forgot about that cute Dermott spin-o-rama in OT against the Habs in the playoffs last year in game 6?

 

[TMLeafer]

Rangers got big saves in the 3rd when it mattered, even after a tough start by Shesterkin. Campbell was not able to provide that tonight. Not pinning this on him because the defense in front of him was bad and the forwards, particularly top 2 lines, were poor in their own end.

Also our 4th line "tough guys" are way too invisible physically.

 

[Havoc]

Why is Kyle Clifford on this team? If he can't even hit guys and disrupt the other team he serves no purpose.

4 games in a row now without a hit.

 

[LastOne2100]

it’s based on kicking motion. Tiereny does not distinctly kick the puck in. He guides it in, yes his foot leaves the ice but it wasn’t in a kicking motion. Matthews distinctly kicks the puck in. That’s literally the difference. The motions are completely different in both cases.

We'll just have to agree to disagree. Swinging your foot towards the puck, in a way that includes so much forward momentum that your skate leaves the ice, and in doing so, causing the puck to change direction and be propelled towards the net, is by definition a kick.

Yes, the Matthews one was a kick, but the fact that no one will ever understand how these calls will go in advance is the problem.

 

[Superstar]

Tampa won with 4 defenseman. I guess trying to win with 2 is pushing it.

Well, their defense actually plays defense...some of our dmen tonight think they are forwards.

 

[kevsh]

I'm not blaming the defense for this one, this is 100% on Jack,

They had some serious missed assignments - guy in the slot wide open & lounging type - and a couple of brutal giveaways. Jack wasn't good but nowhere near 100% on him.

 

[ZEBROA]

Soup hit the fan.
No this is a failure to communicate between D and goalie.

 

[All Mod Cons]

I think you need to look at dangling Holl and Dermott for trades with a sweetener that is not a first round pick to try and get something done for a top 4 guy who's SOLID defensively. A package with them together and something smaller might be able to get something back that's helpful.

What and/or who from do you think we can get for Dermott and Holl?

 

[Torontonian]

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.

 

[Menzinger]

Good lesson about Muzzin is difficult to replace

 

[Kiwi]

You aren't going to win them all

We've played some good teams on the road, it's always going to be tough sledding but we are keeping our head above water and our schedule will get easier

I also chuckle when I read people complaining about young defenseman making mistakes as they are pushed up the lineup because of injuries

They are young, you have to live with some growing pains and mistakes so they can become experienced defenders who become top 4 staples

 

[Seath The Scaleless]

Why is Kyle Clifford on this team? If he can't even hit guys and disrupt the other team he serves no purpose.

It honestly boggles my mind why we continue to play him. Same with Simmonds, who has been just as bad, but I guess can be somewhat useful at times so maybe he gets a hall pass.

The 4th line has been absolutely atrocious and virtually unplayable on this road trip.

 

[TeddyBare]

Really starting to see what people are saying with Marner’s questionable decisions with the man advantage

they are passing the puck around the perimeter, he gets it at the point and lets off some weird random wrister 2 feet over the net and 2 feet wide without waiting for the screen on the goaltender.

as soon as the shot left his stick some teammates didn’t react because it was so shocking. They were just like “what do you want us to do with that shot?”

rangers got it and cleared after it took a bounce off the glass.

 

[Carltons Cup]

Why is Kyle Clifford on this team? If he can't even hit guys and disrupt the other team he serves no purpose.

But he's a gud pro....

 

[Maplebeasts]

Another note on this game is that Clifford has no business on this roster, even as a taxi squad guy. He does literally nothing and hasn't even been physical. I don't think there's been a game he's played where the fourth line was anything but unplayable. I'd rather just waive him and call up someone from the Marlies.

 

[Havoc]

Soup hit the fan.
No this is a failure to communicate between D and goalie.

I thought to myself why isn't Jack yelling at Lil about Kreider. Everyone needs to wake up

 

[Superstar]

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.

I wonder what Keefe thinks now, because when asked last time about these recent blown leads, he kind of tried to dismiss and downplay it...it's clearly the elephant in the room now.

 

[TMLeafer]

Another note on this game is that Clifford has no business on this roster, even as a taxi squad guy. He does literally nothing and hasn't even been physical. I don't think there's been a game where he's played where the fourth line was anything but unplayable. I'd rather just waive him and call up someone from the Marlies.

Get Anderson in there, that line sorely lacks speed as it is.

 

[BigGulpsEh]

Why is Kyle Clifford on this team? If he can't even hit guys and disrupt the other team he serves no purpose.

Truly mind blowing he is in the line up

 

[Dekes For Days]

Matthews absolutely robbed of an NHL record.

Pathetic by the league.

If that was Crosby or Ovechkin, the league would have confirmed that goal so fast it would make your head spin.

 

[LEAFANFORLIFE23]

They had some serious missed assignments - guy in the slot wide open & lounging type - and a couple of brutal giveaways. Jack wasn't good but nowhere near 100% on him.

Nope it's time he takes the blame because lately he's allowing AT LEAST 1 bad goal every night he's got to get his shit together

 

[2 Slick]

Seemed like every Rangers chance went in while we faced a brick wall after the first period.

The main difference is that Shesterkin is a legitimate Vezina candidate and will battle for it all season. I love Campbell quite a bit, but he's no Shesterkin... not even close.

It's been a combination of god awful defensive coverage, horrible giveaways like the one Liljegren had that caused the Rangers to tie the game. Another example is Biega allowing Reaves to be alone in front of the net to score the Rangers first one.

It's also been a combination of poor goaltending from Campbell. He's never played more than 31 games in a season his entire career. He's 30 years old and barely has over 100 games played in his entire career. His numbers have always been pretty good though, but he's not Shesterkin level.

I'm a huge fan of his, but fans shouldn't expect too much from Campbell. He's never been a starting goaltender his entire career, he's not used to playing this many games in a short span.

As much as I can't stand Mrazek, hated the signing from day one and think he's been absolute garbage, they need to play him some. Else he's just a huge waste of cap space.

Toronto has an elite group of forwards, decent top two D, decent goaltender in Campbell, but they have pretty average to sub-par defense the rest of the way.

I'm a fan of Sandin and Liljegren, but they are not ready for the top 4, not even close.

When the Leafs had to utilize a 33 year old in Biega as defensive depth due to injury and protocol, that shows me how deep their defensive core really is. It's not pretty to say the least.

 

[steam whistle]

You aren't going to win them all

We've played some good teams on the road, it's always going to be tough sledding but we are keeping our head above water and our schedule will get easier

I also chuckle when I read people complaining about young defenseman making mistakes as they are pushed up the lineup because of injuries

They are young, you have to live with some growing pains and mistakes so they can become experienced defenders who become top 4 staples

Young isn't the excuse. Fowler and Lindholm were young when they entered NHL, please don't take it for granted.
Simply put, they're not good enough.

 

[Michael HOMERUNing]

Matthews absolutely robbed of an NHL record.

Pathetic by the league.

If that was Crosby or Ovechkin, the league would have confirmed that goal so fast it would make your head spin.

Lol

 

[Cap'n Flavour]

The addition in a top 4 went pretty bad for both of them, but Sandin was much worse.
They are ready for 3rd pair minutes but nothing more yet

Liljegren basically caused two goals against on his own so I'm not sure how you figure that Sandin was even worse.