Post-Game Talk: Rangers 6 Leafs 3

[Michael HOMERUNing]

Sheldon Keefe himself has now admitted that the Leafs are too soft. You have to think that Dubas is working on acquiring some help on the backend

 

[wingman75]

If we are only good when our goalie is great, are we really good?

Bit of an overstatement I guess, but sometimes I just wonder what this roster is all about when I see them play like this for 5 games (excluding the ARI game since they are just putrid).

 

[fahad203]

Sheldon Keefe himself has now admitted that the Leafs are too soft. You have to think that Dubas is working on acquiring some help on the backend

In the press conference?

 

[BigGulpsEh]

Campbell provides goaltending like that, we will be a .500 club from here until the end of the season. Not saying he was the only thing off, but that level goaltending will get you .500 hockey

Absolutely

Defensive coverage and soft play like that will get you .250 hockey

 

[danny90]

Campbell needs some rest, time to get mrazek some games

 

[BertCorbeau]

Team’s lack of killer instinct is back again

Looks like we’re repeating they last 5 years

 

[BigGulpsEh]

Team’s lack of killer instinct is back again

Looks like we’re repeating they last 5 years

Its quite the possibilty

Especially since the 1st rd will be against a very good team no matter what the scenario is

 

[OVO16]

Lol just Soft. Soft soft soft soft soft

The story of the last decade for the leafs.

 

[darrylsittler27]

The Leafs style relies heavily on hot goaltending. 11 goals in 2 games should be the wake up. It won't work in the playoffs East....again.

Dubas has some real issues.That defense is not good enough and we are cap strapped.

 

[CabanaBoy5]

Too many turnovers. We need two tough steady defencemen. Dermott Liljegren and Sandin don’t have a place on a SC contending team. They’re going to be eaten alive against Tampa, Florida or Boston.

 

[Michael HOMERUNing]

Lol just Soft. Soft soft soft soft soft

The story of the last decade for the leafs.

Well not the last decade. We definitely led the league in fights one year

 

[ottomaddox]

This is a municipal, provincial, and national disgrace!!!!

 

[Leafsfan74]

The goal of the season is to win a Stanley Cup. To win a Stanley Cup we need to beat the best in the league. Repeatedly. In the hardest conditions you will need to win in, where we won't get the calls, and our defense will get battered.

Not really sure what you've seen lately that is showing you that we can do that. Rather, it shows that we continue to crumble under pressure, just like we have for years, in the same exact ways that have lead to repeated early exits.

If you goal is to continue to be a good regular season team, mission accomplished, I guess?

Also you do realize we'll be playing either Tampa or Florida in round 1, right? There won't be any easy rounds for us, so roadtrips like this are a good opportunity to test how we do with adversity.

They were getting by with suspect defense of late by scoring in unsustainable numbers.

Due to the schedule and level of competition, Keefe gave them a pass. Wisely or not.

It's up to Dubas to find another Muzzin type defenseman, even if it's a rental. Like it or not, we are going to need big bodies/physical types for the playoffs in order to have a balanced lineup.

They have assets, Ritchie waive opens up some Cap Space. Does Dubas have enough to get what is needed?

The one positive is that they are missing enough of their team to at least appreciate how important such players are.

 

[OVO16]

Same old same old. Leafs could win the next game 10-0.....and I still would not be confident for the playoffs.

For all the people who keep laughing at the "toughness" narrative...ya'll can go to hell. Im sorry. I dont care. Toughness isn't about "fighting" or "throwing punches". Toughness is about

-Winning Board Battles
-Using Physical contact to separate Puck from the opponent
-Clearing out the front of your crease with physicality and toughness. Make it easier on your goalie
-Having players who forechecks so hard, that they can seprate the opponent defenseman using physical play
-Finishing checks to get energy in the crowd building
-Getting in front of the opposition goalie and getting greasy.

You think teams are gonna let our star players play like its pond hockey in the playoffs? Give me break

 

[OVO16]

Well not the last decade. We definitely led the league in fights one year

Read my post above bro. Toughness isnt about fights. Thats where half of this baord is wrong. No one is advocating for COlton Orr to come back

 

[Michael HOMERUNing]

Read my post above bro. Toughness isnt about fights. Thats where half of this baord is wrong. No one is advocating for COlton Orr to come back

Hey I agree with you. I’d also add “taking a hit to make a play” to your list

 

[Coachcorner]

I mean we gangsta, but their gezoalie pulled a new one after that dirry first.

 

[CabanaBoy5]

If Clifford and Simmonds play as soft as Sandin and Liljegren in a game where we’re physically dominated, why are they on the team?

 

[wingman75]

I know a lot of people are not lovers of Keefe... I like him and the fact that he sees a lot of what we see, and relays that message outward makes me like him even more.

Calling his own team

soft and purposeless

is killer... and so effin accurate. He has called them out... do they respond? Can they? Do they care?

Hey I agree with you. I’d also add “taking a hit to make a play” to your list

Love this. There is never any selling out... and I don't know if it is fair to ask for that on a Wednesday in late January... but we rarely ever see it; I don't know that we have but we must have at least once. Regardess, it would be nice to know that it is actually in there; that would give me a lot of hope for the the playoffs. But watching this, again, for the two-hundreth time and knowing what we will face in the playoffs (despite them being months away) is concerning.

 

[wingman75]

I mean we gangsta, but their gezoalie pulled a new one after that dirry first.

We mighta gangsta'd in the offensive zone, but we gone done ourselves dirty in our own zone.

 

[Kiwi]

If Clifford and Simmonds play as soft as Sandin and Liljegren in a game where we’re physically dominated, why are they on the team?

Im wondering that, it's not like the 4th line is good with both of them on it either

 

[Havoc]

Lol just Soft. Soft soft soft soft soft

The story of the last decade for the leafs.

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

 

[Brown Dog]

Surprise, another blown lead. Almost seems like that is the case every game.

Not trying put this on Campbell, but he has not been good the last several games. Looking a little tired. He has been the teams MVP so far, get him some rest.

I mean, the team has played 7 games in the last 5 weeks. I don't think lack of rest is the issue.

 

[darrylsittler27]

This shouldn't surprise us the second half everyone starts playing.

 

[Michael HOMERUNing]

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

Definitely looks like it. If he was trying to teach a lesson to the players he would have kept it in the room