Post-Game Talk: Rangers 6 Leafs 3

[SeaOfBlue]

Campbell was far from good tonight. He just didn't have Binnington on the other end tonight unfortunately. Neither of these were games where he should have had an .800 save percentage, and you are not winning those games unless the goalie is equally as bad.

In terms of defense, Sandin was good for the first half of the game. Not great the second half. Biega also did not have a very good game, especially on the cycle. He left Dermott out to dry far too often. Biega, however, has not played a game at either level since December 5th. He needed to play better, but it is also not his fault that he has not played in a month and a half when he very well could have got some maintenance games on the Marlies before we needed him.

I liked Liljegren, other than that one mistake which led to a goal unfortunately. I like his chances of being a top 4 defenseman for the rest of this year if they want to switch up Muzzin-Holl, and will be a nice asset for the Leafs in the playoffs.

We hemmed them in far more often than the other way around. Their forecheck was neutralized pretty much any time Biega was not the one handling it. Shestyerkin had to make a lot more big saves than Campbell did.

The only persistent issue I continue seeing is that 4th line. Clifford should not see another game in the NHL, and Spezza is not a full time center. Hasn't been at any point in his Leafs tenure. He works with Engvall, and he is fine with Ritchie because at least Ritchie at least has some skill. Clifford has nothing anymore, and didn't have anything last year. There is a reason why St. Louis gave him to us for absolutely nothing, and he cleared waivers.

 

[Coachcorner]

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

Like you already knew mi'lord. Talkin bout that realness...

 

[SeaOfBlue]

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

Clifford has, by far, the worst CF% on the team right now. Bringing down literally everyone he plays with.

Simmonds and Spezza are much better without him, even when Ritchie is on there with them (and he is far from a perfect fit for that line either given all three are fairly slow).

Should be Clifford's last game as a Leaf. That is it. He had a chance to show his value, and for the 10th time out of 10, he failed. Never should have been given a chance in the first place, because he has been trash since leaving LA.

 

[Stephen]

Clifford is beyond toast. Doesn't have the skill, will or body to do anything out there. He's just collecting a pay cheque at this point.

 

[killer1980]

This is a very common Leaf scenario. They play the way they want with little heart and determination, the coach gets annoyed and the pretty boys give up on the coach and the fans. That has been going on for decades. Like I've said since AM day one, this is a highly unlikeable team. Assembling a quality team involes so much more than acquiring just talent.

 

[fahad203]

Call up Dallas and let's make panic yet decisive move

Offer 1st and Robertson for klinberg. He's no Lindstrom but he solves few of our back end problem

If we play panthers Tampa or Washington for 7 games, sandin and Lilly will never want to play hockey again

Tom Wilson and Bennett and company will have a field day

 

[Kiwi]

Clifford has, by far, the worst CF% on the team right now. Bringing down literally everyone he plays with.

Simmonds and Spezza are much better without him, even when Ritchie is on there with them (and he is far from a perfect fit for that line either given all three are fairly slow).

Should be Clifford's last game as a Leaf. That is it. He had a chance to show his value, and for the 10th time out of 10, he failed. Never should have been given a chance in the first place, because he has been trash since leaving LA.

He literally adds nothing, Clifford has got to go

That 4th line really needs the injection of speed Engvall gives it

 

[SeaOfBlue]

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

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.

 

[ponder]

A tale of two Soups - Mikheyev had a very good game, Campbell one of his weakest as a Leaf. Weak games happen for goalies, and Campbell is generally great, but I think there’s some exhaustion there too. Just didn’t seem to be as keyed in, quick and aggressive as normal. Sucks that our very expensive backup has been borderline unplayable so far, but I think we just need to give Mrazek minutes and hope he turns the corner. Need to keep Campbell fresher.

Otherwise, obviously we need to stop blowing multi-goal leads. We’ve gone from a very good defensive team to a very mistake prone, porous one, that needs to change immediately.

 

[SeaOfBlue]

He literally adds nothing, Clifford has got to go

That 4th line really needs the injection of speed Engvall gives it

Suggestions?

I say Joey Anderson. Put him 3rd line RW where Engvall is and let Engvall go down to the 4th line with Spezza-Simmonds again. He would fit like a glove on that energy line and brings everything that Keefe said was missing from that team again.

Don't know what the guy has to do to earn a call up... Maybe take over the AHL lead in goal scoring? 5 goals off from #1 Jack Quinn right now.

 

[Leaf4Life79]

I stopped watching games after the crappy start to the season. Then after their huge run I started watching the odd game and every time I do they play terribly. It's unreal.

Jump ship, bud.

 

[fahad203]

Campbell coming down to earth. Some goals lately have been deflating.

Top 9 has no sand paper other than maybe Bunting. But he's not much of a hitter

This style of games have cost us two back to back playoffs

Kane still the best option without braking the bank and losing a prospect

Just get an old school hockey player who can play. I am so done with these figure skaters

 

[centipede2233]

This Campbell needs a rest is ludicrous to me. He’s had 2 games in the last 6 days, like if that’s too much hockey your in for a big disappointment as we head into February.

 

[MSZ]

Campbell coming down to earth. Some goals lately have been deflating.

Top 9 has no sand paper other than maybe Bunting. But he's not much of a hitter

This style of games have cost us two back to back playoffs

Kane still the best option without braking the bank and losing a prospect

Just get an old school hockey player who can play. I am so done with these figure skaters

Any washed up old school physical players who come here will become softer in an instant. We have seen the story over and over again, that's just the way it is.

 

[BodaciousBeefBazooka]

Ah yes the old score a couple goals early in the game and can’t keep momentum and end up losing. My favourite.

 

[hoglund]

I stopped watching games after the crappy start to the season. Then after their huge run I started watching the odd game and every time I do they play terribly. It's unreal.

Stop watching, you're jinxed and not helping.

 

[NMacrules]

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.

 

[francis246]

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

I do agree we need to go out and get another fourth liner but once Kase is back that fourth line looks a whole lot better with Engvall speed and forechecking. He was causing havoc with Mikahyev and Kampf. Even Ritchie looked good on the fourth line

 

[Racer88]

Just an awful showing the past 5 games. This team needs another defenseman and it needs to stop playing Campbell so much. Don't care if Mrazek has been shit so far, you signed him to a multi-year deal. You have to at least try otherwise he's a waste of cap space and money.

This is so true

 

[Racer88]

They are still young and developing

Most young defensive players don't just arrive on the scene top 4 finished products, in fact that's the exception not the norm

We haven't been prepared to understand that fact so we don't develop our guys properly or trade them to early

The problem always circles back to that we have to go with so many young inexperienced D man because of the way Dubas has structured the cap distribution.
We can debate all we want but nothing will ever change until that changes

 

[Racer88]

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?

They were both afraid to have to fight Reeves

 

[Blueblood2]

The Leafs have no one else to blame but themselves, but really I hate this league and the inconsistent calls. That was no more of a kicking motion than multiple other ones that were called a goal.

Also, I am sick and tired of our captain deciding to not show up repeatedly.

Campbell was the worse of the two goalies for sure, but our defensive coverage was completely brutal, so hard to put this on him alone.

Let's remember this beauty that was called a goal:

They are both kicking motion but Matthews is textbook. If you look at him he didnt complain one bit and even tried to get his stick on it before it went in so that it wouldnt be called.

 

[All Mod Cons]

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

It's funny that when fans say this, (as they are witnessing and understanding the exact same things as the coach), the usual suspects come out the woodwork to tell us we're all wrong.

 

[TheGoldenJet]

Lol just Soft. Soft soft soft soft soft

The story of the last decade for the leafs.

“Soft and purposeless.”

Doobler has built a team in his own image.

 

[Blueblood2]

We had one against us earlier this year that was far more egregious
What a joke this league's officials are.

Just because you allegedly saw a more egregious one earlier this season does not make this one not a kicking motion. LOL