Post-Game Talk: Rangers 6 Leafs 3

[Blueblood2]

This is my growing concern as well. The team looks good, but they have a tendency to completely fold in games like this. I still gotta think we win 1 round at least.

Not if you have to face FLA or TB.

 

[ULF_55]

So did the Ranger player hit Matthews' kicked in goal, before it went over the line?
Just seemed to speed up a bit when he waved his stick at it, but maybe seeing what I want to see?

 

[ULF_55]

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.

Some of the goals were on Campbell, but some were on the forwards not covering anyone. Seemed the last few games the forwards aren't in the play defensively.

 

[ANDI P IS CUTE]

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.

we had not lost after leading going into the 3rd all year- last 5 games i think we blew 5 leads in a row!

 

[LeafSteel]

 

[ANDI P IS CUTE]

we lost our 1 true big tough d man bogo- he walked; did not replace him. even with him we are too soft, softd men, soft forwards; soft as the habs.

 

[ANDI P IS CUTE]

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

 

[HamiltonNHL]

Indeed.

 

[ANDI P IS CUTE]

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.

how is campbell exhausted playing like 5 games in 30 days?

 

[ANDI P IS CUTE]

So did the Ranger player hit Matthews' kicked in goal, before it went over the line?
Just seemed to speed up a bit when he waved his stick at it, but maybe seeing what I want to see?

it doesnt matter - this team lacks character/strength/courage/toughness, soft forwards,. soft d. again. dubas and shanahan have to GTFO!!!!!

 

[Niagara Bill]

View attachment 499938

Indeed.

Keefe coaches soft, he does not want physical aggression. He has 3 or 4 guys who can play much tougher but they know they get benched if they do.
He has killed Simmons, Ritchie, Holl, aggression. None of them should be on this team if they are held back.

 

[theTTC]

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

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.

 

[ShaneFalco]

Campbell hasn't played well lately, injuries, and sloppiness creeping back into their game - and that 4th line is a shit-show. Rather see Anderson given a shot

 

[ShaneFalco]

"Coaches, all the way through the lineup — not nearly good enough."
I like that Keefe included everyone

 

[ACC1224]

Bright side, Marner has looked great since he’s been back.

 

[ACC1224]

So did the Ranger player hit Matthews' kicked in goal, before it went over the line?
Just seemed to speed up a bit when he waved his stick at it, but maybe seeing what I want to see?

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

 

[HamiltonNHL]

Natural Stat Trick shows the road trip SV% as being .838.

Ouch.

But anyways, here's some comparisons of stuff we can track to give an idea of whether they've just played worse defensively (and no this isn't the be all and end all, but I think it's more accurate than 20 different people's differing eye tests). These are at 5v5, xGA/60 is Expected Goals Against per 60 minutes, SCA/60 is Scoring Chances Against per 60 minutes:
During their 5-game road trip (2-2-1): 2.3 xGA/60, 24.4 SCA/60 - .838 SV%
The 5 games immediately before the road trip (4-1): 2.3 xGA/60, 22.3 SCA/60 - .919 SV%
When they went 13-2 between November 1st and December 1st: 2.3 xGA/60, 27.4 SCA/60 - .954 SV%
IMO, not a whole lot has changed in their game. I don't think they are giving up a whole lot more chances or a whole lot more quality chances than they were previously, they're just going in the net at a far higher rate than before. The SV% during the 13-2 run was unsustainably high and this is, in all likelihood, unsustainably low.

 

[Koolboss]

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.

No

 

[Optimist]

Remember when we weren't starting on time? Well apparently that's fixed now.

 

[Koolboss]

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

Heard Oilers are looking to trade Barrie. Dubus is all over this don't worry

 

[Mess]

The result was expected, because without Muzzin Leafs defense is very suspect and Leafs bottom 4 got chewed up tonight.

However continuing to blow 3-1 and 4-1 leads on this 5 game road trip encompasses and exposes more than just the Dcore alone as the number of goals surrendered rises.

This road trip was suppose to be a good measuring stick to gauge Leafs near the mid point and with a 2-2-1 record had this been a playoff series Leafs would already be down 3-1 in the series with losses to Colorado, Arizona and NYR a win over the Blues and the SO result to Vegas a TBD as that doesn't exist come playoffs.

 

[ToneDog]

How many years has it been since Shanny said this team needs to be more difficult to play against? Other than Bunting our top 9 is soft. Dubas' answer is Simmonds and Ritchie/Clifford on the 4th line. Muzzin, Cliffy, and Simmonds' best days are behind them. Replaced Bogo with Lily.

I'd like to know what Gallant said to his Rangers after the first because it obviously worked. Like I said last week, this team does not like playing outside it's comfort zone and last night after the first was a great example. I believe Keefe said they wanted an easy game.

Still seeing Lindgren punch 65 standing in the crease and 65 take a jab back and pretty much walk away.

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.

That's my rant for the day. Other posters and the coach have pretty much said it all. The silver lining is that Keefe's comments hopefully mute the usual suspects who mock adding grit at every chance.

 

[ULF_55]

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

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

 

[Mess]

Would have liked to see Matthews continue his road goal scoring streak, but at least Marner got the 100 game without a PP goal Gorilla off his back.

 

[ToneDog]

The result was expected, because without Muzzin Leafs defense is very suspect and Leafs bottom 4 got chewed up tonight.

However continuing to blow 3-1 and 4-1 leads on this 5 game road trip encompasses and exposes more than just the Dcore alone as the number of goals surrendered rises.

This road trip was suppose to be a good measuring stick to gauge Leafs near the mid point and with a 2-2-1 record had this been a playoff series Leafs would already be down 3-1 in the series with losses to Colorado, Arizona and NYR a win over the Blues and the SO result to Vegas a TBD as that doesn't exist come playoffs.

Would have lost to the Blues if they Perron, Buch, Parayko, Tank and Schenn were in the lineup. Lose the SO to Vegas and the sky would be falling.