GDT: Sens @ Leafs pre-season - 7PM EST

[banks]

The good:
Woll looked great at the start. Once he's in a groove, he'll be a legit starter.
No stars got hurt.
I liked Pacioretty.
Great to see Kulemin on the ice again, even in preseason for the opposition.

The bad:
Didn't start on time.
Disorganised defense.
Undisciplined penalties.

The bad stuff is all to be expected during preseason. I'm expecting they get a lot of the issues ironed out by game 1.

 

[Stephen]

I'm seeing that it wasn't Marner's guy, and the moment McCabe got burnt, Marner turned to try and cover
Marner probably could've done more with his stick and body there, but that one wasn't really on him.

McCabe was caught flatfooted and didn't read Yakemchuk well

Matthews looked a little gassed to begin with, which makes his decision to try and cut off Yakemchuk a little undisciplined instead of just peeling back to center. Matthews then he delegates his problems to McCabe and Marner who were clearly not ready.

You file it under pre-season but these kind of things just adds to the pile of stuff you need to address throughout the season.

 

[Dale Gribble]

Pre-Season game 1, so not worried yet. I saw some good and a lot of bad, but again game 1 of the pre-season... The 18 Wheeler has only just started the journey.

 

[Stephen]

anyone else think that everyone bulking up in the off season will equate to a slower team?

You can be a slower team, but you have to play smart positionally a know how to ground and pound a faster one or clog it up to your advantage and live on some turnovers. If it’s just free flowing hockey and you’re slow to everything then it’s going to be problems.

 

[rumman]

Wonder how much runway they'll give Domi and Nylander?

they've had two practices and one preseason game and everyone's overreacting yet your wondering if they should break up the Nylander/Domi line combo, isn't it ironic? Don't cha think..............

 

[Antropovsky]

anyone else think that everyone bulking up in the off season will equate to a slower team?

Who bulked up? Matthews weighs less, Marner and Nylander weigh the same.

 

[rumman]

Reilly was bad!
First goal was a gift……afraid of the corner

that was a weird should I stay or should I go moment............

 

[rumman]

Who bulked up? Matthews weighs less, Marner and Nylander weigh the same.

in the game last night:
Knies
Lilly
Murray
OEL

 

[JL17]

Those blaming Marner for the OT goal should shake their head. You can only play man-on-man in OT, dude turned McCabe and that was it.

It was a 1 on 3. Both Sens hadn’t crossed the redline yet. Marner has to be aware in that situation and provide a little help and considering he was playing deeper then McCabe.

 

[Antropovsky]

in the game last night:
Knies
Lilly
Murray
OEL

None of these guys looked slow.

 

[rumman]

It was a 1 on 3. Both Sens hadn’t crossed the redline yet. Marner has to be aware in that situation and provide a little help and considering he was playing deeper then McCabe.

apparently God doesn't have to play D..........

 

[DragoGrizzly]

around here, if you say anything that's not 100% positive your going to take flack, that's just how sensitive the majority of Leaf Nation is..............

I don’t think this is true, we all make criticisms. Most people just laughing at those making a big deal of 1 pre-season game. I get that the crap show that has been the Leaf playoff showings has everyone understandably upset, but it’s not unique for a veteran laden squad in preseason to lose to an AHL squad. Means nothing.

Now for the game, one slight difference I did notice last night on the pp that I liked was that Savard has them moving faster on the breakouts, giving opposing defences less time to set up the break in defence. There’s still the drop pass but it was lightning quick rushes rather than the super predictable meandering drop pass of last year. Also has the players moving around in the offensive zone more, creating confusion. Hope this keeps up and gels more as they practice it.

 

[Antropovsky]

apparently God doesn't have to play D..........

It's always someone else's fault.

 

[Torontonian]

Leaf Nation might be happy with the team’s play, but thankfully the coach isn’t, already calling out the “cute” stuff that infuriates me……..

Well, it circles back to the playoffs right? Tip in goals and greasy rebound goals. Toronto has had a habit of instead of working the puck back to the point for a shot and battling to get to the front, they would go down low and try to cycle it etc.

I think Toronto will to a certain extent play with possession, but I think gone are the days of just solely looking at advance stats and what the numbers say.

 

[ACC1224]

I imagine we'll see a feistier lineup tomorrow on the road with lots of fringe guys being dressed.

 

[Stephen]

I don’t think this is true, we all make criticisms. Most people just laughing at those making a big deal of 1 pre-season game. I get that the crap show that has been the Leaf playoff showings has everyone understandably upset, but it’s not unique for a veteran laden squad in preseason to lose to an AHL squad. Means nothing.

Now for the game, one slight difference I did notice last night on the pp that I liked was that Savard has them moving faster on the breakouts, giving opposing defences less time to set up the break in defence. There’s still the drop pass but it was lightning quick rushes rather than the super predictable meandering drop pass of last year. Also has the players moving around in the offensive zone more, creating confusion. Hope this keeps up and gels more as they practice it.

People can follow the team how they choose and have different standards for what they deem to be acceptable. Some people follow along like analytics specialists, some want to hero worship their favorite players, some play armchair GM or shadow coach, and probably a mix of all the above. There’s no right or wrong way to engage in the material.

But from my perspective, the business as usual crowd has always been on the wrong side of the evaluation. Meaningless preseason is a step away from a meaningless opening night to a meaningless regular season. We don’t win the Presidents Trophy because it’s meaningless. We don’t win the conference because we’re saving it up for later. We don’t want our guys over exerting for a scoring title cause it’s meaningless. We won’t win the division because it’s meaningless. Then when it’s suddenly meaningful, well guess what, you’re still the second hardest working, second most prepared team on the ice, and have a great summer. 8 years in a row.

 

[Antropovsky]

Leaf Nation might be happy with the team’s play, but thankfully the coach isn’t, already calling out the “cute” stuff that infuriates me……..

Exactly, all the drop passes and risky cross-ice attempts when a wide-open defenseman is nearby. Safe passes don’t make highlight reels, but the failed ones usually don’t either.

 

[notbias]

Did you see the winning goal by Ottawa?



Rookie Dman Carter Yakemchuk lights the lamp in OT, as Marner watches with limited effort.

100% McCabe's fault, blames Marner...

Marner was one of the best players and was one of the few stars who I thought was going hard.

 

[ACC1224]

People can follow the team how they choose and have different standards for what they deem to be acceptable. Some people follow along like analytics specialists, some want to hero worship their favorite players, some play armchair GM or shadow coach, and probably a mix of all the above. There’s no right or wrong way to engage in the material.

But from my perspective, the business as usual crowd has always been on the wrong side of the evaluation. Meaningless preseason is a step away from a meaningless opening night to a meaningless regular season. We don’t win the Presidents Trophy because it’s meaningless. We don’t win the conference because we’re saving it up for later. We don’t want our guys over exerting for a scoring title cause it’s meaningless. We won’t win the division because it’s meaningless. Then when it’s suddenly meaningful, well guess what, you’re still the second hardest working, second most prepared team on the ice, and have a great summer. 8 years in a row.

Pre-season is meaningless, the rest isn't.

 

[Stephen]

100% McCabe's fault, blames Marner...

Marner was one of the best players and was one of the few stars who I thought was going hard.

That goal is 40% Matthews fault for forechecking behind the net with 0 left in the tank leaving a mess for McCabe and Marner.

 

[DragoGrizzly]

People can follow the team how they choose and have different standards for what they deem to be acceptable. Some people follow along like analytics specialists, some want to hero worship their favorite players, some play armchair GM or shadow coach, and probably a mix of all the above. There’s no right or wrong way to engage in the material.

But from my perspective, the business as usual crowd has always been on the wrong side of the evaluation. Meaningless preseason is a step away from a meaningless opening night to a meaningless regular season. We don’t win the Presidents Trophy because it’s meaningless. We don’t win the conference because we’re saving it up for later. We don’t want our guys over exerting for a scoring title cause it’s meaningless. We won’t win the division because it’s meaningless. Then when it’s suddenly meaningful, well guess what, you’re still the second hardest working, second most prepared team on the ice, and have a great summer. 8 years in a row.

I get that and completely agree, cheer how you want. I also agree that players should want to win every game. Competitive fire should be there every night. But there are those of us who want to give this squad this year under a new coach after two practices more than 1 preseason game to gel. Seems weird to criticize others in the fanbase for wanting to be optimistic like a few seem to be doing in here.

 

[Stephen]

Pre-season is meaningless, the rest isn't.

Bull. We’ve all been around long enough to know it’s meaningless every time they don’t feel like it or get it done.

 

[sena]

100% McCabe's fault, blames Marner...

Marner was one of the best players and was one of the few stars who I thought was going hard.

Carter sold the dump and cut back, it happens. He looks so big and slow but he is crafty and catches people often. Marner isnt a Dman and is like half the kids size so good luck getting in the way of that

 

[ACC1224]

Bull. We’ve all been around long enough to know it’s meaningless every time they don’t feel like it or get it done.

Fine if that's your thought, it's certainly not mine.

 

[Roo]

People can follow the team how they choose and have different standards for what they deem to be acceptable. Some people follow along like analytics specialists, some want to hero worship their favorite players, some play armchair GM or shadow coach, and probably a mix of all the above. There’s no right or wrong way to engage in the material.

But from my perspective, the business as usual crowd has always been on the wrong side of the evaluation. Meaningless preseason is a step away from a meaningless opening night to a meaningless regular season. We don’t win the Presidents Trophy because it’s meaningless. We don’t win the conference because we’re saving it up for later. We don’t want our guys over exerting for a scoring title cause it’s meaningless. We won’t win the division because it’s meaningless. Then when it’s suddenly meaningful, well guess what, you’re still the second hardest working, second most prepared team on the ice, and have a great summer. 8 years in a row.

Preseason games, especially game #1, are not an effective predictor of regular season success. Candidly, the best outcome for this first game is that none of our starters pull a groin LOL. Some of us have seen enough preseason hockey to understand that this game will be meaningless in the big picture. It doesn't mean our expectations are any lower when points are on the line.

100% McCabe's fault, blames Marner...

Marner was one of the best players and was one of the few stars who I thought was going hard.

I thought he wasn't great just like most of the group, but the goal definitely isn't on him. You can't play backup if your D-man gets burned. Frankly, there is more on Matthews for no backcheck pressure.