Post-Game Talk: Shameful Leafs lose 3-2

[Mess]

It’s bleak when coming back from Florida with a split and being down 3-1 is a semi success. But yeah. They have to play the next game as a must win. Then play the next one like it’s a must win and just see if there’s going to be a Game 5.

Remember our Leafs under pressure to win critical games?

Before finally beating TB this year the Leafs were 0-10 in series potential clinching/deciding games. So the reputation for putting teams away is not very convincing.

Every season ends with the same post-mortem autopsy that Leafs core players lack that "killer instinct" that it takes to win in the playoffs, with choice of goaltending and performance never good enough.

Well now being down 2-0 in the series and with now every game essentially as "must win" game this team facing this level of adversity will get to show Leaf Nation what their truly made of and if they have the intestinal fortitude required to turn this around and move on. Well its time to put up now.

A lot of future events hang in the balance on the outcome of this series for both players and management going forward.

 

[ShaneFalco]

Matty and Mitch up around 27 minutes each, while Willy had just over 17.

I mean play your stars but don't kill them. it's all Keefe has though.

 

[robertmac43]

I often feel like I watched an entirely different game than the one the doomers try to describe on here. the idea that Florida was in control keeping things neat and tidy and mostly outside high danger areas

There was nothing neat and tidy form Florida through a lot of the game. Yes, they were extremely opportunistic in their goals, but they were hanging on for much of the game.

 

[Mess]

Does anyone know the last time the Leafs were down 0-2 in a playoff series and ended up winning it?

 

[seventieslord]

If knies has a minor injury, maybe one game in 5 days is a blessing.

 

[Jimmy Firecracker]

Oooohhhh a fine. That’ll teach him! f*** off George.

 

[The Best Leafs Everr]

Does anyone know the last time the Leafs were down 0-2 in a playoff series and ended up winning it?

Never won a series in my history. Tampa series was the first and I highly doubt it ever happened.

 

[seventieslord]

Yeah, between the elbow to the head, the body slam, and the cross-check to the head there should be some fines or suspensions based on previous rulings.. but there won't be.

Both of Bennett's offenses were fine-worthy, possibly even a game, and I realize people can disagree on that, but when you put them together, surely you can justify a game at least, can't you?

 

[Nineteen67]

The team Boston that just recorded the ALL-time best record in NHL history was up 3-1 on Florida and had 3 chances included 2 at home to put them away and failed.

Now the Leafs have tasked themselves into winning 4 of the next 5 games to stay alive.

So unless the Leafs win the next 2 games and even the series this Cinderella story will not have a happy ending.

I expect the Leafs to win a close one on Sunday and then rest on their laurels and lose on Weds.

Fans and players don’t care, but from management’s perspective they’ll get the extra playoff revenue with the extra home game.

 

[Captain Crunch]

I mean play your stars but don't kill them. it's all Keefe has though.

Keefe is not the coach to take this team far into the playoffs, let alone win a Cup!

 

[Jimmy Firecracker]

Does anyone know the last time the Leafs were down 0-2 in a playoff series and ended up winning it?

‘93. So 30 years ago.

 

[Captain Crunch]

There was nothing neat and tidy form Florida through a lot of the game. Yes, they were extremely opportunistic in their goals, but they were hanging on for much of the game.

And yet it was two of the core that lost the game, not to mention Sammy letting in that tying goal!

 

[The Best Leafs Everr]

‘93. So 30 years ago.

Holly f***, who do we have that plays like Wendell and Dougie on this team?

 

[seventieslord]

unfortunately it’s a pattern that has continued with this management group. It’s telling that none of these goalies go on to success elsewhere either. - see Campbell as the most recent example.

that’s really their biggest failure as a management group.

however Dubas did draft Joseph Woll who looks like a legit NHL starter.

Andersen Vezina finalist....

 

[Throw More Waffles]

Remember our Leafs under pressure to win critical games?

Before finally beating TB this year the Leafs were 0-10 in series potential clinching/deciding games. So the reputation for putting teams away is not very convincing.

Remember our Leafs under pressure to win critical games?

Before finally beating TB this year the Leafs were 0-10 in series potential clinching/deciding games. So the reputation for putting teams away is not very convincing.

While the leafs are now 1-11 on series clinching games, their record isn't quite so bad on series saving games.

They were down 3-1 in the first boston series and brought it to game 7. And they won game 4 against Columbus forcing a final game 5.

The leafs seem better at climbing back into a series. Their problem is the killer instinct to close a series.

 

[CHRoNiCWiLL]

Does anyone know the last time the Leafs were down 0-2 in a playoff series and ended up winning it?

The 2015 Jays vs Texas and the 2019 Raptors vs Bucks.
But not the Leafs!

 

[Leafs87]

Not looking good. Can’t say I saw them losing both games at home.

 

[Clark4Ever]

We have been the better team in both games, but as we saw against Tampa Bay, that doesn't always translate into victories.

If we keep pushing and limit the careless turnovers, our luck is bound to change.

 

[egd27]

It’s crazy to me that Toronto has that “comeback gear” but never feel like they should start every period with that kind of early push. Just leave it till it’s almost too late and then get on the gallop.

Lack of discipline.

They rely on talent and creativity over system and structure. It's one of main reasons they regularly lose to teams with far less talent but can play within a system.

(and yes, other good teams lose to bottom feeders, just not with the regularity the Leafs do)

 

[Suntouchable13]

‘93. So 30 years ago.

So we are due?

 

[egd27]

Win 4 out of the next 5 again.

Can't think like that.........win the next one and go from there

 

[Gallagbi]

Never won a series in my history. Tampa series was the first and I highly doubt it ever happened.

They were down 0-2 vs Det in 93

 

[CantLoseWithMatthews]

Also, why did we abandon point shots with deflections and tip ins and rebounds as a viable scoring strategy? That was bread and butter in mixing up the attack vs Tampa. But why go back to something that works?

Vasilevskiy is one of the weakest goalies in the league at tracking pucks from distance, I'm not sure Bobrovsky has the same weakness. I don't think their strategy is bad, they just aren't executing. Some of the chances they've been getting have been incredible, they just have to find a way to bury them

 

[Clark4Ever]

And someone on the Leafs needs to target that POS Bennett next game and give him a dose of his own medicine.

 

[robertmac43]

And yet it was two of the core that lost the game, not to mention Sammy letting in that tying goal!

And thee point you are trying to make is?