Post-Game Talk: The Devil's In the Details, Leafs Win 5-2

[Obo]

He said Keefe should have sent Matthews out to kill the 6 on 4.

I'm guessing that was the plan but then Kampf didn't change and then they iced it.

 

[Racer88]

I was really lukewarm on signing him.

But he's been very good. His attributes, being a pass-first guy with lots of speed, fit Matthews better than anyone on the team, in my opinion.

He also has a bit of grit to him and that compliments that line

 

[TMLeafer]

He said Keefe should have sent Matthews out to kill the 6 on 4.

Meh. If he ends up blocking a shot, we know the narrative would be "why risk it so late in the season".

Kneis was really good tonight

 

[pcruz]

Keefe needs to he testing out nylander at center right now. No idea why he isnt

Stop this.

Nylander is not a centre.

His game does not translate well in a role where individual responsibility is paramount.

Nylander is one of the premier offensive wingers in the game.
He is not, and doesn't appear to have an ounce of interest in being anything else - although he has the attributes to do it at a high level.

Leave the guy exactly where he is.

The best part about Nylander is actually one of his weaknesses - he plays a certain style of game regardless of his linemates.
I think that Nylander playing on the 3rd line will be absolute hell for opposing coaches to game-plan for.
He is a first line talent, but he is far too isolationist on the ice to fully optimize the synergy possibilities between himself and others on the ice.
This is why he doesn't seem to change in his play style whether he's on the 1st line, 2nd, 3rd, power play, or even on the penalty kill.

Nylander plays Nylander hockey and the other 4 skaters on the ice have to adapt to him.
It's just that he's so individually skilled, that he performs really well.

 

[Brown Dog]

 

[MSZ]

Meh. If he ends up blocking a shot, we know the narrative would be "why risk it so late in the season".

I personally think the goal chase should be ended here but most people including the players themselves won't agree with it.

 

[The Podium]

 

[MSZ]

 

[slozo]

BTW - has anyone at all mentioned that after scoring tonight, Matthews has a 6 game goal scoring streak? Kind of ho hum for him at this point I get it, but for sure I haven't heard it mentioned! (all time leafs record is 11 games)

 

[Ports]

Hes still pushing that angle. "YOU HAVE TO GO ALL IN!"

He’s pretty clueless about the game. He’s stuck in Dubas land and can’t see how much tougher and deeper this Leafs team is.

 

[BertCorbeau]

I’m still not that confident about their chances in the playoffs but this record heading into the playoffs is encourgaing

 

[Evilhomer]

So is it a serious team now?

 

[Torontonian]

The team is rolling, and the offence is looking like it's not staggering and the deference and PK is coming along. 4 games left, but it doesn't look like the team is crawling into the post season this time around.

 

[mobilus]

He is a first line talent, but he is far too isolationist on the ice to fully optimize the synergy possibilities between himself and others on the ice.

I disagree about him being an isolationist. He reminds me of Glenn Anderson, high speed, high talent and a high hockey IQ which remains fixed, and doesn't degrade to accommodate those who process the game slower than he does. If you could put Nylander with two of his clones, it would be something.

 

[pcruz]

I disagree about him being an isolationist. He reminds me of Glenn Anderson, high speed, high talent and a high hockey IQ which remains fixed, and doesn't degrade to accommodate those who process the game slower than he does. If you could put Nylander with two of his clones, it would be something.

Nylander is a lot of things, but high hockey IQ is not one of them.

 

[Ports]

Also some thoughts on lines:
- Bert/Matthews/Domi continues to dominate, this line is a keeper
- McMann/JT/Marner were dominating possession and chances, even if they didn't score. We also saw a bit of Nylander/JT/Marner, and that was very good too
- Knies/Kampf/Gregor was pretty good, considering it's a 4th line
- Robertson/Holmberg/Willy DID score, but otherwise were pretty quiet. I'm not sold on this line as a good use of Willy's skill, seems a bit of a waste of such a talented player

Overall we're 3-0 since Marner returned, with the lines always being variants of:

Bert - Matthews - Domi
xxx - JT - Marner
xxx - Holmberg - Willy
xxx - Kampf - xxx

Albeit against below average competition (Habs, Pens and Devils), but still, can't complain much about 3-0. I do think we're on the right track spreading out the offence like this, just need to get a bit more out of that 3rd line.

If Jarnkrok is back and up to speed for the playoffs (ideally gets in a regular season game or two), I'd love to give this a shot:

Bert - Matthews - Domi
McMann - JT - Marner
Jarnkrok - Holmberg - Willy
Knies - Kampf - TBD

Where TBD is one of Reaves, Gregor, Dewar or Robertson, really not sure!

Alternately, could bust out the blender even more, and try this:

Bert - Matthews - Domi
McMann - JT - Willy
Jarnkrok - Holmberg - Marner
Knies - Kampf - TBD

As McMann/JT/Willy has actually been a very strong line in the minutes they've seen together, and maybe Marner can find better chemistry with Holmberg than Willy has found so far.

It’s tougher to assess the lines when the games don’t mean that much. I think their scoring depth will help them in the playoffs because their opponents can’t just key on the 1st line.

 

[Skullz]

Willy was very unlucky, could have had 3-4 assists. I thought 100 was a cinch, beginning to worry about it now. Such a shame.

Is this a joke? Willy’s IQ is off the charts

Is this a joke? Willy’s IQ is off the charts i

 

[mobilus]

Nylander is a lot of things, but high hockey IQ is not one of them.

The man's pushing 100 points. The history of the league is riddled with high talent guys that barely put up lukewarm numbers because their heads couldn't keep up with their bodies. Nylander's high IQ, I'm guessing you don't agree with how he's using it.

 

[Evilhomer]

It’s tougher to assess the lines when the games don’t mean that much.

This is why I think it's dangerous to put too much reliance on what we are seeing in these games, especially tonight and against Montreal on Saturday. Thursday will also be a throw-away game. Saturday may offer a better opponent given what the game will mean for Detroit. The reality, however, is that the games will completely change as of April 20. The way the lines look in these games won't mean anything at that point.

 

[pcruz]

The man's pushing 100 points. The history of the league is riddled with high talent guys that barely put up lukewarm numbers because their heads couldn't keep up with their bodies. Nylander's high IQ, I'm guessing you don't agree with how he's using it.

Nylander is a much, much more skilled player than Mitch Marner.
He has a variety of weapons Mitch can only dream of.

And yet, Marner has been knocking on the door of 100 points for years now, and Nylander is finally having the 1 season getting close to it.

They share the ice on the power play and have had the same mix of linemates.

If Marner had the hands and shot of Nylander, he would put up 45 goals and 120 points per year with his eyes closed.

 

[WillyC]

We are playing with more snot and heating up to get home ice… everyone is in on Auston getting 70 too.

If Sammy continues with his play… we got a shot.

 

[LEAFANFORLIFE23]

Keefe needs to he testing out nylander at center right now. No idea why he isnt

Because it's been tested and fails every time it is tested.

 

[bax]

He said Keefe should have sent Matthews out to kill the 6 on 4.

Thanks. Yeah definitely right

 

[PromisedLand]

O Dog is 100% right

 

[mobilus]

Nylander is a much, much more skilled player than Mitch Marner.
He has a variety of weapons Mitch can only dream of.

And yet, Marner has been knocking on the door of 100 points for years now, and Nylander is finally having the 1 season getting close to it.

They share the ice on the power play and have had the same mix of linemates.

If Marner had the hands and shot of Nylander, he would put up 45 goals and 120 points per year with his eyes closed.

Marner's put up 12 more points than Nylander over the last three seasons. Mitch has missed games this year but there's no canyon between them. Yes they have different skill sets, there's no carbon copies out there. If Mitch had Kapanen's speed and shot he'd be more productive. For all his tools, Kapanen's only cracked 40 points once. Nylander wouldn't look out of place on the first line of any team in the league.