The result of game 7 is almost irrelevant at this point.

[Gallagbi]

I have this eerie feeling you're going to be right.

I swear to god if I have to listen to another Dubas end of season press conference without him being fired..

I have no issues with Dubas staying, but I won't be happy with the core back. You move Marner and/or Nylander.

You can't have the same group having the same questions/answers going into post season. You need a core member able to honestly say this is a different group. You can't do that with the big 4 all back

 

[Gallagbi]

Disappointment is part of being a Leaf fan unfortunately. Of course we’d have rather the boys finished this off game 5 or 6, but they still have an opportunity to shake the demons. I will wait to cast judgments on these players if/when they actually come up short. Full marks to the habs last night, they were the better team. And props to the 2500 in attendance. Much louder than I expected 15% attendance to sound. Just have to win on monday. Rewrite the narrative fellas

Don't think they were the better team, but they definitely started on time. They held on late and in OT with us shooting ourselves in the foot again.

It's always been about winning the series and whether that's in 5 or 7 doesn't really matter. They need to get over this hump, but we all wish it was done already as it should have been.

 

[AllDay28]

I have no issues with Dubas staying, but I won't be happy with the cores back. You move Marner and/or Nylander.

You can't have the same group having the same questions/answers going into post season. You need a core member able to honestly say this is a different group. You can't do that with the big 4 all back

What has Nylander done other than be the best forward on the leafs?

 

[Gallagbi]

What has Nylander done other than be the best forward on the leafs?

He's a moveable piece. Tavares NMC won't have him moved and you're not unloading Matthews. So it's a question of Mitch or Mitch and Nylander for me.

Its not about blame, it's about changing the core and the narrative

 

[Mess]

Exactly.

But, lose Game 7 and it will never be forgotten.

Or as William Shakespeare once wrote in Julius Caesar .... "The evil that men do lives after them; The good is oft interred with their bones."

Translation the good things are soon easily forgotten, while the bad things seem to live on forever and are not soon forgotten.

Should the Leafs lose game #7 and blow a 3-1 series lead against a vast underdog and arch original 6 rival that will go down in infamy and will be remember and discussed by Leafs fans decades into the future as one of Leafs biggest disappointing collapses of all time. IMO

Even if they win (which they most likely will ), it won't be remembered for very long as some great accomplishment, because they squeaked by an opponent they were expected to dominate. Unless its just the next win on the road that leads to eventually winning of the Cup as a turning point in franchise history.

 

[mcleex]

Part of me feels that way too. Winning now wouldn’t be so much a cause for celebration as just avoiding being a total embarrassment.
But you never know, sports can turn on a dime.

This is exactly how I feel

 

[AllDay28]

He's a moveable piece. Tavares NMC won't have him moved and you're not unloading Matthews. So it's a question of Mitch or Mitch and Nylander for me.

Its not about blame, it's about changing the core and the narrative

what’s the narrative?

is the series 3-3? Is Toronto an overwhelming favourite in Vegas? What’s this narrative other than fragile leaf fans?

did people genuinely think Toronto was gonna go 3-0 in Montreal?

 

[Captain Crunch]

Marner and Rielly need to be gone. Can’t even look at their faces anymore without getting some form of PTSD. Loser energy.

I feel the same way. I was so glad when we drafted Marner. But after watching him for 4 years, I’ve come to realize he is what he is, a terrific regular season player. But when the stakes are at their highest - playoffs - Marner is too small and scared to do what it takes to win.
If it’s true that Jones is done with Columbus, I wish we could trade Marner for him. But no GM, except Dubas, would want to have an $11 million winger who only shines in the regular season.

 

[Beyonder91]

Couldn't disagree more.
Lose and you've just had a total collapse and choke job.
Win and you got the job done and now start next series with a clean slate.

Have people never watched the playoffs before? Game 7's are almost always necessary to go the distance. There are peaks and valleys along the way. All that matters now is to win this next game.

 

[koyvoo]

what’s the narrative?

is the series 3-3? Is Toronto an overwhelming favourite in Vegas? What’s this narrative other than fragile leaf fans?

did people genuinely think Toronto was gonna go 3-0 in Montreal?

We are supposed to be a contender. They wouldn’t get near the playoffs on non covid divisions. Same thing happened us last year with Columbus, another team that should be multiple tiers below us.

 

[daveleaf]

They should have finished them off far far sooner, now anything is possible. When they throw the puck at the net good things happen. Mathews and Marriner have to find the way. Neither of them have made that next step, Willy has. Spezza is a horse and should have been a Leaf years ago. They need more from Thornton and Sandin needs to sit some more. I believe he is the reason they lost game five. Campbell is a keeper and only being slightly outdone by one of the games best.

Comes down to this. Can't blame the keeper anymore, can't blame Willy, can't blame the depth guys-they have played pretty well. This series falls on Mathews and Marriner. In 50 years of watching the Leafs I have never seen players with this much skill do this little in the playoffs.

 

[stealth1]

I disagree with the results being almost meaningless.

If they lose then they learned it takes alot more than skill to win a playoff series... which they should already know.

If they win, they get that huge monkey off their back. Then they (hopefully) step up next series and show much more intensity and urgency.

No matter the outcome, they will learn something that can be applied to next season.

Spezza has learned this and sees the end of his carreer is near. This is why his game is so elevated. He learned the hard way just like our young guys are going to have to.

I want this core to move foward by winning at least one round in the playoffs. But another first round exit would teach them more. The hurt would carry over into next season and perhaps make them hungrier, game to game, shift to shift.

How many times are you going to give this core the benefit of the doubt. Same was said last season and the season before that. At this point they are who they are. They can't raise their game to the next level.

Leaf fans should do themselves a favor and watch the 2 playoff games today between Tampa and Carolina and Colorado and Vegas. You will see how their stars play at a higher level

 

[Mess]

what’s the narrative?

is the series 3-3? Is Toronto an overwhelming favourite in Vegas? What’s this narrative other than fragile leaf fans?

did people genuinely think Toronto was gonna go 3-0 in Montreal?

The narrative will always be about 2 big questions that remain unanswered.

1) Can you build a successful team in a cap World by paying 4 forwards 1/2 your total cap limit?

2) Is this core 4 the right configuration that leads to success or just results in endless failure and disappointment?

This is Matthews, Marner and Nylander 5th playoff year together, and they have yet to win a single playoff series to date. Pretty soon without showing signs of success you will simply be dealing with definition of insanity " Doing the same things over and over again and expected different results".

One could say this game #7 outcome already has the Leafs standing at the edge of the cliff and in peril of leaving those above 2 questions unanswered as the narrative moving forward, where a loss will most likely result in changes to the team that alters both. IMO

 

[The Assclown]

They should have finished them off far far sooner, now anything is possible. When they throw the puck at the net good things happen. Mathews and Marriner have to find the way. Neither of them have made that next step, Willy has. Spezza is a horse and should have been a Leaf years ago. They need more from Thornton and Sandin needs to sit some more. I believe he is the reason they lost game five. Campbell is a keeper and only being slightly outdone by one of the games best.

Comes down to this. Can't blame the keeper anymore, can't blame Willy, can't blame the depth guys-they have played pretty well. This series falls on Mathews and Marriner. In 50 years of watching the Leafs I have never seen players with this much skill do this little in the playoffs.

It must be because of Montreal’s ability to take away time and space for both of those guys. There is simply no room to shoot or move and they cannot adapt.

Just put the puck on net boys. If your normal ways of scoring aren’t working, change it up and throw it at the net whenever you can.

 

[17 Clark]

What has Nylander done other than be the best forward on the leafs?

If it wasn’t for Willy they’d be eliminated already and I don’t really like him at least he’s trying those games

 

[horner]

I watched the Boston vs Islanders last night the 3rd period.

Passion Passion passion both teams , the never give attitude.

We are no where's close to what those 2 teams are.

Next yr we won't do anything in the playoffs.

This was our time to get a sniff of the second Rd .

I thought maybe if the tasted success of winning a series , it would be good for the mentally.

But they always know how to shit the bed.

 

[HarrisonFord]

They have had two games to close the series. Yes, Keefe has said that the games required to close out a series are often the most difficult, so game 5 was understandable. But following up game 5 with the effort in game 6 is just pathetic. No shows from our best, most talented players have ultimately led to us losing one of our best players in Jake Muzzin, Foligno feeling he has to come back before he's ready, and no opportunity to rest and get healthy before the second round if we get there.

Relying on old depth players like Jason Spezza to lead us while our stars like Matthews and Marner take the backseat is just super pathetic. These last two games have told us a lot about what we have.

Our top players have been mediocre at best since coming into the league. Look at Colorado. Their core has been driving them. The Bruins? Their best players are leading the way. Leafs? Ghosts

 

[Gallagbi]

Our top players have been mediocre at best since coming into the league. Look at Colorado. Their core has been driving them. The Bruins? Their best players are leading the way. Leafs? Ghosts

The only core player driving Montreal is Price IMO. This is about our lack of focus and intensity, not their elevated play.

 

[HarrisonFord]

The only core player driving Montreal is Price IMO. This is about our lack of focus and intensity, not their elevated play.

That’s one more core player than Toronto has driving them

 

[AllDay28]

We are supposed to be a contender. They wouldn’t get near the playoffs on non covid divisions. Same thing happened us last year with Columbus, another team that should be multiple tiers below us.

columbus last year had the same? Amount of points as the Leafs.

 

[socko]

Win-Win bet. Take the cash, this team will be in tough to make a deep run if JT/Muzz/Foligno are not 100% soon.

I would expect JT back in the 2nd round at some point, should we make it to the 2nd round. Muzzin didn't look good. Foligno will probably continue to be a gametime decision/play injured. It looks like a back issue based on his facial expressions. They could just pump him up on pain killers but that would probably be frowned upon by the medical community.

 

[throwitawaypokemon]

Our top players have been mediocre at best since coming into the league. Look at Colorado. Their core has been driving them. The Bruins? Their best players are leading the way. Leafs? Ghosts

I was just thinking that last night as well. Bruins had a Pastrnak hattrick that won them the game, but Marchand was a huge reason they won the series against Washington. Our best players are the reason there's a game 7 tomorrow

 

[usernamezrhardtodo]

The narrative will always be about 2 big questions that remain unanswered.

1) Can you build a successful team in a cap World by paying 4 forwards 1/2 your total cap limit?

2) Is this core 4 the right configuration that leads to success or just results in endless failure and disappointment?

This is Matthews, Marner and Nylander 5th playoff year together, and they have yet to win a single playoff series to date. Pretty soon without showing signs of success you will simply be dealing with definition of insanity " Doing the same things over and over again and expected different results".

One could say this game #7 outcome already has the Leafs standing at the edge of the cliff and in peril of leaving those above 2 questions unanswered as the narrative moving forward, where a loss will most likely result in changes to the team that alters both. IMO

You are forgetting the X-factor in all of this...Shanny. He thought all the pain that Detroit went through by losing in the playoffs helped steel them for when they won. He thinks it is something that has to be done for a team to learn to win. It took detroit something like 8 tries before they got it...so be prepared for him to stand pat with this core.

You have to remember something about this management group. They are trying to win in a different way compared to what has been done in the past. They won't give up so easily and admit they wasted so many years going after "skillful smaller players"...they just won't. They thought they found a big market inefficiency with the smaller skilled guys and won't stop until they have to. The only way Dubas gets fired is if Shanny goes first. There is NO WAY Dubas gets fired by Shanny....NONE. They both agreed on how to build this top heavy team and their angle was...'Pay the stars most of the money because in the end..they are the difference makers...not a good 3rd line or Defense' ...well...what happens when the stars you paid aren't the difference makers?

I just wanted a couple of guys that can make the other team aware that they have to make a slightly quicker decision with the puck because they know a hit is coming...that leads to mistakes as we have proven over the course of this series...why not do it back?

 

[stealth1]

I watched the Boston vs Islanders last night the 3rd period.

Passion Passion passion both teams , the never give attitude.

We are no where's close to what those 2 teams are.

Next yr we won't do anything in the playoffs.

This was our time to get a sniff of the second Rd .

I thought maybe if the tasted success of winning a series , it would be good for the mentally.

But they always know how to shit the bed.

I agree. It feels like a lot of Leaf fans don't watch much other playoff series. Otherwise you would see a big difference. For some reason this core doesn't have it. I have yet to see them raise their game.

 

[throwitawaypokemon]

The only core player driving Montreal is Price IMO. This is about our lack of focus and intensity, not their elevated play.

I feel like I was more intense last night alone in my condo than the Leafs were. I practically cried when the Habs scored