Post-Game Talk: Toronto barely loses to carolina

[Drytoast]

Tampa lost so it's fine. I really don't care till post season

 

[BraveCanadian]

Rielly is a massive problem because his status on the team is as a leader on defense but he needs a babysitter more than he can babysit.

I like Rielly but he's basically a rover at this point and as an offensive defensemen he doesn't/can't shoot well enough to be an actual threat so he's useless (and predictable) except for his ability to skate the puck up ice.

 

[Pi]

Leafs special teams especially in the playoffs has been a complete JOKE and one of the major reasons leafs suck in the playoffs look at the last 2 columns for PP% and PK%

View attachment 676124

Yeah, our PP more than our PK has let us down in the playoffs.

Tampa takes so many penalties but I highly doubt we’ll get that many calls against them so you need to make them count.

 

[Blanche Blanche]

BENCH REILLY AGAIN

KEEFE

DO

IT

HE

SUCKS

 

[Seath The Scaleless]

Murray has been abysmal. Again gave up 4 goals against tonight. just look at his recent games (last column for goals against).

Thought he maybe turned the corner with the performance vs OTT and then FLA, but I guess not.

Canes had absolutely nothing going and then Murray gifts them the 3rd goal.

 

[Jimmy Firecracker]

Really sucks we finally got a Matthews take over game and we squandered it like that.

 

[Shooter2x]

Tampa and Boston is going to crush our D.

Rielly can't play D
Brodie, nothing bad to say about him. Age has just caught up. He's on the decline.
Liljegren is going to get walked. It's official.
Hollolololol
Gio is almost 40 he can at most steal 1 round on his own
McCabe is a solidifier, not a difference maker, but there is no good foundation for him to really solidify
Schenn isn't a top 4
Gus is a bandaid.

 

[Racer88]

Tampa lost so it's fine. I really don't care till post season

Come on man, we can’t become reduced to being ok losing because our completion lost as well. We need a winning attitude

 

[PromisedLand]

Yeah, our PP more than our PK has let us down in the playoffs.

Tampa takes so many penalties but I highly doubt we’ll get that many calls against them so you need to make them count.

with such talent and 60%+ cap on the PP #1 unit you have to convert. Special teams battles are very important in the playoffs. not only for goals but also momentum swings

 

[leafsfan5]

Leafs special teams especially in the playoffs has been a complete JOKE and one of the major reasons leafs suck in the playoffs look at the last 2 columns for PP% and PK%

View attachment 676124

it's a big reason why we lose every year

You play these extremely close series each season where 1 goal is the difference. A lot of the time that goal is a result of special teams

 

[BertCorbeau]

Rielly has new-contract-itis

Defense was never his strength but he seems to be feeling the pressure of it. That or his injury is hampering him a bit.

 

[GQS]

He’s making too many mistakes for Keefe. We’ve seen what he does to young D. He will opt for a veteran lineup Im sure

Seemed like he looked much better when he was getting more and consistent minutes rather than recently when Keefe is going more with 7 Dmen and his minutes are getting reduced. Coach should just go back to 6 Dmen and give Rielly less time and everyone else more ice time. Don't know why he's giving Rielly so much ice time when he decides to have 7 Dmen in the lineup.

 

[thewave]

Rielly has new-contract-itis

Defense was never his strength but he seems to be feeling the pressure of it. That or his injury is hampering him a bit.

https://www.searchinfluence.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/homer-simpson-treadmill-exercise-lazy.gif

 

[rocketman588]

Liljegren will probably sit for a bit

Matt Murray cannot be our starter. He has no glove hand and poor lateral movement.

Kudos to the boys for trying to come back multiple times

We looked ok on the FW side at least

The reason why he knocks so many posts off is that he uses them to cheat side to side. His lateral quickness isn't great if he can't do that

 

[Stephen]

I like Rielly but he's basically a rover at this point and as an offensive defensemen he doesn't/can't shoot well enough to be an actual threat so he's useless (and predictable) except for his ability to skate the puck up ice.

Rielly's been a good soldier and fan favorite for a long time, but he's just so unfocused out there heading into a critical playoff run.

 

[RoadWarrior]

This was 100% on Matt Murray.

LOL at all those who still thinks he's good enough to be the opening game starter in the playoffs.

 

[Stephen]

Rielly has new-contract-itis

Defense was never his strength but he seems to be feeling the pressure of it. That or his injury is hampering him a bit.

Yeah, seems like he caught the Beauchemin-Komisarek disease of a fat new contract coupled with injury. But whatever it is, he's just been playing sloppy hockey.

 

[LeafsandSharksfan]

Our defence is just not up to snuff.

 

[PromisedLand]

That was the best the 2nd place team could play and I can confidently say that if the leafs played them 7 games in a row there’s no way Carolina wins.

I’m fine with that loss. Bounces don’t go in favour of one team

It happens

no offense buddy I heard the same stories against the CBJ, Habs and then the Bolts last season.

Keefe is another battle the team has to fight against. He doesn't know how to coach on the fly; who to put out there and how to adjust in game

 

[CantLoseWithMatthews]

I don't get it. A player who clearly is struggling, limited mins and you play him along with our worst defenceman defensively in that situation?

I'm really not impressed with how Keefe has handled him. He was looking really good to start the year, and was able to consistently bring a positive impact every night. He looked good no matter what was asked of him, or what role he had or who he played with. All of his confidence is just gone now though, and he's not getting any opportunity to get it back.

If developed properly, he was looking like one of those rare defensemen who can contribute at a high level in all 3 zones. What a waste.

 

[authentic]

Our defence is just not up to snuff.

Not looking great since those trades.

 

[Pi]

Rielly is being scapegoated so hard. Yes he sucks defensively but he wasn’t bad at all this game. I can’t blame him because Murray can’t control his rebounds.

 

[ULF_55]

After watching parts of the first, and seeing Tavares with all those open looks with nothing to show for it ...

Did it get any better?

 

[57 Years No Cup]

Someone else said "playoff form" and yep. That is what it felt like tonight. Effort was fine, we even outplayed them, but just found a way to lose.

It pains me to see how Liljegren has been playing since the deadline. He was at a legit top 4 level and then boom, confidence = shot. Obviously part of that is on the player but Keefe & Dubas need to share that blame. Their treatment of young players at the NHL level needs to be better in general.

Having said that, the 4-3 goal was more on Rielly, IMO. Completely lost his man and managed to get faked out on the empty netter too. I do not know how to handle him at this point. He's in the first year of a $7.5M contract, so you can't really sit him, but I honestly think he's a net negative at this point.

Also, Murray didn't play "bad" tonight and he hasn't played "bad" of late in general, but FFS you cannot give up 3+ goals every damn game. When Kallgren gives us this level of goaltending, then I can be happy with that. But we need more from Murray.

Reilly should have never been resigned. Another galaxy brain move by Dubas.

 

[PromisedLand]

Not mad at that loss. Played a good game but just didn't get it done.

On to Nashvile.. get a W . Let's go.

Leafs play more on teh road than home to close out the season. here is hoping they don't f-up any momentum or mental fortitude