Pre-Game Talk: Toronto VS Edmonton (saturday game)

[LeafalCrusader]

Oh ok.....he's going to implement the continuous line juggle strategy again.

Worked so well last week against them.

 

[saltming]

I don't know man. Bergeron line was -2, and McDavid has zero points and was a -1.

It was Oilers depth that showed up and scored the goals. Pretty much the playoff scenario where top guys play each other to standstill and depth from one team wins them the game.

we really should have got some depth scoring. The lovefest for kerfoot/holl may bite us on our ass in the playoffs

mind you bruins played their back-up who let in a shit goal from a nothing Nurse shot.

Swayman wasn't horrible but agreed that is a question slight mark on the loss, but it still is significant that it was their first regulation loss after leading. Edmonton played hard and won.
Second ndary scoring is always important. Kerfoot has been all around it but is snake bitten. Let's hope he gets to some regular level of converting those chances

View attachment 666602

6-3-1 is not the "hottest" team. But they have hit a stride for sure. But like the Leafs, they still suffer from stinkers every now and then.

I guess it depends on how far back the 'trending' goes hahahaha
Agreed on your post though.

 

[Hellcat]

Worked so well last week against them.

It's like you see a hole in the wall and it says put your head here, a fist immediately comes through that hole and punches you in the face and your first immediate thought is, well it can't happen twice in a row, so you proceed to put your head in the hole again ... those that fail from learning from experience are bound to make the same mistake twice.

 

[saltming]

lol

not sure if you saw the NHL awards last season. When Matthews was given the Hart, the camera panned on McDavid and he looked pissed. So I guess he decided this year he is going to leave no doubts. he is leading in goals and points this season.

also a little nugget from the NHL awards from last season was how the presenter (forget his name) made fun of the Leafs as the show went off the air. I really thought Matthews would take that to heart and completely destroy the NHL this season. Oh well....

I think I'm in the smaller group when I say I don't mind if he doesn't win all thesee personal awards if his play brings us a cup.

 

[PromisedLand]

So JT took a couple of big hits in his last game, and Coach Keefe's strategy is to have Simmonds ride shotgun with him this game?

Or is it because he thinks Wayne will be a good counter to the Oiler's speed?

Its not like Tavares is going to counter oilers' speed either

I don't mind Simmonds in gotta protect assets (like JT) until playoffs start. First hit on JT was a clear head hunting, 2nd hit on JT was stupid on JT; he should have kept his head up

I think I'm in the smaller group when I say I don't mind if he doesn't win all thesee personal awards if his play brings us a cup.

Cup(s) over everything man!!!

That's the truth, the rumor is many close friends and family are saying that he is just waiting for his contract to end so he can come home. # ConnorToLeafsin2026 #GoodbyeEdm2026

 

[Drytoast]

In Game 4 Holl absolutely SUCKED ASS and here is Keefe defending Holl again when rightfully media and fans alike were questioning his line up decisions



here is Justin Holl in Game 6 OT... do you still trust yourself and Keefe?

Logic states that if you place a person in high pressure situations...SOMETIMES, they won't succeed.

Now ask yourself..."how many times have we won with a 1 goal lead?" this year? Because I've looked at the data. Every single time we have to hold a 1 goal lead...Holl is tasked to do it in the dying minutes when the other team pulls the goalie...

If I look at our record over all these past 2 seasons...Holl has by and large succeeded in such a role. And we have succeeded as a result more than most teams in the NHL because of him in that role.

 

[JT AM da real deal]

Holl is better than Lilli. We've explored this in the other thread. Every time we've won protecting a 1 goal lead, Holl and whomever is put on the ice in the final minutes with the net pulled to close it out.

Could Lilli do that? Maybe? But maybe not.

At best you will only get the same.

But I hope it irks you that you have to give props to Holl for being a great "closer" since we are a top 5 team this season...and he's to blame for that.

Lily is faster skater, better on his edges, better passer, better defender, stronger shot .. basically there is not 1 single hockey skill which Holl has over Lily .. not 1 single skill except size which Holl is only starting to utlize now that he has been told he has to fight for his playoff spot and show coaching staff he can move Maroon types from net front

 

[PromisedLand]

Logic states that if you place a person in high pressure situations...SOMETIMES, they won't succeed.

Now ask yourself..."how many times have we won with a 1 goal lead?" this year? Because I've looked at the data. Every single time we have to hold a 1 goal lead...Holl is tasked to do it in the dying minutes when the other team pulls the goalie...

Logic also states that if you don't place a person in high pressure situation you don't get to claim that they can't do it because you haven't given them a chance to do it

FACTS:
- Holl cost Leafs game 4
- Holl cost Leafs game 6
- Holl cost Leafs game 7 (DUMBASS interference penalty; I called it even before the ref did watching on tv)

Holl is trash

 

[Drytoast]

Lily is faster skater, better on his edges, better passer, better defender, stronger shot .. basically there is not 1 single hockey skill which Holl has over Lily .. not 1 single skill except size which Holl is only starting to utlize now that he has been told he has to fight for his playoff spot and show coaching staff he can move Maroon types from net front

And yet for whatever reason, he doesn't kill penalties nor does he see ice time in the dying minutes with a 1 goal lead...

Why is that?

Logic also states that if you don't place a person in high pressure situation you don't get to claim that they can't do it because you haven't given them a chance to do it

FACTS:
- Holl cost Leafs game 4
- Holl cost Leafs game 6
- Holl cost Leafs game 7 (DUMBASS interference penalty; I called it even before the ref did watching on tv)

Holl is trash

I guess Keefe see's something in Holl and Lilli that you...the forum poster who doesn't watch practice, know the dressing room or have scouted each player, knows.

That's a great record. You can thank Holl for helping to close out 1 goal games for part of that success.

 

[PromisedLand]

And yet for whatever reason, he doesn't kill penalties nor does he see ice time in the dying minutes with a 1 goal lead...

Why is that?


I guess Keefe see's something in Holl and Lilli that you...the forum poster who doesn't watch practice, know the dressing room or have scouted each player, knows.

View attachment 666618

That's a great record. You can thank Holl for helping to close out 1 goal games for part of that success.

Keefe is a moron. He has lost 3 playoff series getting out coached by oppisition coaches and making stupid lineup decisions.

I am not drinking the keefe koolaid. to each their own.

Justin Holl is a pylon and makes braindead plays which cost leafs important games especially in the playoffs

 

[JT AM da real deal]

And yet for whatever reason, he doesn't kill penalties nor does he see ice time in the dying minutes with a 1 goal lead...

Why is that?

He is young man .. he hasn't got a chance yet .. in last minute of a 1 goal lead against Tampa in playoffs bottom line I am going with Brodie and Gio to finish last minute and then bring in McCabe as my 3rd guy and Schenn as my 4th maybe??? .. no one else even sniffs da ice including Rielly and Lily .. in fact I would call a timeout after 40 seconds to give gio and Brodie a break and let them finish game that is how important it is

 

[PromisedLand]

FML

Galaxy Braining to the n'th degree. Keefe frustrates the shit out of me man

 

[Niagara Bill]

He is young man .. he hasn't got a chance yet .. in last minute of a 1 goal lead against Tampa in playoffs bottom line I am going with Brodie and Gio to finish last minute and then bring in McCabe as my 3rd guy and Schenn as my 4th maybe??? .. no one else even sniffs da ice including Rielly and Lily .. in fact I would call a timeout after 40 seconds to give gio and Brodie a break and let them finish game that is how important it is

Reilly is the last guy on the ice protecting lead.

 

[crump]

Probably already posted but Schenn is in town.

 

[IPS]

Simmonds still being inserted into the lineup is starting to make my eyes bleed.

 

[Drytoast]

Keefe is a moron. He has lost 3 playoff series getting out coached by oppisition coaches and making stupid lineup decisions.

I am not drinking the keefe koolaid. to each their own.

Justin Holl is a pylon and makes braindead plays which cost leafs important games especially in the playoffs

Refs f***ed us last year against what was an even team match up. That wasn't because of Holl or Keefe.

Refs f***ed us.

Tampa had a made just as many blunders as us. They got the calls, we didn't.

 

[Fogelhund]

Logic also states that if you don't place a person in high pressure situation you don't get to claim that they can't do it because you haven't given them a chance to do it

FACTS:
- Holl cost Leafs game 4
- Holl cost Leafs game 6
- Holl cost Leafs game 7 (DUMBASS interference penalty; I called it even before the ref did watching on tv)

Holl is trash

Game 7 - Ya... Tampa didn't get a PPG in Game 7... so, not really sure what you are on about there.
Game 6 - wrong...
Game 4 - Campbell posted a 0.688 Save percentage and was pulled.. but that's Holl's fault?

Here is the link to all the stats and video for the series.... I mean, you are flat out wrong, but why stop another angry narrative right?

Official Site of the National Hockey League | NHL.com

The official National Hockey League website including news, rosters, stats, schedules, teams, and video.

www.nhl.com

Simmonds still being inserted into the lineup is starting to make my eyes bleed.

I wouldn't necessarily interpret anything from that. We might go with 7 D, and 11 Forwards... in which case Simmonds is out. Schenn wasn't at practise. I think he got back today, probably something to do with the delivery of his child.

 

[JT AM da real deal]

He is young man .. he hasn't got a chance yet .. in last minute of a 1 goal lead against Tampa in playoffs bottom line I am going with Brodie and Gio to finish last minute and then bring in McCabe as my 3rd guy and Schenn as my 4th maybe??? .. no one else even sniffs da ice including Rielly and Lily .. in fact I would call a timeout after 40 seconds to give gio and Brodie a break and let them finish game that is how important it is

and upfront i would do same with marner ROR and jankrok .. i don't trust any other forward incl Matty

 

[LeafSteel]

And yet for whatever reason, he doesn't kill penalties nor does he see ice time in the dying minutes with a 1 goal lead...

Why is that?


I guess Keefe see's something in Holl and Lilli that you...the forum poster who doesn't watch practice, know the dressing room or have scouted each player, knows.

View attachment 666618

That's a great record. You can thank Holl for helping to close out 1 goal games for part of that success.

Babcock refused to play Holl and sat him for almost an entire season.

I guess Babcock saw something in Holl that you..... the forum poster who doesn't watch practice, know the dressing room or have scouted each player, knows.

 

[Fonzieleaf]

If we're playing Gustafsson we might as well try him at PP1 and see what we have. He's likely a better fit there than Rielly

I agree, that's the biggest strength of his game. Might as well try it

 

[JT AM da real deal]

Logic also states that if you don't place a person in high pressure situation you don't get to claim that they can't do it because you haven't given them a chance to do it

FACTS:
- Holl cost Leafs game 4
- Holl cost Leafs game 6
- Holl cost Leafs game 7 (DUMBASS interference penalty; I called it even before the ref did watching on tv)

Holl is trash

I go 1 step further .. losers tend to always lose .. i'd always rather try da unknown than a known loser .. it is why we got rid of Freddy and Soup .. nice guys for sure but losers .. murray is a total d*ck .. no one likes him at all and i am ok with that .. brodeur and roy and fuhr were total d*cks too .. completely selfish and nasty f*cks to their team mates

 

[rocketman588]

Gotta love looking pretty good for two periods and beating a good team using the 12-6 then going straight back to 11/7 because we need to consently try to prove we're smarter then everyone at the game of hockey

 

[Fogelhund]

Babcock refused to play Holl and sat him for almost an entire season.

I guess Babcock saw something in Holl that you..... the forum poster who doesn't watch practice, know the dressing room or have scouted each player, knows.

Imagine players actually growing as players, and improving over time.

Imagine holding up Babcock of proof of much... I mean, he overplayed Marleau at times... game 6 in 2019, when he played him more than Marner.. Tavares...

 

[ACC1224]

Babcock refused to play Holl and sat him for almost an entire season.

I guess Babcock saw something in Holl that you..... the forum poster who doesn't watch practice, know the dressing room or have scouted each player, knows.

Lol exactly. That guy has had a few too many cocoa puffs.

 

[PromisedLand]

Probably already posted but Schenn is in town.

lol Alter was saying something else

Game 7 - Ya... Tampa didn't get a PPG in Game 7... so, not really sure what you are on about there.
Game 6 - wrong...
Game 4 - Campbell posted a 0.688 Save percentage and was pulled.. but that's Holl's fault?

Here is the link to all the stats and video for the series.... I mean, you are flat out wrong, but why stop another angry narrative right?

Official Site of the National Hockey League | NHL.com

The official National Hockey League website including news, rosters, stats, schedules, teams, and video.

www.nhl.com

I wouldn't necessarily interpret anything from that. We might go with 7 D, and 11 Forwards... in which case Simmonds is out. Schenn wasn't at practise. I think he got back today, probably something to do with the delivery of his child.

if you thin Gm 6 OT loss is not on Holl then we see game very differently