Post-Game Talk: We Lost. Again. 52 Shots For. Small Building Steps. Can't Complain

[thewave]

or i we had carry price we have 4 wins ...

This isn't unrealistic. I could see 4 wins

 

[JEI]

Even in losses, I find myself liking the way they are playing. Which is a drastic turn from what I was watching last year.

Talent will be infused over time, but it seems they are outworking teams most nights and just can't buy goals.

 

[Budsfan]

Did Price score 5 goals? Also don't forget the Habs played last night.

Nor did we get 6 goals, having firing 52 shots at Price, while your team scored 5 on 27 shots.

Want to trade Price straight up for Bernier?

 

[thewave]

Even in losses, I find myself liking the way they are playing. Which is a drastic turn from what I was watching last year.

Talent will be infused over time, but it seems they are outworking teams most nights and just can't buy goals.

I'm a pretty happy fan. People need to lower the expectations and look at the bright spots. The fact have quite a few is surprising to me.

 

[Reddaye]

Even in losses, I find myself liking the way they are playing. Which is a drastic turn from what I was watching last year.

Talent will be infused over time, but it seems they are outworking teams most nights and just can't buy goals.

The bolded part of your comment is exactly what I was hoping to see this season. Structure being implemented and executed by our guys. Hard work despite the losses.

I was at the Moncton/SJ game last night, so I missed HNIC, but I'm glad to hear that the work effort was there. They've been pretty consistent in that regard. A far cry from the last five or so years.

 

[BoardsOfFun]

From what I've seen this year the Leafs' play is much more structured, Babs is doing a good job should be credited for that. You could tell the players love playing for him. Talent wise, the leafs have a couple of diamonds in the rough that will serve as anchors in the not so distant future (thinking Reilly, Marner especially). I believe the Leafs will fight for a spot in the playoffs as early as this year though finishing 9th or 10th is never a good thing. The D is the achilles heel of the team (Bernier is fine) and I'm sure management knows that and is working on that. Don't forget, Patches, Price and Subban were picks between 5 and 10 years ago... you need to be patient! I only see good things coming for the Leafs, it's frustrating to see the Habs off like that but it's also silly to say they are just Price (makes the fans look silly. petty) and don't forget the Habs fans had to carry the cross during the Gomez Gionta years and did so for a frustratingly long time

 

[Bluelines]

The structured play of the Leafs has covered up the fact that we have FAR too many passengers on this team. Babcock is doing his part, he gave the team structure and a chance to win. Its not the players who are making watching this team bearable, its Babcock and his assistants who have implemented an actual system that is conducive to winning. Babs could probably take the current Marlies team and coach them to 1 win over 7 games in the NHL.

16 goals in 7 games is pitiful.

Komarov, JVR and Lupul have 9 goals (56% of the goals), the rest of the team (18 players) have 7 goals.

Its time for guys like PAP, Boyes, Kadri, Grabner, Matthias, Arcobello, Winnik to pick up their socks.

Not all those guys are gifted scorers, they need to make a commitment to get their nose dirty... like crash the net,ect.

 

[Budsfan]

 

[The CyNick]

It's going to be funny when the Habs lose 15 of 20 at some point soon.

 

[The CyNick]

A lot of the responses to the results show why people say our fanbase can't handle a rebuild.

If every game is like Saturday, I'm happy.

 

[Hunter74]

Hans reminded me of previous Leafs teams. They rely heavy on goaltending and timely goals from star forward to over come getting out played. When the goals become harder to score the Habs better have found there game or it's going to be a real dog fight season for them.


Polak should of known better on that goal, he is a seasoned vet for crying out loud. Bad pinch and then doesn't trust Rielly to cover his man so he helps him leaving his own guy uncovered to score a big goal. Sheesh.

 

[BoardsOfFun]

Habs have become regular playoff participants, whether they've improved enough to go beyond the 2nd round remains to be seen, many 'experts' have argued the changes they've made will allow them to do so (whatever, we'll see..) Following saturday's game I went over to the french boards and most were saying the Leafs outplayed the Habs (obviously) but that the game was only a one-off since the team flew in from Buffalo at 1AM the night before and were not fully rested. Many were also impressed by Rielly's performance, but many also crapped on Dion especially on losing his head against Weiss

 

[ULF_55]

Leafs lost.

5 goals by Habs
3 goals by Leafs

.815 by Bernier.

So was it Bernier or was it superior shooters, where you can't blame Bernier?

Leafs PP 12 shots 0 goals.
Habs PP 7 shots 2 goals.

Leafs 2 shorthanded shots 0 goals.
Habs 1 shorthanded shot 1 goal.

Price had nothing to do with the Habs PP goals, nor their shorthanded goal.

3 goals out of 5 scored by the Habs had nothing to do with Price.

Habs are just a better team, their record shows it, Leafs however did themselves proud putting in the effort they did last night. If they play with that effort, after they get some talent things will turn.

Goes without saying Bernier and Reimer are never going to be in Price's area code, so the team around the keeper will have to be better.

 

[Theeze0504]

Yet yesterday your backup still got you the win. I am not falling for it. Let's see in 3-4 months where you are. Signs point to being outplayed again. I mean lol 50+ shots against us

You do know the habs played the night before right? Clearly not their best game but don't pretend you've watched all 7 other habs games and know it's always price.

The fact is, the habs were dead tired and it showed with their lazy passing and still managed to get 5.


I understand your frustration but they are also the highest scoring team at the moment, unless you mean to tell me price also scored all those goals.

Yes he gives the team a chance, but this year...the team is helping him out. If you don't watch the games, then don't assume...

On the flip side, leafs played a hell of a game. Good things are coming for leafs fans, hang tight!

 

[TLeafsFan]

The Habs have now had two VERY TOUGH RIDES against Toronto this season.

WE HAVE AN NHL TEAM!!!

 

[TheProspector]

The Habs have now had two VERY TOUGH RIDES against Toronto this season.

WE HAVE AN NHL TEAM!!!

NHL calibre in effort and systems, but certainly not in talent.

I'd rather have the talent -- as we can see from the past 12 months, you can easily swap coach/system, but talent is hard to come by.

 

[Wafflewhipper]

Habs fan here. Just wanted to say the Leafs played awesome tonight. Montreal looked winded (Burnt out) and felt like the leafs were on the PP for 40 mins.
I know the loss sucks for you, but damn the leafs earned my respect tonight. Please play with that tenacity for the rest of the season and we'll see you in the playoffs!

Thank you! Not a playoff team though. Maybe two years away yet. That Subban slap shot gives me heart problems ha. Good game.

 

[Gary Nylund]

I'm very happy with this game. 50+ shots are you kidding me? Price outplayed Bernier and also, despite the fact MTL had fewer shots, they did have plenty of fantastic scoring chances so this ones not all on Bernier either IMO.

We played hard, the effort was there, in the end it was a close game that could have gone either way but the better team did win and that's fair. That's all I wanted this year, a team that plays hard and I can be proud of the effort night after night. Plus we are so much better at moving the puck out of our zone - you can see a real system is being implemented and is taking shape sooner than I had hoped.

Please keep playing like this for the entire season!

 

[Gramsci]

With a good goaltender, the Leafs would have won this game. I think I'm starting to understand the love for bernier around here -- tank commander.

It's amazing how much difference good coaching can make. It's been over a decade since there was a good coach behind the Leafs bench. This is the first quality hockey from the Leafs since Quinn. Great to see.

 

[TheProspector]

With a good goaltender, the Leafs would have won this game. I think I'm starting to understand the love for bernier around here -- tank commander.

It's amazing how much difference good coaching can make. It's been over a decade since there was a good coach behind the Leafs bench. This is the first quality hockey from the Leafs since Quinn. Great to see.

Think you're underestimating Paul Maurice. His teams also dominated possession. If he had goaltending, there'd have been a playoff run during his tenure.

 

[Gramsci]

Think you're underestimating Paul Maurice. His teams also dominated possession. If he had goaltending, there'd have been a playoff run during his tenure.

Perhaps.

Admittedly, I've never been a fan. His possession numbers are inflated, imo, due to instructing teams to fire at will from anywhere and everywhere. Not sure if the data is available, but I'd guess his teams have a disproportionately high level of low percentage chances. Also, this team has a defensive structure (after only 7 games!) that I never saw from Maurice's teams. Babcock is also far superior for leaning on the right players at the right times.

All that being said, Maurice was the best of those three.

 

[Slot]

Doug McLean assured us bernier was the real deal when we got him

He also drafted Rick Nash.

 

[ConnorTO]

pp needs work

 

[Westcoasthabsfan]

I'm not sure there was is a better way to lose a game than this.

Montreal is not good at all, they better hope Price doesn't get hurt or their wheels will fall off very fast.

Kadri drawing penalties again tonight, he should mentor Dion in this area.

Bernier has to learn to make a save while "cold", it's going to kill his career if he doesn't. Nobody will give him anything besides a backup roll if he can't sort that aspect out.

Weise has the most punchable face of all time, I can see why Dion couldn't help himself.

Really? Your comment about Montreal not being very good is quite laughable actually...they played the night before and are the leading the league is goals scored...last time I checked Carey has zero goals scored...as for your comment about the Habs would be dead without him alot of teams would be in tbe same boat if they lost their number one goalie...

 

[Menzinger]

Really? Your comment about Montreal not being very good is quite laughable actually...they played the night before and are the leading the league is goals scored...last time I checked Carey has zero goals scored...as for your comment about the Habs would be dead without him alot of teams would be in tbe same boat if they lost their number one goalie...

A team that allows an awful Leafs team to put up 50 shots against them isn't playing very well.