Post-Game Talk: What Home Ice Advantage? | Leafs Beat LA in LA 3-1

[bax]

When Tavares scored the empty net goal, Marner and Matthews congratulated eachother but totally ignored Tavares when he came up to high-five them. Was totally obvious and very odd.

Anyone else noticed that?

If you look even closer Marner clearly told Tavares to f*** off as well. It is nice to see that Matthews and Marner have finally made up with each other after the four nations though. That feud was worrisome

 

[ACC1224]

That to me was the greatness in that play.

The almost instantaneous realization that the Kings player was going to fire the puck around the boards instead of to the front of the net (where the only player there was Marner).

First, he had the situational awareness to know that he was alone in front, second he saw the Kings player was on his forehand and where he was looking - not in front but to the far wall - and immediately went right there. Perhaps a tiny bit lucky the player didn't fire it along the boards in which case Marner would have missed it but even if so he was in the right position between the defender and the net for what could have happened next.

That level of understanding + reaction is part of what makes him an elite player, despite all the negatives that we fans throw at him on a daily basis.

It’s more about who made the play not the play itself. No one would diminish it if it was anyone other than Marner.
This place has become so transparent

 

[torontoblood]

The last few seasons Tavares looked re-energized to start the season then tailed off after about December. Not this season. He's looking crisp out there heading into April. Great to see.

It seems like this season, he’s getting much more better, determined and energetic as the games become more meaningful. It’s an encouraging sign from him. I hope he will save his best performances for the playoffs.

 

[Ianturnedbull]

Yes, the Bandwagon Boys had all jumped off the hype train by the 2nd intermission.

Some were proclaiming the Leafs will never win anything in the playoffs this year because apparently LA was playing “playoff hockey” tonight.

Others were insisting that Berube and Marner can’t possibly be brought back under any circumstances next year.

But once Toronto made it 2-1, the Bandwagon Boys were tripping over themselves to jump back on board.

Hurrrr durrr, Leafs Nation!

I sort of feel like we need to sticky some kind of mental health resource on here. Like a hotline or a website to help people through being unhinged by a hockey game. I understand what fandom means, but we are constantly "talking people off the ledge." This team has a lot of winning in their tradition. There's only 1 team that has more Stanley Cups. The team is not defined my Randy Carlile not calling a time out, etc. Even though we had no Cups, the 90s-00's had a lot of amazing moments. I'm happy that TOR has made the playoffs 8 years (give or take) running. Fans of other teams (and their pathetic insults) can't take away my feeling. If anything, Leaf fans need to be reminded that the grass isn't always greener...

 

[arso40]

And this is the most ridiculous take on it. He flipped the puck down the ice, Tavares made a great play to get the puck. Simple as that

I wasn’t even gonna respond to it they always try to find a way to include marner in the praising it’s hilarious but on another note great game by our top 6 centers they out did la’s

 

[ULF_55]

What a complete BS schedule the Leafs had this year. Most back to backs in the league.

9 games left and 3 back to backs left. One against Florida/Tampa - so we can't protect Woll there.

Leafs don't have an easy schedule, but it isn't the worst.

The final four: Comparing the last active members of the legendary 2003 draft class

Of the remarkable 2003 draft class, only Brent Burns, Corey Perry, Ryan Suter, and Marc-André Fleury remain active NHLers.

www.dailyfaceoff.com

 

[ULF_55]

I looks like he said let's get mitch in on this and then Tavares joined them.

John Tavares with a Goal vs. Los Angeles Kings | Toronto Maple Leafs

John Tavares (Toronto Maple Leafs) with a Goal vs. Los Angeles Kings, 03/29/2025

www.nhl.com

We need a lip reader ...

Looks like he's saying, "I thought it was going over the glass!"

 

[Sypher04]

It’s more about who made the play not the play itself. No one would diminish it if it was anyone other than Marner.
This place has become so transparent

I agree with the overall sentiment but I’d argue there’s a handful of people on the team that get this kind of treatment, including Matthews. Different groups for each player, but some people here can’t imagine praising these guys; and are basically at all times tripping over themselves to try and find any little criticism

 

[ULF_55]

I sort of feel like we need to sticky some kind of mental health resource on here. Like a hotline or a website to help people through being unhinged by a hockey game. I understand what fandom means, but we are constantly "talking people off the ledge." This team has a lot of winning in their tradition. There's only 1 team that has more Stanley Cups. The team is not defined my Randy Carlile not calling a time out, etc. Even though we had no Cups, the 90s-00's had a lot of amazing moments. I'm happy that TOR has made the playoffs 8 years (give or take) running. Fans of other teams (and their pathetic insults) can't take away my feeling. If anything, Leaf fans need to be reminded that the grass isn't always greener...

I really thought even in a losing cause that was a great game leading into the playoffs.

Kings play playoffs hockey.

If Benoit has his weight on the other foot he doesn't get turnstiled.

A loss there 1-0 or whatever is better preparation than a 7-2 win over the Flyers.

 

[ULF_55]

I agree with the overall sentiment but I’d argue there’s a handful of people on the team that get this kind of treatment, including Matthews. Different groups for each player, but some people here can’t imagine praising these guys; and are basically at all times tripping over themselves to try and find any little criticism

Yeah, people should not take this personally at all, either way.

Fringe exists on both sides of the player.

No player is perfect, and no player is completely inept.

It's entertainment. Right?

 

[Brown Dog]

I thought it was a high stick but I don't know. Is it where the blade touches it or don't I remember a rule about it's where the shaft of the stick is relative to the shoulder? There has to be a reason for the call they made if they had the same footage we did.

I fully expected it to get called back too. I do think the angle of Matthews stick (his hands were low) made the contact appear higher than it was.

At any rate, I detest that they make these plays reviewable in the first place. Unless the infraction leads directly to a goal, leave it to the on-ice officials to catch or not. Same goes for offsides.

I'd also get rid of video replay for goalie interference. You can't eliminate subjectivity from judgement-call infractions, no matter how many camera angles or slo-mo replays you have. There's a reason the NFL got rid of pass interference reviews.

 

[mclaren55]

Great game. Stolarz was looking good and was the key to this win. Hope this is his final form heading into the post season.

Top 6 was looking like they were on a mission as well. Let’s keep the train rollin!

 

[MK78]

The last few seasons Tavares looked re-energized to start the season then tailed off after about December. Not this season. He's looking crisp out there heading into April. Great to see.

I'm sure the 4 nations break helped him out as well. He's been hot since.

 

[Jojalu]

maybe Matthews fooled us the whole time and has been saving it for the playoffs

Matthews has easily been one of the best players in the game since Jan.

 

[HaveKnifeWillButcher]

Matthews has easily been one of the best players in the game since Jan.

Matthews is 10th in the league in points/game. Not bad for the "terrible" season he's having.

 

[Jimmy Firecracker]

 

[Frostitute]

Wonder what my Engvall jersey is worth? lol

Pack of smokes off of the reserve and about 3 molson cold shots.

 

[Ports]

stolarz is back to being the starter IMO. Ride the hot hand and between the two of them it's easily stolarz rn

Marner only had 1 point, but he was key in getting this win. Matthews continues to show what he can do when he is on (wish this was more often), Tavares just continues to produce.

Said we needed this game and the team came out and delivered, good on them.

Marner made such a smart pass to Matthews on his goal. He’s not a great goal scorer but his vision, patience and passing ability are top notch.

 

[Cleetus]

Pack of smokes off of the reserve and about 3 molson cold shots.

pack of the ole putters Ill take it haha

 

[hfman]

If you look even closer Marner clearly told Tavares to f*** off as well. It is nice to see that Matthews and Marner have finally made up with each other after the four nations though. That feud was worrisome

didn't see that part at all. Still don't see it when watching the replay again

 

[Torontonian]

Solid win after a bleak looking first two periods.

 

[Ports]

Kings play a strong home game, and will be a force in the playoffs.

Great effort for our boys to come back, and solidify the victory. They showed some grit and quality coming back and winning this one.

That game showed us how we need to play to be successful in the playoffs. Patient, tight defensive hockey and wait for one of the star players to find the back of the net. With solid goaltending and a steady dcore it gives them a chance to win every game. When they get away from that style of play it gets them in trouble.

 

[rumman]

Have to admit I was really worried when Carlo dropped his mitts, last thing he needs is another concussion…….

 

[Fogelhund]

Wonder what my Engvall jersey is worth? lol

8 Equal payments of $3 each.

 

[Ports]

I really thought even in a losing cause that was a great game leading into the playoffs.

Kings play playoffs hockey.

If Benoit has his weight on the other foot he doesn't get turnstiled.

A loss there 1-0 or whatever is better preparation than a 7-2 win over the Flyers.

The Flyers win was more about terrible goaltending than the Leafs playing great and that usually leads to a poor effort in their next game. Playing tough, low scoring games leading into the playoffs is what they need.