Post-Game Talk: Leafs Lose in OT

[Stephen]

Marleau looks like he's aged 10 years since Christmas. He can still skate but looks like he lost all upper body range in the past 2 months.

 

[Mikeyg]

feels good. Babs needs to learn that when you ice a bullshit lineup you deserve to lose. How doesn't this clown realize by now that this team lives or dies based on its young talent. That means play willie at C and give him a chance damnit babs. He had to pull out a highlight of the month candidate in order to generate 1 point with this garbage hyman and plek line.

 

[ULF_55]

Dominated the last 2 periods by quite a bit. Good game by the Leafs despite probably being exhausted after a long stretch of a lot of hockey.

Sort of like the reversal of the game against the Islanders the other day.

Zaitsev needs to figure it out or the Leafs will have quite the player and contract to deal with. He's been a disaster.

Didn't help that his forward was out for a skate around.

 

[thewave]

Z goes for a ultra high risk pinch. Loses puck and that that. Kadri was not reading it well either, too deep.

 

[Chandrashekhar Limit]

Marleau has no finish.

 

[Leaffan1991]

Should have played Carrick on the3 on 3 instead of zaitsev. We lose Babcock is happy he gets to put polak back in for Saturday. The Dermott Carrick pairing were the best d on the ice today and it’s clear that it’s so much better than Dermott polak.

 

[CantLoseWithMatthews]

at least the team gave a good effort and played well for the most part. hope this loss stings and makes us come back angry

 

[Stephen]

I'm just speaking about myself here...

But if I played one season in the nhl, and was... uh... not that bad I guess...

And then some lunatic gave me $35 million dollars to keep playing.

Just being honest, my heart wouldn't be in it the same. I'd play it safe. I'd do what I'd have to do to get my contract, and that would be my priority.

So I can't blame Zaitsev. It's just what happens when you give that much money to someone with one years experience.

No one blames Zaitsev but the evaluation on him last year seems to have been made in error. He's terrible.

 

[JadedLeaf]

Zaitsev might be the first big gaff of this new leaf management so far unless he can figure out what's going on and start to look more like he did last season.

I suppose I should be angry with getting 2 points out of 4 on the back to back but I sure as hell was wanting the two points tonight.

 

[FlareKnight]

I agree that Marleau needs to get through this slump. Getting way too many chances and not taking advantage.

 

[Martin Skoula]

Win at home, tie on the road.

Really is a huge difference without Matthews out there for OT.

I really don't buy that Marleau - Marner line. Seems really ineffective and peripheral.

Marleau makes sense with grinders to me, he seems to score most of his goals off chaotic broken plays where he can let his shot loose and surprise the goalie. Marner isn't that guy.

 

[Mats13]

Why don't we ever try Nylander-Kapanen or Nylander-Marner in 3on3?

Just throw out a pair that can dominate. Instead we try to spread the offence during 3on3. It makes no sense.

 

[Willchel Marlynder]

On the bright side Nylander looked good, didn't let the demotion from center to Plekanec's wing ft. Hyman get him down.

 

[Throw More Waffles]

Marleau just can't get it done anymore......a shame to watch a future hall of famer in decline..he used to be an elite goal scorer.. a game breaker..

Who would have thought he'd... you know... lose a step... once he turned thirty freaking eight.

Literally nobody could have seen that coming.

 

[Pi]

Like I've been saying, Zaitsev always seems to be 2 to 5 feet wide of where he's supposed to be on the ice or with body positioning or a split second late. That pinch was insanely stupid, basically all risk no reward on it. The guy is so shaky.

I don't know how Zaitsev sees the ice in an OT game when we have Gardiner, Rielly and Dermott. You only ever need 1D on the ice in OT.

How is Zaitsev playing in OT? He's so bad.

 

[Leafidelity]

Tough to lose after dominating. Zaitsev needs to **** or get off the pot stylistically. If you're gonna go for it, don't hesitate - go for it. The slight hesitation killed him in that last sequence.

 

[2 Slick]

Matthews is a difference maker, they really do need him back.

I feel bad for our goaltenders, wow, our defence is like watching a car wreck. Specifically Zaitsev and Polak. Useless.

Happy with the point, very unhappy with Babcock's decision to put someone who has clearly been struggling all night and season in OT when the game is on the line. He's not a threat offensively, as he has no offensive game to speak of and his defensive game is suspect.

Bad coaching decision. Period.

 

[LeafsNation75]

Marleau has no finish.

What about JVR in the overtime when Luongo made that save off him when he should have shot the puck over his pad.

 

[Slyfox]

Marleau also cost us the game when he missed Marner with his pass. Zaitsev might be as bad as Polak. Can't do anything right. An opposing player just has to get close to him for him to panic and throw the puck away. Marleau is also awful and shouldn't play in OT. Taking stupid easy shots that just a loss in possession and missing Marner with passes. Also looks like his speed is slowing down. Feels like we are watching him age as the season goes on.

 

[6ix]

I can’t f***ing stand Russian defenceman. They’re boneheaded and not made for the NHL except for a select few. Absolute joke we signed this clown for 7 years.

 

[Goonface2k14]

Good - nice comeback, Willy on the tying goal, Brown, McElhinney
Bad - OT goal, early Bozak penalties, Marleau no finish
Ugly - Camera man

 

[Space Coyote]

McBackup gave us a chance to win as did Freddie last night they couldn't finish.

 

[Discordia]

Zaitzev is going to bury this team in the playoffs.

 

[BertCorbeau]

I agree that Marleau needs to get through this slump. Getting way too many chances and not taking advantage.

He's a vet, he'll figure it out.

As long as it's for playoff time that's all I really care about.

Pleks needs some practice time with these guys back to back games and no practice really.

Good game by McBackup

 

[93LEAFS]

Terrible play by Zaitsev. Should have won that the way we dictated play. Either way, leaving Florida with 2 of 4 isn’t the end of the world. Just wish Carolina held on to their lead.