Post-Game Talk: Matthews makes history and Leafs send Dubas one step closer to the golf course

[Pete2000]

Dubas in the off season

 

[Kiwi]

Found a way to win against a desperate team

That's a good hard earned 2 points we just banked

 

[Evilhomer]

I think this is more likely…I hope

I'd say about half the league is currently coasting for the sake of just getting to the end of the regular season. The season is too long and there are too many garbage games. The only benefit is that I expect the Leafs will win all, or close to all, of their remaining games because in garbage time talent usually prevails. It will get them home ice, but I can't decide if that is a good thing or not.

 

[meefer]

Kampf cannot go against Crosby. He's simply not a threat enough
If you put Kampf against Crosby, he'll welcome that all day knowing there is no threat of counter attack

It also allows the Matthews line to go up against lesser talents as well. We've - I've - seen enough of the reliance on two or three lines for this team. You need 4 lines to win 16, and sometimes you need the 4th to pick you up. Tonight they did.

 

[CaptainCrunch17]

It's part of sports. Fans hold bitterness. Nothing wrong with that
I mean I would boo Gord Stellick too but there was no HFboards back then

Gord wasn’t boo worthy.

Ballard was very deserving though.

 

[The Hanging Jowl]

I still love Spezza, but that look on his face - he seems brainwashed.

Exactly. He was such a great player for the Leafs but he comes across as the ultimate beta now as Dubas' assistant. Dubas should be sucking up to him, not vice versa. Very confusing.

 

[Burnie97]

I see the childish session with Dubas continues. Move on, already.

I actually don't even hate Dubas. Sometimes it's just good just to get a win over an old manager ... coach ... etc. Some think it's a nothing burger and that's fine too. Pittsburgh has won cups recently. I'm not too upset if they don't make it.

 

[sxvnert]

Matthews playing with domi & bert has made him a gritier player.

 

[Mr_Fun]

Yeah, Nylander doesn't appear to be going full throttle right now. I don't mind as long as he can crank it back up in a couple of weeks.

 

[BertCorbeau]

Craig Simpson was sure kissing the Pens arse tonight

 

[BertCorbeau]

Matthews playing with domi & bert has made him a gritier player.

Yep.. I like this version for the playoffs, it’s also forcing him to be more of a playmaker too

 

[The Hanging Jowl]

Gord wasn’t boo worthy.

Ballard was very deserving though.

Trivia: Robert Duval played Boo Worthy in To Kill a Mocking Bird.

 

[HamiltonNHL]

Missed the game.

At the skydome

 

[sxvnert]

Yep.. I like this version for the playoffs, it’s also forcing him to be more of a playmaker too

Very similar to the crosby lines.

 

[Leafs98]

Yeah, Nylander doesn't appear to be going full throttle right now. I don't mind as long as he can crank it back up in a couple of weeks.

He'll be great in the playoffs.

 

[PromisedLand]

Pens fans are losing their shit on sullivan both on HF and on twitter LMAO

 

[yubbers]

I see the childish session with Dubas continues. Move on, already.

Nope. The years of listening to his homers be perpetually wrong isn't even close to being rubbed in

 

[Jimmy Firecracker]

Craig Simpson was sure kissing the Pens arse tonight

I think he recalibrated after his out of character dismay at a Leafs opponent getting all the calls. He called out the refs for blowing the whistle every time Crosby took a hit then never said a bad word about them again.

 

[PromisedLand]

2nd WC spot is smoking HOT right now

 

[All Mod Cons]

Surprised we've not seen Sticky at all tonight. I want to know who has passed all the tests

 

[MSZ]

2nd WC spot is smoking HOT right now

View attachment 848435

Also the 3rd place in metro

 

[egd27]

Holding bitterness about anything in life seems silly to me. Life's too short for that nonsense.

Doesn't have to be about bitterness, sometimes there are people in sports that you enjoy watching lose. Dubas is one of those for me.

 

[leafsfan5]

Pens fans are losing their shit on sullivan both on HF and on twitter LMAO

Understandable tbh

Imagine our season is on the line and Keefe runs Kampf instead of Matthews. This place would explode

 

[Leafsfan74]

Why the hatred for Dubas? No one forced the team to make him GM.

I give him credit for trying to go for it, the team just didn't do what was needed to win when it mattered.

Leafs have one major advantage over all other teams, an endless stream of cash that allows them to spend in areas without cap. So, though they traded so many picks, they can scout and find hidden gems. They can attract top talent when others want to sign them too. They walk in and say "we are the TML" other teams are at a disadvantage. It wasn't always this way but it is now.

They can hire an army of scouts from here to China. They can see first hand the players of the future where other franchises have to tighten their belts.

I get the "us vs them" mentality, but Dubas didn't do a horrible job. He got them to the dance every year he was here. Many of his signings are still here.

Brad dropped a few eggs early too. The difference is that he seems to be a much quicker learner. This will bode well for this team. He has the advantage of wisdom and experience, Dubas was forced to prove himself as such a young man and put in tough spots.

It's not his fault the core didn't get it done.

 

[Clark4Ever]

Hard fought win against a desperate team that's been playing very well.

The lines are very well balanced right now. I hope Keefe sticks with it.