Post-Game Talk: FREDDY IS BACK! Leafs win 4-0
- Thread starter Cor
- Start date
No. They don't. We want to believe that. Reality is, all teams have ups and downs. Good teams stay up longer
GoonieFace
Registered User
This is baffling. We are 60 games into the season and now they are talking about work ethic. I mean you should know this from the day you are drafted.
Blanche Blanche
Torontoooooo
Myopic
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- Feb 26, 2017
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That might have been one of the best overall games they have played this season. The Leafs were finishing their checks, passing well, grinding it out, and were very determined to get the puck back. They actually back-checked and were not lazy the entire game. I was very pleased with their effort. EFFORT and being hard to play against should not be a one game thing. They only proved that they can do it. The hard part is doing it EVERY game. Hard work is HARD to do consistently. That's what the winners do in all aspects of life.
Great, they played well. Now do it again and again and again straight into the playoffs. I don't know if they have it in them. The motivation this time was embarrassment, negative media coverage, and the recognition that time is running out on the regular season.
Playing this way takes a lot of energy and I'm sure many of them were dragging themselves out of bed this morning. The winners recover faster from the fatigue with better eating habits, proper rest, and elite conditioning. I don't know how many of the Leafs are in great 200' condition. I've said in the past ------> many of them save their energy for offense only. They probably feel that giving 100% effort on every shift will affect their offensive numbers.
This is why many hated Phil Kessel when he was in Toronto. He floated in his own zone, away from the puck, waiting for the breakaway pass. That's a selfish way to play. I don't know what happened in Pitt but they are a 'defense first' team and Crosby would not have accepted selfish, lazy play from anyone. Kessel relented to peer pressure and became a winner. That's the next step the Leafs must conquer if they want to be a legit contender.
Great, they played well. Now do it again and again and again straight into the playoffs. I don't know if they have it in them. The motivation this time was embarrassment, negative media coverage, and the recognition that time is running out on the regular season.
Playing this way takes a lot of energy and I'm sure many of them were dragging themselves out of bed this morning. The winners recover faster from the fatigue with better eating habits, proper rest, and elite conditioning. I don't know how many of the Leafs are in great 200' condition. I've said in the past ------> many of them save their energy for offense only. They probably feel that giving 100% effort on every shift will affect their offensive numbers.
This is why many hated Phil Kessel when he was in Toronto. He floated in his own zone, away from the puck, waiting for the breakaway pass. That's a selfish way to play. I don't know what happened in Pitt but they are a 'defense first' team and Crosby would not have accepted selfish, lazy play from anyone. Kessel relented to peer pressure and became a winner. That's the next step the Leafs must conquer if they want to be a legit contender.
I've been dogging it out there, to be honest.It's not the fans fault they haven't won anything.
StevenB
Registered User
Our stars didn’t want to leave any money on the table so there’s no excuses for them not giving this kind of effort every night. Keep it up and this team can be unstoppable.
Richard
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- Feb 8, 2012
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Pens fan here today,
What a difference.
The Leaf's were better along the boards and away from the puck, not great but good.
However, the Leaf's totally clogged the neutral zone and prevented the Penguins from having any speed. Unlike Tuesday you took away the wall and forced the play up the middle. The Penguins have had trouble since doumo and Marino went out with countering that tactic.
Defensively, your winger stayed high and your centers stayed low.
Let me repeat that....
Your wingers stayed high and your centers stayed low.
That made all the difference.
From the Penguins perspective there is a noticeable difference with Jarry and Murray in the ability of the goalie to handle the puck and start the breakout. Murry stays mostly in the net and the Leafs were able to come with speed and distrupt the Pens defender making that first pass.
In a playoff series against the Leafs the Pens will have to start Jarry because he is able to come out and play the puck giving Pens Defenders that extra second to make a play. The leafs forwards are soo fast fast fast.
Good game and good luck the rest of the year! Always welcome in the Burg!
What a difference.
The Leaf's were better along the boards and away from the puck, not great but good.
However, the Leaf's totally clogged the neutral zone and prevented the Penguins from having any speed. Unlike Tuesday you took away the wall and forced the play up the middle. The Penguins have had trouble since doumo and Marino went out with countering that tactic.
Defensively, your winger stayed high and your centers stayed low.
Let me repeat that....
Your wingers stayed high and your centers stayed low.
That made all the difference.
From the Penguins perspective there is a noticeable difference with Jarry and Murray in the ability of the goalie to handle the puck and start the breakout. Murry stays mostly in the net and the Leafs were able to come with speed and distrupt the Pens defender making that first pass.
In a playoff series against the Leafs the Pens will have to start Jarry because he is able to come out and play the puck giving Pens Defenders that extra second to make a play. The leafs forwards are soo fast fast fast.
Good game and good luck the rest of the year! Always welcome in the Burg!
I would argue that they all have it figured out, but knowing what to do and actually doing it consistently are very different.
Da Cool Rula
Registered User
Unfortunately you are immature at that age and need experience to really appreciate that fact. Ofcourse players differ as to when this is achieved.
Kapanen is no killer lol you could tell by the way he stood to fight last night. Kudos to him for standing up for himself though give him 100% credit more of our guys need to do that.
We need a big bruiser defenseman instead of marincin and need another “killer” in the bottom 6
Look at that, you're getting "likes" today instead of being threatened with a banning.
We're so much more welcoming when we win.
There’s a huge difference between being in highschool playing ohl puck and playing in the NHL in terms of work ethic. Then add Crosby Roberts etc level of work ethic to the mix and it adds a whole other level to the nhl compared to any other league. Hard to claim what you just did.
Richard
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- Feb 8, 2012
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Look at that, you're getting "likes" today instead of being threatened with a banning.
We're so much more welcoming when we win.
I didn't take offense I am just too old to get caught up in the results much. I enjoy hockey, especially good hockey.
I catch a lot of Edmonton and Toronto games because I enjoy the way they play (And Matthews and McDavid and Drai respectively haha).
Believe it or not, the Leafs make some of the most beautiful and entertaining plays in the league on a regular basis. So skilled.
Enjoy it while it lasts. You'll make the playoffs and you'll do damage soon (maybe even this year).
ive always wanted to travel to Pittsburgh and have a primanti brothers sandwich!
Richard
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- Feb 8, 2012
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Plenty of better places! If you ever do come PM me I'll set you square. We do have some good good food here.
GoonieFace
Registered User
These guys have been in the league 4 years, there are no excuses at this point. Plus once they asked for elite money, they better well act like it every single day.
Leafsfan74
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- Jul 2, 2018
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Maybe the trade made him feel he's on the way out and he wants to send a message?
I don't know. I suspect (and fear), after Mondays deadline everyone will relax and play weak again. This is why I say, if I am Dubas, I ignore any one game and address the need. It didn't change after one game. Find a grinding D man (or two). If it's a big high priced rental or two for cheap, with some guys with experience (even better if they have a history of winning), which we can eat for the next couple of months, do it.
Playoffs are tough to attain. Keep the momentum going as a franchise and find some answers that help them in the push. I don't care what anyone says, I don't care about stats. Get in and anything can happen. I've said, I feel Leafs don't match well against Boston or the Caps, I think they have the ability to beat anyone else. Even against the Caps and Bruins Leafs have taken both teams to 7 and 6 games.
This tweaking down the stretch is on Dubas. Unlike some, and for all my complaints about his past contract negotiations (I've liked all his trades); I have faith in him to figure it out.
Gary Nylund
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- Oct 10, 2013
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I think you are not giving Matthews enough credit here, he's taken huge strides at a 200 ft game this year.
I think a lot of us fear Boston and Washington because they know how to grind you out in playoffs. But you have to admit to get 2 grind it out D men and another grind it out winger who can skate is a pretty tall order. Certainly can't do that with barrie only. So that means its using Kappy/Kerfoot plus picks/prospects. I don't want to trade Kappy I guess. I think guys like that are super rare. Even though I agree we need 2 more vet defenders to get through a playoff grind. Injuries will occur.
Suntouchable13
Registered User
I have a good feeling that if the Leafs get in the playoffs playing like this or very close to this, they will upset TB or Boston. Just a gut feeling I have. I really like Keefe, specifically.
Gary Nylund
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- Oct 10, 2013
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Play like we did last night and we`ll have a fighting chance against them. Sure we could win but it`s definitely not a given. What is almost certain though is if we don`t play like we can, we will get crushed by either of those teams.
Suntouchable13
Registered User
Fine, I'll take a close series that could go either way. I just always believed that this team has a switch they can just turn on and start playing like men. Sorry for being optimistic
Gary Nylund
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- Oct 10, 2013
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Fine, I'll take a close series that could go either way. I just always believed that this team has a switch they can just turn on and start playing like men. Sorry for being optimistic
Yeah I`ll gladly take a close series against either one of those elite teams as well. I dunno if it`s as easy as flipping a switch though, it`s one thing to flip a switch and play a good game, it`s another thing entirely to flip a switch and play at an elite level for a month or two.
