Post-Game Talk: Leafs beat a playoff team!

[Blanche Blanche]

Kapanen shouldve got that 2nd goal from Marleau on the rebound lol.

Notice Kap is getting more and more looks? He is JUST starting to get use to playing with high skilled players Nd against them too.

A team that shutdown JT and Marner, and Kap almost has a 4 to 6 point night.

 

[Raym11]

Matthews was dominant. 2 points and 75 cf% against Washington's best line

his stick checking in the 3rd was dominant

 

[PromisedLand]

McJesus who?!

False prophet.

Gospel of Matthews is the only truth!

 

[inthe6ix]

Apart from a couple of Jake brain-farts, that was a solid 15:32 from Dermott tonight. Really liked what I saw against a very good team.

 

[Faltorvo]

Kappy with now and,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, get this

6 points in 4 games playing with matty

suck on that melander.

and for those that ever ever doubted the mighty GOAT,,shame,,,shame,,,shame,,,shame

face it folks we have a 6 foot 5 hulking 4th line C that knows how to be defensive.

 

[dangomon]

Our D adjusted for the third period.

Matthews and Kappenen most noticable.

On D

Dermott and Hainsey looked great

Gardiner and rielly found themselves later on

On D, Oz may have had his best game of the year. Lots of really smart quick passes to exit the zone. Even showed a bit of skill in the offensive zone, despite not playing a ton of minutes.

 

[EmergencyExit]

That makes it sound like he's done nothing but he hasn't been bad IMO. Nice to see him finally get paid though so to speak, and he showed nice hands on that goal, not everyone has the skill to do what he did there.

So happy for Josh!

From the eye test it feels like he's always pushing the play forward in a good way. He's been hustling and getting looks, just been snake bitten at times.

Really glad to see him get the goal tonight. It must have been discouraging to ride the pine last year, but I'd imagine Babcock is liking what he's seeing out of him lately.

 

[Chief keefe]

Matthews is on pace for 50 goals in 30 games. The record is 39 games. It would be great for him to break that record!

Legendary....

 

[thewave]

My favorite thing this year is how Matthews seems to found passion and come out of his shell. He looks engaged, stronger, faster and has a better shot. Maybe having that terrible PO series was an eye opener. Good on him.

Tonight's game... 3rd period gave me hope that we can do anything. Great execution. Well done lads!

 

[GQS]

Kapanen is the perfect winger for Matthews. Gives Matthews all the puck possession he needs (unlike Nylander) and just battles and floors it.

I disagree. Last season Nylander and Matthews shared the puck a ton which is what made them damn good together and some of those passes from Willie to Matthews were awesome. When hopefully he gets re-signed soon I hope Babs gives Kapanen-Matthews-Nylander a try and see what they can do.

 

[Kiwi]

The best part is the Leafs are 5-1-0 and we haven't seen a full 60 minutes of them controlling the game yet. And that we're still looking for them to get better because we know they can be, and they need to be if they're going to be successful.

We tend to play down to our opponents a bit, but if your the better team for 2 of the 3 periods against the top teams your going to win a lot of games

 

[CantLoseWithMatthews]

his stick checking in the 3rd was dominant

he's incredible without the puck

 

[PromisedLand]

I thought theyd **** the bed. These guys are proving me wrong.

No reason to feel bad after that one. Let's see the main boards spin this one lol

You have no right to speak DJ Smith

 

[ryno23]

Leafs held the Caps to 8 shots in the 3rd. Caps only had 2 halfway thru and got most of those 8 on that pne Oshie Bacstrom shift where they pinned the JT line for a good 2 mins.

Leafs tookit to the Caps in the 3rd and had quite a few chances.

Good solid road win vs quality opponent

 

[thewave]

From the eye test it feels like he's always pushing the play forward in a good way. He's been hustling and getting looks, just been snake bitten at times.

Really glad to see him get the goal tonight. It must have been discouraging to ride the pine last year, but I'd imagine Babcock is liking what he's seeing out of him lately.

He is always pushing the play forward. The eye isn't lying. Leivo has been pretty good. Contrast to Brown who up until tonight was wasting possession every time he had it. Every time.

I use the... Who's stick does the play die on test. Leivo usually maintains possession gets a pass off and then it died with Brown etc.

 

[Antropovsky]

Remember all those "wasted 2nds for Boyle and Plekanec" threads? Leafs young players learned a lot from those games. This game was more of a playoff atmosphere even this early in the season. Much more physical and had some history and pride too it.... Without that experience... I think the Leafs get rolled today.

Leafs don't make the playoffs 2 years ago without Boyle (IMO) and Plekanec helped show the leafs how to step up in the playoffs last season... great additions, good moves.

 

[Peiskos]

I'll tell you what, for a team that just won the cup, the Caps board is downright salty AF right now...damn. LOL

 

[robertmac43]

It was the Freddie choking out party tonight! Way to get the win boys

 

[frizzer1]

If Nylander had been here Babcock would probably still be burying Kapanen on the 4th line..

 

[Nash 2]

Nice confidence builder!

Go Leafs Go!

 

[sxvnert]

Lmao! "Auston, have you ever had a stretch where the puck seems to follow you like this?!?!" "Yah I have"

He should have followed that with "Remember that time I was selected first overall.." then walked away.

 

[Ratboy]

You have no right to speak DJ Smith

Hey my great D plan worked tonight! I'm safe for another season!

 

[Brown Dog]

Matthews is such a beauty! Can you believe we got this guy?!

 

[hockeyes]

Freddy came up huge when they needed him, solid win.

 

[Nineteen67]

My favorite thing this year is how Matthews seems to found passion and come out of his shell. He looks engaged, stronger, faster and has a better shot. Maybe having that terrible PO series was an eye opener. Good on him.

Tonight's game... 3rd period gave me hope that we can do anything. Great execution. Well done lads!

His back and shoulder are not hurting. He is stealing pucks like he did in the first year, but he is much more powerful in traffic. Reminds me of Sid.