Mess
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"Good teams are built from goalie out [Andersen Shutout], through strong defense [zero goals against] and strength down the middle [Matthews and Tavares score]".
definitely set the tone of the game imo.I know this might meet with some resistance, but Clifford set the tone for this game and put Columbus on notice with that monster hit early in the first.
In my opinion this series isn't really the playoffs, not until there are 16 teams left then the playoffs start. It's unfortunate that the NHL screwed the Leafs because they were in a playoff spot by 3 points with 10 games left, they'd have to collapse to miss the playoffs, but what can you do?
What were the possession stats in that game. I don’t even know where or how to look them up because i decided i really don’t want to consume myself with them. It was tilted some bad i know that.Leafs played a near perfect game to even the series at 1's.
They beat CBJ to every puck and won almost ever contested puck battle all night.
Now we have ourselves a series.
There also seemed to be a systematic adjustment in terms of stretching the neutral zone.Heading into this game I was saying how it's on Keefe to provide the adjustments .. His only real adjustment was flipping Nylander and Marner, and get them a bit more motivated and focused. Seems to have worked for this game.
Good on him. In a short series (as he should know from the AHL), there isn't much rope to "figure it out" so mixing the lines to catch lightning in a bottle can be necessary.
I know this might meet with some resistance, but Clifford set the tone for this game and put Columbus on notice with that monster hit early in the first.
kills me when posters say "where are the negative Leaf posts" when the Leafs play a game where there's nothing to complain about, duh.................funny thought we could question the moves Dubas has made, and still be leaf fans... he is the gm, I cheer for the players on the ice...
Well get used to it because it was all structure changes Keefe implemented. Thats what was needed. The blow the zone for a stretch pass days are gone but not forgotten as we seen JT pull off. This is a way sounder system. You can’t teach the other team to not collapse back to six goalies. They need to get shots through and knock in some garbage. Lots of fakes to put them down etc. I said before the series started we need to set up the puck behind the net and fake them lots and turn them around in this.Best Leaf overall performance in years. Total domination. Thats da way I like it. Freddy makes all da saves. Matty goes beast. Tavares plays much better with Willy.
And Mitch played a lot better than game 1. He had some game. It is not an opponent that suits his game but effort was there.
If Muzzy goes down then Dermy can fill in fine for a few games til he is back.
Great coaching from Keefe. I give him all da credit. Engval huge improvement over Goat and it brought Clifford back.
Both penalties at the end for us were kind of soft, meanwhile the Jackets got away with a few obvious penalties. Game management at it's finest and unfortunately we likely lost a player for the series because of it.I don't have issue with that call other than the fact that it's so inconsistent. If it were the other way around, I'm almost certain a leaf player would be facing 2 games
Most teams are better off when they score first. Only New Jersey and Detroit had losing records when they scored the first goal.Leafs should know now they need to start games HARD and score first. Didn't we have a very good record scoring first all season? For our style of play it's huge and bad for CBJ
busy celebrating the Leaf win, DUH................Where are the posters from the other day who said they wanted Dubas fired?
There also seemed to be a systematic adjustment in terms of stretching the neutral zone.
This is not a playoff round. I want them to beat the team they play next if they get by CBJ. Then we can say that Dubas has taken this team to the next level. No longer can the critics say that this team has regressed under Dubas. Lose to CBJ and the pitch forks will be out.
Most teams are better off when they score first. Only New Jersey and Detroit had losing records when they scored the first goal.
That's truly shocking news!Most teams are better off when they score first.