Post-Game Talk: Leafs win 7-6 in OT

[Stephen]

It's funny. Even on a night when Tavares scores a hat trick, Matthews still looks like the far more dominant player. The guy almost has the physical and athletic impact of a basketball player.

 

[TAYGB52]

McBackup will become McStarter in Carolina. Sparks wont be in the NHL in a month and be a career AHL goalie. Should have kept Pickard instead of this bum.

Or just kept Mac?

 

[lovemyleafs]

Why didn't Matthews get credited with an assist on the OT goal ?

 

[Green Snow Storm]

Our backup goalie and defensive concerns are legit, but that was so fun. Having an offence as potent as this makes the other issues easier to deal with (for now) if we’re still having these games after Christmas it will be concerning.

 

[Guided by Veseys]

Sparks was great. First two goals he had no chance. Third goal stunk but backups do that; see McBackup in his first hurricane game. First Kane goal he maybe could have stopped but that is a HOF player that will score ppg this year. Second Kane goal was a nasty deflection, no chance

 

[Peiskos]

That sucks for you. I most definitely feel like we won. Since we did get the win, you know.

But then again, I don't go out of my way to find a reason to be miserable over my hockey team.

Just being a realist dude, I’m sorry if my facts shake the rainbow and fairtail land you’re living in. Backup goaltending not good enough, defence not good enough.

My eyes are on the bigger picture, a championship. Keep that in mind, so enjoy a early regular season win over the Blackhawks.

I made a legitimate point, don’t attempt to s**t all over it because it doesn’t make you feel good.

 

[Melo Meds]

Another meh game. Sparks was horrible and looks like an AHL goalie. Babcock continues to make questionable decisions. Matthews and Tavares were incredible and carried us to the W. It’s still early in the season but if this keeps up I don’t see how we can go deep in the playoffs. The system is broken and needs to be fixed. Relying on a ton of goals and your goalie (Andersen) standing on his head won’t get your far.

 

[hector morrison]

Biggest surprise for me was the Auston showboating...hope he learned a lesson when Kaner scored right away! Don't jinx your team like that....and it's not cool,in my books!

 

[DarkKnight]

Only one bad game for Sparks. Also, bad game for Sparks.

 

[Ratboy]

Nope. Give him his 20 or so games. He deserves a fair shot to prove himself after last season and I don't care how bad it gets give him his 20 maybe he'll find his groove.

We may miss the playoffs after those 20 games. I don't give a shit if he's "earned a chance" I want the best team possible and our backup position just got significantly worse.

 

[thewave]

Who needs defense when you got Johnny T and Auston Matthews and you can score a million goals a game.

Every team that wants to actually win a cup.

 

[thewave]

Who needs defense when you got Johnny T and Auston Matthews and you can score a million goals a game.

Every team that wants to actually win a cup.

 

[LeafChief]

Matthews has 8 points in 3 games but he should feel shame because he will never be better than Barkov AINEC.

 

[OpenNetSniper]

Leafs team defense is terrible. It's like they have a welcome committee every time the opposition enters their zone.

 

[Menzinger]

We may miss the playoffs after those 20 games. I don't give a **** if he's "earned a chance" I want the best team possible and our backup position just got significantly worse.

There’s almost zero chance the Leafs will miss the playoffs this season.

 

[BigGulpsEh]

Why would Kadri? Not a great game but decent enough. Hit. Won face offs. No big giveaways like Matthews, Tavares or Gardiner

No big goals like Matthews and Tavares. Terrible comparison

 

[TAYGB52]

Can only hope Freddie can play the next 79 games.

You got it!

 

[CelticDruid]

People blaming Sparks have no clue. He had no chance on at least 3 of those goals.

Blame Babcock for Zaitsev and Hainsey being out there for both of Kane’s goals. Does he like pain?

Where was Rielly?

Only in Toronto is your best defenseman on the bench when you are trying to close out a game.

All our D made critical mistakes tonight just that some made more than others. Marcini actually played OK.

 

[Kurtz]

2 games in a row where the Leafs can't get a save. I thought Sparks was at least decent until the last couple goals... they were awful, probably on par with Andersen's performance last night.

Kapanen was fantastic tonight. A massive upgrade over Ennis... like massive.

The last goal was going wide and deflected in Hainsey's stick.

Sparks let in 1 bad goal - people are overstating things here.

 

[GodEmperor]

Another meh game. Sparks was horrible and looks like an AHL goalie. Babcock continues to make questionable decisions. Matthews and Tavares were incredible and carried us to the W. It’s still early in the year but if this keeps up I don’t see how we can go deep in the playoffs. The system is broken and needs to be fixed.

Honestly Babs played Kap with Auston and Marleau, that's more than I can ask of him, if he brings up Johnsson with Naz and demotes one of Leivo or Brown, he's doing very well in my books.

 

[Stand Witness]

Not putting much of those goals on Sparks, I don't think he did great, but I think he did what he needed to do and normally he has 3 goals less against.

Zaitsev was horrible on that one Kane goal and then Hainsey tipped in the next one.

 

[The Kessel Run]

What were people saying about Marleau? He was pretty damn good today.

I thought he was pretty useless, personally.

 

[Heritage]

Pajama boy has 4 goals in 3 games.

cc: Isles fans on the mainboards.

John Tavares is on pace for 109 goals over 82 games!

 

[Schooner]

McBackup will become McStarter in Carolina. Sparks wont be in the NHL in a month and be a career AHL goalie. Should have kept Pickard instead of this bum.

I never understood why he was never an option. It was always Mac vs Sparks from the get-go. I always thought Pickard was the number one choice

 

[Glenn Isildur Healy]

I wonder how much more Nylander wants now?

He can sit as long as he wants
Locking up Marner and Matthews is a MUST

 

[hector morrison]

Lol me too. But it gets so boring listening to them after a while

If the alternative is Hughson, I'll take these guys any day!