Post-Game Talk: Leafs with a perfect game

[Its not your fault]

Best part was we beat them by like 5pm there time so they had much more time to wallow in that loss.

 

[LeafGrief]

I think he's shown some improvement this year compared to his previous stints. He seems to have adjusted and is developing into a decent #4C.

52% on the draw, which is good considering he's getting over 60% of his starts in the d-zone.

Hockey Reference has him at 40 hits through 32 games. His previous 30 games over the previous two seasons he had 30 hits - so he's being a bit more physical. I suspect as he matures and gets more comfortable at the NHL level that he will become more physical over time. Not a bruiser, but he will assert himself a bit more.

Also at 48.3% CF, which isn't great by any means, but that's higher than it's been in his previous NHL stints so there's some progress.

In short - I think he's still pretty mediocre but he's improving his game. Not a liability and isn't a standout either, just doing his job admirably. I think he really benefits when he has wingers like Moore, Ennis, Lindholm - guys who have some quickness and speed in their game. When he's played with slower wingers, he doesn't look as good.

Goat has definitely been more physical lately. There were a couple examples in last nights game in both the offensive and defensive zones where he stapled his guy to the boards and the poor 'nuck was helpless while the second Leaf came in and stole the puck away. Stuff like this is really helping the fourth line maintain possession and o-zone time. Speedy wingers give him good options with the puck when he does have it, because he's not going to do anything other than dump it in by himself.

Except for when he rips an Ovechkin-like wrister off the crossbar from the top of the faceoff circle on the rush. He does it once every 10-15 games or so and it's always like, where the f*** did that come from???

 

[Nineteen67]

Goat laid some good hits and one behind our net freed the puck that directly lead to Moores goal

I saw at least three hits, all good ones....I hope he liked the taste of blood and it turns him into a raving lunatic.....or something a little tamer, like a Tasmanian devil.

ETA: he was only credited with 2hits, but one I remember in van corner where he sort of missed but rushed the play hit the players stick. Very aggressive play, in my book.

 

[Budsfan]

 

[saltming]

I saw at least three hits, all good ones....I hope he liked the taste of blood and it turns him into a raving lunatic.....or something a little tamer, like a Tasmanian devil.

ETA: he was only credited with 2hits, but one I remember in van corner where he sort of missed but rushed the play hit the players stick. Very aggressive play, in my book.

He has been using his size well lately. Not hitting but squeezing the man off the puck, which I'm ok with. It doesn't need to be a bone jarring hit to be effective.
If he keeps on this path he could become that Brian Boyle type 4th line centre.
Fingers crossed.

 

[DoobieDubas]

The critiscm was never about the points he's been putting up points the whole time.

ya he still doesnt look 100% even after tthat 3 point night

 

[Budsfan]

 

[Leafsfan74]

Who's gonna tell Sparks? Are you gonna do it or should I?

Meh, it's one game and about as easy a shutdown as one can get in todays game.

I will say though, and it's only natural for him to feel this way; the only Leaf who probably didn't like seeing the shutout was Sparks...

 

[The Podium]

Who's gonna tell Sparks? Are you gonna do it or should I?

The funny thing is if Sparks is waived he will get claimed, and if he gets claimed and Hutch shits the bed the same bunch will harp on Dubas for ruining their goalie depth

 

[saltming]

The funny thing is if Sparks is waived he will get claimed, and if he gets claimed and Hutch ****s the bed the same bunch will harp on Dubas for ruining their goalie depth

I still think sparks will clear

 

[ULF_55]

When did not having sound on at the bar become a thing? ...in the day, bars always had sound for the Jays and Leafs. Even hotel bars.... last time I was in TO I had to beg to have sound.

It would be interesting to be in a bar showing 5 different games with the sound on.

 

[MSZ]

I still think sparks will clear

I think one of those bottom feeders will take a chance and claim him.

 

[Bluelines]

I don't think I've heard a mediocre goaltender having a league average season getting blown out in a game get as much praise as Markström did last night. You'd have thought it was Gibson having a rare off night.

Anyway. Strong night. Did just what I missed about the Minnesota game, put in that little bit of extra effort to help out their third-string goaltender.

That is just the Western Bias from two guys with strong connections to the West. I've never heard commentators talk so much in glowing praise of a guy (Boesser?) who chased another guy (Marner) and never touched the puck, shouldn't they talk about how ineffective Boesser was on that play and how over matched/ under conditioned he was against a clearly more skilled / better conditioned player? Hughson called the game as if it was a Vancouver home game... praising the smallest Vancouver action and glossing over the consistent and persistent strong play by Toronto.

 

[Bluelines]

I think one of those bottom feeders will take a chance and claim him.

Philly claims him for sure... YES!!!!!

 

[Bluelines]

I don't know what you guys are talking about, Hughson isn't a Canucks fan, if anything he's a Leafs fan, don't you remember for many years he was the voice of the Blue Jays. His broadcasting career has involves Toronto teams.

He was born in Fort St,John, BC, he was the play by play guy for the Vancouver Canucks from 1979–1982, 1994–2008. He's a little more than biased.

 

[MSZ]

That is just the Western Bias from two guys with strong connections to the West. I've never heard commentators talk so much in glowing praise of a guy (Boesser?) who chased another guy (Marner) and never touched the puck, shouldn't they talk about how ineffective Boesser was on that play and how over matched/ under conditioned he was against a clearly more skilled / better conditioned player? Hughson called the game as if it was a Vancouver home game... praising the smallest Vancouver action and glossing over the consistent and persistent strong play by Toronto.

And the whole production is pretty f-up too, they showed the Vancouver skyline just before the puck drop when the game was in Toronto. No wonder why most HNIC Leafs games this year didn't draw much viewerships at all(mostly under 900k per game, while 2.5 million watched WJH on TSN)

 

[Mess]

Best part was we beat them by like 5pm there time so they had much more time to wallow in that loss.

And I had much more time to enjoy my Cowboys win after my Leafs put away the Canucks from someone living on PST myself.

 

[CarterD]

A pretty good game for the boys. Really like the Marlies Grads, they all seem to be gritty, with good speed and play a simple game(except for Goat).

The Goat has actually looked great these past few weeks.

He's faster than he has ever been, better shot and he's using his body more effectivley.

 

[BigGulpsEh]

That is just the Western Bias from two guys with strong connections to the West. I've never heard commentators talk so much in glowing praise of a guy (Boesser?) who chased another guy (Marner) and never touched the puck, shouldn't they talk about how ineffective Boesser was on that play and how over matched/ under conditioned he was against a clearly more skilled / better conditioned player? Hughson called the game as if it was a Vancouver home game... praising the smallest Vancouver action and glossing over the consistent and persistent strong play by Toronto.

I got a good laugh out of that one. Marner completely dangles and outsmuscles boeser yet somehow in hughson backwards world boeser was the shining star on that play

 

[ULF_55]

Johnsson-Matthew-Nylander
Hyman-Tavares-Marner
Brown-Kadri-Kapanen
Lindholm-Gauthier-Moore

Who's going to tell him?

 

[Rob Brown]

Best part was we beat them by like 5pm there time so they had much more time to wallow in that loss.

You are way off with the timezones.

 

[Its not your fault]

And I had much more time to enjoy my Cowboys win after my Leafs put away the Canucks from someone living on PST myself.

Also a Cowboy fan.

 

[Its not your fault]

You are way off with the timezones.

Yes closer to 7 30

 

[Throw More Waffles]

It would be interesting to be in a bar showing 5 different games with the sound on.

I mean... usually it's the hometown game that has sound on.

 

[saltming]

I think one of those bottom feeders will take a chance and claim him.

Possible but it depends if they need a goalie.
Timing it well would also be a good plan.