Post-Game Talk: Matty & Johnny Leads Leafs to Victory!

[Jimclar]

Leafs won the game. Allowed two goals. Wonder what the criticism is going to be IF they ever lose a game.

 

[leaffaninvancouver]

Leafs won the game. Allowed two goals. Wonder what the criticism is going to be IF they ever lose a game.

We need to win every game with positive possession and shot advantage, anything else is failure in these here parts.

 

[56 Years No Cup]

We need to win every game with positive possession and shot advantage, anything else is failure in these here parts.

No but they certainly have to play better than that or they'll lose. A lot.

 

[leaffaninvancouver]

No but they certainly have to play better than that or they'll lose. A lot.

I don't disagree but sometimes you win games you shouldn't. For such a young and promising team we're still about as negative as we were in the Kessel years.

If 5 years ago you told me we'd have this lineup and we'd still have constant complains I'd think you were nuts.

 

[Welsh Maple Leaf]

No but they certainly have to play better than that or they'll lose. A lot.

First game of the season - everyone knows they’ve got to play better and everyone knows they can play MUCH better.

Some over the top criticism. Just enjoy the win.

 

[JT AM da real deal]

It is only 1 game but when you get outplayed by a bottom 5 team in the nhl 5 on 5 that is not a good way to start season. We can't rely on our PP to win the day every game or maybe we can. So much firepower here it is incredible. 3 lines that can all score wow.

 

[LeafsNation75]

It is only 1 game but when you get outplayed by a bottom 5 team in the nhl 5 on 5 that is not a good way to start season. We can't rely on our PP to win the day every game or maybe we can. So much firepower here it is incredible. 3 lines that can all score wow.

Tavares goal last night was scored at 5v5 and it shows how the Leafs can score at anytime without being on the power play.

 

[Leafs at Knight]

Tavares was better yesterday though. Had many good chances in a quiet game by Marner and an offgame by Hyman and no stupid giveaways in his own zone like AM.

Tavares definitely had at least one bad giveaway in his own zone. Habs had pressure for a good minute after.

 

[frog]

No big deal about the first game being messy it happens, But proves we can win without no-show Nylander... Leivo can replace him fine, odd not having any sandpaper when teams start hitting though

 

[Bedards Dad]

No but they certainly have to play better than that or they'll lose. A lot.

Good teams find ways to win their bad games. That's what makes them a good team.

 

[Bedards Dad]

Tavares definitely had at least one bad giveaway in his own zone. Habs had pressure for a good minute after.

I saw 2 very clear giveaways by JT. 1 was in the slot.

 

[Albz]

Shitty game but we got the W. we all know leafs won’t play like that often. So relax.

 

[JT AM da real deal]

The first part of season past few seasons the NHL should be called the NO HIT LEAGUE except for the one Hab hit and then the Leaf retaliation immediately thereafter in the 3rd.

 

[ottomaddox]

Leafs won the game. Allowed two goals. Wonder what the criticism is going to be IF they ever lose a game.

If you coached a team that won in that manner would you be satisfied?

The Wilson/Carlyle years has some moments where the team won games, but you knew they were due for a calapse.

 

[AK87]

1. Give him the C.
2. Move Zaitsev up, Hainsey down
3. Dubas needs to be fired because if Mcbackup was on the bench, his leadership would have allowed the Leafs to curbstomp Montreal

Fire Dubas comments start only after one game? lol

 

[Muston Atthews]

Lmao some people can find the negatives in any situation

 

[Macallan18]

Hey!!
Matthews 2 goals
Laine ZILCH

 

[CantLoseWithMatthews]

No big deal about the first game being messy it happens, But proves we can win without no-show Nylander... Leivo can replace him fine, odd not having any sandpaper when teams start hitting though

Of course the leafs can win without him. But if you want to look at that game as an example of how the leafs can play without him, it's very ugly and we better sign him fast

 

[Welsh Maple Leaf]

It is only 1 game but when you get outplayed by a bottom 5 team in the nhl 5 on 5 that is not a good way to start season. We can't rely on our PP to win the day every game or maybe we can. So much firepower here it is incredible. 3 lines that can all score wow.

Are you bipolar

 

[weems]

No big deal about the first game being messy it happens, But proves we can win without no-show Nylander... Leivo can replace him fine, odd not having any sandpaper when teams start hitting though

We beat a team whos projected to have a top 5 pick and that somehow proves that we can win without Nylander? Ya I guess if your standard is beating some of the leagues bottom feeders sure.

Leivo cant come anywhere close to replacing Nylander. One guy flys thru the neutral zone and is one of the very best at bringing the puck into the zone while the other has trouble skating/transitioning the puck but is solid once in the offensive zone.

Matthews was very quiet 5 on 5 last night and a big reason for that is his linemates cant create much of anything. Matthews will still rack up the points on the powerplay but taking Nylander off that line and allowing them to drastically zone in on Matthews will make him less effective at even strength.

The truth of the matter is Nylander with his ability to skate, transition the puck and push defenders back on their heels gave Matthews tons of room to roam down the middle of the ice to operate.​

 

[56 Years No Cup]

Of course the leafs can win without him. But if you want to look at that game as an example of how the leafs can play without him, it's very ugly and we better sign him fast

Or they just could play better.

 

[CantLoseWithMatthews]

Or they just could play better.

They should. It's still not a game that proves the leafs are fine without Willy

 

[Clark4Ever]

That was probably as good as the Habs can play and about as poor as we can play, but we found a way to get the 2 points thanks to Freddy and our game breakers.

Take the points and move on.

 

[thewave]

We beat a team whos projected to have a top 5 pick and that somehow proves that we can win without Nylander? Ya I guess if your standard is beating some of the leagues bottom feeders sure.

Leivo cant come anywhere close to replacing Nylander. One guy flys thru the neutral zone and is one of the very best at bringing the puck into the zone while the other has trouble skating/transitioning the puck but is solid once in the offensive zone.

Matthews was very quiet 5 on 5 last night and a big reason for that is his linemates cant create much of anything. Matthews will still rack up the points on the powerplay but taking Nylander off that line and allowing them to drastically zone in on Matthews will make him less effective at even strength.

The truth of the matter is Nylander with his ability to skate, transition the puck and push defenders back on their heels gave Matthews tons of room to roam down the middle of the ice to operate.​

Nylander has his talent wasted for the most part. You could use Kapanen in place of Nylander and likely the line would perform nearly as well because Matthews is that good.

Marleau Matthews Kapanen
---- JT Marner
Leivo Kadri Nylander

JTs wing should be earned. I imagine Hyman is not on Matthews wing by request of Matthews. Leivo would be a better choice so far from what have seen.

 

[Trapper]

I really hope this doesn't become a theme this year.

This feels like a sticking point argument between babs and dubas.

He’s right though. Aside from the D issue, we have the offensive talent but seriously lack the ability to forecheck, cycle and win board battles.
You need this in your arsenal. Certainly not used all the time but we will have to do this to win the Cup in addition to. You need to be able to match 4 random playoff opponents based on skill, size, speed, physical. All of them could be built with a combo of these. So you need a little bit of everything.

Plus adding a solid forecheck takes more pressure off the D. One and done other team full speed counter is difficult time after time for a questionable defense.

Our 3 major issues:
1. Outshot
2. Forecheck, heavier cycle/board play
3. D

What were the major issues last year? See above.
Now in 82 games it’s not super critical today but if we want to move from paper contender to ice contender it needs to be slowly fixed.