Post-Game Talk: Rielly is Rielly, Rielly Good. But Leafs Still Lose. 2-1 Shootout Loss

[Nithoniniel]

It should be very clear now to every Leaf follower that Randy Carlyle was not part of the problem. Under his watch, the team overachieved - a playoff appearance, and most recently a solid winning record and in the playoffs when he was fired. With his influence gone, this collection of players has quickly morphed into their truer, more natural form, which is something equivalent to this wretched Devils team.

MLSE at their best again: amputating the only healthy part of the Toronto Maple Leafs body.

I don't agree.

First of all, I think the system we played was flawed to the point that we wouldn't be able to get any success with it.

Secondly, our collection of players are showing an inability to play a two-way game. They were good offensively when they could cheat and rush, but now when they are expected to work as a unit in all zones they get tentative in the offensive zone.

It's a combination of factors:

1) We are in a slump.
2) We are a mentally weak team which compounds the problem.
3) We change system completely in the middle of a season, which means a transition period where things were always going to look bad.
4) A whole bunch of our players don't seem able to play in a system based on two-way games from all players.
5) The system itself is rather limiting.

We'd probably look better now with Carlyle. But at some point we had to make a change, and the coaching change allows management to move the spotlight to the players and their limitations.

A lot of posters here seem determined to make it all about the coach again though.

 

[The CyNick]

I agree but they have a huge advantage in coaching and management.

All those #1 centres they have

And their #1 shut down D

Its quite the blueprint to follow

 

[The Winter Soldier]

Bernier letting in that untimely or timely goal to some and then losing the skills competition had an OK game, abeit it was another losing game.

 

[ThatQuietGuy93]

I can't wait to beat the habs this year.

 

[Willchel Marlynder]

Lol well you don't deserve to be in this forum...sticking up for Habs.. Seriously

I hate the Habs. I'm hoping they get bounced in the first round. Next season if Kessel and Phanuef are traded I'd hope the Leaf humiliate them day in and day out. Just because I hate the Habs doesn't mean i'm going to be irrational. Kessel is better than Pacioretty. But there's a reason why Montreal wouldn't trade Subban or Price for anything on the Leafs. They are just better players. Does a Philly fan say Crosby sucks? Do Montreal Fans say Bergeron sucks defensively?

Don't let hate cloud your judgment friend.

 

[leafstilldeath*]

He did make a good play, though, on the goal.

I am hoping some dumb scout vouches for both Bozak and Clarkson and by some miracle we rid ourselves with mediocrity

 

[yubbers]

?????

Carlyle is still awful. Maybe he pulled the best out if this group of outcasts and I agree that's worth commending.

But all that did was give a sense of false hope and mask the real problems. The city and management bought in. And it has given us some of the worst years EVER.

I welcome Horachek. He has ensure this broken team won't be crazy glued back together. Just bare through the already wasted season.

 

[TheLeastOfTheBunch]

That OT shift by Rielly was pretty much what Moosejaw fans saw from Morgan on a regular basis in the WHL.. Hopefully he does a bit more of that at ES now

 

[I Am The Stig]

Damn Rielly looked so good tonight. I love that he was taking command of the rush and making chances.

Franson also had a good game as well

 

[Suntouchable13]

I am hoping some dumb scout vouches for both Bozak and Clarkson and by some miracle we rid ourselves with mediocrity

I really hope so too. I can't stand watching these 2 players, in particular.

 

[Nithoniniel]

no.
they are totally not.

I think Arizona (from how i've seen them play recently) and the flyers wiill be bigger ones.

Vorachek and Giroux will be a big test for sure.

Rielly was buzzing all night, and we didn't miss Phaneuf one bit.

With how Rielly is playing, I'd say we should just feed him bigger opportunities for as long as he rises to the occasion.

 

[showtime8]

Bernier letting in that untimely or timely goal to some and then losing the skills competition had an OK game, abeit it was another losing game.

I'm not sure if people saw the 3rd angle that was on the broadcast.

From the side view, I thought that he should have caught the puck and looked like a routine save. From the back view, there is no way that he had a chance on that shot. I could barely even see Bernier in the shot from when he released the puck. It was a bad shift, capped off with a goal and they deserved to get scored on.

 

[p.l.f.]

Learning to play D now should only help for next year

 

[Erdinger]

I am hoping some dumb scout vouches for both Bozak and Clarkson and by some miracle we rid ourselves with mediocrity

All the dumb scouts are on the Leafs payroll unfortunately

 

[yubbers]

Damn Rielly looked so good tonight. I love that he was taking command of the rush and making chances.

Franson also had a good game as well

Dion can't give advice in the press box.

 

[Trapper]

Vorachek and Giroux will be a big test for sure.



With how Rielly is playing, I'd say we should just feed him bigger opportunities for as long as he rises to the occasion.

Winnipeg was scouting the game and I'd really like to see a Rielly/Bogosian pair.

 

[Nithoniniel]

I'm not sure if people saw the 3rd angle that was on the broadcast.

From the side view, I thought that he should have caught the puck and looked like a routine save. From the back view, there is no way that he had a chance on that shot. I could barely even see Bernier in the shot from when he released the puck. It was a bad shift, capped off with a goal and they deserved to get scored on.

Heh yeah Bernier had like a triple screen on that goal.

 

[WilliamNylander]

Morgan Rielly is going to be so, so good.

 

[leafstilldeath*]

I really hope so too. I can't stand watching these 2 players, in particular.

Can't wait till Bozo is outta here. I am sick of seeing him on our 1PP unit taking time away from our young centers (Kadri on 1st PP and Holland on 2nd PP). Time for Bozak to ruin it for some other organization. His time over here is done! Quota is over the limit at the moment

 

[Nithoniniel]

Winnipeg was scouting the game and I'd really like to see a Rielly/Bogosian pair.

Same here. Completely on the same page.

I said in a trade thread that Bogosian is pretty much the ideal partner for Rielly. Price might be high though.

I think that if a trade is happening, it would go down in the off-season. Jets want to wait out to see what happens with Big Buff first before they know how to do with Bogo.

 

[Trapper]

I am hoping some dumb scout vouches for both Bozak and Clarkson and by some miracle we rid ourselves with mediocrity

Bozak is tradeable and I'm really sad he hasn't been yet. The fact that I haven't even heard his name concerns me.

 

[AlexMo89]

Overall I thought we played a good game, besides the lack of scoring I can deal with us trying and playing hard.

Its too bad we couldn't win in the shootout. Personally I wouldn't have played Bozie on the shootout because at this point he has been offensively dry - ie. nothing is going in. Surprised JVR didn't shoot first.

 

[Swervin81]

Winnipeg was scouting the game and I'd really like to see a Rielly/Bogosian pair.

Not good enough. Think Rielly-Trouba

 

[Pi]

Rielly was buzzing all night, and we didn't miss Phaneuf one bit.

Yeah, I don't like Phaneuf much at all. The guy just stands in front of the net or behind the net waiting for his partner to do the work for him, hardly see him hustling out there. 7M makes you lazy.

Trade Phaneuf in the offseason.

We will have good and bad days with Rielly but it's time to see what we have in him. He's looked great while most of this team has looked like ****. I think he's finally taking more risks, creating a lot of chances and the team is usually in the offensive zone when he's got the puck.

I'll take Rielly playing 25 minutes over Dion any day.

 

[SmoggyTwinkles]

Hmmm.

OT was pretty decent.

9 points out of playoffs and 9 points out of 3rd overall pick, and currently picking 9th overall.

Hopefully the games get a bit more exciting going forward at least.