Assuming the Leafs lose it will not be because they were too soft or got outworked or out-charactered.
1)They got outcoached. Montreal had a plan to stifle Matthews and Marner and through a full 7 game series, Toronto coaching never figured out a way to free them up from Montreal checking. Big blame on the coaches for this. They could not counter Montreal's plan.
2)They got outgoalied. Campbell was good. Price was clearly better.
3)They out-passed themselves. Why, oh why do they feel the need to try to make every goal worthy of the prettiest goal of the year? Shoot the damn puck. Kerfoot had Nylander on a 2 on 1 and even though he had a clear shot with Willy closing on the net, you just knew that he was going to try the pass and so did the defenceman. It was telegraphed. I think that Marner is the worst offender. How many times does he hold the puck, hold the puck looking for a perfect play and before you know it he is behind the red line with the puck and then loses the puck.
Despite what they think of themselves with all their skill, they are not the '72 Soviets.
I don't necessarily think that any major heads (Shanny or Dubas or Keefe) should roll or that they need a major rebuild but whoever is in charge of the power play should get the axe. A team with that much talent should be so pathetic on the PP.
And we cannot overstate the impact of the loss of Tavares. It was much easier to defend #34 without his work ethic, skill and leadership.
I think the Leafs beat themselves more than Montreal beat them. The end result, though, is that with 1 period left to go Montreal has been the better team.
How much gloating will maurice and xmontrealer do? LOL
