How the Leafs play against Florida and Washington currently is a better indicator of how they are than how they play against Chicago and Nashville. You won't be meeting teams like Chicago and Nashville in the playoffs, and the main goal of the Leafs this year is playoff success. Injuries are a fact of life for all teams to have to deal with during a long season, and how a team plays through injuries indicates the depth of that organization. The fact that Matthews missed 9 games is not as catastrophic as you think because historically they have a very good record when he's not in the lineup.They've been winning missing half their regular forwards including 9 games of Matthews and you're waiting one game against a good team. Have you forgotten already Leafs were the only team to beat Winnipeg when they were 15 and 1. Why not choose that one game to make your judgement.
Leafs have also beaten New Jersey (good team), LA (good team), TB twice (good team), Vegas (good team).
By the way, they've already beaten Washington once this season. No team wins every game they play.
So why base judgement on just one game.
That game against Florida they had 4 AHL forwards and McMann was injured mid game.
Their 4th, 5th, and 6th forwards in ice time were Holmberg, Minton, Dewar in that order.
The regular season is tuning for the playoffs. Seeing what they have and what they need. Regular season is not the playoffs. Regular season you're playing 31 teams within a 6 month period. Playoffs is 1 team for 7 games times 4 if you get there and those teams are the better half of the league. I wouldn't focus on just one regular season game. They've already beaten good teams. With plenty injuries to boot to the forwards. Leafs are not playing 4 AHL players in the playoffs and Holmberg in your 4 spot. So how is the game against Florida any indication of this team? How is the Winnipeg game or the Vegas game or the or the Jersey game or the LA game or the TB games not any indication of this team? Or even the Washington game they've already played. The only real indication is the Florida game and the game tonight? Really?How the Leafs play against Florida and Washington currently is a better indicator of how they are than how they play against Chicago and Nashville. You won't be meeting teams like Chicago and Nashville in the playoffs, and the main goal of the Leafs this year is playoff success. Injuries are a fact of life for all teams to have to deal with during a long season, and how a team plays through injuries indicates the depth of that organization. The fact that Matthews missed 9 games is not as catastrophic as you think because historically they have a very good record when he's not in the lineup.
As a Leaf fan I'm impressed with how they have played this year, especially the defence. Absolutely thrilled with the goaltending.
Well, the Leafs lost to Washington tonight, LMAO!!The regular season is tuning for the playoffs. Seeing what they have and what they need. Regular season is not the playoffs. Regular season you're playing 31 teams within a 6 month period. Playoffs is 1 team for 7 games times 4 if you get there and those teams are the better half of the league. I wouldn't focus on just one regular season game. They've already beaten good teams. With plenty injuries to boot to the forwards. Leafs are not playing 4 AHL players in the playoffs and Holmberg in your 4 spot. So how is the game against Florida any indication of this team? How is the Winnipeg game or the Vegas game or the or the Jersey game or the LA game or the TB games not any indication of this team? Or even the Washington game they've already played. The only real indication is the Florida game and the game tonight? Really?
So they have one win each for the season.Well, the Leafs lost to Washington tonight, LMAO!!
Quote from Keefe after the game:
"It was our best game of the season"