New 2019-20 Maple Leafs thread

[smuddan]

. The offense is rolling and Freddie is on top of his game. 48 shots allowed today and 5 goals on 17 shots. How far are they'll get in the playoffs with this style of play? It's fun to watch, but...

This post makes a lot better sense than your previous lol.

So far under Keefe they’ve shown they should have no trouble beating 80% of the teams in the regular season as long as Freddie is on top of his game. They’ve beaten a couple of good teams in St Louis and Colorado during this stretch but both teams seemed to have played their worse games of the season against the Leafs. Tonight goaltending made the final score look more lopsided than it actually was.

Perhaps the Leafs were doing a lot of things right but we all know that the playoffs will be a lot tougher. Regardless how well they do in regular season, this season will still be considered a failure (at least in my mind) if they lose in the first round again and another year of this supposedly open window will be lost. The Leafs may find themselves in the same situation as the Jets are now when three of their top four d men will be ufa.

 

[Insidious Von]

Have you been diagnosed with Aspergers or are you further onto the spectrum than that?

Playing with Tavares has sharpened Nylander's wits, that second goal is highlight reel. Don't pick on George, he doesn't like to lose arguments. He conveniently forgets things to suit himself, I know for certain that he watched Team Canada play at the Sochi Olympics. He knows what Babcock hockey is...he just doesn't want to give me the satisfaction. May he never change. lol.

 

[gcostanza]

Don't pick on George, he doesn't like to lose arguments. He conveniently forgets things to suit himself, I know for certain that he watched Team Canada play at the Sochi Olympics. He knows what Babcock hockey is...he just doesn't want to give me the satisfaction...

I don't think anyone likes to lose arguments.
I'm fine to admit I'm wrong when shown facts.
What have I forgotten?
Yes, I did watch the Sochi Olympic hockey games.
I'm honestly not sure what you meant by Babcock hockey.
Change is constant.

 

[gcostanza]

Have you been diagnosed with Aspergers or are you further onto the spectrum than that?

No, have you?

 

[mandrill]

The Leaf's style of play under Keefe look disorganized, undisciplined and chaotic but they are winning. 48 shots against (28 shots for) to-night and they still win 6-3.

https://www.thestar.com/sports/leaf...to-question-their-unconventional-success.html

Weird game. I missed much of the 2nd when the shots differential was highest though. What I saw in the 1st was the Leafs getting most of the grade A chances and capitalizing while Jets had outside shots and fleeting opportunities. In the 3rd, the Leafs seemed to lock it down. I checked the shot total at one point and it was 6-2 Winnipeg; but the Leafs had hit 2 goal posts and also shot just wide a half dozen times. The Leafs were getting chances up close or in the slot or circles from passing play and forechecks while the Jets were shooting from the rush as they crossed the blue line.

The Leafs frankly looked awesome. The Jets seemed stunned and confused for much of the 1st.

OTOH, if Hallibuck was on his game and Andersen sloppy, it could have been a far different game.

 

[Darts]

Despite Reilly not being up to last season's high level he is on track for 50 points, but was down in goal production. there has been media speculation that he is playing with an injury but who knows.

I think the injury is real as he is or was missing practices. Maybe (or not) he is still playing hurt and still logging north of 24 minutes in ATOI. (He will be an UFA in 2 years and no doubt will want/deserve more than his current salary of $5mm.)
https://www.tsn.ca/toronto-maple-le...rielly-s-durability-comes-at-a-cost-1.1389199

Andersen is also logging a lot of TOI. 33 games out of 42. Leafs better hope he doesn't wear out. (He will be an UFA next year and will likely want/deserve more than his current $5mm salary.)
https://editorinleaf.com/2019/07/22/toronto-maple-leafs-andersen-contract/

 

[superstar_88]

Weird game. I missed much of the 2nd when the shots differential was highest though. What I saw in the 1st was the Leafs getting most of the grade A chances and capitalizing while Jets had outside shots and fleeting opportunities. In the 3rd, the Leafs seemed to lock it down. I checked the shot total at one point and it was 6-2 Winnipeg; but the Leafs had hit 2 goal posts and also shot just wide a half dozen times. The Leafs were getting chances up close or in the slot or circles from passing play and forechecks while the Jets were shooting from the rush as they crossed the blue line.

The Leafs frankly looked awesome. The Jets seemed stunned and confused for much of the 1st.

OTOH, if Hallibuck was on his game and Andersen sloppy, it could have been a far different game.

You sir watch hockey. That's precisely the game in a nutshell. Unlike for Dart who knows nothing about hockey and looks like total chaos to him because he is confused.

 

[superstar_88]

Leafs have scored 4 or more goals in their last 9 games. They loaded up on high end offensive talent. Why is anyone surprised. This is how they built their team but even so that is quite the accomplishment. Their record last 9 games no regulation loss and 8 regulation wins.

Don't forget Muzzin is injured and they're already thin on defense.
Doesn't look like they're missing Johnsson much.
Probably missing Soupman more since he kills penalties. They're using Gauthier now and PK is not as good.

 

[mandrill]

You sir watch hockey. That's precisely the game in a nutshell. Unlike for Dart who knows nothing about hockey and looks like total chaos to him because he is confused.

Babcock is one sad motherfucker coach to have wrecked the Leafs that bad when he was in charge. Keefe has the team playing up to their potential and harnessing their talent.

Babcock shouldn't be coaching Jr B.

 

[K Douglas]

Leafs have scored 4 or more goals in their last 9 games. They loaded up on high end offensive talent. Why is anyone surprised. This is how they built their team but even so that is quite the accomplishment. Their record last 9 games no regulation loss and 8 regulation wins.

Don't forget Muzzin is injured and they're already thin on defense.
Doesn't look like they're missing Johnsson much.
Probably missing Soupman more since he kills penalties. They're using Gauthier now and PK is not as good.

Gauthier is a disaster on the PK. We need aggressiveness from players which is why guys like Hyman, Kapanen and Marner are better suited to that role. Unfortunately none of them know how to win a faceoff.

 

[glamphotographer]

Just the things he suggested.

Right out of no where, JCpro says things the NHL video games GM would say and do, almost like a 13 year old.

 

[glamphotographer]

Dart is shedding another tear with every Leaf win.

And every Habs loss.

 

[jcpro]

Right out of no where, JCpro says things the NHL video games GM would say and do, almost like a 13 year old.

Oh, get a life. We're all Leafs fans and speculating is our fun, right and responsibility. But, if you think that this team has the DNA to go past semis in the playoffs, you're living in the dreamland. I've watched them for way too long to get excited about this edition.

 

[shack]

Gauthier is a disaster on the PK.

Don't underestimate the value of winning the draw in your end when killing a penalty, and that is his strength. But sometimes he gets stuck on the ice afterward.

 

[superstar_88]

Last year's playoffs vs Boston I often wondered why Bab's didn't use Tavaras for PK faceoffs rather than use the injured Hyman.

Tonight's game with NYI should be a good game. NYI have the better record but Leafs are the hotter team. Surprisingly Leafs have the better goal differential. Games between these 2 teams have always been low scoring it seems. Leafs may not be able to score 4 plus goals tonight. NYI best defensive team in the Metro Division.

After 42 games Boston 24 wins Toronto 23 wins and for those who are counting Ottawa has 16 wins
As hot as the Leafs have been TB has been just as good. 5 straight wins and only 2 regulation losses in last 10.

 

[Darts]

How far are they'll get in the playoffs with this style of play? It's fun to watch, but...

The Leaf's style under Keefe reminds me of the shinny games we played as kids. I swear in one game I saw 2 Leaf D-men behind the net --- the opposing team's net. Fun to watch, yes. I think the opposing teams are confused when they play the Leafs now.

 

[superstar_88]

Montreal no playoffs no shot at all for the cup.

 

[Celticman]

Montreal no playoffs no shot at all for the cup.

Who will win the Stanley Cup first, Habs or Leafs and how long will it take? Will the Habs go 50+ years without a cup? Like our poor old Leafs.

 

[shack]

Who will win the Stanley Cup first, Habs or Leafs and how long will it take? Will the Habs go 50+ years without a cup? Like our poor old Leafs.

Regardless of the Leafs travails, Montreal fans have gone 27 years. Their fans have no reason to feel smug any longer.

 

[bullitt]

Montreal no playoffs no shot at all for the cup.

they have 3 of their top players injured, maybe not top 3 in other peoples minds, but these 3 are their lifeblood. julien too good a coach to let them fade away. i think they hang around.