Admit it, you didn’t watch tonight.
- Steven_Seagull

I did watch... apart from a couple of poops in the latter portion of the 1st period... Nylander was tentative (my opinion).

Matthews is showing his maturity ... packs it in (watch his body language) when things don't go his way.

again, just my opinion...

time for Dubas to clear the air, make a couple of trades and and address the elephant in the room... contracts.

Matthews looked good.
Not gonna score every game

And thats ok.
- Fakepartofme

interesting, really didn't get that vibe last night at all...

Hutch or Sparks - which one do you keep?
- TrashPanda

you keep Sparks on the bench with conc symptoms for a while longer... but run with Hutch for a bit.

Hutch is calmer in net... but doesn't seem to have "making the one big save" in him...

and who knows how long Andersen will actually be out for.

My god fans are insufferable

Last year leafs had a better record against Boston, but that didn't matter. This year that's all they talk about.

People pointing out 0-3 against elite teams yet they weren't outclassed in the least in those games and played well in them. They're a bounce here or there, a post away from being 3-0 In those games yet some people think it's evidence that they can't win.
- burn

I don't get the tolerance that seems to exist for Gardiner. We all know about his brain cramps, turnovers and how hit can't take contact... he really seemed to me to without any push-back at all last night, and if there's one guy who should be getting up for games against the Bruins its him.

I don't get the tolerance that seems to exist for Gardiner. We all know about his brain cramps, turnovers and how hit can't take contact... he really seemed to me to without any push-back at all last night, and if there's one guy who should be getting up for games against the Bruins its him.
- BorjeFan4Ever

Gardiner is an excellent skater, with great edges, one of the only hard point shots we have; he has good offensive instincts, usually pinches at the right time, etc. Bad, he's prone to epic gaffs. Always has been. If not, he'd be a #1D and paid like one.

When paired with Zaitsev (or a defensive defenseman), they can form a solid tandem. Not good enough for top pairing minutes, but certainly a decent 3/4.

Now Zaitsev needs to play his best for these two to be effective: last night was not an effective night for Z. He's at his best when he's breaking cycles and "standing in the right place" (as Babcock says) and looking to Gardiner to get the puck out.

So in short, I don't hate that tandem, when they're playing well, but you can say that about any player.

Good game last night.

I thought Boston did a good job of clearing the zone in the 3rd. Guys kept trying to seal the boards but they would do a cute little tip pass to a guy not along the boards and get it out.

Leafs needed to attack the puck carrier a little better instead of trying to knock pucks down. They needed to make a little adjustment here and there.

Also it was Zaitsev’s fault on the 3rd goal. Whiffed the puck in the corner to no one when he could’ve gotten the puck out.

[quote=burn]How do the Toronto Maple Leafs get past Boston, Tampa, or Washington? I just can’t see it happening. As crazy as it sounds, if the Leafs are serious about winning the Cup they may need to blow up this team and start over... 💥




Well, that's how not to do it.
The Leafs and Bruins are very similarly skilled teams. Leafs are faster, Bruins are more physical.
Either team could beat the other in a series.
Washington and Tampa are a different animal altogether.
- Thornton22

I would say that the Leafs are skilled/faster, Bruins are more physical/experienced.

Agree on all other fronts.

Good game last night.

I thought Boston did a good job of clearing the zone in the 3rd. Guys kept trying to seal the boards but they would do a cute little tip pass to a guy not along the boards and get it out.

Leafs needed to attack the puck carrier a little better instead of trying to knock pucks down. They needed to make a little adjustment here and there.

Also it was Zaitsev’s fault on the 3rd goal. Whiffed the puck in the corner to no one when he could’ve gotten the puck out.
- bryant

Yup, they need more net drive too. Doesn't have to be a trainwreck where you run the goalie, just get in quick. Point shots have been better too.

The curl up and wait for the trailer move isn't always going to work. A few times Kapanen got burned as the Bruins winger didn't bite and just waited on the half wall for Kapanen to curl up into and cut him off.

Except nylander. He had a good shift or two.....then was meh.
- Fakepartofme

Nylander was probably our most consistent player last night.
He's sucked lately but come on. He was a threat all night.

Yup, they need more net drive too. Doesn't have to be a trainwreck where you run the goalie, just get in quick. Point shots have been better too.

The curl up and wait for the trailer move isn't always going to work. A few times Kapanen got burned as the Bruins winger didn't bite and just waited on the half wall for Kapanen to curl up into and cut him off.
- gravyface

Ya kapanen seemed a bit off last night.

Ya kapanen seemed a bit off last night.
- bryant

Blame Matthews.

Blame Matthews.
- Steven_Seagull

I blame nylander for being too pretty and distracting kapanen.

Leafs played the better game last night.

The scoring chances weren’t even close. Rask played great and the Leafs had a expected performance from their 3rd sting goalie. Not much you can do about it.

Nylander was probably our most consistent player last night.
He's sucked lately but come on. He was a threat all night.
- UsernameUnknown

Yeah Nylander was really good night. Needs to make it count though, him and Kadri just can’t put it away right now. It will come in bunches soon

Hutch or Sparks - which one do you keep?
- TrashPanda

Sparks. Without question.

Hopefully Freddy is back though for Monday so they can just send Hutch down without waivers.

Nylander was probably our most consistent player last night.
He's sucked lately but come on. He was a threat all night.
- UsernameUnknown

Not all night and i dont expect a player to be great every shift. But willie had some good shifts and then didnt do much the others.
But thats willie. Sometimes he'll play hard other times he floats.
But he did backcheck, which was nice to see

Not all night and i dont expect a player to be great every shift. But willie had some good shifts and then didnt do much the others.
But thats willie. Sometimes he'll play hard other times he floats.
But he did backcheck, which was nice to see
- Fakepartofme

He had 3 scoring chances and a +13 shot differential...he was awesome.

He had 3 scoring chances and a +13 shot differential...he was awesome.
- Santo_44

I was just looking at last nights CF% at hockey-reference. Marner had the worst 5 on 5 CF%. Then again, Oz had the best so... ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

I was just looking at last nights CF% at hockey-reference. Marner had the worst 5 on 5 CF%. Then again, Oz had the best so... ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
- Steven_Seagull

Yeah, makes sense.

JT and Marner weren’t very good last night. Defensively their line was hemmed in too much.

Sparks. Without question.

Hopefully Freddy is back though for Monday so they can just send Hutch down without waivers.
- Santo_44

Ok there UG.
Thats a pretty absolute answer considering neither one stands out better than the other.
It's definitely debatable. I'll take Hutch every day from what I've seen from him as a Leaf.

Ok there UG.
Thats a pretty absolute answer considering neither one stands out better than the other.
It's definitely debatable. I'll take Hutch every day from what I've seen from him as a Leaf.
- UsernameUnknown

Uhm

So you bat me down for saying an absolute answer and then you go on and say the same thing about Hutch? Haha

Blame Matthews.
- Steven_Seagull

definitely

It's never fun to watch them lose, especially to Boston... yet again.

but does anyone else kind of think it might not be bad to have a poopty season against Boston. Maybe it means that things even out if they meet in the playoffs?

Uhm

So you bat me down for saying an absolute answer and then you go on and say the same thing about Hutch? Haha
- Santo_44

What? I specifically said "It's definitely debatable."
As in.. I can understand why someone would choose sparks over Hutch.
I just wouldn't. But I'll repeat it for clarity: It's definitely debatable.

Is Rasmus Dahlin the best 18 year old defender to enter the league since Ponger?