what about 16-17 when he had 4 goals in 6 games against the #1 team?

I think he has been pretty good and consistent throughout out, just the results vary a lot in the playoffs depending on teams and macthups. a hero one series a lame duck the next
- senstroll

Against Washington, he had a really good series.. I won't argue that.

Last year, he got manhandled by Bergeron.. It is what it is, a learning experience that he needed to go through.. This year, he has been really good and I expect he will keep getting better.

I can’t wait for when Dubas fires the entire coaching staff.

I think you're a little out to lunch on this. I don't think he needed a wakeup call. He had the second most shots in the series, behind only Pastrnak, despite drawing a tough matchup.

He was snakebit, nothing more. It wasn't a lack of effort, he wasn't playing badly, it was just a lack of results.
- prock

Agree to disagree then?

From what I saw last year when he was head to head against Bergeron, Bergeron won that battle.

Against Washington, he had a really good series.. I won't argue that.

Last year, he got manhandled by Bergeron.. It is what it is, a learning experience that he needed to go through.. This year, he has been really good and I expect he will keep getting better.
- PatC80

Matthews missed a month because of an injury. Came back to play 6 or 7 games prior to the playoffs. Was clearly still injured.


But he isn’t a good old Canadian boy, so he’s “lazy.”

I can’t wait for when Dubas fires the entire coaching staff.
- Steven_Seagull

Its going to happen eventually, probably after next year though

They should however, at least fire Jim Hiller after this season. No excuse for our PP to be as bad as it is with all that talent.

Matthews missed a month because of an injury. Came back to play 6 or 7 games prior to the playoffs. Was clearly still injured.


But he isn’t a good old Canadian boy, so he’s “lazy.”
- Steven_Seagull

Don’t waste your time.

Its going to happen eventually, probably after next year though

They should however, at least fire Jim Hiller after this season. No excuse for our PP to be as bad as it is with all that talent.
- LeafGuy89

Fire DJ Smith too.

what about 16-17 when he had 4 goals in 6 games against the #1 team?

I think he has been pretty good and consistent throughout out, just the results vary a lot in the playoffs depending on teams and macthups. a hero one series a lame duck the next
- senstroll

tavares is playoff choker.

*runs

Matthews missed a month because of an injury. Came back to play 6 or 7 games prior to the playoffs. Was clearly still injured.


But he isn’t a good old Canadian boy, so he’s “lazy.”
- Steven_Seagull

By no means am I calling Matthews lazy.. Far from it.

Specific to last years playoff only, his line was outplayed by the Bergeron line.

I can’t wait for when Dubas fires the entire coaching staff.
- Steven_Seagull

38 yo Keefe is more of Dubas' style?

38 yo Keefe is more of Dubas' style?
- RickJames77

We need a coach that is younger than Marleau..
An "advanced stats" guy won't have any issues benching Marleau..

tavares is playoff choker.

*runs
- Tumbleweed

Tavares head to head against Bergeron - 1 goal in 6 games

Bergeron is the best overall player in the NHL. he does that

Also Tavares has 26 points in 30 playoff games.

By no means am I calling Matthews lazy.. Far from it.

Specific to last years playoff only, his line was outplayed by the Bergeron line.
- PatC80

if your expectation was that he was going to outplay that line, well its not going to happen.

whats happened so far this year is a miracle imo (Bergeron 1 5v5 point)

We need a coach that is younger than Marleau..
An "advanced stats" guy won't have any issues benching Marleau..
- PatC80

I don't have an issue with benching Marleau (or anyone of a number of other guys)... but who would you suggest replacing him with? - you have to kinda recognize that Babcock would never let the player play anyway...

its the Justin Holl scenario... kid really hasn't done anything terrible... yet Babcock always inserts Marincin instead.

I can’t wait for when Dubas fires the entire coaching staff.
- Steven_Seagull

I think you would see Shanahan fire Dubas before Dubas fired Babcock... just guessing.

There's been at least 7-10 instances where they have flashed to the private box where those guys are watching the game. Shanahan always looks serious, Dubas always looks like he's playing online Bingo.

I think you would see Shanahan fire Dubas before Dubas fired Babcock... just guessing.

There's been at least 7-10 instances where they have flashed to the private box where those guys are watching the game. Shanahan always looks serious, Dubas always looks like he's playing online Bingo.


- BorjeFan4Ever

the GM doesnt even get 1 coaching change. Yikes

if your expectation was that he was going to outplay that line, well its not going to happen.

whats happened so far this year is a miracle imo (Bergeron 1 5v5 point)
- senstroll

Think back to last year, how many people thought Matthews could out play Bergeron? It happened, IMO, it was a learning experience for #34.

This year, Matthews has been great.. If the Leafs lose tomorrow, it won't be because of Matthews' play. All I'm saying is he had a bad playoff last year. Was really good against Washington, and really good this year too.

I think you would see Shanahan fire Dubas before Dubas fired Babcock... just guessing.

There's been at least 7-10 instances where they have flashed to the private box where those guys are watching the game. Shanahan always looks serious, Dubas always looks like he's playing online Bingo.


- BorjeFan4Ever

He really is an old soul in the modern era eh?

Think back to last year, how many people thought Matthews could out play Bergeron? It happened, IMO, it was a learning experience for #34.

This year, Matthews has been great.. If the Leafs lose tomorrow, it won't be because of Matthews' play. All I'm saying is he had a bad playoff last year. Was really good against Washington, and really good this year too.
- PatC80

so you are saying the 1 series he was head to head against Bergeron he was bad?

thats the point I am making.

I don't have an issue with benching Marleau (or anyone of a number of other guys)... but who would you suggest replacing him with? - you have to kinda recognize that Babcock would never let the player play anyway...

its the Justin Holl scenario... kid really hasn't done anything terrible... yet Babcock always inserts Marincin instead.
- BorjeFan4Ever

The realistic option would be Petan, but I don't see it happening..
I'd be ok with benching Brown too..

The forward lines for game 7 should be;

Hyman-Tavares-Marner
Johnsson-Matthews-Kapanen
Ennis-Nylander-Moore
Marleau-Gauthier-Brown.

a couple games or even 1 series is not a big enough sample to really judge a player. and also he was being called other poop, mentally weak, doesnt care etc..

playoff series against 1 team is tough, matchups matter. Last year it was basically only Matthews the Bruins had to worry about, so they shut him down pretty good. this year Tavares helps...just a little

but carry on if you are one of those fans
- senstroll

Lol

You are one of the few posters on here who uses logic when they are angry about something. More people need to think like this.

so you are saying the 1 series he was head to head against Bergeron he was bad?

thats the point I am making.
- senstroll

last year, yes. I think Matthews had a bad playoff last season. I'm not holding it against him though, he had to go through it and he'll be better because of it.

This year he has learned from it. Matthews has been great this playoff.

The realistic option would be Petan, but I don't see it happening..
I'd be ok with benching Brown too..

The forward lines for game 7 should be;

Hyman-Tavares-Marner
Johnsson-Matthews-Kapanen
Ennis-Nylander-Moore
Marleau-Gauthier-Brown.
- PatC80

I'd be okay with that.

I have no doubt that Marleau is integral to the team's psyche, but he can not play the minutes Babschlongus is throwing him. They need to be reduced.

I'd be okay with that.
- LeafGuy89

IMO, Ennis and Moore have earned more minutes.