It’s simple....

You win, you play the next game

So let me say upfront that I didn't watch much of last night's game - the TV was on for the 1st period, but I was doing other things. Didn't see any of the rest.

But reading about the game and comparing it to the opener, my concerns remain the same as last year and the year before that and the 40 years before that:

Blue and White disease seems to have infected the dressing room again. It's Club Maple Leaf. The compete level just isn't there.

These guys seem to think that talent can outperform hard work every night.

I've been watching the Leafs long enough to know that hard work beats talent every time, if the talent is wearing a blue and white shirt.
- Atomic Wedgie

This is a terrific summary.

And it's getting tiring year after year.

No you're wrong.

Just a made up thing in your head.
- Arctic_AARDVARK

Players do not have their play effected because they wear a blue and white jersey.

The difference here is the Leafs are the team we follow, we will naturally be harder on them in the lows and higher on them in the highs. We are going to think no fan experiences this.

Rangers fans are calling Laffy a bust after one game, saying Panarin has regressed and that Shesterkin isnt the real deal. After one game....This stuff happens to other teams, all the time.

Connor Hallebuyckk won a Vezina last year with a far worse D infront of him. Jets D was awful..

I wanted the Leafs to go hard after one last offseason...hoping it was because they wanted to give JC a chance and go after Binnington in FA.

Binnington is a Toronto boy and its not hard to see that if he wants to be a Leaf he will be a Leaf this summer and he will get a starting position.
- Santo_44

Let's see how he looks this season. Binnington was stellar when they won the cup but he was horrible in the playoffs last year, like worse than Ander7en even.

It’s simple....

You win, you play the next game
- mr.sir

What's simple about that? What if you lose? Does no one play? Do some play? Wut?

Similar numbers, same playoff struggles. He peaked at .919 on both teams. And that's him when he was in his prime. Now he looks worse than ever.

And BTW, your comment on goalies having best stats with best D infront is nonsense,
Please se here: Many on terrible teams with far better numbers:


https://twitter.com/TheOa...50323636452929537/photo/1
- RogerRoeper

his two best seasons with the Leafs, both .918% were with Zaitsev eating minutes..

Strange how that is.

I'm not talking about the first two games of this season, though.

Look at the stats: the Leafs have an uncanny ability to give up the first goal - and early. That's not observation bias - there are stats and everything.

Hell, Torts was up front about it last year in the playoffs - he told everyone willing to listen that Columbus was going to win because they were going to work harder.

Torts was right.
- Atomic Wedgie

Last year: Leafs 27th in the league in scoring first. .308 win percentage when they gave up the first goal.

What's simple about that? What if you lose? Does no one play? Do some play? Wut?
- mjones242

?

If you lose, the other guy plays

Try to keep up

his two best seasons with the Leafs, both .918% were with Zaitsev eating minutes..

Strange how that is.
- Arctic_AARDVARK

Is that it, or is it that he was younger and in his prime?

Dude has regressed. Clear as day.

Wrong.

But i see no daylight here.

Ever wonder why the goalies with the best stats ALWAYS have awesome defence in front of them?
- Arctic_AARDVARK

huh?

Hellybyuck, Crawford, Lehner, Koskinen, Jarry last season?

Andersen's save % at low danger chances in one of the worst in the NHL. He's letting in softies.

Our elite #1 D is a glorified PP specialist

huh?

Hellybyuck, Crawford, Lehner, Koskinen, Jarry last season?
- Santo_44

Lehner with that horrible Hawks team posted what is Freddy's best career numbers ever.

Freddy sucks. Such a lazy narrative.

his two best seasons with the Leafs, both .918% were with Zaitsev eating minutes..

Strange how that is.
- Arctic_AARDVARK

You are grabbing at straws if you think Zaitzev was why Andersen was better 3 years ago.

Not at all because he is 32 and was 29 back then, no way.

Is that it, or is it that he was younger and in his prime?

Dude has regressed. Clear as day.
- RogerRoeper

When Tyson Barrie is "defending" your stats are going to take a hit.

Holl, Dermott, Marincin, Ceci...

Those guys do not make a goalies job any easier.

Cumulative totals for 2014-15 to 2019-20:

Leafs 24th in scoring first.

.282 win percentage when they give up the first goal (also 24th).

That's why we can't have nice things.

huh?

Hellybyuck, Crawford, Lehner, Koskinen, Jarry last season?
- Santo_44

Hellebuyck is the only good goalie there.

Lehner had a good season

?

If you lose, the other guy plays

Try to keep up
- mr.sir

You mean the goalie? Sorry, it wasn't very clear* (aka. some context matters).

(trying to keep up)

When Tyson Barrie is "defending" your stats are going to take a hit.

Holl, Dermott, Marincin, Ceci...

Those guys do not make a goalies job any easier.
- Arctic_AARDVARK

Your comment about goalies having the best #s infront of the best Ds was ludicrous. Connor Hallebuyck was the NHLs best goalie last season. They lost Buff and Trouba and were terrible.

Hellebuyck is the only good goalie there.

Lehner had a good season
- Arctic_AARDVARK

All had great stats.

Hellebuyck is the only good goalie there.

Lehner had a good season
- Arctic_AARDVARK

All had much better #s than Freddy.

Washington’s big four:

- Ovechkin
- Backstrom
- Semin
- Green

When they finally won the Cup only two were still there.


Bye Marner and Rielly.

Let's see how he looks this season. Binnington was stellar when they won the cup but he was horrible in the playoffs last year, like worse than Ander7en even.
- Aetherial

At least Binnington has had a measure of success in the playoffs at one point.

So let me say upfront that I didn't watch much of last night's game - the TV was on for the 1st period, but I was doing other things. Didn't see any of the rest.

But reading about the game and comparing it to the opener, my concerns remain the same as last year and the year before that and the 40 years before that:

Blue and White disease seems to have infected the dressing room again. It's Club Maple Leaf. The compete level just isn't there.

These guys seem to think that talent can outperform hard work every night.

I've been watching the Leafs long enough to know that hard work beats talent every time, if the talent is wearing a blue and white shirt.
- Atomic Wedgie

Way too easy to roll it up in a ball and call it Blue an White disease! I agree there is a motivational issue and that is entirely on the coach. The fact that Freddie continues to allow softies does not help either. Two games and 2 too many men penalties. Little fancy soft backpass at centre instead of driving the opponent net and bombarding goalie with shots and pressure is on the coach.