Matthews just needs to simplify his game. Just be selfish and shoot first, stop trying to find the perfect pass. Maybe it's time to lip Marner to the Tavares line and put Willy on Matthews line. They might want to consider throwing a joker into the deck and dress Mien Kampf into the lineup. Having another penalty killer with faceoff skills isn't a bad thing.

? because I don't know the answer and am not sure where to find the data (paging Dr. Monkeypuck).

In elimination games has it almost exclusively been Matthews with Marner and Willy with JT?

My memory is yes except when on the PP or with a goalie pull where they seem to slam Matthews, Marner, JT and Willy all on one line but I could be wrong.

If however it has been mostly Matthews / Marner and JT/Willy why wouldn't a coach have tried something different (and why wouldn't Berube think about doing so tonight) and swapping Marner and Willy?

The other thing I think (and full disclosure I read this somewhere else - either online or here) the Leafs should consider is moving Bobby McMann back on line 2.

He's been pretty invisible in this series and it feels like he needs to be with top 6 guys to be effective. He's a big body and Holmberg is where offense goes to die and Domi was ineffective on that line also.

I like the thought of Knies and McMann as your top 2 left wingers because they can both do the same thing, be big, create space and havoc etc. - Knies is of course much better at it but still.

Just my random thoughts & questions.

I want to be shocked and see the god dammed captain of this team lead tonight and go full beast mode.

IMO it's a pretty safe bet the winger who averages .38 Points per game in elimination games isn't going to but who knows maybe he surprises us all and changes what he's done in past years.

My bet would be on the winger who has averaged .85 points per game in series clinching games will lead the way but I hope the entire core goes off tonight and lights it up.

Let's (frank)ing Go!


- Cush29

... and if he bangs in a rebound and accidentally bumps into a Dman, I don't want to read about how he went beast mode and put the team on his back.

... and if he bangs in a rebound and accidentally bumps into a Dman, I don't want to read about how he went beast mode and put the team on his back.
- Interloper

If he scores the only goal in a 1-0 game for a series win I will guarantee you that you will read about him putting the team on his back - hell I may even post it!

Matthews just needs to simplify his game. Just be selfish and shoot first, stop trying to find the perfect pass. Maybe it's time to lip Marner to the Tavares line and put Willy on Matthews line. They might want to consider throwing a joker into the deck and dress Mien Kampf into the lineup. Having another penalty killer with faceoff skills isn't a bad thing.
- PrinceLH

It’s not just a simplify thing.

He doesn’t posses that gene required to win. He’s too mellow.

Show some goddamn emotion ffs.

Sundin wasn’t overly emotional either, but he showed more heart than Matthews.

Patches, who has shown nothing so far this series, is being bumped up to the second line to play with JT and future Captain Willy Styles. I dunno, maybe that works but it's not what I would have tried. Prove me wrong Berubae.

If he scores the only goal in a 1-0 game for a series win I will guarantee you that you will read about him putting the team on his back - hell I may even post it!


- Cush29

Patches, who has shown nothing so far this series, is being bumped up to the second line to play with JT and future Captain Willy Styles. I dunno, maybe that works but it's not what I would have tried. Prove me wrong Berubae.
- Whipper

I kinda' like it for the same reason I wanted Bobby Big Wheel there. Big body who can bang and crash and create space and chaos.

I would have preferred McMann because the speed (or lack thereof) with JT and Patches on a line together scares me a bit but I guess we will see what happens.

Patches, who has shown nothing so far this series, is being bumped up to the second line to play with JT and future Captain Willy Styles. I dunno, maybe that works but it's not what I would have tried. Prove me wrong Berubae.
- Whipper

I hope he’s crashing and banging tonight. Force Willy into some scrums.

I hope he’s crashing and banging tonight. Force Willy into some scrums.
- Tanooki

Scrums are when our top 4 starts checking to see if their laces are tied and start searching for lost change on the ice.

I don't think we talked enough about Pinto stepping up on Knies and getting knocked on his ass.

Scrums are when our top 4 starts checking to see if their laces are tied and start searching for lost change on the ice.

I don't think we talked enough about Pinto stepping up on Knies and getting knocked on his ass.
- Interloper

That was pretty (frank)ing beautiful!

Of the 'core' players Reilly is the one who shows the most snarl when it gets rough and scrums break out.

Then it's Willy followed by JT and Matthews and Marner last by a country mile.

I kinda' of understand it to some degree based on Marner's size but the teams who are the most successful have a dog pack mentality when it comes to that stuff and the Leafs just don't. The smallest players on teams who have that mentality are way more engaged when the dumb stuff starts to happen.

Remember how Tampa was in their quasi dynasty years? Hell remember how they were when it got nasty when they played the Leafs? Tampa started the fight AND finished it and the Leafs for the most part stood there and took it like a female dog.

I don't think the entire team is that soft anymore but I really want to see them take it to the next level when it makes sense physically with the chippy, a-hole type of thing instead of what we have seen the vast majority of the time.

Matthews sticking Dahlin in the face is an example of what he can do when he's mad - of course don't take it to that level where your going to get suspended or take a dumb penalty but FFS lead this team by using that big body and taking no poop from anyone.

The smiling about it every single time is just embarrassing at this point.

Scrums are when our top 4 starts checking to see if their laces are tied and start searching for lost change on the ice.

I don't think we talked enough about Pinto stepping up on Knies and getting knocked on his ass.
- Interloper

At least he tried to step up.
And it was nice to see knies, kniellufy him.

That was pretty (frank)ing beautiful!

Of the 'core' players Reilly is the one who shows the most snarl when it gets rough and scrums break out.

Then it's Willy followed by JT and Matthews and Marner last by a country mile.

I kinda' of understand it to some degree based on Marner's size but the teams who are the most successful have a dog pack mentality when it comes to that stuff and the Leafs just don't. The smallest players on teams who have that mentality are way more engaged when the dumb stuff starts to happen.

Remember how Tampa was in their quasi dynasty years? Hell remember how they were when it got nasty when they played the Leafs? Tampa started the fight AND finished it and the Leafs for the most part stood there and took it like a female dog.

I don't think the entire team is that soft anymore but I really want to see them take it to the next level when it makes sense physically with the chippy, a-hole type of thing instead of what we have seen the vast majority of the time.

Matthews sticking Dahlin in the face is an example of what he can do when he's mad - of course don't take it to that level where your going to get suspended or take a dumb penalty but FFS lead this team by using that big body and taking no poop from anyone.

The smiling about it every single time is just embarrassing at this point.
- Cush29

Actually marner isnt that far behind, id say him and matthews are fairly even when it comes to getting snarly.

Actually marner isnt that far behind, id say him and matthews are fairly even when it comes to getting snarly.
- Fakepartofme

Ya? Interesting but I don't ever recall seeing Marner try to take out someone's front row of teeth with his stick like Matthews did. Although Matthews did claim he was going for the shoulder and it rode up so maybe? lol

Both those guys are behind Reilly and Willy IMO but aside from Reilly none of them are snarly enough for me.

Patches, who has shown nothing so far this series, is being bumped up to the second line to play with JT and future Captain Willy Styles. I dunno, maybe that works but it's not what I would have tried. Prove me wrong Berubae.
- Whipper

nope, dont like that
feels like max is kinda cooked at this point

*hope to bump this up later after the makes me look stupid

https://apple.news/AoAtZR_iHQauiQa7Qeb_0HA

Scrums are when our top 4 starts checking to see if their laces are tied and start searching for lost change on the ice.

I don't think we talked enough about Pinto stepping up on Knies and getting knocked on his ass.
- Interloper

A lot of (unrelated) bad things happened after that, so it's understandable we didn't talk much about it. But that was great to see. Knies is gonna be an even bigger beauty in the future.

It’s not just a simplify thing.

He doesn’t posses that gene required to win. He’s too mellow.

Show some goddamn emotion ffs.

Sundin wasn’t overly emotional either, but he showed more heart than Matthews.
- Tanooki

I kind of get that sense from watching him (also with US team)

But then again, 2 years ago he was several goal posts and a few Bobberies away from being the Leafiest Leaf who ever Leafed.

nope, dont like that
feels like max is kinda cooked at this point

*hope to bump this up later after the makes me look stupid
- senstroll

I hope the Leafs make me look stupid by dummying the Panthers

https://apple.news/AoAtZR_iHQauiQa7Qeb_0HA
- mr.sir

Oh, Zezel.

I kind of get that sense from watching him (also with US team)

But then again, 2 years ago he was several goal posts and a few Bobberies away from being the Leafiest Leaf who ever Leafed.
- Ratsreign

Yeah. He’s captain leafy as far as I’m concerned.

Are you in GalacticStones’s neck of the swamp?

https://apple.news/AoAtZR_iHQauiQa7Qeb_0HA
- mr.sir

So now we know where Zezzle lives!

So now we know where Zezzle lives!

- Cush29

new blog