Preds look like arguably the most complete team in the entire NHL, although Tampa is close.

Definitely more complete than the Leafs.

Saying they got lucky after a 4-0 score cuz “we had more high danger chances in the first 2 periods” is BS. They didn’t get lucky, they’re just the better team. And finally now getting healthy.

Toronto is a very exciting and explosive young team, but in a playoff series wouldn’t stand a chance in hell against Nashville.
- SimpleJack

You are full of crap, the only reason for you to hang around here is your team now smells like ass. Hard to say that a team is better than another based on one game. Leafs played poorly against a mostly plumber team. There was no answer to Watson running players or PK Subban's Greco Wrestling moves. Leafs beat the Jets twice this year, but I wouldn't say the Leafs are a better team. I would like the Leafs chances against Nashville in a playoff series, I believe they have superior skill, against Tampa not so much. In the meantime, enjoy the draft lottery Simpleton

Your attempt at objectivity is nice, but in this case, misplaced. That was a 2-0 game that could have easily gone the other way. The Preds capitalized at the end when the Leafs went full riverboat gamble - but really, the Leafs had far better chances and far better possession for the first 2 periods. Their D was not bad at all, and aside from a few gaffes (that every team makes, let's not pretend no one else makes mistakes), they played a good game.

Rinne was good. The Preds D did a good job of pressuring and forcing mistakes, and minimizing second chances - but the Leafs did a good job of getting the chances; they just failed to execute.
- Monkeypunk

Rinne was good and he was also lucky. Leafs should start understanding that a dirty, ugly, smelly, cheezy, greasy goal - counts just as much as a beauty 15 pass tap in. That cross ice pass to Matthews from Marner is being picked off, teams are ready for it - instead flip the fuken thing to the net and hopefully it bounces in off someone, JT and Auston can hang around to tap in the rebound. Way too many passes in the offensive zone and not enough shots.

Just curious but do you say the Leafs got lucky when this exact situation is reveresed?
- Ross77

Why wouldn’t I?

My names not UG, i actually watch the games.

Ya they got lucky.
Lucky they scored 4 goals and completely shut the leafs down.

More high danger chances.....lol...sorry we're a top team in the league, time to put the big boy pants on.
No morale victories.
- Fakepartofme

So you didn’t think it was a good game and we had lots of chances in the 1st 2?

That’s on you I guess, 2 posts and a called back goal....I thought it was a pretty good game for the most part. ( til the 3rd )

So you didn’t think it was a good game and we had lots of chances in the 1st 2?

That’s on you I guess, 2 posts and a called back goal....I thought it was a pretty good game for the most part. ( til the 3rd )
- Garnie

Close doesn't count in this game. Leafs looked good in the first, scoring the first goal matters to both Preds and Leafs and having the backup in there was a disadvantage for sure. I'll trade a slow rolling little stinker on net for a gorgeous passing play that ends up hitting a post or going into the corner.

Leafs are 2nd in pts% midway through thr season and people saying they aren't contenders?

Outclassed?

They were pretty even through two. Differnce was deflected point shot goes in for preds and the leafs hit a bunch of posts and had a goal called back.

They fell apart late in the third trying to press to get even and didn't play defense and preds put 2 more in.

Close doesn't count in this game. Leafs looked good in the first, scoring the first goal matters to both Preds and Leafs and having the backup in there was a disadvantage for sure. I'll trade a slow rolling little stinker on net for a gorgeous passing play that ends up hitting a post or going into the corner.
- winsix

I didn’t say it counted for anything, but I thought we played well. PP stunk and the 3rd smelled a bit. I’m not saying Nashville’s not a good team, I’m talking about 1 game. Their D are WAYYYYY better then ours....I’d like to see us pluck 1 guy from somewhere to edge Hainsey off the top pair.

Why wouldn’t I?

My names not UG, i actually watch the games.


- Garnie

I watched the first 2 periods. Thought the game was very close. Leafs had lots of chances. The Outclassed line, , don't get at all. Mike from Buffalo didn't watch the game, he looked at stats. is my guess.

I watched the first 2 periods. Thought the game was very close. Leafs had lots of chances. The Outclassed line, , don't get at all. Mike from Buffalo didn't watch the game, he looked at stats. is my guess.
- bixll

Took a look at the shot clock and wrote a blog

Tanner like

I watched the first 2 periods. Thought the game was very close. Leafs had lots of chances. The Outclassed line, , don't get at all. Mike from Buffalo didn't watch the game, he looked at stats. is my guess.
- bixll

Same guy who said Babcock overplaying Andersen this year because he doesn't trust sparks as much as Mcbackup last year.....yet Andersen same amount of game this year at this time vs last year.

No idea.

Trade everyone

Trade everyone
- RickJames77

Except the 4th liners and the ahl callup

Trade everyone
- RickJames77

Yes trade everyone

Kadri for Bergeron
Nylander for Pastrnak
Gardiner for McAvoy
My dirty poopstained underwear for Marchand

Leafs are 2nd in pts% midway through thr season and people saying they aren't contenders?
- burn

agreed.

Close doesn't count in this game. Leafs looked good in the first, scoring the first goal matters to both Preds and Leafs and having the backup in there was a disadvantage for sure. I'll trade a slow rolling little stinker on net for a gorgeous passing play that ends up hitting a post or going into the corner.
- winsix

I think for the most part we're all feeling the same way about it. There's good, but there's work to be done.

You can admire how cohesive the Nashville Defense unit is. They pressure, they skate, they hit, and they are smart with the puck.

If you simply look at the shots, it looks like the Leafs were badly outplayed, but I don't think most of those shots for 55 minutes were quality shots at all.

You never know with the ebb and flow of the game if that first Nashville goal (playing with the lead) changed their game or not, but the Leafs had plenty of quality opportunities before and after Nashville had the lead.

They need to adjust their PP, and they need to develop some more breakout options than the stretch pass. They need to start getting people in front of the net when needed, and add some more dynamics to their already pretty dynamic offense.

All that being said, good teams find ways to win games, and this game was Nashville's - like the Tampa game a few weeks back. Good teams manage. The Leafs have managed to win an awful lot of games this year where they weren't the best team on the ice for the majority of the game. It happens.

Nylander, and almost every other holdout, in every sport underestimate the effects it will have on them once they do get back to playing. You can't just lace them up and pick up where you ended.

Nylander, and almost every other holdout, in every sport underestimate the effects it will have on them once they do get back to playing. You can't just lace them up and pick up where you ended.
- rrentz

Honestly, I think it's more the fans and the media that do that.

I think all athletes think they can pick it up faster than they do, but when everyone else is in mid-season form, and you're not only shaking off your off-season rust, you've also spent an additional two months not being in game shape, you're WAY behind the 8-ball. I wouldn't be surprised if Nylander comparatively sucks for another 15 games. It's one thing to miss training camp, it's another to have your training camp while everyone else around is in peak form/condition.

Nylander, and almost every other holdout, in every sport underestimate the effects it will have on them once they do get back to playing. You can't just lace them up and pick up where you ended.
- rrentz

he's traded after this season anyways.
what a bum.

Yes trade everyone

Kadri for Bergeron
Nylander for Pastrnak
Gardiner for McAvoy
My dirty poopstained underwear for Marchand
- TheMussel

Nylander, and almost every other holdout, in every sport underestimate the effects it will have on them once they do get back to playing. You can't just lace them up and pick up where you ended.
- rrentz

So true...even happened to Gaudreau who held out for much less time I believe.

he's traded after this season anyways.
what a bum.
- plantheparade

What would you realistically look to acquire via a Nylander trade?

Honestly, I think it's more the fans and the media that do that.

I think all athletes think they can pick it up faster than they do, but when everyone else is in mid-season form, and you're not only shaking off your off-season rust, you've also spent an additional two months not being in game shape, you're WAY behind the 8-ball. I wouldn't be surprised if Nylander comparatively sucks for another 15 games. It's one thing to miss training camp, it's another to have your training camp while everyone else around is in peak form/condition.
- Monkeypunk

nylander has always sucked, so you're surely right about that

What would you realistically look to acquire via a Nylander trade?
- RickJames77

a top 6 forward who is not a floater

Honestly, I think it's more the fans and the media that do that.

I think all athletes think they can pick it up faster than they do, but when everyone else is in mid-season form, and you're not only shaking off your off-season rust, you've also spent an additional two months not being in game shape, you're WAY behind the 8-ball. I wouldn't be surprised if Nylander comparatively sucks for another 15 games. It's one thing to miss training camp, it's another to have your training camp while everyone else around is in peak form/condition.
- Monkeypunk

I'm surprised he hasn't gotten hurt yet. Like a pulled groin or something.