That side is the one that's not panicking about 5 games into the season when really the only game the Leafs have sucked was the game against Tampa.
- GreatGigInTheSky

It’s the exact same way they’ve been playing since December of last year. They’ve gone .500 in the last 60 games. Then they traded away they toughest player only to achieve worse results. They’re still atrocious defensively. But yeah, everything’s fine...

Tampa should have traded all their players after getting completely outplayedby the canes earlier this week.
- Tumbleweed

Tampa isn’t a soft as butter like Toronto.

This is what I mean when I say you guys obviously don’t watch the game, and if you do you don’t understand the fundementals. Leafs got out muscled all night long. Tampa beat them time and time again in puck battles. Their players used this bodies to get the puck back, Leafs just gave up.

The Leafs and Lightning both have a good problem to be saddled with : almost too much skill on the roster.

You have guys who can deke, sharp shoot, and skate with the best. It seems like sometimes all that skill gets in it's own way. Both teams when on their game, play a structured game. But, when they are pressured hard, they fall apart and lose their structure. Instead of desperately trying to come back together and reimpose the structure, they try to skill their way out of trouble. What you end up with is a Bohemian clusterphuck that makes thing worse and the wheels come off.

It's frustrating AF to watch and that is where the coach is supposed to reign things in and reimpose structure. I blame Cooper when it happens to the Lightning (amongst other things).

Tampa isn’t a soft as butter like Toronto.

This is what I mean when I say you guys obviously don’t watch the game, and if you do you don’t understand the fundementals. Leafs got out muscled all night long. Tampa beat them time and time again in puck battles. Their players used this bodies to get the puck back, Leafs just gave up.
- Arctic_AARDVARK

Watch the bolts vs. Canes game from earlier this week.

Tampa isn’t a soft as butter like Toronto.

This is what I mean when I say you guys obviously don’t watch the game, and if you do you don’t understand the fundementals. Leafs got out muscled all night long. Tampa beat them time and time again in puck battles. Their players used this bodies to get the puck back, Leafs just gave up.
- Arctic_AARDVARK

I would say "out-hustled" but not out-muscled. We looked like poo, yup. Looked good against the Blues, also yup. Which one is it? Time will tell, but 5 games in, I'm not reaching for the Paxil and scotch yet.

The Leafs and Lightning both have a good problem to be saddled with : almost too much skill on the roster.

You have guys who can deke, sharp shoot, and skate with the best. It seems like sometimes all that skill gets in it's own way. Both teams when on their game, play a structured game. But, when they are pressured hard, they fall apart and lose their structure. Instead of desperately trying to come back together and reimpose the structure, they try to skill their way out of trouble. What you end up with is a Bohemian clusterphuck that makes thing worse and the wheels come off.

It's frustrating AF to watch and that is where the coach is supposed to reign things in and reimpose structure. I blame Cooper when it happens to the Lightning (amongst other things).
- GalacticStone

What he said.

Tampa should have traded all their players after getting completely outplayedby the canes earlier this week.
- Tumbleweed

Apparently the Isles decided to take notes and do the exact same thing.

Watch the bolts vs. Canes game from earlier this week.
- Tumbleweed

Tampa's not soft, but they ARE lazy.

Tampa isn’t a soft as butter like Toronto.

This is what I mean when I say you guys obviously don’t watch the game, and if you do you don’t understand the fundementals. Leafs got out muscled all night long. Tampa beat them time and time again in puck battles. Their players used this bodies to get the puck back, Leafs just gave up.
- Arctic_AARDVARK

Did you happen to watch the St. Louis game the other day? Cause that is exactly what Toronto did to the blues, who are bigger and are cup champs.

But yeah leafs can't do it, blah blah fundamentals blah.

There’s a divide..

On one side there’s passionate fans who understand how hockey is played.

And on the other side they just fantasize about taking Nylanders hot load in their mouths. Nothing else matters to them.
- Arctic_AARDVARK

Or just some are sour on life and need to bash someone on the team they follow?

And are too stubborn to admit that maybe they were wrong?

There’s a divide..

On one side there’s passionate fans who understand how hockey is played.

And on the other side they just fantasize about taking Nylanders hot load in their mouths. Nothing else matters to them.
- Arctic_AARDVARK

Im not a Nylander fan im a Marner. But i say it as it is. Nylander has been earning his pay check. Marner looks like he is under achieving but he is on pace for 90 points still while not up to par. Rielly and Andersen are the only two i can say im disappointed in so far. But as history shows, they will ajust and come aroud.

The Leafs and Lightning both have a good problem to be saddled with : almost too much skill on the roster.

You have guys who can deke, sharp shoot, and skate with the best. It seems like sometimes all that skill gets in it's own way. Both teams when on their game, play a structured game. But, when they are pressured hard, they fall apart and lose their structure. Instead of desperately trying to come back together and reimpose the structure, they try to skill their way out of trouble. What you end up with is a Bohemian clusterphuck that makes thing worse and the wheels come off.

It's frustrating AF to watch and that is where the coach is supposed to reign things in and reimpose structure. I blame Cooper when it happens to the Lightning (amongst other things).
- GalacticStone

Some on here seriously don’t believe other teams go through poop times.

Did you happen to watch the St. Louis game the other day? Cause that is exactly what Toronto did to the blues, who are bigger and are cup champs.

But yeah leafs can't do it, blah blah fundamentals blah.
- burn

Must

Dominate

Every

Second

People still want to tell me Babcock is fine?
- RogerRoeper

Not sure that is the point with some of us...who is the next coach that is SOOO much better? Not sure a good one is available. Are we bringing back Ronnie?

The best thing that happened to the Leafs, is that Shanna stopped the revolving door of poop coaches that were run out by the players. He put management power back in the hands of management so that lazy players couldn't control the team a la "StickGate". We gave a good coach a long contract to send a message to the players.

We're only a few years away from Waffle Gate and we have been in the playoffs every year. Our team is maturing and almost there. Dubas has some work to do but firing Babcock is the only Stanley Cup solution now?

I don't get it. At all.

Must

Dominate

Every

Second
- Santo_44

I mean that's the goal, right?

I mean that's the goal, right?
- BINGO!

Being realistic is the goal sometimes too

Kappy has the legs, but no hands and low hockey IQ. I’ve noticed he dumps the puck in for Mitchy and JT to go and get it. That’s his job. Get the puck and feed those two. Better suited for the 3rd line. Put Mickey on the 2nd line. Seems like a fit for me. I guess Babs doesn’t want to mess up the third line??

https://www.nhl.com/video...ws/t-277350912/c-69564803
3 years since #34's debut
- and whatta shocking experience it was

Tampa's not soft, but they ARE lazy.
- BINGO!

1st 10 games or so are feeling out.

Things will settle down and goal scoring will come down by the end of the month as the games get played tighter.

Canes are looking good. i am still glad your goaltending is questionable over 82 games.

https://www.nhl.com/video/welcome-to-the-nhl-matthews/t-277350912/c-69564803
3 years since #34's debut
- and whatta shocking experience it was
- 21peter

The goal where he stickhandles through the whole team and pickpockets Karlsson is still one of the greatest goals of all time. I must have watched it a million trillion times.

1st 10 games or so are feeling out.

Things will settle down and goal scoring will come down by the end of the month as the games get played tighter.

Canes are looking good. i am still glad your goaltending is questionable over 82 games.
- Tumbleweed

Mrazek has let in some soft ones early this year.

Kappy has the legs, but no hands and low hockey IQ. I’ve noticed he dumps the puck in for Mitchy and JT to go and get it. That’s his job. Get the puck and feed those two. Better suited for the 3rd line. Put Mickey on the 2nd line. Seems like a fit for me. I guess Babs doesn’t want to mess up the third line??
- OurSaviour_34

I agree I’d like to see kapp back to the third line. It puts him back on his proper wing. Moving Mick up creates a hole in the third line lw and he’s more of a shooter. The line is missing Hyman a puck retreiver. I’d like to see what Moore could do on his off wing with Mitch and JT.

Kaapo f'n Kakko
https://www.nhl.com/video...al/t-309833096/c-69576203

Tampa isn’t a soft as butter like Toronto.

This is what I mean when I say you guys obviously don’t watch the game, and if you do you don’t understand the fundementals. Leafs got out muscled all night long. Tampa beat them time and time again in puck battles. Their players used this bodies to get the puck back, Leafs just gave up.
- Arctic_AARDVARK

It's game (frank)ing 5. (Frank)ing relax.

Did you happen to watch the St. Louis game the other day? Cause that is eexactly what Toronto did to the blues, who are bigger and are cup champs.

But yeah leafs can't do it, blah blah fundamentals blah.
- burn

Leafs played a much better game against St Louis, that said, I'm not convinced St Louis is much better than a wild card team that squeaks in and gets drilled in the first round. Tampa IMO is a much better team than St Louis, they outworked, outplayed and certainly out hit the Leafs badly. They had three power plays in the first period and I believe they out hit the Leafs something like 14 - 5 (in Leafs building FFS) Kerfoot who is small, did alot more hitting than most - it was an embarassing game. Freddie has been sub par this season so far.