HEAR....HEAR !!!!!!
- Leafcup

you gotta speak up

I think they are capable of it.. The Leafs have been the better team in the majority of the games.. It comes down to not making so many dang mistakes.
- PatC80

It was a classic case of getting up to a 3 goal lead and trying to hold it for half a game. It's a terrible strategy.

If you jump out to a 3 goal lead, why not continue playing the way that allowed you to score 3 more goals than the opposition?

It was a classic case of getting up to a 3 goal lead and trying to hold it for half a game. It's a terrible strategy.

If you jump out to a 3 goal lead, why not continue playing the way that allowed you to score 3 more goals than the opposition?
- Atomic Wedgie

Right. Don't play to NOT lose...play to win baby!

It was a classic case of getting up to a 3 goal lead and trying to hold it for half a game. It's a terrible strategy.

If you jump out to a 3 goal lead, why not continue playing the way that allowed you to score 3 more goals than the opposition?
- Atomic Wedgie

Agreed. This team doesn't defend effectively. Two of the d-men in the lineup aren't even bonafide NHL players. Should have kept the foot on the gas.

It was a classic case of getting up to a 3 goal lead and trying to hold it for half a game. It's a terrible strategy.

If you jump out to a 3 goal lead, why not continue playing the way that allowed you to score 3 more goals than the opposition?
- Atomic Wedgie

Can't tell if serious, but I agree.

Without Muzzin, the Leafs don't have the defensive capabilities to shut down a game.

I think they are capable of it.. The Leafs have been the better team in the majority of the games.. It comes down to not making so many dang mistakes.

Edit: Obviously, Merzlikins will get a 52 save shutout tonight, because Leafs..
- PatC80

Exactly.

That's why when you watch teams with less talent, Boston and CBJ, work hard and win....it's because they WORK HARD and make LESS mistakes...that's the strategy of Torts no doubt. Hence, we lose.

Blue collar players....meaning less talent...have spent years working harder. Not sure that's a coincidence.

I'm not saying talent isn't important. Just that it needs to be surrounded by less talented players that work hard. It is infectious to the rest.

I'm a big Hyman and Muzzin fan for that very reason. Love Matthews and Marner, don't get me wrong...but I always hold a sweet spot for the hardworkers.

Edit: Nick Robertson is looking like a new favorite soon, kid worked hard all night.

It was a classic case of getting up to a 3 goal lead and trying to hold it for half a game. It's a terrible strategy.

If you jump out to a 3 goal lead, why not continue playing the way that allowed you to score 3 more goals than the opposition?
- Atomic Wedgie

Perhaps a TO after the 1st Cbus goal ?? to calm the troops and just say Cbus isn't going anywhere lets get back to fore check and stop running around.

Keefe's I didn't like our game after we led 1-0. 2-0 or by 3 ... Well why the hell didn't you convey that??? and chew someones ass....

and JT anytime you want to light a teammate up wouldn't be soon enough.

It was a classic case of getting up to a 3 goal lead and trying to hold it for half a game. It's a terrible strategy.

If you jump out to a 3 goal lead, why not continue playing the way that allowed you to score 3 more goals than the opposition?
- Atomic Wedgie

Not enough heart, grit, guts and glory and do not want to win desperately enough....with 3 goal leads they shouldn't let their foot off the gas for one second but they have been doing this for the past few seasons with this team.....their first year when they played Washington what they did was great even if they did lose as they were all rookies

Perhaps a TO after the 1st Cbus goal ?? to calm the troops and just say Cbus isn't going anywhere lets get back to fore check and stop running around.

Keefe's I didn't like our game after we led 1-0. 2-0 or by 3 ... Well why the hell didn't you convey that??? and chew someones ass....

and JT anytime you want to light a teammate up wouldn't be soon enough.
- dozerD10

HEAR....HEAR !!!!!!

Exactly.

That's why when you watch teams with less talent, Boston and CBJ, work hard and win....it's because they WORK HARD and make LESS mistakes...that's the strategy of Torts no doubt. Hence, we lose.

Blue collar players....meaning less talent...have spent years working harder. Not sure that's a coincidence.

I'm not saying talent isn't important. Just that it needs to be surrounded by less talented players that work hard. It is infectious to the rest.

I'm a big Hyman and Muzzin fan for that very reason. Love Matthews and Marner, don't get me wrong...but I always hold a sweet spot for the hardworkers.

Edit: Nick Robertson is looking like a new favorite soon, kid worked hard all night.
- underhill14

We really only have Hyman, Mikheyev, Kapanen and Muzzin that play that way. We need our best guys to be the hardest workers...

Agreed on Robertson, he's a ball of energy

Perhaps a TO after the 1st Cbus goal ?? to calm the troops and just say Cbus isn't going anywhere lets get back to fore check and stop running around.

Keefe's I didn't like our game after we led 1-0. 2-0 or by 3 ... Well why the hell didn't you convey that??? and chew someones ass....

and JT anytime you want to light a teammate up wouldn't be soon enough.
- dozerD10

There were a few things the armchair coach in me didn't like last night.

Not using a timeout when things started steamrolling in the wrong direction was a big one for me.

Was also not a fan of the D pairing blender, especially in OT. Different combo hit the ice every shift.

I think Keefe is an excellent coach, but he got taken to class last night. Good learning lesson for him, he's a smart guy and I can see it paying dividends in a hurry.

I guess you are right....I am tired of being a losing Leafs fan and would like at least one playoff series win then I am satisfied for now....lets see what you have to say if they keep losing for the next 5 or 10 years like they have been
- Leafcup

Love your username

A guy crosschecks your 2nd best Dman to the ice and knocks him out of the series.

If your response is to let the same guy get a hat trick on you the next game, then you are easily the most gutless team in the league.

There were a few things the armchair coach in me didn't like last night.

Not using a timeout when things started steamrolling in the wrong direction was a big one for me.

Was also not a fan of the D pairing blender, especially in OT. Different combo hit the ice every shift.

I think Keefe is an excellent coach, but he got taken to class last night. Good learning lesson for him, he's a smart guy and I can see it paying dividends in a hurry.
- joel878

Both my wife and I said this.

I am not sold on Keefe as a coach, because I don't see where the team has changed at all. They are still in desparate need of a heart transplant.

Agreed. This team doesn't defend effectively. Two of the d-men in the lineup aren't even bonafide NHL players. Should have kept the foot on the gas.
- leafsfann

They don't defend well enough because they don't work hard enough.

Columbus' work ethic should have embarrassed them last night. You know it didn't though.

Is it too simple to say that the Leafs will play dominate hockey as long as they stay on the attack.

But, when they get a lead and try to sit on it they become vulnerable. They just are not very good at defending.

Would it make any difference if they just kept attacking rather than trying to shut down the play in order to protect a lead.

When you look at it objectively, it does not seem to make a lot of sense.

In related news, the US government just paid $1B for a Covid 19 vaccine to Moderna Therapeutics, a company founded by a Toronto boy and a major Leafs fan. Why nobody checked on this before the contract was signed is a mystery.

Both my wife and I said this.

I am not sold on Keefe as a coach, because I don't see where the team has changed at all. They are still in desparate need of a heart transplant.
- Aetherial

As soon as CBJ cut it down to 3-2, I would have liked to see a timeout.. They took their time out later than they should have.

If the Leafs win tonight and Sunday and then all is forgiven, right?

Leafs hockeybuzz fan excuse bingo card:

- It's the referees' fault! (that wasn't a penalty / off-side!)

- If we would have had Muzzin playing, we would have easily won.

- Babcock!

- Marner gets 11million and that's more then I'll earn in my lifetime - so he's a bum.

- It's not the defense - it's Freddy ; cannot stop a beachball in an important playoff game.

- Kadri franked over this team!

- Franking Bruins!

- Should have drafted Laine!

forgot any?

A guy crosschecks your 2nd best Dman to the ice and knocks him out of the series.

If your response is to let the same guy get a hat trick on you the next game, then you are easily the most gutless team in the league.
- Aetherial

Dubois is a star. Had anybody gone after him it would have caused a riot.Columbus is a much more physical team than the Leafs. I don't think it would help to go in that direction.

I'd like to see Marner back with JT and Hyman. Get JT going; he's had a mediocre year and I don't think it's too late for a resurgence.

I think shifty Mitch is a better fit for a skilled grinder like JT; neither are super threatening shot-wise, so they're going to get in close and do damage with creativity and work.

I think Matthews and Nylander are the opposite: they both can shoot and score from anywhere, and having both of those threats on the ice at the same time makes sense vs. trying to balance the top lines with a playmaker/shooter tandem that's so predictable: Matthews does not need Marner, JT does at this stage of his career, and Marner with JT can also play good shutdown hockey when we need it.

34/88: Mickey can come along for the ride, or hell, try Clifford for a few shifts, just to get in there and forecheck hard and force turnovers.

Now that the Panthers have been eliminated, Ekblad to the Leafs S3

In related news, the US government just paid $1B for a Covid 19 vaccine to Moderna Therapeutics, a company founded by a Toronto boy and a major Leafs fan. Why nobody checked on this before the contract was signed is a mystery.
- Canada Cup

US government knows what it's doing.
It's the only goverment in the world that has secured doses of the most promising looking vaccine candidates - the Moderna and the J&J ones.

Leafs hockeybuzz fan excuse bingo card:

- It's the referees' fault! (that wasn't a penalty / off-side!)

- If we would have had Muzzin playing, we would have easily won.

- Babcock!

- Marner gets 11million and that's more then I'll earn in my lifetime - so he's a bum.

- It's not the defense - it's Freddy ; cannot stop a beachball in an important playoff game.

- Kadri franked over this team!

- Franking Bruins!

- Should have drafted Laine!

forgot any?
- MaximusAurelius

Nylander has great hair.

It was a classic case of getting up to a 3 goal lead and trying to hold it for half a game. It's a terrible strategy.

If you jump out to a 3 goal lead, why not continue playing the way that allowed you to score 3 more goals than the opposition?
- Atomic Wedgie

So feed Ceci more? 🥴