NHL Extended Highlights of last night's game:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i9vugPzkGPo

The Leafs look so much more organized in their own end this year; I know we're playing a lot of soft teams, but structurally, if we can keep this up, we stand up against any team in the league.

The Oilers are still trying to fly the zone and, with McDavid, that'll work more often than not because the guy skates 80 billion miles an hour, but they need to listen to Tippet more and work on their D zone coverage.

This may be one of the first years in forever where the Leafs are actually getting better as the year progresses. Normally, they finish as the same team who started.

Florida and Chicago are holding playoff spots right now, but that’s just a sign of healthy competition.
- Atomic Wedgie

Hadn't paid too much attention to Le Sabres...holy (frank).

Looked at the standings this morning. The North Sucks narrative is starting to have some holes with the fact that every division has threeish punching bags.
- AdamFrench

I've always thought the East looked like the toughest division. The other 3 are all pretty even/debatable.

That Pitt/Phi/NYI/Wash/Bost battle should be a good one. The other divisions could all end up being walks for the top 3/4 teams.

feels odd to me, but Keefe has only been coach for 70 games, not even 1 full season

44-19-7 -95
111 point pace over 82

Also, 44 wins, all 44 ROW

We really should be giving Keefe some credit. I think having a full training camp where he said defensive play was going to be a priority is not a coincidence.

Oh, and the D-corps is way less sucky
- Canada Cup

Keefe.
Brodie and Bogosian.
Better DZone play from the Centres.
Matthews and Marner have hit the next level.
Veteran adds helping to up the compete level and calm the nerves.

Slumping Sabres:

Skinner 0 goals on season(16 gp)
Okposo 0 goals season(14 gp)
Hall 0 in last 18
Staal 0 in last 10
Eichel 0 in last 9
Olofsson 1 goal 5 on 5 in 19 games

When are the sabres going to blow it up?
- bryant

Start with firing their useless coach. They are so listless and look so dead inside.

Two of the best defensive games of the year by the leafs.
Marner was the best player on the ice last game
- Fakepartofme

Actually, Hyman was

Oilers announcers said that both games Hyman was the best player on the ice

The gull already called that last night
- mr.sir

I missed that, I don't speak Squawkaneese though so that's likely why.

feels odd to me, but Keefe has only been coach for 70 games, not even 1 full season

44-19-7 -95
111 point pace over 82

Also, 44 wins, all 44 ROW
- senstroll

Not bad.
Babs best record was 105pts with a less talented and more immature team.
Things are looking up.
Amazing what some grit, talent and a more defensive minded game can do.

These Leafs are Learning how to hockey. Very exciting time to be a Leafs fan. Got to say I am very impressed with Bogo thus far, was not expecting him to be as impactful as he has.
- kkvslayer

When he grabbed Nurse near the end of the game when the Oilers were getting chippy and Nurse had lightly bumped Hutch it was a clear sign to me this Leaf's team is really starting to get it. They are standing up for their goalies, and one another and besides the odd face puncher or grit guy who did it (like Kadri despite his poor decision making on when and how to do it) they haven't done it collectively in ages.

It's a really good sign in my opinion.

Nobody talks about Keefe but the word was Leafs could only do well winning 6-5 games. It’s true that Dubas did a really good job getting him the right pieces but he has them playing really good hockey.
- Canada Cup

This is the point of a GM and coach having a shared vision.

Whether we loved them or not, Lou & Babs were on the same page. The players Lou liked are the players Babs liked, and they suited one another.

Here we have Dubas plan & vision and Keefe's plan & vision are aligned as well, and it works.

It typically starts with good players! But the point remains that the styles and ideas need to be aligned. I very like the fluid hockey we see. The naysayers will say that when the playoffs come and the game gets hard the Leafs aren't built to respond, but I think we'll see.

I stayed up to watch the entire game, no regrets
- senstroll

Same - ZERO regrets.

They are a different team defensively.

This is the best defensive Leafs team I have seen since...ever?

At least since the Burns era.
- Atomic Wedgie

But...how could they improve the D without trading Nylander? It doesn't make any sense! Trading Nylander was the only way!

Keefe.
Brodie and Bogosian.
Better DZone play from the Centres.
Matthews and Marner have hit the next level.
Veteran adds helping to up the compete level and calm the nerves.
- The Law

Agreed.
Also, a better pp and pk.
Holl has really stepped up and played great. Better than he ever has.

Keefe.
Brodie and Bogosian.
Better DZone play from the Centres.
Matthews and Marner have hit the next level.
Veteran adds helping to up the compete level and calm the nerves.
- The Law

Holl is a huge reason as well.

Brodie, Holl's better play, and Bogosian have made every defense pairing a lot better.

Actually, Hyman was

Oilers announcers said that both games Hyman was the best player on the ice
- mr.sir

Last night hyman.
Saturday it was marner, he elevated everyone.

Luckily, I found something about last night’s game to get irrationally pissy about:

They gave Woll #60 to wear.

What a huge show of disrespect.
- Atomic Wedgie

because it's your birthyear?

Start with firing their useless coach. They are so listless and look so dead inside.
- Monkeypunk

Coach #26 incoming for Jorts Boy.

But...how could they improve the D without trading Nylander? It doesn't make any sense! Trading Nylander was the only way!
- Zezel

Just admit Dermott has been good

The Leafs look so much more organized in their own end this year; I know we're playing a lot of soft teams, but structurally, if we can keep this up, we stand up against any team in the league.

The Oilers are still trying to fly the zone and, with McDavid, that'll work more often than not because the guy skates 80 billion miles an hour, but they need to listen to Tippet more and work on their D zone coverage.
- gravyface

Its funny I hear the critics say this, but holding McDavid/Drai scoreless in 2 straight games shows the improvement from the Leafs defensive game this year.

But...how could they improve the D without trading Nylander? It doesn't make any sense! Trading Nylander was the only way!
- Zezel

Actually it wasnt at all.
It was just one route.
FA was another route, we just thought it would cost an arm and a leg. It didnt. Ex. Brodie
A 3rd route was internal improvement. Having our own players take the next steps to become better. Ex. Holl.

Not bad.
Babs best record was 105pts with a less talented and more immature team.
Things are looking up.
Amazing what some grit, talent and a more defensive minded game can do.
- Fakepartofme

I think a big part is in how they’re playing. Dubas said he wanted better defensive play, more consistency and mental toughness. A lot of those wins last year and earlier were the offense turning it on in the first or second, building a nice lead with the third turning into white knuckle time as they seemed to lose focus.

I’ve seen way more 60 minute games from this team this year and that has been hugely impressive. I think Nylander is getting less ice time in the third partly to reinforce that message and partly because there are better defenders. But if you’re not seeing a lot of ice with a 4-0 lead, the coach is sending a message

Not bad.
Babs best record was 105pts with a less talented and more immature team.
Things are looking up.
Amazing what some grit, talent and a more defensive minded game can do.
- Fakepartofme

Im not so sure about less talented

They had JVR, Kadri, Marleau (when he didnt suck), Brown, Kapanen, Johnsson, Bozak

Their defense wasnt strong, but they had more talent.