Leafs in Hurricanes Andersen territory tonight.



- zazzle

If I'm the Leafs, I take it easy for the first couple of periods - save your energy, and not worry about if you go down by 2 or 3 goals.

Andersen will let in a couple of stinkers, right?

Congrats - a triple post
- winsix

brutal.. HB just timed out each time.

Hope everyone had a great weekend (aside from Saturday nights game), I took advantage of the nice weather and spent it outside where Mrs. Cush and I got the last bit of yard / garage work done. Good thing since it's raining and miserable now!

I seem to recall more people who were on the "I don't care what they do in the regular season to be honest if they do well in the playoffs" before the season started and the epic 6 game nightmare we are seeing (Yes I'm being facetious).

Maybe I misunderstood what people were saying in the summer and what was meant was they wanted to see a perfect effort from everyone and never lose from game 1 to the cup winning final game? I'd love to see that too but it's unrealistic.

I'm fine with the Leafs struggling a bit here and there and trying to figure it out during the season as long as they make the post season & can go deep. Better to figure out where all the warts are early on and have time to address them vs cruising through the regular season without any real challenges no? Having the 1st big challenge you face is then when the game changes for the playoffs (because like it or not it's a totally different game (I for one hate that it changes that much) seems to have been the Leafs kryptonite.

it's just my opinion but there may be a silver lining if they struggle early they may be forced to make changes early vs sitting on the laurels of a fantastic regular season with just no playoff success.

I also want to wait for the new guys to gel and guys like Matthews to get to game shape *(he's not there the lack of a camp for him is obvious)* and the goaltending situation to get better than it is due to injury etc.

I do wonder if fan bases from teams like say Colorado are as angry or worried / upset / panicked or whatever you want to call alot of the Leaf fanbase since they are sporting the same # of points.

Looking at the GF over 6 games Toronto has 12. That's not good enough, the only teams in our division that have less are Ottawa and Montreal and they both have 10.

I've watched all 6 games - I'd flush the Pens game and say out of the other 5 games and say I think they were actually better defensively than last year for the most part it's a lack of scoring from those who are paid to do so that is costing this team wins. AM, JT, MM, and even WN need to be what we know they are capable of because they have been those players more often than not and I think they will get back to it - the monkeys on the backs are quite heavy currently.

Spezza is the leading scorer on the team - that says it all.

Once the big guns get to playing at the level they have shown they are capable of I think we will get a much better idea of where this team is at and it will be a good place.

If we don't get there maybe the wish of some will come true and a big trade will be made but to try and shake it up after 6 games seems (to me) like caving in to the silly and stupid Toronto Media and the fan panic that they help to create.

I think some Toronto sports media folks would find fault in an 82-0 season and a sweep of all 4 series to the cup!

Go Leafs Go.

If I'm the Leafs, I take it easy for the first couple of periods - save your energy, and not worry about if you go down by 2 or 3 goals.

Andersen will let in a couple of stinkers, right?
- Atomic Wedgie

brutal.. HB just timed out each time.
- PatC80

E3?

They failed in the lockout-shortened season.

They failed in the COVID-modified post-season.

They failed in the COVID-delayed post-season.
- Atomic Wedgie

2018 off-season champs has to account for something, right? got to raise a banner for that...

Hope everyone had a great weekend (aside from Saturday nights game), I took advantage of the nice weather and Mrs. Cush and I got the last bit of yard / garage work done. Good thing since it's raining and miserable now!

I seem to recall more people who were on the "I don't care what they do in the regular season to be honest if they do well in the playoffs" before the season started and the epic 6 game nightmare we are seeing (Yes I'm being facetious).

Maybe I misunderstood what people were saying in the summer and what was meant was they wanted to see a perfect effort from everyone and never lose from game 1 to the cup winning final game? I'd love to see that too but it's unrealistic.

I'm fine with the Leafs struggling a bit here and there and trying to figure it out during the season as long as they make the post season & can go deep. Better to figure out where all the warts are early on and have time to address them vs cruising through the regular season without any real challenges no? Having the 1st big challenge you face is then when the game changes for the playoffs (because like it or not it's a totally different game (I for one hate that it changes that much) seems to have been the Leafs kryptonite.

it's just my opinion but there may be a silver lining if they struggle early they may be forced to make changes early vs sitting on the laurels of a fantastic regular season with just no playoff success.

I also want to wait for the new guys to gel and guys like Matthews to get to game shape *(he's not there the lack of a camp for him is obvious)* and the goaltending situation to get better than it is due to injury etc.

I do wonder if fan bases from teams like say Colorado are as angry or worried / upset / panicked or whatever you want to call alot of the Leaf fanbase since they are sporting the same # of points.

Looking at the GF over 6 games Toronto has 12. That's not good enough, the only teams in our division that have less are Ottawa and Montreal and they both have 10.

I've watched all 6 games - I'd flush the Pens game and say out of the other 5 games and say I think they were actually better defensively than last year for the most part it's a lack of scoring from those who are paid to do so that is costing this team wins. AM, JT, MM, and even WN need to be what we know they are capable of because they have been those players more often than not and I think they will get back to it - the monkeys on the backs are quite heavy currently.

Spezza is the leading scorer on the team - that says it all.

Once the big guns get to playing at the level they have shown they are capable of I think we will get a much better idea of where this team is at and it will be a good place.

If we don't get there maybe the wish of some will come true and a big trade will be made but to try and shake it up after 6 games seems (to me) like caving in to the silly and stupid Toronto Media and the fan panic that they help to create.

I think some Toronto sports media folks would find fault in an 82-0 season and a sweep of all 4 series to the cup!

Go Leafs Go.
- Cush29

Nice Blog Cush.

E3?
- Canada Cup

yes, heard from a source that knows a guy, that knows a guy's cousin who knows Kyle Dubas.

If I'm the Leafs, I take it easy for the first couple of periods - save your energy, and not worry about if you go down by 2 or 3 goals.

Andersen will let in a couple of stinkers, right?
- Atomic Wedgie

Hopefully early in the game to give the Leafs a boost of confidence only to be crushed later in the game.

Nice Blog Cush.
- Scabeh

Tell me, what's it like to be a winning team?

you know, a team that doesn't get pounded 7-1 by the Wilkes-Barre Penguins?

Nice Blog Cush.
- Scabeh

Conference Call Random Thoughts By Cush.......seriously I was (am) on a mandatory Conf. Call that has zero to do with my department or even division for that matter so here I am.

And for those that noticed I keep hitting the edit post button vs quote when I reply and then having to go back and cut out my comment, repost the OP and quote it and then reply to fix it! I'm not used to being able to edit other people's posts and it's messing me up!

#rookieref

Conference Call Random Thoughts By Cush.......seriously I was (am) on a mandatory Conf. Call that has zero to do with my department or even division for that matter so here I am.

And for those that noticed I keep hitting the edit post button vs quote when I reply and then having to go back and cut out my comment, repost the OP and quote it and then reply to fix it! I'm not used to being able to edit other people's posts and it's messing me up!

#rookieref
- Cush29

You'll get the hang of it.

Tell me, what's it like to be a winning team?

you know, a team that doesn't get pounded 7-1 by the Wilkes-Barre Penguins?
- PatC80

at least they didn't have the Zamboni driver in net..

Tell me, what's it like to be a winning team?

you know, a team that doesn't get pounded 7-1 by the Wilkes-Barre Penguins?
- PatC80

I'd take the Leaf's record and the occasional beat down from a team to keep some humility over an 0-5 start before getting a W vs the Red Wings but that's just me.

I'd take the Leaf's record and the occasional beat down from a team to keep some humility over an 0-5 start before getting a W vs the Red Wings but that's just me.
- Cush29

Can you believe that despite starting the season 0-5, we're actually only 3 points behind the Leafs?




Jokes aside, it was nice to see the Habs win one, but I won't get excited just yet.

I'd take the Leaf's record and the occasional beat down from a team to keep some humility over an 0-5 start before getting a W vs the Red Wings but that's just me.
- Cush29

It's not the record... It's the lack of effort, or intensity, or give a poop meter these past 2 games.

We can say they've struggled to start the season but really it's the same problems for the past 5 seasons..

Defensive miscues, poor performances, lack of energy, or push back, star players taking shifts off.. It would be fine if it was only a little slump.

Geez, after the game Marner mentioned that they are getting Sunday off multiple times..

Or talk to my friend who’s had hundreds of guns fired at him on movie sets. But you’re right critically assessing what’s worth taking seriously and forming your own opinions is hard.

So, lines for tonight?
- Canada Cup

Your appeal to authority has been duly noted. But you're right, I should just take it on faith that strangers on the internet are gleaning factual information from "sources" on the internet (or personal relationships) and posting them - with accurate context - for all of us to consume and assume the information is trustworthy.

But yes, let's move on to something far more interesting and skews to our true expertise:

Bunting-AM34-Willie
Ritchie-Tavares-Marner
Kerf-Kampf-Kase
Engvall-Spezza-Simmonds

If I really wanted to send a message (and I do!):

Bunting-AM34-Willie
kerf-Tavares-Kase
Engvall-Kampf-Marner
Ritchie-Spezza-Simmonds

Can you believe that despite starting the season 0-5, we're actually only 3 points behind the Leafs?




Jokes aside, it was nice to see the Habs win one, but I won't get excited just yet.
- Scabeh

It's true so not a joke......

I'm more sad that all the jokes and meme's about the Habs being "Oh 4" can no longer be used because I saw some really funny ones.

Maybe the Habs will go on a tear now, they weren't as bad as their record that's for sure but I think they were in their own heads a bit without Price and Weber etc. and thought they couldn't have success.

I really believe in pro sports the mental game is so real for players and what they say in the media (generally) means squat as they are groomed and almost programmed from an early age to say they think they can beat anyone on any night, have the right mix of guys in the room, are like a family etc. What really goes on between the ears has so much effect on the outcomes of games, the difference between teams (for the most part) when it comes to skill and talent isn't anywhere close to what we all like to think it is.

Can you believe that despite starting the season 0-5, we're actually only 3 points behind the Leafs?




Jokes aside, it was nice to see the Habs win one, but I won't get excited just yet.
- Scabeh

No joke... If the Leafs had the same injury excuse as the Habs, how bad would it be?

Where would the Leafs be this year without Campbell or Rielly? Matthews came back from injury and Leafs are 0-2-1 with only 5 goals scored since.. A 39 yr old is our best player and Muzzin has started to show signs of decline.

it's not all doom and gloom, but they need to wake up soon.

It's not the record... It's the lack of effort, or intensity, or give a poop meter these past 2 games.

We can say they've struggled to start the season but really it's the same problems for the past 5 seasons..

Defensive miscues, poor performances, lack of energy, or push back, star players taking shifts off.. It would be fine if it was only a little slump.

Geez, after the game Marner mentioned that they are getting Sunday off multiple times..
- PatC80

Likely a reductive take (mine), but one wonders if Les Habs laid the blueprint on how to hold TO's vaunted offence at bay. Keep the Leafs possession game to the perimeter and force them to take low danger shots.

A lot of new faces on this team for sure but I would agree: the team doesn't appear to give an honest effort to start games and the give-a-poop meter is all over the board during the course of 3 periods.

I'd like to see them channel the Rags game and make that their template going forward.

No joke... If the Leafs had the same injury excuse as the Habs, how bad would it be?

Where would the Leafs be this year without Campbell or Rielly? Matthews came back from injury and Leafs are 0-2-1 with only 5 goals scored since.. A 39 yr old is our best player and Muzzin has started to show signs of decline.

it's not all doom and gloom, but they need to wake up soon.
- PatC80

Well the good news for you guys is that I cannot imagine a scenario where Matthews stops scoring.

Marner looks way more fragile since last playoffs, I really feel like the whole thing has affected his game. But he's still ultra talented so he's bound to bounce back eventually....

Leafs in Hurricanes Andersen territory tonight.




- zazzle

I took Andersen in my pool this week, I think we’re safe.





















*doesn’t tell them he took Campbell too*

It's not the record... It's the lack of effort, or intensity, or give a poop meter these past 2 games.

We can say they've struggled to start the season but really it's the same problems for the past 5 seasons..

Defensive miscues, poor performances, lack of energy, or push back, star players taking shifts off.. It would be fine if it was only a little slump.

Geez, after the game Marner mentioned that they are getting Sunday off multiple times..
- PatC80

So you are saying they have been in a 5 year slump? Played poorly for 5 years and had poor results?

To me that's just not accurate - they have had both success and slumps over the past 5 years, some of what we perceive to the the reasons why they have had slumps may be the same over that time.

I didn't see the things you are talking about against San Jose - agreed I saw them all and then some vs the Pens hence why I said flush that game and move on.

I get the frustration, I'm frustrated too & totally get that the amount of patience required to wait for them to learn how to play the right way, for a full game the majority of the time may be too much of an ask for some. I also get that this group may never fully learn that without changes but I'm willing to more patient for a bit longer.

I feel like the fact they had some success earlier than anticipated by most (like when they made the playoffs earlier than predicted and/or absolutely lit it up in the regular season) made the players who have been around for all of that believe they had most of it figured out already and that has hurt them.

They haven't failed enough to have learned (again IMO) that they have to do things the right way, the majority of the time if they want long term success. Babcock was supposed to teach them that but then he went a bit rogue and now he's gone (I think he had to go but again my opinion).

I'm not sure if Keefe is the guy they will listen to or not, I hope so but if not and they continue to not have success I don't see a coaching change as the big "shake up" move, nor even a GM change (right away). If the player make up is the issue they will address that and perhaps also those who created that issue (Dubas) but we will see how this all shakes out.

It's not the record... It's the lack of effort, or intensity, or give a poop meter these past 2 games.

We can say they've struggled to start the season but really it's the same problems for the past 5 seasons..

Defensive miscues, poor performances, lack of energy, or push back, star players taking shifts off.. It would be fine if it was only a little slump.

Geez, after the game Marner mentioned that they are getting Sunday off multiple times..
- PatC80

man he got his payday and has done nothing since..maybe the biggest letdown for me ever.

was hoping the leafs drafted him in 2015, bought a Marner jersey shortly after...ah well.. enjoy the millions mitch

Well the good news for you guys is that I cannot imagine a scenario where Matthews stops scoring.

Marner looks way more fragile since last playoffs, I really feel like the whole thing has affected his game. But he's still ultra talented so he's bound to bounce back eventually....
- Scabeh

Matthews' game will turn around.. Collectively, though, the team is fragile.. Not just Marner.. The Rangers game, the Leafs deserved that win. The other 5 games played, they've been below average.