Leafs are now 37 19 4 without matthews.

Crazy

At the time the leafs still had Murray who played the previous year. Who when not injured was okay in bet. You had a tandem there or you go get a vet to tandem with him. Which they got Jones. You'd have woll be #1 and a guy to fall back on should it not be working or a vet guy to run with it long enough to Woll get back up experience. Either way at some point you gotta try him out as a starter.

Samsonov was right to start game 1. As I said, this was last off season before any injuries occurred.
- Aaron_85

True, they did have murray...but wasnt he still injured this past off season? I dont think he was a reliable bet which is why they brought in jones, no?

Rsole?! Bullot? Reverend? Where arrreeeee yoouuu? I thought the series was over?
- Aaron_85

I was out of town. Back home today and thought I read through the comments. Glad I am taking up room in your head! LOL

Boys played solid last night. Boston was tentative the first half of the game. Will be interesting on Saturday!

I’m not getting sucked in BUT I will cheer them on while I’m watching!

This team has the ‘Matthews (Sundin) is injured so lets all raise our level of play’ vibe… If Matthews comes back in tomorrow will there be an emotional let down?

Leafs are now 37 19 4 without matthews.

Crazy
- Fakepartofme

about a 107 point pace.
who needs that guy

Present!! I maintain my position. Marner needs to go, he isn’t worth $11mil and the raise he will be asking for! Willie has shown me that he’s better than Marner, period. This team is better than Keefe, he needs to go…hopefully Brindamour will be available!! Everybody on the team did what they needed, to win. They need to show the same pissed off attitude in game seven. Win or lose Boston has to know they were in a war. Leafs need to make their fans proud and then make changes, as mentioned, in the summer. Beating Boston isn’t my Stanley Cup.
- Bullot

Marner is very much a product of his surroundings -- i.e. playing with a generational goal scorer -- and very good negotiating by his agent.

But no, a playmaker shouldn't be making 11M a year. I don't think he should be making Domi money, but less than Nylander for sure. Marner around 8M makes sense to me.

the wheels are in motion....the reverse "it was 3-1" is happening!
- Symba007

bump

benwa with 2sog, 9 f'n hits and 4 blocked

exactly those kinda guys you need to step up for a deep run...

Leafs are now 37 19 4 without matthews.

Crazy
- Fakepartofme

What is their record with him?

Maybe he's been the problem the whole time!

What is their record with him?

Maybe he's been the problem the whole time!
- mjones242

they are just resting him for the next round against the Panthers, smart move by the Leafs management, their star player rested and ready to pounce!

Starting sammie was the right choice, so was pulling him.

Not sure why some think they are geniuses for wanting woll to start. We all knew he could play well.
Also, the leafs are playing ten times better in front of woll then they ever did with sammie in net.
Had the leafs played like they did the first several games, these past 2 games...woll wouldn't have been able to save them.

But hes been awesome
- Fakepartofme

As the Bruins pushed back yesterday they started to generate some really good chances in the 2nd and 3rd - particularly in the 2nd, really. I think Woll made about 4 saves in there that I don't think Sammy would've made at all.

While it's a difficult argument to make and define the accuracy of it, weak goals kill a team and Sammy gave up at least 3 or 4. I've said before that Boston makes it so hard for the Leafs to get into dangerous territory and generate scoring chances - you have to earn your looks and goals through repetition and effort. It's one of the numerous reasons why our defense being so porous and just allowing teams to waltz through is so frustrating - we have to earn inches of ice while our D just gives them up willingly. But when your goalie allows a 60 foot floater and the other guy is making saves on 2 on 1s - that are hard enough just to come by - look simple, it's not just deflating, it's defeating.

That said the Leafs played much better for large parts of yesterday and I think Woll probably won the game for them.

Marner is very much a product of his surroundings -- i.e. playing with a generational goal scorer -- and very good negotiating by his agent.

But no, a playmaker shouldn't be making 11M a year. I don't think he should be making Domi money, but less than Nylander for sure. Marner around 8M makes sense to me.
- gravyface

Marner is a better reg season player than willie, no doubt and hes produced in the playoffs. Saying he simply gets points cause of Matthews is a fallacy, marners been a stud at every level. Matthews doesnt get to 60 goals without marner and marner may not get to 95pts without Matthews. Although marner did get to 94pts without Matthews, he played with JT that year, and Jt got 45 goals for the first time in his career. If my memory serves.
But, he doesn't come across as a clutch playoff performer, which is all i care about. Neither him n'or willie should be making more than $10m per.
But they do, so now its either marner takes the exact same as willie or he walks.
Im fine with either.
With jt coming off the books and the cap going up, we'll have plenty of cash available to improve the D and goaltending....or pay the goaltending

As the Bruins pushed back yesterday they started to generate some really good chances in the 2nd and 3rd - particularly in the 2nd, really. I think Woll made about 4 saves in there that I don't think Sammy would've made at all.

While it's a difficult argument to make and define the accuracy of it, weak goals kill a team and Sammy gave up at least 3 or 4. I've said before that Boston makes it so hard for the Leafs to get into dangerous territory and generate scoring chances - you have to earn your looks and goals through repetition and effort. It's one of the numerous reasons why our defense being so porous and just allowing teams to waltz through is so frustrating - we have to earn inches of ice while our D just gives them up willingly. But when your goalie allows a 60 foot floater and the other guy is making saves on 2 on 1s - that are hard enough just to come by - look simple, it's not just deflating, it's defeating.

That said the Leafs played much better for large parts of yesterday and I think Woll probably won the game for them.
- Monkeypunk

Yes, I've been saying all along that Woll is just a better structured netminder than Sammy is.

Sammy's very athletic, but his high risk/high reward style, followed by a lack of mental fortitude... I mean, honestly, the guy needed a timeout to get his head right mid-season; you can't build a team around that.

Woll looks carefree, nothing seems to bother him out there in comparison.

What is their record with him?

Maybe he's been the problem the whole time!
- mjones242

You know how sometimes, when a player is so god damn good on your team (doesn't matter which sport) you tend to always look for him on the play, try to give him the puck or almost expect him to be the difference maker. Doing so, you don't play your own game and play to your full potential.

It feels like the Leafs started playing to their full potential once Matthews went down. Pretty much everyone stepped up their game and is trying to be the one to make the difference instead of expecting him or Mitch or Willy to do it.

It's been a fun transformation to watch really. You have to hope they keep it up regardless of if Matthews comes back in game 7.

I wasn’t stating my opinion.

I was stating AA’s opiniom.
- Atomic Wedgie

U.S. ESPN contract. It was the only game last night and they wanted it coast to coast. 8PM here is 5PM on the West Coast. Larger numbers for them.

He hadnt earned the starting role last year just yet. He simply did not play enough games

It was only until this season were he started to solidify it
However, post injury he wasnt great, his recent starts against the bruins weren't good at all.
It was right choice to start sammie in the series.
And it was the right choice to pull him.

The leafs couldnt start the season with only woll as goalie 1...they needed a tandem.
- Fakepartofme

I agree with your assessment, but I think Keefe like all things he does, waited too long to make the change.

https://twitter.com/GinoH...ps%3A%2F%2Ftwitter.com%2F

Marner is a better reg season player than willie, no doubt and hes produced in the playoffs. Saying he simply gets points cause of Matthews is a fallacy, marners been a stud at every level. Matthews doesnt get to 60 goals without marner and marner may not get to 95pts without Matthews. Although marner did get to 94pts without Matthews, he played with JT that year, and Jt got 45 goals for the first time in his career. If my memory serves.
But, he doesn't come across as a clutch playoff performer, which is all i care about. Neither him n'or willie should be making more than $10m per.
But they do, so now its either marner takes the exact same as willie or he walks.
Im fine with either.
With jt coming off the books and the cap going up, we'll have plenty of cash available to improve the D and goaltending....or pay the goaltending
- Fakepartofme

I would agree that Marner is more useful because he plays very well on the PK, but Nylander is starting to as well, and he's just as capable. I mean, elite players read the game so well, they all can learn to play on the PK at a high-level if they want to.

I still stand by that Marner is just a playmaker.

A very good one, but goals are money in this league and I think he's paid too much for what he is.

As has been shown, Marner without a finisher is not really a serious scoring threat; you look at him and Domi's games and you would put Marner ahead of Domi as far as passing, probably game IQ/vision, but Domi also has another top gear skating and can actually forecheck...

...I don't think Marner's even laid a hit and never drives the net...

Willy? He drives the net consistently, which is where you need to go in the playoffs.

Nylander generates all of his own goals, because he's never playing with a premier setup guy, outside of the powerplay (which has been awful this year and he still scored 40 goals).

I would agree that Marner is more useful because he plays very well on the PK, but Nylander is starting to as well, and he's just as capable. I mean, elite players read the game so well, they all can learn to play on the PK at a high-level if they want to.

I still stand by that Marner is just a playmaker.

A very good one, but goals are money in this league and I think he's paid too much for what he is.

As has been shown, Marner without a finisher is not really a serious scoring threat; you look at him and Domi's games and you would put Marner ahead of Domi as far as passing, probably game IQ/vision, but Domi also has another top gear skating and can actually forecheck...

...I don't think Marner's even laid a hit and never drives the net...

Willy? He drives the net consistently, which is where you need to go in the playoffs.

Nylander generates all of his own goals, because he's never playing with a premier setup guy, outside of the powerplay (which has been awful this year and he still scored 40 goals).
- gravyface

Marner is a 30-35 goal scorer as well the last 3 years.

You know how sometimes, when a player is so god damn good on your team (doesn't matter which sport) you tend to always look for him on the play, try to give him the puck or almost expect him to be the difference maker. Doing so, you don't play your own game and play to your full potential.

It feels like the Leafs started playing to their full potential once Matthews went down. Pretty much everyone stepped up their game and is trying to be the one to make the difference instead of expecting him or Mitch or Willy to do it.

It's been a fun transformation to watch really. You have to hope they keep it up regardless of if Matthews comes back in game 7.
- Scabeh

I think what sometimes happens with a star cast of players is that there is this mentality that things will just go their way, because they're elite, and always have been elite, with the gap far and wide in Juniors/minor league.

And that carries through to the regular season, when there are those Monday night games against the Coyotes, and they were up late playing Fortnite and ate too many jelly beans...

... and then the playoffs rears up and slaps them in the face.

Another beautiful morning.

Imagine leafs get their pp going.

Marner is a 30-35 goal scorer as well the last 3 years.
- Zezel

Check his stat line from last night
0 goals
0 assists
0 hits
0 blocks
2 SOG

Check his stat line from last night
0 goals
0 assists
0 hits
0 blocks
2 SOG
- mr.sir

the team won, that's THE ONLY things that matters now.

Check his stat line from last night
0 goals
0 assists
0 hits
0 blocks
2 SOG
- mr.sir

0 hits. I mean, my god. Nylander even thumped Pasta and that rookie kid...

I'm not expecting Marner to run through walls, but to get through a playoff game like that, where your teammates are all finishing their checks and getting in on the body often...

the team won, that's THE ONLY things that matters now.
- Symba007

We have to slag off on Marner though, hon.

Counterbalance AA's fapfest for him.

Check his stat line from last night
0 goals
0 assists
0 hits
0 blocks
2 SOG
- mr.sir

but kinda Marners MO, he shrinks as the games get tougher...elimination games are not his friend