Yep, he’s like Costco Kirkland Beer.
- Byfuglien Ate Me

So cheap and taste like sh!t?

I would like to give special recognition to the Refs tonight...

Nice soft calls on the Leafs. Lots of missed hooks and holds on the Stars. Great job Zebra’s!

Only took 6-7 years eh
- Fakepartofme

You don't blame blame him on the one on one goals, but I'd have liked more than the one really nice save out of him.

.842

Thank god the out of towner's been in their favour tonight.

Those were two winnable points but as Millen was saying, that was a pretty textbook Dallas game. Definite darkhorse in the west.

I know they were breakaways but we needed Andersen to shut his five hole. It's a constant weakness of his that other teams surely would have caught onto by now. In fact I would have just kept Campbell in for this game and let the two split the weekend. Not sure about that decision by Keefe.

EDIT: And I see all my points have been made over the last two pages.

Good to see we're all on the same page here boys.

You don't blame blame him on the one on one goals, but I'd have liked more than the one really nice save out of him.
- Monkeypunk

Think every player in the league is now aware that Fred has a 5-hole problem...

Net off, how (frank)ing convenient.

They need to start reviewing that poop too.
- Garnie

I was wondering that too. Leafs were hemming them in and no leaf player was near the goal.

Wtf. No video to show too

no shame to lose vs a good Dallas team.
the won the last game vs them; tight game this night.
Leafs played quite well - this is not the game where the Leafs have 'lost the season' if they eventually don't make the playoffs.

only 2 negatives:
- andersen didn't play well
- leafs gave up an enormous amount of breakouts / 1vs1 on andersen (gurianov alone must have had 5 chances 1 on 1 breakout vs andersen)

You say the game is all about skating and speed which Doughty has no problem with. Your point is a bad one, holds no water whatsoever.

So Tavares' is finished too? Tavares at 34/35 11 AAV is going to go well? Can't have it both ways especially when history and the facts show that goal scoring declines after 30 much more than Doughty's ability to play well into his 30s.

The downturn in LA is because Richards is finished, Carter is finished, Brown is finished, Quick can't stay healthy or stop a puck anymore, Kopitar can't score anymore; the majority of their core is done or gone. Sutter got fired and the replacements haven't been any better. But ALL that is Doughty's fault? That he can't carry an entire team on his back and do absolutely everything? Sure. Makes sense.
- JohnFergusonJr

so, I'll indulge your fantasy... for a few minutes longer.

Doughtly is this all-worldly player... all those guys got older but were contributors to the cup wins... then Doughty's contribution couldn't have been that great. Now the team slows down, all those guys slow down, except Doughtly.

Its not ALL Doughty's fault certainly. And they didn't win with all those guys just because of Doughty either. So you can't have it both ways? Is Doughty better at age 30 than Doughty age 24... I don't think so... but that's just me.

I would like to give special recognition to the Refs tonight...

Nice soft calls on the Leafs. Lots of missed hooks and holds on the Stars. Great job Zebra’s!
- Hockey_Reverend

I always find that's how "elite" defensive teams do so well. They get away with just a little bit more. More interference. More stick work. They just play to the edge, but it's never an edge it seems non-defensive teams are allowed to get away with.

Friedman makes a good point about how bad they suck at D-zone face-offs. A nice 3rd line shutdown C could come in handy. Too bad they traded one for assorted garbage.

Friedman makes a good point about how bad they suck at D-zone face-offs. A nice 3rd line shutdown C could come in handy. Too bad they traded one for assorted garbage.
- JohnFergusonJr

Kadri isn't a 3rd line shutdown C..
Faksa is. and a very good one as well.

Hyman is not better than Nylander...
- Steven_Seagull

More hustle and grit. Better physical, and a way better checker

I always find that's how "elite" defensive teams do so well. They get away with just a little bit more. More interference. More stick work. They just play to the edge, but it's never an edge it seems non-defensive teams are allowed to get away with.
- Monkeypunk

Kind of like how Chara can almost take a guys head of with a cross check and not get suspended?

so, I'll indulge your fantasy... for a few minutes longer.

Doughtly is this all-worldly player... all those guys got older but were contributors to the cup wins... then Doughty's contribution couldn't have been that great. Now the team slows down, all those guys slow down, except Doughtly.

Its not ALL Doughty's fault certainly. And they didn't win with all those guys just because of Doughty either. So you can't have it both ways? Is Doughty better at age 30 than Doughty age 24... I don't think so... but that's just me.
- BorjeFan4Ever

Doughty is the same player, his surroundings have sucked. His surroundings in Toronto would greatly improve and so would Doughty.

Doughty's play is likely to stay strong until at least 35. That's 5 years of high quality output. Considering the Leafs window is 5 years (4 after this year is done), he fits perfectly.

Good news is florida lost. One less game for them to catch up with.

You don't blame blame him on the one on one goals, but I'd have liked more than the one really nice save out of him.
- Monkeypunk

Ya he wasnt on his game tonight

Friedman makes a good point about how bad they suck at D-zone face-offs. A nice 3rd line shutdown C could come in handy. Too bad they traded one for assorted garbage.
- JohnFergusonJr

Boone frickin Jenner 😡

More hustle and grit. Better physical, and a way better checker
- Landsbergfan

You just said the same thing 3 different ways. Willie is not paid to be grinder.

More hustle and grit. Better physical, and a way better checker
- Landsbergfan

Agreed.
But not a better goal scorer

Good news is florida lost. One less game for them to catch up with.
- Aaron_85

Tampa Bay is going to be a deadly 1st round match-up if the Leafs fight off the Panthers for 3rd.

They sucked at the start of the year but since Jan. 1st, they might be on one of those St. Louis Blues like runs of last year.

Agreed.
But not a better goal scorer
- Fakepartofme

Hyman helps the team win - more than Willie.
Hyman is very effective; not very pretty, but he gets things done.
Willie holds the puck for very long stretches, but really it's not very effective in general - nothing comes out of it.

Boone frickin Jenner 😡
- mr.sir

Blue Jackets aren't likely to sell the way they're going this year.

Hyman helps the team win - more than Willie.
Hyman is very effective; not very pretty, but he gets things done.
Willie holds the puck for very long stretches, but really it's not very effective in general - nothing comes out of it.
- plantheparade

50 points in 56 games. Totally ineffective. Shut up, Max.

Niedermayer might have lasted because of his elite elite skating - but he retired age 36-37 in 09-10. So no that doesn't fly.

Might... I think ya gotta change that to could’ve played till 50 if he wanted...