Leafs @ Islanders - Feb. 28th, 7:00pm - TSN4, TSN 1050

[BermudaBudsFan]

What is concerning is that it seems in high pressure games they dont perform as well.  They have trouble in hostile buildings.  They have trouble when play becomes physical.

It is absolutely legitimate to question whether this team can compete in the playoffs as presently constituted.

You mean like when they beat the Lightning?

I mean tonight, whenever they play Boston.  I would say the weight of the evidence goes against them.  I hope they prove me wrong.

 

[CarltonTheBear]

Yeah, can't defend Marincin tonight.  He's come apart at the seams.

I'd be seriously stunned to see him again. If Rosen and Borgman aren't cleared to play the Leafs are going to have to move Hainsey back to the left side and get all 3 righties (Zaitsev, Oz, Holl) in the line-up.

 

[Guilt Trip]

What is concerning is that it seems in high pressure games they dont perform as well.  They have trouble in hostile buildings.  They have trouble when play becomes physical.

It is absolutely legitimate to question whether this team can compete in the playoffs as presently constituted.

You mean like when they beat the Lightning?

I like how people cherry pick games to fit their agenda. Leafs are off tonight. They folded the tents after the shorty.

 

[BermudaBudsFan]

What is concerning is that it seems in high pressure games they dont perform as well.
[/quote

The Montreal comeback was less than a week ago come on people.

Look, that game was nowhere near as intense as this one.  Everyone knew this was a big game.  They failed.

 

[Bates]

The Isles fans can go home smug and happy because this was their Stanley Cup.

I'm not sure I see the Isles with less chance at Cup as Leafs right now.

 

[lc9]

This is the team that will beat the bruins though, so nothing to worry about.

 

[Bender]

Good thing there are no back to back in the playoffs, Babcock wouldn?t feel comfortable playing a goalie back to back.  Only coach in the league that doesn?t play his best goalie in big games.

This isn't a big game for us.

Agreed. It is to the Isles. Just a game for the Leafs and JT to get through.
[/quote

I disagree..it is a big game from a teammate standpoint.. they should want to stuff all this nonsense right back in the Islander fan faces. They are a soft team that wilts with pressure. And Sparks is ...Sparks.

I wonder how many would just say every game is a big game. This isn't a head to head with Tampa or Boston. I'm starting to get tired of all this narrative spinning, especially during losses.

 

[Bender]

This is the team that will beat the bruins though, so nothing to worry about.

Your Eeyore schtick is getting old.

 

[Bender]

What is concerning is that it seems in high pressure games they dont perform as well.  They have trouble in hostile buildings.  They have trouble when play becomes physical.

It is absolutely legitimate to question whether this team can compete in the playoffs as presently constituted.

You mean like when they beat the Lightning?

I like how people cherry pick games to fit their agenda. Leafs are off tonight. They folded the tents after the shorty.

I didn't say they aren't playing badly. They are. But to say they don't come up in important games because they're losing today is asinine.

 

[dekedastardly]

They have trouble when play becomes physical.

It is absolutely legitimate to question whether this team can compete in the playoffs as presently constituted.

This and they can't yet, in my opinion. We have seen it all year. Is management still convinced their "skill game" and powerplay is going to get it done? These teams are grinding them down and making them look less than ordinary. Should have paid for a Ferland /Simmonds/ Clifford / anybody willing to answer to bell.

 

[Highlander]

What is concerning is that it seems in high pressure games they dont perform as well.

The Montreal comeback was less than a week ago come on people.

Exactly, but without Gardiner, Dermott and Freddo
How can we expect guys like Holl and Marancin to perform at professional league hockey level with three games each season. They need time just like Nylander did.
All the nay sayers have to believe that all the top teams get blown out time to time. Because it's a fact. I just want all the blame game to stop and the believing to start. I don't think we will ever assemble a team with so much talent in my lifetime and I have waited over 50 years since the last one. I know a lot of the others are me with this on the timeline.

 

[Guilt Trip]

Yeah, can't defend Marincin tonight.  He's come apart at the seams.

I'd be seriously stunned to see him again. If Rosen and Borgman aren't cleared to play the Leafs are going to have to move Hainsey back to the left side and get all 3 righties (Zaitsev, Oz, Holl) in the line-up.

Agreed. There isn't much choice in this. Marincin is not an NHL D man. I would seriously consider trying Lilypad.

 

[Zee]

What is concerning is that it seems in high pressure games they dont perform as well.
[/quote

The Montreal comeback was less than a week ago come on people.

Look, that game was nowhere near as intense as this one.  Everyone knew this was a big game.  They failed.

Nope this isn't a big game, yesterday against the Oilers was and Leafs passed with flying colours.

 

[Highlander]

This is the team that will beat the bruins though, so nothing to worry about.

Your Eeyore schtick is getting old.

I am Eeryore, everthing sucks. Who is that Bear anyway, he pisses me off

 

[ZBBM]

The Isles fans can go home smug and happy because this was their Stanley Cup.

I'm not sure I see the Isles with less chance at Cup as Leafs right now.

OK, let's stand back and be objective.  The Leafs are suspect on D.  Dubas addressed it by getting Muzzin, who is a quality defenseman who is having a string of bad games right now.  They looked steadier for sure his first few games.  He needs to get back to normal.  If he does, and Gardiner and Dermott are back, then the Leafs will have their best chance to advance.  But sooner or later they are going to have to part with Johnsson or Kapanen or both I fear, because they have to get better back there.

 

[lc9]

What is concerning is that it seems in high pressure games they dont perform as well.

The Montreal comeback was less than a week ago come on people.

Exactly, but without Gardiner, Dermott and Freddo
How can we expect guys like Holl and Marancin to perform at professional league hockey level with three games each season. They need time just like Nylander did.
All the nay sayers have to believe that all the top teams get blown out time to time. Because it's a fact. I just want all the blame game to stop and the believing to start. I don't think we will ever assemble a team with so much talent in my lifetime and I have waited over 50 years since the last one. I know a lot of the others are me with this on the timeline.

The talent is great.  The problem is the effort. They don?t put forth a quality effort.  Must be since before Sundin that a leafs team tried less on a nightly basis. They simply rely on talent.  They don?t skate hard.

 

[BermudaBudsFan]

What is concerning is that it seems in high pressure games they dont perform as well.
[/quote

The Montreal comeback was less than a week ago come on people.

Look, that game was nowhere near as intense as this one.  Everyone knew this was a big game.  They failed.

Nope this isn't a big game, yesterday against the Oilers was and Leafs passed with flying colours.

If the proposition is that all games are the same, I don?t agree.

 

[Kin]

The Islanders probably have a better shot at the cup simply because they're not in the Atlantic. I don't think it says anything meaningful about the quality of their team.

 

[lc9]

This is the team that will beat the bruins though, so nothing to worry about.

Your Eeyore schtick is getting old.

The complaints are legit. You just don?t want to hear them.

 

[Bender]

What is concerning is that it seems in high pressure games they dont perform as well.  They have trouble in hostile buildings.  They have trouble when play becomes physical.

It is absolutely legitimate to question whether this team can compete in the playoffs as presently constituted.

You mean like when they beat the Lightning?

I like how people cherry pick games to fit their agenda. Leafs are off tonight. They folded the tents after the shorty.

I didn't say they aren't playing badly. They are. But to say they don't come up in important games because they're losing today is asinine.

And to add to that, I think the irony is really palpable when everyone's happy when they're winning but you get a loss or a bad loss and the narrative surrounding the team ALWAYS turns to oh, is this team actually good enough? Babcock sucks, the Leafs don't show up. This isn't me cherry picking games, this is just what's been happening after the team settled into being not the record setting 18-19 Tampa Bay Lightning.