Lightning @ Leafs - Jan. 2nd, 7:00pm - SNO, Fan 590

[Hobbes]

Why did we ever let Stralman get away? He was dynamite in that Rangers cup attempt and has been so solid for Tampa. He's the perfect 3-4 defenceman who can even play top pair at a pinch. EDIT: and is right-shot. *sighs*

We needed just a bit more patience back then.  Probably a good thing to keep in mind this season, in fact.

What's nuts is that Calgary and Columbus both basically gave up on him too. And then the Rangers let him go so they could keep Girardi.

I'd forgotten that.

 

[ZBBM]

Why did we ever let Stralman get away? He was dynamite in that Rangers cup attempt and has been so solid for Tampa. He's the perfect 3-4 defenceman who can even play top pair at a pinch. EDIT: and is right-shot. *sighs*

We needed just a bit more patience back then.  Probably a good thing to keep in mind this season, in fact.

What's nuts is that Calgary and Columbus both basically gave up on him too. And then the Rangers let him go so they could keep Girardi.

Yeah, and IIRC he was playing pretty well for Columbus.

I guess you have to hand it to Yzerman.

 

[ZBBM]

I really don't know what to say about this one.  If even one of those Marner highlight plays converts, it's a different game.

 

[bustaheims]

Man we are getting thoroughly outclassed. Why can't we take the next step?

I hate to keep harping on it, but coaching is part of it. Some players getting more ice time than they deserve/being in the lineup over more useful players, and the current system has sucked the speed out of the team's game, while also not providing a ton of help in the defensive end.

I'm not quite ready to say Babs should be on thin ice, but I think management needs to take away some of his favourite toys, and give him a talking to about how he plays with the others.

 

[rdowdall]

Man we are getting thoroughly outclassed. Why can't we take the next step?

I don't think it's been that one sided.  I thought the Leafs managed some pressure on them.  I think Tampa has the better defence, and their forward group has more talent, so I think this is a fairly good showing.

 

[ZBBM]

Man we are getting thoroughly outclassed. Why can't we take the next step?

I hate to keep harping on it, but coaching is part of it. Some players getting more ice time than they deserve/being in the lineup over more useful players, and the current system has sucked the speed out of the team's game, while also not providing a ton of help in the defensive end.

I'm not quite ready to say Babs should be on thin ice, but I think management needs to take away some of his favourite toys, and give him a talking to about how he plays with the others.

None of that is happening.

 

[CarltonTheBear]

Man we are getting thoroughly outclassed. Why can't we take the next step?

I don't think it's been that one sided.  I thought the Leafs managed some pressure on them.  I think Tampa has the better defence, and their forward group has more talent, so I think this is a fairly good showing.

Yeah I was fully expecting to get dominated but it's been pretty close I think. That 1st goal was the back-breaker. If the Leafs got an opportunity like that first who knows what would have happened.

 

[bustaheims]

None of that is happening.

I'm not just talking about tonight - though Komarov got more ice time than he probably should have, and the 4th line probably shouldn't have seen the ice in the 3rd.

 

[Chris]

I think the Leafs have actually played pretty well, but Vasilevsky has just been better.

 

[ZBBM]

Man we are getting thoroughly outclassed. Why can't we take the next step?

I don't think it's been that one sided.  I thought the Leafs managed some pressure on them.  I think Tampa has the better defence, and their forward group has more talent, so I think this is a fairly good showing.

Yeah I was fully expecting to get dominated but it's been pretty close I think. That 1st goal was the back-breaker. If the Leafs got an opportunity like that first who knows what would have happened.

Yes.

Is that the first time we've been shutout this year?

 

[wnc096]

Man we are getting thoroughly outclassed. Why can't we take the next step?

I hate to keep harping on it, but coaching is part of it. Some players getting more ice time than they deserve/being in the lineup over more useful players, and the current system has sucked the speed out of the team's game, while also not providing a ton of help in the defensive end.

I'm not quite ready to say Babs should be on thin ice, but I think management needs to take away some of his favourite toys, and give him a talking to about how he plays with the others.

Isn't management telling the coach how to do his job how so many teams have gone down the toilet?  (including the Leafs in the past)

 

[ZBBM]

None of that is happening.

I'm not just talking about tonight - though Komarov got more ice time than he probably should have, and the 4th line probably shouldn't have seen the ice in the 3rd.

I know.  But there is no way Babcock is going to be overruled by Shanahan or Lou or anyone else. 

 

[bustaheims]

Isn't management telling the coach how to do his job how so many teams have gone down the toilet?  (including the Leafs in the past)

If you're talking micromanaging, sure. If you're pointing out that a strategy isn't working and guys like Hyman shouldn't be leading the forwards in ice time? I'm okay with that.

 

[rdowdall]

Man we are getting thoroughly outclassed. Why can't we take the next step?

I don't think it's been that one sided.  I thought the Leafs managed some pressure on them.  I think Tampa has the better defence, and their forward group has more talent, so I think this is a fairly good showing.

Yeah I was fully expecting to get dominated but it's been pretty close I think. That 1st goal was the back-breaker. If the Leafs got an opportunity like that first who knows what would have happened.

Definitely a better showing than against Vegas.  I think this just shows where the Leafs have to get to.  Tampa could skate with Toronto, and they capitalized on their chances. 

 

[bustaheims]

I know.  But there is no way Babcock is going to be overruled by Shanahan or Lou or anyone else.

Probably not, and, I do think he's smart enough a coach to eventually figure it out. It just frustrates me that he hasn't yet/hasn't been able to get the message to the players yet.

 

[CarltonTheBear]

Is that the first time we've been shutout this year?

Second. They were shutout by Minny last month.

 

[ZBBM]

I know.  But there is no way Babcock is going to be overruled by Shanahan or Lou or anyone else.

Probably not, and, I do think he's smart enough a coach to eventually figure it out. It just frustrates me that he hasn't yet/hasn't been able to get the message to the players yet.

Well, like we've said before he is going to get them to play like the Wings and nothing is going to stand in his way.  And really, the fact that they played Tampa pretty darn even only strengthens his case, if indeed there is any arguing going on behind the scenes with the rest of the brass, which I rather doubt.  They all know where the weaknesses are.

 

[ZBBM]

Is that the first time we've been shutout this year?

Second. They were shutout by Minny last month.

Thanks.

 

[herman]

Losing on only an awkward faux-pas (that Kunitz made a great play on), and a bad line change, and running into a very hot goalie against the top team in the league is a plus in my books. Didn't get steamrolled, and got a good close look at what we could be playing like. Tampa's defense corps is not much stronger than ours (other than Hedman being world-class, and Stralman being really solid in his middle-man minutes).

 

[ZBBM]

Playing VGK and Tampa back to back is interesting.  One is a fluke.  The other looks like it's finally going to get the Cup.  That's one strong team.  Sergachev for Drouin for godssakes.