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Qualifier Game 1: Blue Jackets @ Leafs - Aug. 2nd, 8:00pm - SN

I'll say it again: Columbus made us play their game and they played it to perfection.  I thought the effort was there on our side but Dubas's puck possession strategy will not work against a defensive team at the top of its game, which CBJ was tonight.

Like somebody said, we can't win playing dump and chase against these guys.  Like LK said, mix it up with flip passes.  Leafs have to take a few more risks and hope Andersen keeps playing as well as he did tonight when the oddmans come back the other way.
 
As for our own defense, it was shaky (like usual) but they hung in there for the most part.  Ceci and Barrie are not assets in playoff hockey, however.
 
https://twitter.com/simmonssteve/status/1290129895574691841

https://twitter.com/mirtle/status/1290132576594616320
Here we go!!!!
 
Zanzibar Buck-Buck McFate said:
I'll say it again: Columbus made us play their game and they played it to perfection.  I thought the effort was there on our side but Dubas's puck possession strategy will not work against a defensive team at the top of its game, which CBJ was tonight.

Like somebody said, we can't win playing dump and chase against these guys.  Like LK said, mix it up with flip passes.  Leafs have to take a few more risks and hope Andersen keeps playing as well as he did tonight when the oddmans come back the other way.
Well we have to play some type of game. If it isn't possession or dump and chase then what is it?

Also it was a one goal game for the most part. I think they need to make adjustments but it would be a mistake to overcorrect and not try to play to their strengths.
 
That was such a bad combination of a dull, mediocre hockey game and just a hollow feel to the game for the lack of fans.  It was like watching a World Hockey Championship round robin game in Sweden featuring Switzerland and Slovakia.  It mattered yet it felt like it didn't matter.
 
I'm kind of turning on Marner/Tavares...especially Marner. Dude wants the big bucks but is basically invisible out there. Nylander looked 10x better than Marner.
 
L K said:
The dump in strategy just isn?t going to work with this team.  Too many guys who just don?t have the size to win puck battles.  I don?t know why they aren?t using more flip passes to t th and get Columbus back on their heels.  That is what they had to do against Boston who would do the same thing clogging the neutral zone. 

The problem with a team that clogs up the neutral zone is that your first instinct is to dump and chase.
 
This was an incredibly boring hockey game. The 1-2-2 offense that Columbus runs is horrendous...but it works. People are asking the Leafs not to dump and chase, but that defensive structure basically forces it.
Andersen needs to stop that shot but it's tough to win games 0-0.

I thought Mikheyev looked really good at the start of the game. I also thought Matthews looked dangerous. Ceci was atrocious and I also found Muzzin was a step slow on just about everything. Rielly seems to be back to being the leader on the back end, which is a real good thing. He's nowhere near a perfect player, but he's the most talented player on the back end.

I fully expect the Leafs to have more jump on Tuesday. We all knew this wasn't going to be a perfect example of playoff hockey. No major changes are needed. They need to play to win.....They can't play to "not lose"
 
While it wasn?t the result we all wanted, I had a feeling that if the Leafs could pop one in, it would have opened things up. This is far from over. The Leafs just need to get their scoring going and force the jackets to play from behind.
 
RedLeaf said:
While it wasn?t the result we all wanted, I had a feeling that if the Leafs could pop one in, it would have opened things up. This is far from over. The Leafs just need to get their scoring going and force the jackets to play from behind.

My thought at the start or the game was that the Leafs needed to score in the first 10 minutes. If they had, the Jackets would have shifted their play and the game would have definitely opened up.

My message if I was Keefe before game 2 would be to bring a full on assault to start the game. Don't wade into the water. If you do, the Blue Jackets will lull you to sleep.
 
I know there's tons of doom and gloom in Leafs land after each loss but C'mon it's one game. Let's see if they adjust in game 2. We looked horrible at times against Boston too and managed to send those the distance.
 
They looked our of sorts at times. Bad passing, maybe due to bad ice? They could have easily won this game though. They had a couple chances for sure.  The whole talk track of Columbus shutting them down isn't jiving with me, but I remember the Devils' series.
 
Zee said:
I know there's tons of doom and gloom in Leafs land after each loss but C'mon it's one game. Let's see if they adjust in game 2. We looked horrible at times against Boston too and managed to send those the distance.

Yep, and first game after a long break. Crapshoot.
 
Bill_Berg said:
Zee said:
I know there's tons of doom and gloom in Leafs land after each loss but C'mon it's one game. Let's see if they adjust in game 2. We looked horrible at times against Boston too and managed to send those the distance.

Yep, and first game after a long break. Crapshoot.

And BS like this allowed

https://twitter.com/leafsalldayy/status/1290107340776120321?s=21


If anyone can honestly say "that's playoff hockey!" that's ridiculous. Matthews never touched the puck and gets taken out. Textbook interference and it was happening all game.
 
Zee said:
I know there's tons of doom and gloom in Leafs land after each loss but C'mon it's one game. Let's see if they adjust in game 2. We looked horrible at times against Boston too and managed to send those the distance.

I can see it the other way too. With a shorter series, one loss is more significant.

I'm kind of in gloom mode, but not full on doom yet.  8)
 
It's so funny watching one bad game and the calls to blow up the team and changing their style completely are already happening.
 

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