sens @ Leafs - Feb. 18th, 7:00pm - SNO, Fan 590

[Bender]

I'll take 5 of 6pts.

 

[Kin]

In a way this week was a perfect microcosm of being a Leaf fan. On the one hand an embarrassing loss that will provide much grist for the mill of the people inclined to laugh at the team. On the other, they take 5 of 6 points from a hated division rivalry and a lot of fans will have way more negative to say about the team than positive.

Still, I wouldn't trade being a Leafs fan for anything. Imagine how boring it must be to cheer for anyone else.

 

[bustaheims]

Hutchinson is not someone I want to see in net again but he did enough to get the win.

He made enough saves, so, cool. Get healthy, Campbell.

 

[wnc096]

In a way this week was a perfect microcosm of being a Leaf fan. On the one hand an embarrassing loss that will provide much grist for the mill of the people inclined to laugh at the team. On the other, they take 5 of 6 points from a hated division rivalry and a lot of fans will have way more negative to say about the team than positive.

Still, I wouldn't trade being a Leafs fan for anything. Imagine how boring it must be to cheer for anyone else.

Unless the leafs win 6-0...it?s its not good enough for some lol

 

[bustaheims]

3 more years at $6.25mil for Murray eh.

He was actually playing pretty well recently, until tonight. Consistency has long been a problem for him.

 

[Kin]

I get laughing at the deal but in all honesty it's not like the Senators are going to trouble the cap before it's over. In some years I'd bet they need it to hit the floor.

 

[Kin]

Most of the focus is rightfully on how crazy Matthews has been but Mitch Marner is on pace for a 36 goal/123 point 82 game season.

Since he signed his extension Marner's scored 94 points in 77 games

 

[Guilt Trip]

Most of the focus is rightfully on how crazy Matthews has been but Mitch Marner is on pace for a 36 goal/123 point 82 game season.

Since he signed his extension Marner's scored 94 points in 77 games

But, but, he's overpaid...lol

 

[Peter D.]

Most of the focus is rightfully on how crazy Matthews has been but Mitch Marner is on pace for a 36 goal/123 point 82 game season.

Since he signed his extension Marner's scored 94 points in 77 games

As much as Matthews gets the spotlight shone on him and all the accolades, and rightfully so, I?ve consistently thought that Marner, not Matthews, would be the one leading the team in scoring in more seasons than not.

 

[Champ Kind]

In a way this week was a perfect microcosm of being a Leaf fan. On the one hand an embarrassing loss that will provide much grist for the mill of the people inclined to laugh at the team. On the other, they take 5 of 6 points from a hated division rivalry and a lot of fans will have way more negative to say about the team than positive.

Still, I wouldn't trade being a Leafs fan for anything. Imagine how boring it must be to cheer for anyone else.

Seriously, Nik, God bless you.  I would give you such a mutually supportive bro-hug right now.

 

[Heroic Shrimp]

Vesey falling on his very first play

Everybody take a drink!

 

[cabber24]

Dermott and Lehtonen are having a rough game it seems like. 27% CF, every other defenceman is over 50%.

They?re a bad combo. Both like to skate with the puck, and neither is super strong defensively. Lehtonen?s defensive game is not where it needs to be for him to be a full time NHL player. Dermott?s is basically 3rd pairing level right now.

Last year combination of skill sets... unfortuantely for Dermott we got what he brings covered and need a Bogosian type in the mix.

 

[cabber24]

In a way this week was a perfect microcosm of being a Leaf fan. On the one hand an embarrassing loss that will provide much grist for the mill of the people inclined to laugh at the team. On the other, they take 5 of 6 points from a hated division rivalry and a lot of fans will have way more negative to say about the team than positive.

Still, I wouldn't trade being a Leafs fan for anything. Imagine how boring it must be to cheer for anyone else.

That loss brought back that familiar feeling. How are we supposed to feel? All we know is losing. We are in uncharted territory.

 

[herman]

Vesey falling on his very first play

Well now he doesn't have to the rest of the game.

Everybody take a drink!

He looked more confident skating with and without the puck as the game wore on, employing lots of linear crossovers to pick up speed and get on the forecheck or come back in support quicker.

 

[Redleaf]

Vesey falling on his very first play

Well now he doesn't have to the rest of the game.

Everybody take a drink!

He looked more confident skating with and without the puck as the game wore on, employing lots of linear crossovers to pick up speed and get on the forecheck or come back in support quicker.

I think Vesey will eventually find his game in Toronto. He just doesn?t seem to be as pressure-treated as some of the other new arrivals.

 

[BrownRolo]

There's a guy on Leafs Reddit that makes these newspaper cartoons after each game. Some pretty good ones.

 

[herman]

I think Vesey will eventually find his game in Toronto. He just doesn't seem to be as pressure-treated as some of the other new arrivals.

He's going to get all the development attention he wants (and then some), but at some point he has to pull distinctly ahead of the Petan/Boyd/Engvall or make way for Robertson, Brooks. At the bottom half of the lineup, it's all about the mix and match of strengths and more glaring weaknesses to get the right fit for the role.

Vesey is one of the safer offensive blackhole options at the bottom of our lineup but he has no standout feature to leverage at this point, similar to Barabanov.

Do we need shutdown skills? Mikheyev, Engvall, Boyd, Anderson
Do we need skilled facilitation? Kerfoot, Spezza, Petan, Brooks
NZ transition: Kerfoot, Petan, Spezza, Boyd
Energy? Kerfoot, Petan, Boyd, Anderson, Simmonds, Mikheyev, Robertson
Faceoffs? Spezza, Boyd
PK? Kerfoot, Mikheyev, Engvall, Anderson, Brooks, Vesey
Depth scoring? Spezza, Simmonds, Kerfoot, Robertson, Boyd, Petan
Top-6 sub? Kerfoot, Spezza, Petan, Simmonds, Robertson, Mikheyev

 

[Bullfrog]

I've always preferred the Matthews-Nylander and Tavares-Marner combos. I hope they stick.

 

[herman]

I've always preferred the Matthews-Nylander and Tavares-Marner combos. I hope they stick.

Me too.

Are people going to give credit to Marner getting the monkey off Tavares' back though? As much as Marner did that game (holy moly that goal which Murray was hilarious down on super early),
https://twitter.com/NHL/status/1362771214415069190

https://twitter.com/TicTacTOmar/status/1362589211048767491
that was basically a nothing pass to Tavares all the way out in Mikeheyv-land that he dusted off, walked the line, and punched it bar down through a hapless and tired Matt Marray (zero blue sweaters in between).

 

[CarltonTheBear]

I've always preferred the Matthews-Nylander and Tavares-Marner combos. I hope they stick.

I agree but I do wonder how much the human factor comes into play here. Not saying that the relationship between those two pairs are rocky or anything, but it's pretty clear that Matthews and Marner genuinely want to play together. And they just seem giddy as the idea they get to both play with Joe Thornton as well. In fact I have a sneaking suspicion that line only came to be because those two asked about it.

Obviously at the end of the day these guys are professionals and they'll do what's best for the team, but I do think they'll be a little bummed about it.