Blackhawks vs. Maple Leafs - Nov. 24th, 2:00pm - TSN4, TSN 1050

[ZBBM]

I'd like to know what the giveaways were in this game. Seemed like we were in a giving mood all day. I guess it is Thanksgiving there. Anyway most disappointing thing about this team is the inconsistency of the marquee players other than Nylander. M&M have done absolutely nothing seems like this whole month. Matthews lights up the lamp for a game or two and then is non existent and Marner to me has been dreadful all year. Point a game players nowadays fro players making what they do is not enough. They have to be better and more consistent. Keefe is so stubborn though and I know part of is not pissing these guys off as we saw last year with Mitch but they need to be separated. The way 16 has played he should be on the 3rd line but nothing ever changes.

He's not benching 34 or 16 nor should he, but they need a refresh.  Knies isn't playing well either.

 

[princedpw]

Marner and Matthews possession game is not what it used to be. Not sure why.

 

[Highlander]

Woll would have won that game
Let?s play him until he needs a break
Samsonov lets in that one soft goal that beats us. A la Feddie

 

[Zee]

Hey points in 5 straight games!?

 

[azzurri63]

I'd like to know what the giveaways were in this game. Seemed like we were in a giving mood all day. I guess it is Thanksgiving there. Anyway most disappointing thing about this team is the inconsistency of the marquee players other than Nylander. M&M have done absolutely nothing seems like this whole month. Matthews lights up the lamp for a game or two and then is non existent and Marner to me has been dreadful all year. Point a game players nowadays fro players making what they do is not enough. They have to be better and more consistent. Keefe is so stubborn though and I know part of is not pissing these guys off as we saw last year with Mitch but they need to be separated. The way 16 has played he should be on the 3rd line but nothing ever changes.

He's not benching 34 or 16 nor should he, but they need a refresh.  Knies isn't playing well either.

I didn't say they needed to be benched but maybe some line changes. Maybe moving Mitch to the 3rd line says your'e playing like crap and it sends a signal. This core is babied always has always will. Matthews isn't playing well either it's all or nothing with this guy it seems. Soon to be the highest paid player he's got to be better. I know what some will say he's tied for the league lead in goals. Yep that's great but we've played 18 games and he's been held pointless in 8 and all his goals have come in 7 games with 3 hat tricks.

 

[dekedastardly]

Sloppy, disorganized dzone play.  Typical kind of Leaf showing against a shitty team. These guys still can't close out games. Killer instinct non-existent.

 

[azzurri63]

Woll would have won that game
Let?s play him until he needs a break
Samsonov lets in that one soft goal that beats us. A la Feddie

Yep Andersen 2.0 in that sense but I would take Freddy over this guy everyday. Even now and Freddy has regressed.

 

[L K]

Hey points in 5 straight games!?

Honestly until we see a trade this is probably the best way to look at the team.

Reaves isn't going to magically become a good hockey player.  Our cobbled together defense isn't going to suddenly become an offensive firepower.

The concerning thing for me is that I don't think our defense is very good at really getting stretch passes going for rush chances and the Leafs forwards have really been leaking out of the zone.  They are standing up at the offensive blueline with the defense still back deep in their own zone.  Give better outlet opportunities and build more momentum getting into the zone.  Too many two line passes to a guy who has to stop to take a pass that is in tight and then the defenders can close off on them.  I'm not loving this strategy lately.