Leafs @ Blues - Dec. 7th, 7:00pm - CBC, TSN 1050

[Highlander]

It makes sense this is not going to be an overnight improvement with Keefe. However they are doing way better than Blues through this point in the takeovers of the last year.  Berube needed a bit more time for his team to gel and finding Jesus goaltending from Bing.
I actually thought the Leafs outplayed Avalanche in their last game and played 50 minutes of decent hockey against Phili before the collapse at the end.
Just want them to go on some sort of winning streak at this point. Hard in the new NHL, so much talent on every team.

 

[OldTimeHockey]

It makes sense this is not going to be an overnight improvement with Keefe. However they are doing way better than Blues through this point in the takeovers of the last year.  Berube needed a bit more time for his team to gel and finding Jesus goaltending from Bing.
I actually thought the Leafs outplayed Avalanche in their last game and played 50 minutes of decent hockey against Phili before the collapse at the end.
Just want them to go on some sort of winning streak at this point. Hard in the new NHL, so much talent on every team.

That's great and I agree. But can we all just calm down after each loss or win?

Despite the score last night, there were many holes in their game, a couple of their goals for were soft/lucky and Andersen stood on his head....again. The give aways in the first period were enough to make any coach pull his hair out.

 

[Highlander]

It makes sense this is not going to be an overnight improvement with Keefe. However they are doing way better than Blues through this point in the takeovers of the last year.  Berube needed a bit more time for his team to gel and finding Jesus goaltending from Bing.
I actually thought the Leafs outplayed Avalanche in their last game and played 50 minutes of decent hockey against Phili before the collapse at the end.
Just want them to go on some sort of winning streak at this point. Hard in the new NHL, so much talent on every team.

That's great and I agree. But can we all just calm down after each loss or win?

Despite the score last night, there were many holes in their game, a couple of their goals for were soft/lucky and Andersen stood on his head....again. The give aways in the first period were enough to make any coach pull his hair out.

Definitely Fred A was the early difference maker.. You can tell he is super motivated to help this team get there, like playing the back to backs.  Ya we got to all keep an even keel or an even Keefe.

 

[L K]

It's quite funny really.

Leafs Win: "Man they're really buying into Keefe's system"

Leafs Lose: "It's way too early to expect them to play Keefe's system"

It's not that its so much too early for Keefe's system but that consistency with it isn't going to be there.  Outside  of the final 10 minutes of the Philly game and parts of the Buffalo loss  the last 8 games have been miles better than anything we saw out of the first 20+ games of the year.  Both statements aren't mutually exclusive.   

The style  they are playing now is far more conducive to the strengths of the team.  They still have big lapses and it usually comes down to a structural collapse that may get better with more  time. 

 

[Zee]

It makes sense this is not going to be an overnight improvement with Keefe. However they are doing way better than Blues through this point in the takeovers of the last year.  Berube needed a bit more time for his team to gel and finding Jesus goaltending from Bing.
I actually thought the Leafs outplayed Avalanche in their last game and played 50 minutes of decent hockey against Phili before the collapse at the end.
Just want them to go on some sort of winning streak at this point. Hard in the new NHL, so much talent on every team.

That's great and I agree. But can we all just calm down after each loss or win?

Despite the score last night, there were many holes in their game, a couple of their goals for were soft/lucky and Andersen stood on his head....again. The give aways in the first period were enough to make any coach pull his hair out.

If you wanna play that game how about looking at St Louis? They won the Cup last season and if they get average to bad goaltending they can't win either. Binnington pulled, game over. Don't make it seem like the Leafa are the only team that has defensive breakdowns or relies on good goaltending to win.

 

[Highlander]

by the way, I don't want Faulk if he is offered up, looks like more of the same D wise, backing up, not closing gaps, pretty Ceci/Rielly like on his D work.

 

[Phileas Fogg]

Don't make it seem like the Leafa are the only team that has defensive breakdowns or relies on good goaltending to win.

The leafs are 6th worst in the league at allowing scoring chances against this season. So I'd say they rely on Andersen far more than most.

 

[Phileas Fogg]

However they are doing way better than Blues through this point in the takeovers of the last year. 

Using the Blues' path to success as a comparable is a pretty terrible idea.

 

[Guilt Trip]

It's quite funny really.

Leafs Win: "Man they're really buying into Keefe's system"

Leafs Lose: "It's way too early to expect them to play Keefe's system"

It's not that its so much too early for Keefe's system but that consistency with it isn't going to be there.  Outside  of the final 10 minutes of the Philly game and parts of the Buffalo loss  the last 8 games have been miles better than anything we saw out of the first 20+ games of the year.  Both statements aren't mutually exclusive.   

The style  they are playing now is far more conducive to the strengths of the team.  They still have big lapses and it usually comes down to a structural collapse that may get better with more  time. 

Absolutely. I like they way they try to hang onto possession instead of dumping it in during line changes. Looks promising so far. Let's see where it takes us. 

 

[OldTimeHockey]

It makes sense this is not going to be an overnight improvement with Keefe. However they are doing way better than Blues through this point in the takeovers of the last year.  Berube needed a bit more time for his team to gel and finding Jesus goaltending from Bing.
I actually thought the Leafs outplayed Avalanche in their last game and played 50 minutes of decent hockey against Phili before the collapse at the end.
Just want them to go on some sort of winning streak at this point. Hard in the new NHL, so much talent on every team.

That's great and I agree. But can we all just calm down after each loss or win?

Despite the score last night, there were many holes in their game, a couple of their goals for were soft/lucky and Andersen stood on his head....again. The give aways in the first period were enough to make any coach pull his hair out.

Don't make it seem like the Leafa are the only team that has defensive breakdowns or relies on good goaltending to win.

Where did I say that? I simply said that they're not playing much better than they did prior to the coaching change. Just my opinion though, and I'll fully admit that I've missed a couple of the Keefe games.

 

[Bates]

It makes sense this is not going to be an overnight improvement with Keefe. However they are doing way better than Blues through this point in the takeovers of the last year.  Berube needed a bit more time for his team to gel and finding Jesus goaltending from Bing.
I actually thought the Leafs outplayed Avalanche in their last game and played 50 minutes of decent hockey against Phili before the collapse at the end.
Just want them to go on some sort of winning streak at this point. Hard in the new NHL, so much talent on every team.

That's great and I agree. But can we all just calm down after each loss or win?

Despite the score last night, there were many holes in their game, a couple of their goals for were soft/lucky and Andersen stood on his head....again. The give aways in the first period were enough to make any coach pull his hair out.

Don't make it seem like the Leafa are the only team that has defensive breakdowns or relies on good goaltending to win.

Where did I say that? I simply said that they're not playing much better than they did prior to the coaching change. Just my opinion though, and I'll fully admit that I've missed a couple of the Keefe games.

I think I know which games you watched.

 

[OldTimeHockey]

It makes sense this is not going to be an overnight improvement with Keefe. However they are doing way better than Blues through this point in the takeovers of the last year.  Berube needed a bit more time for his team to gel and finding Jesus goaltending from Bing.
I actually thought the Leafs outplayed Avalanche in their last game and played 50 minutes of decent hockey against Phili before the collapse at the end.
Just want them to go on some sort of winning streak at this point. Hard in the new NHL, so much talent on every team.

That's great and I agree. But can we all just calm down after each loss or win?

Despite the score last night, there were many holes in their game, a couple of their goals for were soft/lucky and Andersen stood on his head....again. The give aways in the first period were enough to make any coach pull his hair out.

Don't make it seem like the Leafa are the only team that has defensive breakdowns or relies on good goaltending to win.

Where did I say that? I simply said that they're not playing much better than they did prior to the coaching change. Just my opinion though, and I'll fully admit that I've missed a couple of the Keefe games.

I think I know which games you watched.

Like I said, just my opinion.

I did watch the Blues game Saturday night. They played well. Nothing to start booking a parade over.

 

[Andy007]

Nylander after he lost the puck ... just watched it, didn't make any move to try to get it back.

Yup. He's had some brutal giveaways tonight as well.

He has to root that stuff out of his game.  Maybe Keefe can get through to him.

Yes he needs to get that out of his game. They all do but Nylander seems to be leading the pack.

So I read all these Nylander comments before watching the game (had it DVR'd) and I was waiting....and waiting....and waiting...to see all of these horrible, brutal, unforgiveable giveaways...and lo and behold, Nylander looked fantastic out there. There were even multiple plays away from the puck that stood out, which isn't always the case with him. What am I missing here? Was that lone giveaway in the 3rd in the defensive zone so egregious? I saw Tavares do that twice earlier in the game.

Anyway just my thoughts. I thought Marner was the best forward but Nylander was a close second.

 

[herman]

So I read all these Nylander comments before watching the game (had it DVR'd) and I was waiting....and waiting....and waiting...to see all of these horrible, brutal, unforgiveable giveaways...and lo and behold, Nylander looked fantastic out there. There were even multiple plays away from the puck that stood out, which isn't always the case with him. What am I missing here? Was that lone giveaway in the 3rd in the defensive zone so egregious? I saw Tavares do that twice earlier in the game.

Anyway just my thoughts. I thought Marner was the best forward but Nylander was a close second.

The play ZBBM was referencing was in the 3rd when he outraced a few Blues at the end of his shift in the NZ to break a puck in, but as he pulled up on the curl in the OZ the puck slipped off his blade. He made no follow up attempt to retrieve it even though it was only... 8 ft away? and had to brace for a late check.

If I recall correctly, it was pretty much exactly this play through the NZ except the puck didn't stay on his stick and his linemates were changing.
https://twitter.com/TicTacTOmar/status/1203472347174461440

So I guess that means he is bad.

 

[Guilt Trip]

Nylander after he lost the puck ... just watched it, didn't make any move to try to get it back.

Yup. He's had some brutal giveaways tonight as well.

He has to root that stuff out of his game.  Maybe Keefe can get through to him.

Yes he needs to get that out of his game. They all do but Nylander seems to be leading the pack.

So I read all these Nylander comments before watching the game (had it DVR'd) and I was waiting....and waiting....and waiting...to see all of these horrible, brutal, unforgiveable giveaways...and lo and behold, Nylander looked fantastic out there. There were even multiple plays away from the puck that stood out, which isn't always the case with him. What am I missing here? Was that lone giveaway in the 3rd in the defensive zone so egregious? I saw Tavares do that twice earlier in the game.

Anyway just my thoughts. I thought Marner was the best forward but Nylander was a close second.

You need to watch more closely if you think there was a lone giveaway.

 

[Andy007]

Nylander after he lost the puck ... just watched it, didn't make any move to try to get it back.

Yup. He's had some brutal giveaways tonight as well.

He has to root that stuff out of his game.  Maybe Keefe can get through to him.

Yes he needs to get that out of his game. They all do but Nylander seems to be leading the pack.

So I read all these Nylander comments before watching the game (had it DVR'd) and I was waiting....and waiting....and waiting...to see all of these horrible, brutal, unforgiveable giveaways...and lo and behold, Nylander looked fantastic out there. There were even multiple plays away from the puck that stood out, which isn't always the case with him. What am I missing here? Was that lone giveaway in the 3rd in the defensive zone so egregious? I saw Tavares do that twice earlier in the game.

Anyway just my thoughts. I thought Marner was the best forward but Nylander was a close second.

You need to watch more closely if you think there was a lone giveaway.

And perhaps you need to brush up on your reading comprehension.

To reiterate, that one giveaway in particular was the one I assumed would be considered the most egregious; I'm not saying that's the only "soft" play or single giveaway he was responsible for. The fact is, as I also pointed out, guys like Tavares still make horrible giveaways or gaffes, it's part of the game for most, if not all, talented players. From the comments in the thread, I thought I was going to see an endless barrage of mistakes, which was definitely not the case.

 

[Guilt Trip]

Nylander after he lost the puck ... just watched it, didn't make any move to try to get it back.

Yup. He's had some brutal giveaways tonight as well.

He has to root that stuff out of his game.  Maybe Keefe can get through to him.

Yes he needs to get that out of his game. They all do but Nylander seems to be leading the pack.

So I read all these Nylander comments before watching the game (had it DVR'd) and I was waiting....and waiting....and waiting...to see all of these horrible, brutal, unforgiveable giveaways...and lo and behold, Nylander looked fantastic out there. There were even multiple plays away from the puck that stood out, which isn't always the case with him. What am I missing here? Was that lone giveaway in the 3rd in the defensive zone so egregious? I saw Tavares do that twice earlier in the game.

Anyway just my thoughts. I thought Marner was the best forward but Nylander was a close second.

You need to watch more closely if you think there was a lone giveaway.

And perhaps you need to brush up on your reading comprehension.

To reiterate, that one giveaway in particular was the one I assumed would be considered the most egregious; I'm not saying that's the only "soft" play or single giveaway he was responsible for. The fact is, as I also pointed out, guys like Tavares still make horrible giveaways or gaffes, it's part of the game for most, if not all, talented players. From the comments in the thread, I thought I was going to see an endless barrage of mistakes, which was definitely not the case.

You never mentioned any other soft play regarding Willy. Just the one "lone" play in the 3rd.