With the Leafs coming off a thrilling Game 6 victory, TSN Hockey insider Darren Dreger joins 7-Eleven That's Hockey host Gino Reda to discuss whether the Leafs have unlocked a playoff formula that has eluded them in previous years.
I've been watching hockey for 52 years and I've seen, many times, a team lose its star to injury, regroup, win games, and when their star comes back, lose.
Domi has a problem...he can be fabulous for 1 or 2 years and then its like he loses interest, drive, and you get a player who is erratic....look at his career.
@@trevorwilkinson7744 lol that was by design on his part did you listen to his interview at the beginning of the last game? He hinted at wanting to play in Toronto so bad and that’s why he kept signing short term deals in the hopes he’d make it here one day. I don’t believe he has had any long term contracts at all in his career, 3 years I think has been his longest and that was his entry level contract. Don’t think your point has much substance
Well done Gino & Dregs...FINALLY somebody giving Domi & Bertuzzi the credit they deserve!!!! This has been a grueling, hard fought series, and the Leafs FINALLY have the players to help them compete in these types of series...which they have lacked over the years of perpetual losing. -Domi has been, IMHO, the best forward winning the bulk of his faceoffs, playing hard in the corners, along the boards, and in front of the net. -Bertuzzi has been stellar as well. -And let's not forget about Joel Edmundson....he has been a beast on "D"...again...something they've been missing for awhile. Good on Dregs for giving props to Keefe too. I've been critical of Keefe in the past and rightfully so BUT he has stepped up and deserves credit for getting his team ready to compete...good on him!!! Lastly...the thinking shouldn't shift from the dire concerns re: this team!!! Let's not plan the Cup parade just yet. There are major issues re: the Leafs that need addressing so let's see what plays out and then start taking a serious look at the team from Shanny on down the line.
McCabe and Benoit have been phenomenal as well. Especially McCabe being so stoic and focused and making sure people don’t take penalties after the whistles
See y'all in Florida. Anyone that has watched Dragon Ball Z has seen this "formula" in the Cell Games. Mathews bought Leafs some time while Nylander went into the time chamber. Now Willy is back and Austin is about the come out the Time Chamber for game 7/G1R2.
I dunno. I'm a Leaf, but this doesn't feel new yet, it feels like a repeat lol. We did come back from 3-1 series multiple times vs Boston just to lose in 7. They played really well last game though, I'll try to be optimistic.
Leafs are getting amazing goaltending, game stealing type! Also, bruins doesn't have offense. It's not the same team Leafs used to loose to. NOW WE GOT a CHOKE-OFFFF!!!
@@Alex90210 You know what! I will put 2 bucks on LEAFs just to be Dickk lol. Do you want to come back to this comment and fight after the game and tell each other I TOLD you so?
The Leafs have what it takes to defeat any team in the league. Strategically, like how they played on game 6. Keep up the team work and protecting the goalie in my opinion is the best beat. Go Leafs!
I loved Gregor’s speed in game 6 Matthew knives has had great physical play and offensive plays like the pass to nylander the overtime goal in game 5 JOSEPH WOLL omg absolutely took the team and put them on his back and and turned this whole series around marner has played better domi has been better Burt has been such a good bully jerk etc I love it 4th line completely did there job and can we mention McCabe in game 5 and 6 a goal in game 5 to get them up by 1 - 0 and his defensive play in game 6 amazing performance there was of course some things to clean up letting Boston to get breaks letting them to get in front of the net they still do have turn arounds but it has been so much better love the past two games and Nylander won game 6 with Joseph woll and in game 5 he also looked good but amazing this game 2 goals can he continue to shine in game 7
Or... Florida loses their 'playoff game form' from having to sit around and wait likely 9-10 days in total while this series finishes up & before game 1 of the next round, up and forget how to play. The Laughs on a huge emotional high, and alongside a healthy amount of sheer dumb luck managed to surprise everyone and take down the Panthers in 5-6 games. That would be such a perfect script, you know that Bettman will do everything in his power behind the scenes to make it happen! ;-)
@@user-sw7ob2zk7p Considering how last year went, with the Laughs finally winning a round literally in spite of tripping over themselves vs. Tampa?! Even as a Habs fan I don't put ANYTHING past the Loafs... Toronto gets so many lucky bounces go their way all the time, like their winning goal in Game 5 this past series. Bettman's gotta be furious that both Toronto & Vegas are out now!Lol That's a lot of lost TV revenue & betting money down the drain 😛
Dreger is WRONG- they are a better playoff team right now without Matthews than with him. If Matthews comes back, he can not have his top-centre roll back in this series. I don't think you should bring him back at all this series, unless its for a power play role.. Gino is right that this injury/illness to Matthews has been a blessing in disguise...Dreger can not say this publicly, if he wanted to or not, as he will be under fire himself for saying it...and if you are
Its really as simple as the saying "Offense puts buts in seats, but Defense wins championships" Though it is ironic that a offensive powerhouse, wins with their defensive play.
No players should be untouchable. To management it has to be stanley cup win or bust. Especially after giving this group/plan so much time. Saying that, this game 7 feels different. Maybe a switch has flipped for the players. Playoffs are grueling and get harder and harder every game and every series. Toughest survive in the end period. Grind out wins and if you lose, make the other team suffer badly for it. Its the soft losses that irk me personally.
Playoff hockey is tight checking , good defense and physical play. Aside from game 5 and 6 , Leafs did not do any of these things. Leafs have a good chemistry thing going on right now. They are playing a good team game with physical play and defense. Playoff style hockey! Boston has just one goal in last two games played. Changing the lines around now in game 7 of the playoffs should not be advised
Just play! They are pros! Just play hard! Skip the lies, untruths & pussyfooting in the playoffs. & then fire coach Keefe asap as well as clean out top hockey management offices in Toronto 👍
The hockey world has already counted the Bruins out as chokers. Expect a major comeback game from them in Game 7. I think the Leafs will be a bit tight and Bruins will win.
@@Alex90210 history means nothing … these are not the same teams from years ago. Boston has lost a lot of its star players and has less depth and the Leafs have gained depth in guys like Domi, Bertuzzi, Knies. You can’t seriously tell me a player like Zacha is as good as Bergeron.
Matthews has been a playoff disappointment in about 80% of the games he has played in his career - as a first line Centre. Playoff officiating adds physical play requirements- that make Domi a better first line Centre than Matthews. Mathews would make an elite playoff first line winger. The adjustment the Leafs made inadvertently in these playoffs to win these last to playoff games- was to successfully scratch Mathews from the first line Centre role - thus stopping Core 4 playoff disappointments. 😀
Think you’re underestimating the impact of the goalie switch. You give the core four a clearly above average goalie for these runs and I think the outcomes are much different. If Ilya gives up a bad early goal in either of these last two games then I don’t think we win either game.
@@johngallagher72 He was a super star in game #2 this year. But he has been a disappointment ( not worthy of the top NHL pay rate) for years. My view is with playoff officiating- he would still be an elite playoff winger on the first line. My concern is - the Leaf Executives have screwed up when it comes to Leaf Core 4 upgrades. So they really just keep helping Bruins Fans come playoffs by playing Matthews as Leaf First Line Centre during the playoffs with playoff officiating that screws Marner & Matthews. 😀
@@ivanwestra6014 My focus is just Matthews play at centre. He only looked like a super star in one game. Like Marner, my view is Matthews is an 80% playoff disappointment by not being able to adjust to playoff officiating. Domi plays a style that physical play doesn’t hurt him. Elite snipers like OV, Matthews, Hull and Selanne thrive when playing wing. 😀 At Centre - Matthews has been a playoff disappointment all of his career.
You see, that's the formula. If Matthews plays game seven the Leafs will lose. He did nothing last year and he's doing nothing this year. If Toronto knows what good for them, they will bench that tool for the rest of the playoffs.
