"NHL arenas across the league there is an audible and genuine WTF" Kings fan here, season seat holder, went to the game last night and the calls got so bad it felt like we were about to storm the ice. It got LOUD at some of those howlers of calls, never heard that before (playoffs or otherwise). Wouldnt be surprised if the NHL asks *all* arenas to not show as many penalty replays.
Opening with Dangle2- hilarious Scottish pudding quotes- what a treat Chirping with the Devils fan- gold In your intro, you have to add back the ""Auuuussstttttooonnnnn Maaaattttthhheeewwwws" from the LFR 10 intro. It was my favourite part, that I now sing everyday, instead of just saying "Auston Matthews." Thanks for another great episode!
After games like this one, Leafs desperately need a top defensive defensemen if they want to have a legitimate shot at going deep. Preferably 2nd pairing or better. As much as I like Gardner, the fact he is the team's top defensemen right now scares me. Until they make a move for said player, expect more games like this one.
Robinson Joe lmfao Gardiner makes mistakes every now and then but he was our best D-man last year, finished with a +24 sometimes he makes mistakes but he can be big for us when we need it. He’s worth it. Imo he’s an elite player. Defensively he could use a little more tuning but he’s very good for us at the point position offensively.
JF_112 I agree this team is not winning a cup without a number 1 defenceman. I know the pens did it without Letang but it's really rare for a team to do that plus they had elite goaltending along the way Freddy has to play like that for us to win a cup.
Steve, this was the first time my daughter and I celebrated her birthday at the ACC watching a Maple Leaf's game and I can't believe how terrible it felt to lose. There were some fun times - scoring all 3 goals but nothing worked. It was very disappointing. The Devil's were incredible! They looked like us last year. I do faithfully watch all your podcasts and videos and love them! You are an AWESOME Leaf's fan! ❤️
I think the Leafs were surprised just how fast the Devils were and didn't know how to defend against it. For example the Devils scored on a 3 on 5 goal. When Henrique is rushing the puck over the red line 99% of the team a player in that situation would dump it but not only did he go for it, the goal scorer Gibbons also went in deep which is very risky because it's a big odd man rush the other way. The 2nd Wood goal just showcased how fast this team can be and he blew by the leafs defender. Lastly the 5th goal. The Devils being fast and hard on the puck forces the Leafs D man to move the puck and he moves it up the middle, a fundamental mistake and Coleman capitalizes on it. Yes Schneider was rock solid but you didn't give enough credit for the way the Devils played. Also how can you blame Marner for the PP goal? BOTH DMAN went behind the goal line. One of them should of stayed in front.
Anthony I agree, but saying he’s the only reason we lost is not only stupid, but just plain wrong. Sure he could’ve saved 2 of the goals, but we still have the Devils 4 easy goals that he had no chance on. Everyone needs to take the blame here, not just Freddy.
Good game to the Devils. Both teams had chances, we didn't take them, the Devils did. Frustrating game. Well deserved win, good luck in the next one btw.
I was at the game on Wednesday Night. I saw a Drake Berehowsky Jersey in my section. I also saw a Crosbitch 87 Penguins Jersey outside the ACC before the game.
I think the only thing funnier than regular angry Dangle is Scottish angry Dangle, and if we can have the latter as much as possible I will be a chucklin' fool.
Don't know why I'm re-watching these, but when Steve said Gardiner panicked and picked up no one, I couldn't help but think, "ah, some things never change"
Last night was a bad day for streaks. SKA St. Petersburg lost their first game this season as well ... granted, in their case, it was also the 21st game.
Freddie has been stellar this season. Look at the number of PK's he has stood on his head already, and our record could easily be 1-3 if he didnt make those saves. About 80% of everything that has gone in on him has been a screened shot he has no chance on, tipped shots which is damn hard for any goalie, and of course the recent breakaway goal. So, no blame on Freddie. The issue is not Freddie, but is the Defense not clearing the front of the net, or blocking shots.... Clean that up and the leafs will be deadly. And too many penalties, refs are nuts this year so far.
Ok Steve I have been watching you for awhile now and I find you and your passion very entertaining. Try this on for size (forewarning out of box thinking) the problems this team is facing is purely a captain issue...and we don't have one. It looked to me like Mike Babcock generated this loss...ok hear me out! Ego and youth are the elephant is the room which would be the captain's duties to suppress...right? Well, because, we don't have one Bab's might be trying to teach them by setting them up to fail... It appeared to me that he played the rookie defenders with top pairing assignments. Then he goes on in his post game comment to say "they didn't work..." How can you say that when they had 50 shots! I love Babcock and I trust his experience however if my suspicions are true I'm conflicted. None-the-less, I'm In and have been for 40+ years
To answer the question, I'd play Marincin for like the rest of the season. They desperately need the shot suppressing stability he gives. If not him, bring up Dermott for a couple games to see what you have with him. It seems like he'll be a good defensive defenceman who can actually skate well, which along with Carrick would be an amazing third pairing.
The Leafs look a lot like the 2015-2016 Stars with the hot offense and the struggling defense. The 200 foot game is something to focus on with this team. I have faith in guys. They will figure things out.
Saying we played bad is an understatement but with as bad as we did play, we could've very well won that game. Hit post 3 times alone in the 2nd, hit post once in the 3rd. Schneider gave his best Carey Price impersonation and saved at least 4 goals that would've gone in against almost any other goalie. Obviously somethings have to be tweaked and the defense has to dramatically get better, and I believe it will, but we're 3-1-0. I can't complain. Also fun fact: Freddy's first 5 games last season: .851 SV% Games 6-66: .923 SV%. He's fine guys.
Am i the only one who thinks Rielly might be our worst D? Whenever he gets the puck in our zone i swear all he knows is to shoot it off the boards no matter who may be there to receive it. He also NEVER checks people, instead he will just follow the guy with the puck along the boards until he is on the other side of the net then lets the other players deal with it
Agreed, he starts to skate quick then always stops when he hits their blue line. He also possesses zero strength when one on one in our zone and just kinda of flails his stick hoping to poke away the puck
you both are nuts, nothing wrong with chipping the puck out of the d zone to nobody and nothing wrong skating it into the ozone and stopping, he's a defenceman , and you would be crazy to say morgan rielly can't move the puck well. I'm not saying he's bobby orr either or even a #1 pair guy but he is for sure not the worst.
As a caps fan who went through the heart attack caps era of '07-'10 where every game was a 5-4 comeback loss with 3 goals in the last 7 minutes of the game, enjoy your slap in the face. It's no fun watching a team that can score at will and gets scored on almost at the same rate. You need to shore up your defense fast while you still can afford all your guns up front.
In leafs past, the problem was high scoring but poor possesion. And that cost us. Now that we can score and drive possession, the last element is defending. Always is when you build a team like we have that is very offensive minded. If we have these problems giving up four, five or six goals by game 15-20 then turn up the worry dial. Now just let them work it out without freaking out
Why isn't dermott involved in the discussion to replace Rosen. Idk about you guys but I thought he looked way better in the pre season, especially defensively. He never treats the puck like a grenade which in my mind is what rosens' main problem has been so far and his hockey IQ is pretty great if you ask me
I agree with mercier... tough loss for sure and we have been scoring but it is a good slap in the face to the team to smarten up and they have work to do and are not immortal
Just acknowledge the fact the devils played well. So many Toronto fans including you still clinging onto the fact that you had 50 shots. Congratulations! Shots don't get you the win, goals do.
Skylightt OR you could stop being a judgmental idiot. A LOT of us admitted the devils were a lot better than expected. After that, what do u want us to do? We don't care about ur team. We care about ours. And ours said 50 shots so despite the loss, it was still a hard fought battle. Stop with this petty stuff.
One loss and everyone gets worried. Losses happen. It's repeated losses and errors that are problems. It's still early and there are things to work on. Yes still things to work on. You don't go from last to playoff to great. We are fortunate to be where we are and need to continue working on improving certain errors to become the best
so i added up all the power play and penalty kill time so far in the first 4 leaf games and there has been 114 minutes of special teams play. That means the leafs are 6 minutes shy of being on a power play or penalty kill for 2 full games! And like Steve said most people watching are just going "wtf! that's a penalty"
Amazed that you didn't touch on the fact that two guys go after Matt Martin with a minute to go and not one leaf went to his aid. Instead they try and score even though the game is clearly over. Thought they were supposed to be a team. Also appalled at the weak slashes they call but two guys holding and interfering with Martin is A-OK.
The leafs Defense needs to learn how to get people out from the front of the net. Freddy can't stop what he can't see. Especially since he's an eye mover and doesn't move his body around a whole lot in the crease. Gives him great positioning but not a lot of lines of sight. The leafs defense needs to adjust to this and keep a line of sight for Andersen. Sure, it would be nice if Freddy wasn't so damn stubborn and moved around for once, but at the end of the day, he can't stop what he can't see
well you knew it was coming. leafs have scored their way out of the last two, was bound to end sooner or later. granted, NJ played a helluva game, but it's a bit daunting to know that Gardiner is their top D. nothing against him (great player) but the guy needs a bit more support on the back end
As for the penalties, yeah it's odd but same thing happened after the last full lockout. Hooks and holds were called a lot. People said this is silly. But it lead to the game we see now and it's pretty damn entertaining still. Patience is a hard thing for us leafs fans eh
We blame the defence, and yes, its like 75% their fault, but Freddy really needs to step up. 2 against Winnipeg is good. 5 against New York... erm. 3 against Chicago is good. 6 against New Jersey is terrible. I mean, yes, he couldn't see the pucks. But, that 5on3 goal. Who cares how GODLY the shot is, its a 5on3, you have to stop it. I don't care if its Patrick Kane shooting that damn puck, it HAS to be stopped. And it was BRIAN FUCKING GIBBONS SHOOTING. WHO???? The defence looked bad. Bad. Bad. Bad. Rielly-Hainsey was good imo. I don't know why Babs would switch them, they've kind of been a saving grace on an abysmal defensive core. Gardiner tries WAY to hard to make the complex play. Rather than dump the puck, he'd tried to toe drag someone, windmill someone and have a give and go with Zach Hyman. Rather than FUCKING LET THE PUCK GO ON A 5ON3 AND RETRIEVE IT IN THE NEUTRAL ZONE, he decides to do some stupid crouch play to block the puck, then proceed to fall over and give the defensive reigns to William fucking Nylander. Zaitsy was alright, he was hardly noticable, had a couple of misplays, but hes okay... i guess? Rosen-Borgman was the definition of horse shit. If it wasn't one fucking up, it was the other. Saucer pass into the centre of the defensive zone, missed catches, retarded back passes to Freddy, bad neutral zone passes, bad changes, running into each other. BABS. ITS NOT WORKING. FOR GODS SAKE PUT CARRICK BACK. And man, I feel bad for Dom Moore. He has 2 goals, and is a real good player, but the Leafs tend to do worse with him. Idek why. I think Babs should learn from this, and try something new with the lineup: Hyman - Matthews - Nylander (worked fine) Marleau - Bozak - Marner (need to change that line; absolute dog shit in the defensive end) JVR - Kadri - Komarov (JVR for Marleau, teach JVR defence. PLEASE.) Leivo - Moore - Brown (let Leivo play, Martin fucking sucked. Moore > Fehr imo.) Defence: Rielly - Hainsey (looked fine) Gardiner - Borgman (move Zaitsy away from Gardz. Both are skaters, and neither is defensively able. Borgman is a bigger player, who can cover the defensive zone while Gardiner does his wack shit in the offensive zone) Carrick - Zaitsev (not a knock on Zaitsy by any means, hes been great in the previous 3 games, but Carrick is not the mentor for either Borgman OR Rosen. They need an older, experienced guy like Jake (even if he is a klutz.) Carrick will benefit from playing with a guy like Zaitsy, as Zaitsy is actual a proper NHL defenseman.)
Id say i agree to an extent. You've nailed a few things. But man are you way off on quite a few! But thats why we dont make the big bucks! Let babs try his shit out. Im sure there were many lessons in last nights game and im sure he did a few things failing purposely. Babs is no dummy. He sees what we see and then some! Theres a method to his madness.
Tonio RickDiaz I agree with everything said expect for the defence parings Gardiner-Zaitsev are fine for now. Hopefully Carrick is healthy on Saturday. Scratch Rosen and put in Carrick. Carrick-Borgman were good in Winnipeg.
Probably important to note that the leafs were given 8 powerplay opportunities (two of them 5 on 3), so the 50 shots registered no longer looks as impressive to me.
